NHL Free Agency Rumors: Latest on Nathan Horton, David Clarkson and Top Stars

The 2013 crop of NHL free agents is far from the most star-studded group that fans have ever seen, but there are plenty of players who figure to be available on the open market that can help franchises take the next step. Also, with a lack of top-flight talent, teams will go even harder after the best that this class has to offer.

While there are some defensemen and goaltenders to be had, most of the competition in free agency will involve forwards. Since so many teams are looking to either add to or create a winning situation, this could be one of the most interesting free-agency periods in recent memory.

Here is the latest buzz surrounding some of the biggest free-agent names that will officially be ripe for the picking come July 5.

Nathan Horton

If not for the play of forward Nathan Horton, it's entirely possible that the Boston Bruins wouldn't have even made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins did make it that far, though, and despite their loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, they had a successful season. If Boston is going to reach the Stanley Cup Finals yet again next year, however, they may very well have to do it without the services of Horton, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

While McKenzie stopped short of saying that Horton will definitely be playing elsewhere next season, the writing appears to be on the wall. Horton was a monster during the playoffs, as he put up 19 points in 22 games and looked like the power forward that the Bruins thought he could be. Horton's regular season was nothing to write home about, as he had just 13 goals and 22 points in 43 games, but he will likely be the latest in a long line of players who get a monster contract for performing on the postseason stage.

The biggest concern with regards to Horton is his health. He only missed five games this season, but a concussion kept him out for half of the 2011-12 season, including the playoffs. Even though Horton appears to be past those issues, having a concussion history is something that needs to be kept track of. One hit is all it takes to put him back on the shelf, so some teams may be wary of signing him. With that said, a team is going to take a risk and give him a long-term, big-money deal.

David Clarkson

It's no secret that the style of play that followed the NHL's 2004-05 lockout is a thing of the past. Clutching and grabbing isn't called as frequently, and space is hard to come by on the ice. Because of that, bigger and stronger forwards with scoring touch are at a premium. New Jersey Devils winger David Clarkson may not have been given a second look by many teams several years ago, but now he stands to become a very rich man as he figures to hit free agency on July 5, according to McKenzie.

Clarkson has decent size at 6'1" and 200 lbs., but he plays an even bigger game than that. Clarkson is one of the toughest and most irritating players for opposing defenders to contend with, as he is relentless on the forecheck and goes to the dirty areas in order to score. Clarkson really stepped up during the 2011-12 season as he scored 30 goals and followed that up with 12 points in the playoffs as New Jersey made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Devils failed to qualify for the postseason this year, but Clarkson had 15 goals in the lockout-shorted regular season and continued to be a thorn in the side of New Jersey's opposition. Thirty-goal scorers who play a physical game are tough to come by, so teams will be lining up to sign Clarkson. It will be tough for him to live up to the contract he ultimately receives, but some team will give it to him anyway.

Vincent Lecavalier

He wasn't even supposed to be a free agent, but former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier now appears to be the hottest commodity on the market. The Lightning decided to use a compliance buyout on Lecavalier due to the fact that he still had seven years remaining on his deal with an annual cap hit of $7 million. Tampa's move was motivated by financial factors rather than Lecavalier's performance, and that much is clear based on the fact that a dozen teams are interested in Lecavalier, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

It has almost gotten to the point where it is easier to name which teams don't want Lecavalier as opposed to which teams do, so the former Stanley Cup champion and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner will have his pick of the litter. While Lecavalier is no longer a 50-goal or 100-point player, the 33-year-old center is still very productive. He put up 32 points in 39 games this past season and he can very easily be a No. 1 center in the right situation or perhaps even a great No. 2 center on a top team.

The overarching point is that Lecavalier won't have any issue finding a job. Teams are always looking for point-producing centers, and Lecavalier now happens to be the top one available. Lecavalier should still have several good years left, but since he will continue collecting on the monster contract that Tampa bought out, one would think that his main priority is signing with a team that gives him a chance to win the Stanley Cup. With that in mind, a very good team stands to get even better in the coming days.

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