NHL Free Agency 2011: Ranking Teemu Selanne and the Top 15 Scorers on the Market

Even though the Stanley Cup playoffs are only just beginning this week, we know that the end of the season is not too far off and will come much too quickly.

Then, the free agent market will open.

There are many great options out there for teams looking for scoring, including some hidden gems.

Here are the top 15 scorers on the market.

15. Tomas Fleischmann

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DENVER - DECEMBER 23: Tomas Fleischmann #14 of the Colorado Avalanche warms up prior to facing the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center on December 23, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 3-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Tomas Fleischmann has some health concerns. However, if he can recuperate and return to his old self, he’s a fantastic scorer.

In 2009, he scored 23 goals and added 28 assists for 51 points.

This year, he started his season in Washington slowly and then suffered injuries. He accumulated 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points.  

14. Tomas Kopecky

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CALGARY, CANADA - FEBRUARY 7: Tomas Kopecky #82 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Calgary Flames on February 7, 2011 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Tomas Kopecky will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The Chicago Blackhawks forward has accumulated 15 goals, 27 assists and 42 points this year.

13. Nicklas Lidstrom

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DETROIT, MI - MARCH 30: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena on March 30, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

When thinking of top scorers, typically a defenseman wouldn't enter the conversation.

However, Nicklas Lidstrom deserves to be part of the conversation. His 16 goals, 46 assists and 62 points are more impressive than a lot of forwards' numbers.

While he will be an UFA, most teams really won't have a shot at him.

12. Brooks Laich

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22: Brooks Laich #21 of the Washington Capitals skates during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich will become a free agent after this season.

Laich has 16 goals, 32 assists and 48 points.

More importantly, his goals are often very timely, coming when the team needs them most.

11. Jason Arnott

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: Jason Arnott #44 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Verizon Center on March 13, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Jason Arnott was a highly sought-after forward at the trade deadline before being traded to Washington.

He'll be a highly sought-after forward in free agency this year as well.

Arnott had 17 goals, 14 assists and 31 points during the regular season.

10. Ryan Jones

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EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 17: Ryan Jones #28 of the Edmonton Oilers during the game against the Phoenix Coyotes on March 17, 2011 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

The Edmonton Oilers forward is set to become a free agent this summer.

Jones has 18 goals, 7 assists and 25 points. That's a respectable amount of goal-scoring to add to a line-up.

9. Andrew Brunette

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ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 22: Andrew Brunette #15 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Xcel Energy Center on March 22, 2011 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Minnesota Wild impending-UFA Andrew Brunette has 18 goals, 28 assists and 46 points this year.

And that's with the Wild.

8. Simon Gagne

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 25: Simon Gagne #12 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Pete Times Forum on January 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Simon Gagne will become a UFA this year.

Gagne accumulated 17 goals, 23 assists and 40 points this season.

Fun fact: these were his exact numbers last year for the Flyers too. That's not really related to his scoring ability, just an interesting tidbit.

7. Pascal Dupuis

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UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 08: Pascal Dupuis #9 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on April 8, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Pascal Dupuis is set to become an UFA following the season.

Much of Dupuis' success has been attributed to linemate Sidney Crosby. However, even without his superstar linemate, Dupuis has fared well.

Dupuis had 17 goals, 20 assists and 37 points this season and will surely factor into the Penguins playoff scoring as well.

6. Ville Leino

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Ville Leino #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Atlanta Thrashers on March 12, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Ville Leino is often overshadowed by his teammates. It's tough to shine when playing on a team that has Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Mike Richards.

However, Leino has posted respectable numbers this season: 19 goals and 34 assists for 53 points.

He's been a large part of Philly's depth at forward.

5. Scottie Upshall

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 24: Scottie Upshall #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 24, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Blue Jackets 3-0. (Photo

Scottie Upshall is a free agent now.

Upshall was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline because they were looking to bolster their scoring.

Upshall posted 22 goals, 12 assists and 34 points this year between the Phoenix Coyotes and Blue Jackets.

4. Milan Hejduk

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Milan Hejduk #23 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Pepsi Center on March 22, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blue Jackets 5-4 in an overtime shootout. (Photo

The Colorado Avalanche forward is a free agent now.

Hejduk has 22 goals, 34 assists and 56 points on the season.

3. Alex Tanguay

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 10: Alex Tanguay #40 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 3-0. (Photo by Christian Pe

The Calgary Flames forward is a free agent.

Tanguay accumulated 22 goals, 47 assists and 69 points this season.

2. Brad Richards

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Brad Richards #91 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Brad Richards is the most high-profile UFA this off-season and he's one of the top scorers too.

Richards had 28 goals, 49 assists and 77 points this past season.

1. Teemu Selanne

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 08: Teemu Selanne #8 of the Anaheim Ducks controls the puck against the Los Angeles King at Honda Center on April 8, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks won 2-1 to clinch a berth in the playoffs. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Image

Anaheim Ducks' alternate captain Teemu Selanne is set to become a UFA after the Ducks' season ends.

Selanne has an impressive 31 goals, 49 assists and 80 points this season.

Not bad for a 40-year-old. Not bad for anyone actually.