NHL Free Agents 2011: 25 Bold Predictions for NHL Free Agency

This years free agency period has many questions that need to be answered.

Will Toronto acquire the first-line center that they so badly need? How many defensemen will Vancouver lose? Who will they replace them with? Will Montreal let Andrei Markov walk?

Those are only a few of a list that will only grow as teams get eliminated from the playoffs. Several teams will have spots they will need filled. Other teams will overpay depth players they don't really need.

Who will sign where? Here are 25 predictions on where I think some players will end up.

Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty Will Be Re-Signed Before July 1st

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OTTAWA, ON - JUNE 20: (L-R) Third overall pick Zach Bogosian of the Atlanta Thrashers, first overall pick Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and second overall pick Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings pose for a photograph after being selected i

Everyone is talking about the fact that someone will try to sign Steven Stamkos to an outrageous contract that the Tampa Bay Lightning could not hope to match. On the other hand, no one is really talking about Drew Doughty.

The fact is that both players are instrumental to their team's long-term success and therefore will be re-signed before any other team has the chance to take a shot at them.

Tomas Vokoun Will Sign on July 1st

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NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Tomas Vokoun #29 of the Florida Panthers skates against the New York Rangers on March 22, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Rangers defeated the Islanders 1-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

While Tomas Vokoun is not one of the the league's best goalies out there anymore, there is one reason he will be signed when free agency opens on July 1st: his age.

Vokoun will turn 35 on July 2nd and according to the NHL salary cap, any player's cap hit on a contract which is signed after he is 35 will count towards the teams salary cap for all the years of the contract, even if the player retires halfway through the contract.

If July 2nd hits and Vokoun hasn't been signed, he will only be signing a one-year contract.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere Will Sign a One-Year Deal with Detroit

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TORONTO, CAN - FEBRUARY 7: Jean-Sebastien Giguere #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches for a shot in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers on February 7, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Thrashers 5-4. (Photo by C

J.S. Giguere will follow in a former Toronto Maple Leaf's footsteps and take his services to the Motor City. Like Curtis Joseph before him, Giguere will sign a contract, most likely one year, with the Red Wings.

Giguere wants another championship and is not likely to get one in Toronto anytime soon. Now, when a player wants one last championship, he usually only goes one place, and that's Detroit.

Giguere would provide a better back-up for Jimmy Howard than Joey MacDonald.

Ilya Bryzgalov Will Sign with Washington

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 20: Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Detroit Red Wings during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 20, 2011 in Glendale, A

With Washington being ousted once again in the playoffs by a lower seeded team, something has to change. Semyon Varlamov couldn't help them last year and Michal Neuvirth didn't help them this year. It's time to change the plan.

Clearly the Capitals shouldn't be putting their playoff hopes in a young goaltender.

Ilya Bryzgalov would give them a clear number one goalie. He was a nominee for the Vezina trophy in 2009-10 and has guided the Coyotes to the playoffs two years in a row. Even though he has lost both years, he's lost to the Detroit Red Wings, not a team you should be ashamed to lose to.

With Bryzgalov added to the mix, Washington might make it past the second round next year.

Shea Weber Will Sign an Offer Sheet, but the Nashville Predators Will Match

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NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 03: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Vancouver Canucks in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 3, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee

Unlike Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty, Shea Weber will reach July 1st as a restricted free agent. It won't be for the lack of trying but it will most likely be a more drawn-out negotiation with Weber.

Some team, possibly even the Maple Leafs, will send an offer sheet Weber's way. After a few days of deliberation, the Predators will come to their senses and match the offer sheet.

Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya Will Be Reunited in Anaheim

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21 Oct 1998: Rightwinger Teemu Selanne #8, leftwinger Paul Kariya #9 and center Steve Rucchin #20 of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in action during a game against the Boston Bruins at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Bruins 3-0

It's a toss of a coin whether Teemu Selanne decides to play another year, but it came out a week ago that Paul Kariya would play a part in Selanne's decision.

Selanne had a great year this past season, scoring 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points, while Kariya sat out the season because of post-concussion symptoms.

The decision probably won't be made until August but I think that Selanne and Kariya will get back together for one last run in Anaheim.

Andrei Markov Will Not Be Re-Signed by Montreal.

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MONTREAL- NOVEMBER 9: Andrei Markov #79 of the Montreal Canadiens waits for a faceoff during the NHL game Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on November 9, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Canucks 2-0. (Photo by Richard Wo

Andrei Markov was once the Montreal Canadiens prize possession on the blue line, not anymore. With being injured for all but 52 games the last two seasons, he has lost his spot to P.K. Subban.

The time has come for a fresh start for Markov. Even if Montreal gives him a contract offer, he should walk away from it and go elsewhere. I could see him going to the Vancouver Canucks but it depends on their cap situation.

Tomas Kaberle Will Sign with Tampa Bay

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 14: Tomas Kaberle #12 of the Boston Bruins passes the puck in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 14, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Montreal Canadiens def

Well it's not wrong to say that the Tomas Kaberle experiment in Boston has been a failure. After all they gave up for him, it now appears that he will be shown the door.

Other than Pavel Kubina, Victor Hedman and Eric Brewer, Tampa Bay's defense is made up of depth defenseman. With Brewer most likely not returning, Tampa Bay will most likely be looking for another defenseman and could find exactly what they need in Kaberle.

Kaberle would be reunited with Kubina, who played together for Toronto for three seasons and both were born in Czechoslovakia.

Kevin Bieksa Will Sign with Toronto

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 25: Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Atlanta Thrashers at the Philips Arena on March 25, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Kevin Bieksa will be one of a few salary cap victims in Vancouver and will be heading elsewhere. Brian Burke will jump at the chance to sign a player he drafted back in 2001.

While not the play-making defenseman the Leafs will be looking for, Bieksa can help the Leafs as he would be the one of the oldest players on the Leafs at 29. He would also help fix the Leafs defensive woes, as he was a plus- 32 this past season.

No Teams Will Show Interest in Pascal Leclaire, Leading Him to Leave for Europe

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Pascal Leclaire #33 of the Ottawa Senators reacts after the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers 3-1 at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

The last few years of Pascal Leclaire's hockey career definitely have not gone the way that he had planned. Only playing in 60 games the past three seasons, 14 this year, Leclaire has never really shown the play that got him drafted eighth overall in the 2001 draft.

No team should, and no team will show interest in Leclaire, and he will sign a deal with a team in Europe.

Alex Kovalev Will Return to Montreal

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NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Alexei Kovalev #27 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the New York Rangers on April 7, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Habs 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

When he signed with Ottawa, Alex Kovalev said that he might want to retire a Canadien. Well, I believe that he will get the chance.

Over half of Montreal's players will be free agents, so they will be able to restructure their line-up anyway they see fit. Kovalev would provide leadership to a young team by being the oldest player on the team.

Some Team Will Overpay Sean Bergenheim

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 04: Sean Bergenheim #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores at 4:41 of the second period against the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the St Pete Times Forum o

With Sean Bergenheim's recent hot streak in the playoffs, there have to be teams watching thinking that he could play like this for an entire season.

While Tampa Bay will most likely want to keep him around, some team like Atlanta or Florida will give a ridiculous contract offer and he will have no choice but to accept it.

Alex Tanguay Will Return to Colorado

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 9: Alex Tanguay #18 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the game against the New Jersey Devils on December 9, 2005 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Avs defeated the Devils 4-3 after a sh

The last time Alex Tanguay was in Colorado, he was one of the youngsters. Now, he would be returning to be the veteran leader.

With the possibility of Milan Hejduk leaving, Colorado will need to replace his scoring. Tanguay actually had a better season than Hejduk and could very well wear an "A" on his sweater next year.

Simon Gagne Will Sign with Edmonton

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PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Simon Gagne #12 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 27, 2011 in Pitts

Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle can only do so much. Simon Gagne's 40 points would place him fifth in Oilers scoring, two points behind Hall, Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner and three behind Eberle.

I might be starting to sound like a broken record, but Gagne would provide essential veteran leadership to one of, if not the youngest teams in the NHL.

James Wisniewski Will Sign with Buffalo

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: James Wisniewski #20 of the Montreal Canadiens skates in an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 25, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Jerry Sullivan of BuffaloNews.com stated that the Buffalo Sabres are in need of another defenseman. He listed Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Tomas Kaberle and James Wisniewski.

I believe they have the best chance at acquiring Wisniewski, and he's most likely the cheaper option. He would have been Buffalo's leading point-getter for defensemen.

John Madden Will Sign with Washington

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EDMONTON, CANADA - JANUARY 18: John Madden #11 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Edmonton Oilers on January 18, 2011 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Another problem Washington had was leadership. While Alex Ovechkin should be leading them on the scoreboard, he should not be leading them in the locker room.

Bringing in John Madden would give them another defensive stalwart and would bring valuable championship experience, winning the Stanley Cup three times.

Dwayne Roloson Will Get Nice Offers from Other Teams, but Will Stay in Tampa Bay

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 04: Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning argues a call with referee Steve Kozari #40 in the game against the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the St

Dwayne Roloson kept the Tampa Bay Lightning in the series against Pittsburgh and led them to a sweep against Washington. This will lead to several teams taking a flyer on him regardless of his age.

After mulling over several offers, Roloson will choose to stay with the team that he is enjoying so much success with.

Christian Ehrhoff Will Sign with Boston

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 25: Christian Ehrhoff #5 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Atlanta Thrashers at the Philips Arena on March 25, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

To replace Tomas Kaberle, Boston will go out and sign who is most likely the best play-making defenseman on the market: Christian Ehrhoff.

Ehrhoff would quarterback a power-play that placed 20th in the regular season and failed to register a goal in the first round.

Maxime Talbot Will Sign with Detroit

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 04: Maxime Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 4, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Penguins 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Ima

There is really no statistical reason that I think that Maxime Talbot will sign with the Red Wings. There is just the recent history of when a player leaves a team, he goes to one of the teams rivals.

Ville Leino Will Sign with Washington

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Ville Leino #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammmates after scoring a first period goal against the Buffalo Sabres in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Halfway through the season, Ville Lieno was given the option to either sign a new deal or wait until the off-season so they could acquire another asset for the team. He chose to wait and it will cause him to leave the Flyers.

Leino will be another piece in the Capitals mini restructuring.

Tomas Kopecky Will Sign with Washington

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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)

He has played for two Original Six teams and he has won a Stanley Cup with both of them, but for some reason, he can't stick with them.

He is another player with championship experience that Washington will bring in.

Joni Pitkanen Will Return to Edmonton

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EDMONTON, CANADA - JANUARY 29: Joni Pitkanen #25 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the San Jose Sharks during their NHL game on January 29, 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

While he was only in Edmonton for one season, I believe that Joni Pitkanen will return to the Oilers as one of their top two defensemen and their power-play quarterback.

At only 27, he's young enough that he will grow with the young Oilers and become a leader for them.

Bryan McCabe Will Sign with the New York Islanders

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6 Feb 1996: Defenseman Bryan McCabe of the New York Islanders moves down the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game, 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /All

Well this is about three years too late for Leafs fans, but Bryan McCabe will finally be going back to where he started his career 15 years ago.

He will help the Islanders take the next step and improve the Islanders no name defense.

Brooks Laich Will Sign with Toronto

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WASHINGTON , DC - APRIL 23: Brooks Laich #21 of the Washington Capitals celebrates being named the third star of the game against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Ve

Brooks Laich is yet another plan B for the Leafs, but when your plan B is this good, I don't see much of a problem.

Laich can play all three offensive positions, and will most likely be playing on our third line and can move up whenever the Leafs need him to.

Brad Richards Will Sign with the New York Rangers

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 29: Brad Richards #91 of the Dallas Stars during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 29, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Stars 2-1 in an overtime shoot out. (Photo by Christian

Okay, so this isn't such a bold prediction, but I'd say there is a 90 percent shot that Brad Richards signs with New York if the ownership situation in Dallas isn't resolved by July 1st.

Richards could be the last remaining piece the Rangers need to truly become a contender, and acquiring him without giving up anything but money will be much better than what they would have had to give up if they acquired him at the trade deadline.