NHL Free Agent and Trade Rumors: One Player Each Team Will Be Without Next Year
It is never easy for a general manager to break the news to a player that they have been traded, released or that they will not be returning next season. However this is a required practice for GMs in order for them to improve their team to the point that they can win the Stanley Cup.
Each team needs to trim the fat from their roster by trade, buyout,or opting not to resign free agent players.
This list includes one player from each franchise that will not be skating for their team next season.
Anaheim Ducks—Dan Ellis
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With Jonas Hiller expected to return to top form by the start of the 2011-12 season and Ray Emery expected to be the backup, there is no need or use for the inconsistent and incapable Dan Ellis.
Dan Ellis had a few average seasons with Nashville, but he simply doesn't fit in with the Anaheim Ducks.
Boston Bruins—Mark Recchi
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It is hard to suggest a player should be cut from the roster of the Bruins considering that they are the Eastern Conference Champions.
Looking up and down the roster, Mark Recchi stands out. Mark Recchi once was a wonderful and talented scorer for the Philadelphia Flyers back in the 1990s. Recchi has always been a consistent player, but has gradually slowed down with age.
It even got to the point where he only earned extra ice time in the Eastern Conference Finals when Brad Marchand had some skate problems.
Odds are, depending on the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals, Recchi may opt to retire.
Buffalo Sabres—Mike Grier
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Grinders and enforcers are a dime a dozen in this league. Mike Grier was once a very dominant grinder and intimidator in the NHL.
However, at age 36, Grier is not getting any younger. Terry Pegula appears to have interest in reshaping his team this offseason, and cutting Grier would give the Sabres some necessary space to add a scorer or two.
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Calgary Flames—Steve Staios
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Steve Staios was traded to the Calgary Flames from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Aaron Johnson and a 3rd round draft pick in 2011.
In the 2010-11 season Staios only appeared in 39 games and contributed some limited offense with three goals and seven assists for 10 points.
Staios is also getting on the older side and will be turning 38 in July.
Calgary can possibly add some scoring or replace him with a capable defenseman this offseason.
Carolina Hurricanes—Cory Stillman
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Cory Stillman is at the tail-end of his second stint with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also falls into the category of older players that are on the decline. He is 37-years-old and will not be skating with the Carolina Hurricanes next season.
Chicago Blackhawks—Marty Turco
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Marty Turco was once a talented and gifted netminder for the Dallas Stars. Turco joined the Blackhawks as a free agent last season.
With the surging play of Corey Crawford and goalie prospects in the Blackhawks system, it appears that the aging Turco will be out of a job with the Blackhawks come September.
Colorado Avalanche—Tomas Fleischmann
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Tomas Fleischmann was traded by the Capitals to the Colorado Avalanche in the beginning of the regular season. On January 20, it was revealed that Fleischmann was diagnosed with pulmonary emboli and missed the rest of the 2010-11 season with Colorado.
Fleischmann is a talented player, but will probably play somewhere else. He did have success with the Avalanche in the few games he suited up for, but I feel the Avalanche will address some bigger concerns this offseason.
Columbus Blue Jackets—Chris Clark
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Chris Clark has only played in 89 games during the two years he has been in Columbus. One huge strike against Clark is his health. Chris Clark has not been able to stay healthy enough to skate in an entire 82-game season since 2007. At age 35 he isn't getting any younger as well.
Dallas Stars—Brad Richards
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Brad Richards has been quite the buzz of the rumor mill for sometime now. It is blatantly clear that Brad Richards will be on the move come July 1st. Richards is fresh off a contract that paid him $7.8 million this season.
He will likely seek a slight raise, and this price will be way to steep for Dallas.
Detroit Red Wings—Mike Modano
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Mike Modano has a Hall of Fame-worthy career and will likely opt to ride off into the sunset this offseason.
Modano's career accomplishments include 561 goals and 1,374 points (both records for most ever scored by an American-born player).
Modano is also a Olympic silver medalist and Stanley Cup Champion. Mr Modano, the NHL world will miss you if you decide to retire, but you had a helluva career.
Edmonton Oilers—Jason Strudwick
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The Edmonton Oilers are in the midst of a rebuild. They have started with the young core of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.
The Oilers are expected to continue with their goal during the 2011 NHL Draft. Edmonton is most likely going to draft Ryan Nugent Hopkins, who has been compared to Oilers and NHL great Wayne Gretzky.
Jason Strudwick has been a subpar defenseman, to say the very least. He has finished in the red with plus-minus during his time in Edmonton. As an aging player, he brings nothing to the table.
Florida Panthers—Tomas Vokoun
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Tomas Vokoun clearly wants out of Florida ... well, he wants out of Miami to be more specific. Vokoun will be 35 in July and still has a lot left in his game.
He has been the typical biblical figure who has been portrayed as the suffering servant. He has played as well as he can on teams without offensive production.
On the right team, Vokoun will shine and be a superstar. He wanted to go to a playoff contender in the worst way at the trade deadline. The Florida Panthers were offered an undisclosed deal that was described as laughable at best.
Los Angeles Kings—Alexei Ponikarovsky
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Alexei Ponikarovsky's numbers reached an all-time low this year. He went from scoring 61 and 50 points in back-to-back seasons to a staggering 15 points this season.
At that rate, he is clearly not worth his contract. The Kings will be looking to improve offensively this offseason, and Ponikarovsky will not be a part of the equation.
Minnesota Wild—John Madden
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John Madden is noted for his on-ice ability to kill penalties, play both ways and score shorthanded goals. He signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Wild last season.
He is getting up there in age, and the Wild will attempt to make the team younger so they can become playoff contenders once again.
John Madden turned 38 this year.
Montreal Canadiens—Alex Auld
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Alex Auld was a cheap $1 million dollar signing for the Montreal Canadiens.
However, Carey Price plays the majority of the games for Montreal. At age 30 and with many teams seeking a starting goaltender, Auld will hit the open market as there are many teams that can offer him a significant chunk of change.
Auld has been a backup for the better part of his career, but proved back in 2005-06 that he could be a good starter by winning 33 games for the Vancouver Canucks.
Nashville Predators—Steve Sullivan
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This is another case of a player who is making a significant amount of money and suffers from aging and health problems. Steve Sullivan made $3.75 million this year.
He was once a consistent scorer for the Predators, but nagging back issues have plagued him in recent years.
The Predators could attempt to resign him at a reduced rate citing injury proneness as reasons, but odds are he will hit the open market come July.
New Jersey Devils—Travis Zajac
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Travis Zajac proved unproductive without Parise playing alongside him this season by scoring only 44 points (Zajac had 67 and 62, respectively for the previous two seasons).
If he can't produce without Parise, what sense does it make for the Devils to shell out cash for him? It's a risky move, but the Devils could probably get something decent for him.
The Devils will spend most cash on keeping Parise and hope to secure a top center somewhere down the line.
New York Islanders—Doug Weight
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Doug Weight announced his retirement from the NHL and will no longer play for the Islanders. However he will be retained as an advisor and as an assistant coach.
Weight finished his career with 278 goals and 755 assists for 1033 points.
New York Rangers—Chris Drury
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A lot of signs are pointing towards a Chris Drury buyout. Word came out today that the Rangers are set to tender an offer to John Mitchell, a forward who was traded to New York from the Leafs at the deadline. Mitchell could conceivably be a replacement for Drury.
It is also very apparent that the Rangers are going to attempt to sign Brad Richards this offseason.
There is a rotating wheel of centers on Broadway that the Rangers have, want to sign and need to let go. It appears that Chris Drury is going to be the odd man out.
Ottawa Senators—Pascal Leclaire
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The Senators are similar to the Philadelphia Flyers in the sense that they have a revolving door of goaltenders. There was never any certainty or confidence with whoever was in net.
Pascal Leclaire has been given chance after chance in Ottawa. The Senators clearly needed a change in net and they did just that when they brought in Craig Anderson.
Brian Elliot and Pascal Leclaire have not been great, but Leclaire has been the more inconsistent of the two netminders.
"Au revoir et bon débarras, Pascal."—Good bye and good riddance, Pascal.
Philadelphia Flyers—Ville Leino
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When the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Kris Versteeg, it sent an unwritten message that the Flyers would be unlikely to resign Ville Leino. Both forwards play a similar style game and make around the same salary.
Leino is a talented player who will shine on a less-crowded team.
Phoenix Coyotes—Ilya Bryzgalov
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The spotlight indeed is on Ilya Bryzgalov.
The Coyotes have their own problems dealing with ownership that will keep them busy, let alone worrying about dealing with free agents. Bryzgalov had publicly said that, if the team relocated to Winnipeg, he would not be joining them.
This shows that Ilya Bryzgalov is not a team player and can be replaced. If he can't stand by his team through thick and thin, he has no business playing for the Coyotes.
Pittsburgh Penguins—Alex Kovalev
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Alex Kovalev is at a point in his career where he is a shell of himself. He is an average player who has fallen far from what he used to be capable of accomplishing.
Kovalev will look to stay somewhere familiar, as he has done nothing to earn top dollar from another team.
I expect Kovalev to maybe return home to the KHL or one of his other former teams. It is unlikely, but he may call it quits and will retire from the NHL.
San Jose Sharks—Niclas Wallin
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Niclas Wallin signed a one-year contract to remain with the Sharks for $2.5 million per year. Being it was only a one-year contract, odds are the Sharks weren’t interested in the 36-year-old defenseman long term. His contract off the books allows the Sharks to address some of their other concerns this offseason.
After failing to reach the Stanley Cup Finals once again, the Sharks appear to be in the business of cleaning house this offseason.
St. Louis Blues—Ty Conklin
25 of 31Ty Conklin has been a career backup and has shifted around the league. At age 35, he is one of the oldest players on a young St. Louis Blues team. Ty Conklin recently represented the US in the World Championships and was subpar at best.
He is very inconsistent, and the Blues could do without him in the 2011-12 NHL season.
The clip above is a microcosm of Ty Conklin's career.
Tampa Bay Lightning—Simon Gagne
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Simon Gagne is an offensive talent that has been squandered in Tampa Bay. If paired with the right center, Gagne could regain his scoring ways. He is also an expensive player, with a cap hit of $5,250,000 per year.
Gagne will most likely take a pay cut, but I feel he would do it willingly in order to earn his way back into a top-six forward role on another team.
Toronto Maple Leafs—Jean-Sebastien Giguere
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It appears that James Reimer is the future in net for the Toronto Maple Leafs. If the Leafs hope to pursue some world-class talented scorers or defensemen, they will have to part ways with Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Giguere is a solid goalie and would fit in on some of the many teams that seek a legitimate No. 1 goaltender.
Vancouver Canucks—Sami Salo
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Sami Salo is a good defenseman. That being said, he is 36-years-old and is not getting younger. Vancouver has two other priority defensemen to sign before entertaining talks with Salo.
Kevin Bieksa and Christian Erhoff will take priority over Salo.
Odds are that Salo will not be a Canuck next year as they attempt to resign their top defensemen.
Washington Capitals—Brooks Laich
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Brooks Laich is a good center who could fit in with some other teams. Laich is a decent skills man and his assets as a two-way player would be of interest to other organizations. Laich may be one of the players lost in the shuffle when Washington looks up and down their roster this offseason.
Winnipeg Jets—Everyone Is in Play
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The NHL and True North Sports and Entertainment Limited held a press conference today in Winnipeg to announce the completion of a deal to purchase the Thrashers.
True North intends to relocate the team to the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, subject to approval by the NHL Board of Governors at a meeting on June 21, 2011.
Sale approval requires a 75 percent majority vote while moving the franchise would require a simple majority vote by the board.
With that in mind, everyone on the roster will be in play. It is unknown who will be the general manager, and who will be willing to play for Winnipeg. When the Coyotes were at risk for relocation Ilya Bryzgalov strongly voiced that if the relocation occurred he would not have joined the new Winnipeg-based team.
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