NHL Free Agents: Ville Leino and the Top 20 Forwards Who Will Be Available
As we approach the climax of the Stanley Cup Final, fans get prepared for another season starting with the 2011 free-agency season. Many teams are in need of a scoring punch this season, and this season is actually not a great year when it comes to forwards in free agency. However, there are still a plethora of players who are looking to make some money this summer so that they can make an impact on a team and win the Stanley Cup.
Here's a list of the top 20 forwards that will hit free agency this summer.
Note: These are not in any specific order.
Jamie Langenbrunner
1 of 20
2011 was a season to forget for Jamie Langenbrunner. He was traded from the Devils after a terrible start to the season, and he finished with horrid numbers for his standards. After scoring 61 points in 2010, Langenbrunner only had 32 this season.
This may diminish his value a bit, but there's no hiding from it: Langenbrunner is a great leader in the locker room and will be a welcome addition to any team. He's won two Stanley Cups and years of playoff experience playing with the New Jersey Devils. His veteran presence along with his desire to erase a dreadful season from his memory makes Langenbrunner a great buy.
Brad Richards
2 of 20
In a weak free-agent class, Brad Richards' name is the one that stands out most. He put up 28 goals and 77 assists last season with a weak Dallas team. It should be noted that he also put up 90-plus points the season before.
Richards will provide a great offensive punch for pursuers. However, he knows he's the biggest fish in the market so his price will be high.
Erik Cole
3 of 20
Last time Erik Cole left Carolina, it didn't turn out all that great for him. He only scored 27 points in 63 games with the Edmonton Oilers after a 2009 trade.
After hopping back on board with the Hurricanes, Cole put up a solid season this year scoring 26 goals and 52 points. He has Stanley Cup experience as he was a part of the 2006 team. It will be interesting to see if Cole leaves his beloved Canes though.
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Brooks Laich
4 of 20
Playing with a star like Alexander Ovechkin has helped Brooks Laich become one of the most sought after free agents this season. The Wawota, Saskatchewan native put up 48 points this season and 59 the year prior.
His grit and experience playing in rivalry games against the Penguins makes him valuable experience wise as well. Laich should be asking for a respectable amount of money and should be a great asset to any team that needs him.
Simon Gagne
5 of 20
After a dismal season plagued with inconsistency and injuries, Gagne hits the free-agent market. He definitely won't be making the $5.5 million he was making last season, but Gagne can be a great low-risk, high-reward player, especially since there aren't a lot of big names available.
After a slow start, Gagne did improve toward the end of the season. He also added five goals and seven assists in the postseason which helped increase his value. Gagne, in his last full healthy season, was very productive scoring 74 points for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Gagne is only 31 and has a few more solid years left in him. He's shown he can score over 30 goals per year consistently. However, his injury problems throughout his career limit his value.
Jason Arnott
6 of 20
Jason Arnott will be 37 next year. He'll still be looking for one last contract. His experience gives him value. His numbers have declined over the years, but he can still put up 30 points a season and his veteran leadership should be handy in the playoffs for any team.
Tim Connolly
7 of 20
Tim Connolly is a veteran center who should bring some scoring for any team. He put up 13 goals and 42 assists. After spending a majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, it will be interesting to see if Connolly stays or goes.
Michael Ryder
8 of 20
Here's a guy who has improved his stock over the last two months. After scoring 18 goals and 23 assists in the regular season, Ryder has come out strong in the postseason with seven goals and eight assists. He has been a major contributor for the Bruins over the last two months and is a key reason why they're two games away from the Stanley Cup.
His price tag surely went up because of the playoffs. He's also 31 which means he has a few more solid years left in him.
Cory Stillman
9 of 20
Cory Stillman has quietly become one of the most respected players in the NHL. He won Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and at the age of 37 would love to join sign a contract with a team that's looking to win again.
Not only is he a great locker room presence, but he can contribute offensively, too. He scored 12 goals and 39 points this season with the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marco Sturm
10 of 20
After an injury-plagued season, Sturm's value has dropped. However, he has been successful in prior years. He's had seven 20-plus goal seasons in his career. At 33, Sturm can still contribute if he stays healthy and teams will definitely be looking at him as a low-risk, high-reward type free agent.
Alex Tanguay
11 of 20
It's hard to believe that Alex Tanguay is only 31 years old. It seems like a very long time ago when he hoisted the Cup with Ray Bourque and the rest of the Colorado Avalanche back in 2001.
After a subpar year with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010, Tanguay lit it up with the Flames this past season scoring 69 points and 22 goals. Tanguay only earned $1.7 million last season. After that stellar season, he's going to ask for a lot more making him one of the biggest fish on the market.
Max Talbot
12 of 20
Talbot's numbers don't really show his value. His heart, grit, sense of humor and pride do.
Talbot netted two goals in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final at Detroit. He is an aggressive agitator on the ice but a warm-hearted teammate off the ice. Fans love him and the city of Pittsburgh will find it hard to see him go, but he's going to ask for a lot of money. Talbot brings a lot of experience and a veteran presence to any team.
Ville Leino
13 of 20
Here's a guy that'll be making a lot more than the $700,000 he earned last season.
Leino broke out mightily this season just in time. After scoring only 11 points in 2010, Leino exploded for 19 goals and 34 assists for the Philadelphia Flyers this season. This explosion came after an unbelievable performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. Leino scored seven goals and 14 assists leading the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final.
Leino brings playoff experience, and he has a lot of upside. Plenty of teams will be seeking his services this summer, and a few may be willing to overpay for him, too.
One thing is for sure. The Detroit Red Wings are kicking themselves in the forehead for letting him go.
Sean Bergenheim
14 of 20
Sean Bergenheim scored nine goals during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Because of this, he will be making a lot of money this summer. Many general managers watch the playoffs, and when they see someone put up the numbers Bergenheim put up, they get ready to overpay.
Bergenheim has never put up more than 30 points in his career, yet his postseason performance alone will help him get a healthy contract for the next few years.
Tomas Fleischmann
15 of 20
Many critics say that Tomas Fleischmann benefitted heavily by playing with Alexander Ovechkin. This may be true, but after Fleischmann was traded from Washington to Colorado, his goal total doubled in almost the same amount of games. This shows that Fleischmann can play well without The Great Eight. These numbers helped increase his stock, and at the young age of 27, Fleischmann will be guaranteed a lot of money this summer.
Tomas Kopecky
16 of 20
Tomas Kopecky doubled his point total at the right time. After a successful playoff run where he won his first Stanley Cup, Kopecky scored 42 points just in time for free agency. His youth and playoff experience should be a great addition for any team. He will definitely get a huge pay raise this summer.
Alex Frolov
17 of 20
Frolov once scored 35 goals and 71 points in 2007. Ever since then, his career has been a downward spiral culminating with a disappointing and injury-filled season in New York. Perhaps Frolov can use a change of scenery and play in a city with less media attention.
He has the potential to be a very good player and general managers know this. He's another low-risk, high-reward guy who will probably sign a short-term contract in order to make big money in a few years.
Alexei Ponikarovsky
18 of 20
The word "atrocious" may not even be bad enough to describe how terrible and pathetic Alexei Ponikarovsky was in a Kings uniform this season. After flopping in the playoffs with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010, Poni continued his slump through the 2011 season.
The Ukraine Train has 20-goal potential, and plenty of GMs may look at him as a good short-term, low-risk, high-reward player.
Zenon Konopka
19 of 20
Pest. Agitator. Tough.
These are words that describe the enforcer. He racked up 307 penalty minutes this season, and GMs will be pursuing him this summer to have him in a penalty box near you.
Radim Vrbata
20 of 20
Playing in the Desert, Vrbata was able to accumulate 19 goals and 48 points this year. Perhaps, playing with better players on a stronger team will help Vrbata maximize his potential. Although his numbers were solid with Phoenix, he may not be worth the $3 million he earned from the Coyotes last year.
It will be interesting to see if he takes a pay cut short term to pad his stats so that he can break the bank next summer. Would Pittsburgh or San Jose be options then?
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