NHL Free Agency: The Top 5 Goalies, Defensemen, and Forwards Left on the Market

The first week of NHL free agency is almost over, and just about all of the big names have now been signed.  

We've now reached the time of year that separates the good general managers from the great ones. Finding a diamond in the rough in free agency can provide a huge boost to any team, and makes you look pretty good in the process.

Starting in net and moving out from there, here are the five best players left at each position.

Goalies: 5. Ty Conklin

Conklin isn't a starting goaltender by anyone's estimation, but can be a capable backup for a team looking for some experience in net.  Last season he went 8-8-4 with a 3.33 goals against average for the St. Louis Blues, and perhaps is best known for being the starting goalie in back-to-back Winter Classic games.

Look for a good team to take a chance on the 35-year-old as the summer moves along, as there's no real risk in signing him.

4. Joey MacDonald

MacDonald is another career backup, and he may not have to look far for his next job.  He played last season for the Detroit Red Wings, recording a 5-5-3 record with a 2.58 goals against average.

The Red Wings are currently debating whether to bring back Chris Osgood and his 400 career wins as a backup, but if they let him go, look for MacDonald to potentially be re-signed as their backup goaltender for 2011-2012.

3. Marty Turco

Strange to think that only two years ago, Turco was one of the top goalies in hockey, posting a .913 save percentage and a 2.72 goals against average for a struggling Dallas Starsteam.

How the mighty have fallen.

Last season for the Chicago Blackhawks, Turco lost his starting job to rookie Corey Crawford, whom the team now sees as the future in net.  As a result, Turco is out on the market, hoping someone takes a chance on him and his very impressive career resume rather than his 11-11-4 with a 3.02 goals against average from last season.

Expect some team to take a flier on him as an experienced backup who could start if needed in the upcoming season.

2. Pascal Leclaire

Now we've reached the high-risk, high-reward section of goaltenders.  The first of two former Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounders on this list, Leclaire is supremely talented, as he showed in his one fully healthy year with the Columbus, posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.25 goals against average over 54 games.

His problem has been fighting the injury bug.

In his two "full" seasons with the Ottawa Senators, he has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency, including a broken cheekbone and a hip problem that necessitated surgery last season.

Leclaire has the talent, so look for a team in need of goalie help to take the risk and sign him to a one-year contract in the hopes that he can put it all back together.

1. Ray Emery

Potentially the best goaltender still available by a wide margin, Ray Emery's story is an amazing one.  

A star with the Ottawa Senators who had a reputation as a bit of a troublemaker, Emery was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-2010 to try and win the Stanley Cup.  He struggled, and was finally shut down with a hip issue so severe that doctors told him he might have to retire.

Nonetheless, the Anaheim Ducks took a chance on the then 27-year-old, and in 10 games after his recovery period in 2010-2011, he played wonderfully, recording a 7-2-0 record, a .926 save percentage, and a 2.28 goals against average.

While he still may have to settle for being signed as a backup goalie, it wouldn't surprise me whatsoever if Emery found himself as a starter in the NHL before 2011-2012 was in the books.

Defensemen: 5. Karlis Skrastins

Skrastins turns 37 on July 9th, but has been a solid lower pairing defenseman for many years with the Stars, Predators, Avalanche and Panthers.  He may not put up big offensive numbers, as shown by his eight points in 74 games last year, but he could be a good veteran presence on a contending team. 

Look for Skrastins to find a job somewhere in a third pairing role as the summer drags on and the other options available sign on with teams.

4. Brent Sopel

Sopel played last season with the Atlanta Thrashers (R.I.P.) and the Montreal Canadiens, registering seven points in 71 games with the two teams.  He also won a Stanley Cup in a bottom pairing role with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009-2010.

The 34-year-old is not offensively gifted by any means, but is a solid defender and excellent shot blocker who could serve as a good lower pairing defenseman for a contending team.

3. Shane O'Brien

O'Brien has played for the Ducks, Lightning, Canucks, and Predators in his six-year career, and with the exception of a 21-point performance in 2007-2008 with Tampa Bay, he has served as a solid defensive defenseman with a nasty mean streak.

Considering that he is just 27 years old, there will probably be a couple of teams interested in him, so look for him to catch on with a team looking to add a physical presence on the back end in the not-too-distant future.

2. Scott Hannan

Hannan was acquired by the Washington Capitals from the Colorado Avalanche in return for high-scoring forward Tomas Fleischmann last November, but was somewhat of a disappointment.  

Once a consistent 20-point per season defenseman, Hannan only recorded five in 55 games with Washington.

More importantly, his $4.5 million cap hit is rather absurd for a player with that little production.  If Hannan wants to play next season—and he probably does—look for him to take a huge salary reduction and sign on as a middle or lower pairing defenseman.

1. Bryan McCabe

McCabe is the best player left on the market, bar none (sorry Maple Leafs fans, it's true).  The veteran power play specialist was acquired by the New York Rangers from Florida just before the trade deadline in return for Tim Kennedy and a third-round draft pick.  

The Rangers' power play saw immediate improvement, although McCabe was in some ways a disappointment, only scoring twice in 19 games and recording a minus-1 rating.

Just like Scott Hannan, McCabe will have to take a pay cut from the $4.15 million he made last year, but he could make a big impact as a second-pairing defenseman with a booming shot next season.

Forwards: 5. John Madden

Just to be clear, I know Teemu Selanne is a free agent, but he's not in this article because there's no way he will play for anyone except Anaheim next season. 

Anyway, aside from the unfortunate comparisons to the portly former Monday Night Football announcer, John Madden is the very definition of a character guy.  

He has won three Stanley Cups in his career—two with New Jersey and one with Chicago—and is a great locker room presence.

Although the 38-year-old's offensive skills are in decline somewhat, he is still good for around 25 points per year at this and could be a big piece for a playoff team to sign for the upcoming season.

4. Nikolay Zherdev

On talent alone, Zherdev would be at the top of this list, easily.  Unfortunately for the former first-round pick, there is more to this game than just talent, which seems to be the issue for him.

Last season with the Flyers, he put up 16 goals in just 56 games, and when he was on his game he was a force to be reckoned with.

Too often, however, he was a non-factor in games and on multiple occasions found himself in Peter Laviolette's doghouse.  

Luckily for Zherdev, he truly has world-class talent, so there may be a team willing to give him one final chance.  It probably will be his last opportunity to prove that he isn't just an enigma.

3. Ryan Shannon

Perhaps the least familiar name to the casual hockey fan on this list, the 28-year-old Shannon could be the classic example of a late bloomer.  Last season, he broke out, relatively speaking, for 11 goals and 27 points, all while playing a good two-way game for the Ottawa Senators.

However, he has not been retained by the team and is now on the market.  Seeing that he still may be blossoming into a very capable NHL player should entice a team to sign him to a deal in the not-too-distant future.  

If he continues his developmental growth in 2011-2012, Shannon could be one of the gems of this year's free agent class.

2. Cory Stillman

The two-time 75-point scorer is reaching the end of his career, but showed last season that he is still a very capable player after being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.  There, he put up 16 points in 21 games during a run to the playoffs that ultimately came up just short.

Still, that burst could be just what Stillman's career needed, as teams looking for a good depth forward may look his way for help.  Although he is 37, he could provide around 40 points and good veteran leadership to any team in need of it.

1. Vinny Prospal

No, it's the same Vinny Prospal you're thinking of.  

We've just reached the point of the summer where almost all of the big names are gone, so he happens to be the best one left. This isn't meant to be a slight towards Vinny; it's just the state of the market.

As to what he can provide, the five-time 20-goal scorer proved he can still bring it in limited action with the Rangers last season, putting up 23 points in 29 games.  Unfortunately for him, the signing of Brad Richards puts him in a spot where he needs to find a new team, but there should be suitors out there for him.

Much like Stillman, he can bring veteran experience and perhaps a 50-point season to a team in need of forward depth. Not a sexy signing, but a good one nonetheless.

If you think I forgot someone, someone should be ranked higher, or even if somehow you completely agree with my list, let me know in the comments!