NHL Free Agents: 14 Most Shocking Cuts of the Preseason

As the 2011-12 NHL season enters its second full week, we now have a better idea of how smart some of the decisions to cut certain players in the preseason was.

Some teams who have struggled out of the gate may regret letting some players go prior to the preseason, and those same players could be signed as free agents to teams needing some more depth.

Let's look at the 14 most shocking cuts of the preseason, are any of these guys going to find work soon in the NHL?

Sean Avery

Sean Avery will likely find another team this season as clubs will need to add to their forward depth as injuries pile up.

Avery's troubles with the law and overall annoyance was enough to make the New York Rangers cut him, which still was a bit surprising.

If Avery can convince a team he's changed and will stay out of trouble off the ice, he will get another chance in the NHL.

Ryan Ellis

Ryan Ellis being cut by the Nashville Predators was certainly a surprise since he has very good offensive skills for a 20-year-old defenseman.

He could use some more time in the AHL, but Ellis certainly has promise, and with the uncertain futures of Predators defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, Nashville should have kept Ellis around.

Ben Scrivens

Ben Scrivens did not make the Toronto Maple Leafs' NHL roster after the preseason, and with Leafs starting goalie James Reimer off to a nice start, Scrivens may not see pro level time for a while.

He still has decent potential, and he had a solid preseason, but the Leafs goaltending situation is not as bad as it used to be.

Simon Despres

Simon Despres was a 2009 first-round pick, but the Pittsburgh Penguins decided to cut him anyway, and to be fair, the team has good defensive depth throughout the organization.

Despres still has a lot of talent, and the former QMJHL defenseman of the year will find NHL work soon. He's only 20 years old.

Jason Jaffray

The Winnipeg Jets are a young team in need of veteran leadership, but 29-year-old Jason Jaffray did not make the team, and thus won't help mentor the younger players.

Jaffray is a decent player, but he was unable to impress a Jets' management who would probably rather see his spot on the roster filled by a young prospect.

Eric Godard

Eric Godard is a physical player who would have added toughness and size to the Dallas Stars lineup, but he was cut instead.

The Stars lost center Brad Richards in free agency and have yet to fill his void with one player or a number of guys.

Godard could have been a decent third to fourth line player.

Shaone Morisonn

Shaone Morisonn was another victim of the salary cap struggles of the Buffalo Sabres, which is too bad because Morisonn is a good veteran defenseman who could have mentored and provided leadership for the many young defensemen on the Sabres roster.

Nate Prosser

Nate Prosser was having a pretty good preseason with the Minnesota Wild, but was then cut from the team. He could have added decent offensive production to the Wild and seemed comfortable with his role on the team.

The Wild did add some forward depth in the summer by trading for Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi, but Prosser should have had a spot.

Ales Kotalik

Ales Kotalik is still a decent offensive player, but the Buffalo Sabres needed to help their salary cap situation and thus cut the veteran.

Playing in Europe or possibly for another NHL team is an option for Kotalik. He can still play on a third line for most teams.

Todd Fedoruk

Todd Fedoruk was cut by the Vancouver Canucks despite the team not having hardly any enforcers or physical forwards.

The Canucks need toughness at forward, and they did not address this issue in the summer or preseason. Fedoruk has had his off-the-ice issues, but he's still a capable NHL player.

Jared Knight

Jared Knight played pretty well in the preseason for the Boston Bruins, but was cut from the NHL roster in late September.

Knight skated with first-line forwards Milan Lucic and David Krejci a little bit in the preseason, and showed some promise.

He would be a good fourth-line offensive option for a number of teams.

Rod Pelley

Rod Pelley could have been a good fourth-line center for the New Jersey Devils, but his unimpressive play in the preseason was probably his undoing.

Pelley is still a capable bottom-line player, and could be a nice addition to a team that is hit with injuries at the center position during the season.

Gilbert Brule

Gilbert Brule was cut by the Edmonton Oilers this preseason, which was surprising since he is a decent player who would add depth to the team.

He's also 24 years old, which, on such a young team, like the Oilers, would make him a veteran.

Gabriel Bourque

Gabriel Bourque is a good young player but was cut from the Nashville Predators roster just prior to the regular season.

For a team that has trouble scoring goals and is without a top offensive player, you'd think that Bourque would have gotten a shot at the NHL level until the trade deadline at least.