Well with 6 days until the NHL regular season opens, there are some names on the Free Agent list that are a little surprising and some that aren't.
Some players who have seemed to age themselves out of the game and some who just aren't needed right now.
A few of them are well known and a lot aren't known all that well but they are all still looking to be signed by a team.
To start off, I'll list some of the skaters that are available still to be signed somewhere. Now I know that some of these players are in training camps at the moment, but they are on PTO's (Pro Try-Out contracts) and that doesn't mean that they have signed with the team yet.
At the top of this list is Daniel Alfredsson. He had the most points last season out of all the Free Agents available, and he is among one of the oldest players still out there on the market. He is sort of in a holding pattern at the moment waiting to see how is back injury heals up. There have been stories and rumors that if he isn't healed by early in the season he will call it a career and move on but I don't know if he really will. The Red Wings (who he is rumored to be in talks with) can easily move on with out him and bring in one of their younger players from the farm team and work them into the system. This signing all literally depends on how Alfie feels and what he wants to do. A 41 year old player who still put up 49 points last season could still be a valuable in mentoring younger players and still chip in a few points for the team.
Another player that I am and at the same time not surprised to see on this list is Dustin Penner. Mr. Pancakes. He is still within the age that you see players in the NHL at only 32 years old and he had the second highest points on the Free Agent list with 35. Not to mention that he was a +25 last season which is kinda surprising to me. Penner really re-booted his career in Anaheim last season before being traded to the Capitals around the trade deadline. He's seen some time on a few different teams, Ducks (twice) the Oilers, the Kings and the Caps but given his size, never really was that net front presence that I'm sure teams were hoping for. If he kept himself in shape (a constant issue with Penner) and is willing to play a physical, hard nosed grinder game, I'm sure he could be valuable somewhere in the league.
A few other noteables that are on the skaters list of FA's are;
Derek Morris, Raph Diaz, Ville Leino, Scott Gomez, Ryan Jones, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jordan Tootoo, and Yann Sauve.
These players have some pretty good talent and have logged some time in an NHL uniform, weather it have been for 3 games or 10 years. Some of them you see their names and think, "terrible, under performer or overrated" which may be very true, but some of them have great reputations as players who can log minutes and be hard to play against.
I'm sure that some of these guys will end up signing one year deals somewhere in the league and some will just move on, maybe to Russia or Europe.
The list of names of goaltenders on the FA list can be longer then the one in front of me due to the fact that some of the players have never seen an NHL game but don't have contracts anymore.
There are 2 well known names that I wouldn't be surprise to sign one year deals.
First, Martin Brodeur. He has been noted to say that he will only sign with NJD and only if he is given the starters role. But with Cory Schneider in line for that role that may be difficult.
Brodeur is pretty much a lock to go into the Hall of Fame but still believes he can make a difference for a team so he hasn't retired yet. His number speak for them self but are they good enough now to give him the starter position?
Another goalie that is available and willing to play wherever as a starter or backup is Tim Thomas.
He's seen time in Boston, Dallas and Florida. Also in the woods of Colorado during his season off from pro hockey. He like anyone has his own personal beliefs that he's made known, but that may hinder him a little as far as a contract goes. I don't know how, but I have a feeling it may hold him back a bit.
He could be a solid back up in a time of need as long as he can stay healthy which has been an issue for him this last season.
One other personality that is still available at the moment, Ilya Bryzgalov. We have all seen the side show that he can create with is personality and attitude, but I think that he means well. He just wants to play and still can play well.
He is on a PTO with the Wild at the moment and there is a possibility that he may stay there through the season.
He could be a valuable asset to the Wild should he stay there for the year. He has decent numbers and we know that when he wants to, he can be lights out. But if he is off his game, then look out. It's a train wreck. He is a bit of a gamble that I'm surprised doesn't have at least a one year deal already.
There are many others that still are searching for a contract and we have to wait and see who gets them. But most rosters seem to be selected in pencil already. So that leaves very little left for those still searching. Only time will tell. But best of luck to those hoping to play at least one more year.
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