Top NHL Free Agents

DP · Jun 10, 2010

Fanhouse.com Article

Top 5 Free Agents

1. ILYA KOVALCHUK, F
Age: 26 | Experience: 8 years | '09-10 Team: Thrashers/Devils
2009-10 Stats: 41 g | 44 a | 85 pt

The Skinny: There's only a small handful of quality wingers available in this year's free agent market, and Kovalchuk is the easily the best of the bunch. One of the most explosive goal-scorers in the NHL, Kovalchuk is coming off his sixth-straight 40-goal season and is going to command top dollar on the open market. It's not often that a player this talented, this young, becomes available on the open market to the highest bidder.

2. PATRICK MARLEAU, F
Age: 30 | Experience: 12 years | '09-10 Team: Sharks
2009-10 Stats: 44 g | 39 a | 83 pt

The Skinny: After Kovalchuk, Marleau is probably the last impact player available at forward. The speedy veteran is coming off a career-best point campaign for the Sharks, and the first 40-goal season of his 12-year career. He's going to be 31 when next season starts; how many years will a team be willing to go? He plays in all situations and is a threat to score at even strength, on the power play and even shorthanded (nine shorthanded goals the last two years). He was also one of San Jose's most dangerous forwards in the playoffs, scoring eight goals.

3. ANTON VOLCHENKOV, D
Age: 28 | Experience: 7 years | '09-10 Team: Senators
2009-10 Stats: 4 g | 10 a | 14 pt

The Skinny: One of the best shutdown defensemen in the NHL and still on the right side of 30, Volchenkov is set to strike it rich on the free agent market, perhaps commanding a deal north of $5 million per season. After seeing the success of players like Hal Gill and Josh Gorges in the postseason, why wouldn't a team want to invest in one of the best defensive-defenseman in the NHL?

4. DAN HAMHUIS, D
Age: 27 | Experience: 6 years | '09-10 Team: Predators
2009-10 Stats: 5 g | 19 a | 24 pt

The Skinny: The 12th overall pick in 2001, Hamhuis has steadily developed into a solid, well-rounded defenseman. He was sometimes lost in the shuffle in Nashville due to the presence of youngsters Shea Weber and Ryan Suter on the blueline, but his combination of ability and age will make him a very attractive player. Similar to Paul Martin both in terms of production and stature, but has proven to be a bit more durable over the past couple of seasons, playing in 483 of a possible 492 games in his six-year career.

5. PAUL MARTIN, D
Age: 29 | Experience: 6 years | '09-10 Team: Devils
2009-10 Stats: 2 g | 9 a | 11 pt

The Skinny: Martin's season was derailed by injuries that not only cost him 60 regular season games, but also a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He's been New Jersey's best defenseman for a couple of years now and can easily log over 24 minutes per game.
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Stanley Cup Final team's Free Agents

40. MICHAEL LEIGHTON, G
Age: 29 | Experience: 6 years | '09-10 Team: Hurricanes/Flyers
2009-10 Stats: 17 w | 2.50 GAA | .905 SV%

The Skinny: Let's face it, last year at this time he probably wouldn't have made a list of the top 150 free agents, but backstopping the Flyers run to the Stanley Cup Final will surely give his value a spike. Whether or not he's worth it, and whether or not this postseason run has been nothing more than a giant mirage, remain to be seen.

42. KIM JOHNSSON, D
Age: 34 | Experience: 10 years | '09-10 Team: Wild/Blackhawks
2009-10 Stats: 7 g | 10 a | 17 pt

The Skinny: Chicago acquired the veteran rearguard in mid-February, along with prospect Nick Leddy, for defenseman Cam Barker. He played just eight games for the Blackhawks before suffering a concussion and hasn't played since. Will it be a lingering problem going forward?

46. JOHN MADDEN, F
Age: 37 | Experience: 11 years | '09-10 Team: Blackhawks
2009-10 Stats: 10 g | 13 a | 23 pt

The Skinny: Madden is still an excellent defensive forward and, as he's proven with Chicago, would be a welcome addition to a contender to fill out a bottom-six role. He led all Blackhawks forwards in shorthanded ice-time per game, while winning 53 percent of his faceoffs.
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Pretty awesome article. I hope the Hawks sign Madden right away.Johnsson would also be a nice pick up.

Shutout · Jun 24, 2010

Well, you can take Marleau off the list, just re-signed for 6.9 million dollars a year for the next 4 years. Do you think Kovalchuk is going to end up going to the KHL, like many Russian players opt to do?

truebluefan · Jun 24, 2010

Shutout said: ↑

Well, you can take Marleau off the list, just re-signed for 6.9 million dollars a year for the next 4 years. Do you think Kovalchuk is going to end up going to the KHL, like many Russian players opt to do?
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I think he will. I read an article this week from somewhere, lol, said he may go.

DP · Jun 24, 2010

I wouldnt be surprised if he does go to the KHL. It IS the Russian thing to do.

Chocolove · Jun 30, 2010

Man, I wish the Canucks had the cap room to sign Volchenkov, he would help so much.

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