With the All-Star game on tap in 10 days and the NHL standings completely up-for-grabs, teams will begin looking for ways to improve their rosters heading into the season's most crucial stages. Heading into tonight's play, only nine points seperate the top team in the Southeast Division from the bottom team. In the Eastern Conference, that same margin exists from the No. 3 to No. 15, which means being one of the Top-8 in the playoff hunt is uncertain at this point and all teams remain alive.
In the Western Conference where Detroit has left the other 14 teams in its wake (13-point lead over 2nd place San Jose), there is a 13-point separation from No. 2 to No. 14, but only a seven-point cushion from 2nd place to 9th. Los Angeles with 36 points is the lone team without much hope in the West.
During the course of the next 40 days or so, some teams will have solidified their playoff positions, while others will have fallen by the wayside. It's truly too early to tell the teams that will be unloading or those that will be acquiring, but in either case those players eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 will be hot commodities as deadline nears. There are several players listed below who can make themselves available to the highest bidder this summer. Tops on that list of players from Southeast teams is Atlanta's Marian Hossa, who at 29 still has many productive years ahead..jpg)
Hossa may want to test his value on the open market this summer rather than re-sign with Atlanta. While that would be tragic for the Thrashers, GM Don Waddell can't afford to let the Slovakian forward leave the nest without trying to get something in return. If Hossa and his agent indicate the desire to look elsewhere, Waddell has to deal him. Remember, Hossa came to Atlanta with Greg deVries in the Dany Heatley deal in 2005, and it would be tough for the Thrashers organization to lose all three in the span of 35 months without receiving anything in return except their services. Sure, Hossa's departure would provide cap space to pursue other free agents but he is simply too valuable to let him walk away without some form of compensation.
In Tampa, the Lightning are still awaiting the return of defenseman Dan Boyle, who has missed all but four games this season due to severed tendons in his left wrist. Boyle, who will turn 32 in July, also is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. Prior to this unfortunate season, Boyle scored 35 goals and added 81 assists in 162 regular season games for the Bolts following the lockout. The offensive-minded defenseman averaged more than 27 minutes per game of ice time last season. It goes without saying that if healthy, Boyle will be a hot commodity on the open market and prior to the deadline if he returns to the ice in February.
Winger Vaclav Prospal is having another solid campaign for the Lightning and is eligible to head to the open market after the season, too.
Notable Unrestricted Free Agents for 2008-09 Season
ATLANTA
Marian Hossa, Bobby Holik, Pascal Dupuis, Johan Hedberg
Current Needs: bigger, stronger defensemen and playmaking centers
CAROLINA
Cory Stillman, Bret Hedican, Mike Commodore, Glen Wesley
Current Needs: healthy bodies, younger mobile defensemen to quarterback the power play and a right wing who can score
FLORIDA
Steve Montador
Current Needs: goal scorers and tough wingers who will work the boards
NASHVILLE
J.P. Dumont, Martin Gelinas, Dan Ellis
Current Needs: goal scorer and physical blue-liner
TAMPA BAY
Vaclav Prospal, Chris Gratton, Jan Hlavac, Dan Boyle, Doug Janik, Johan Holmqvist
Current Needs: defense, goaltending and a physical, checking winger
WASHiNGTON
Matt Bradley, Donald Brashear, Olag Kolzig
Current Needs: playmaking center and a North American-born leader with Cup experience
SOON-TO-BE FREE AGENTS ON THE MOVE?
| Defensemen |
Team
|
Current Salary |
U-Unrestricted; R-Restricted |
| Brian Campbell |
Buffalo |
$1.75 million |
U
|
| Dmitri Kalinin |
Buffalo |
$2.25 million |
U |
| Mike Commodore |
Carolina |
$1.3 million |
U
|
| Ron Hainsey |
Columbus |
$900,000 |
U |
| Andreas Lilja |
Detroit |
$1 million |
U |
| Brad Stuart |
Los Angeles |
$3.5 million |
U |
| Nick Schultz |
Minnesota |
$1.85 million |
U |
| Mark Streit |
Montreal |
$600,00 |
U |
| Paul Mara |
New York Rangers |
$3.0 million |
U |
| Michal Rozsival |
New York Rangers |
$2.3 million |
U |
| Wade Redden |
Ottawa |
$6.5 million |
U |
| Jason Smith |
Philadelphia |
$1.976 million |
U |
| Barret Jackman |
St. Louis |
$2.2 million |
U |
| Dan Boyle |
Tampa Bay |
$3.625 million |
U |
| Centers |
Team |
Current Salary |
U-Unrestricted; R-Restricted |
| Daymond Langkow |
Calgary |
$2.44 million |
U |
| Jason Williams |
Chicago |
$1.6 million |
U |
| David Vyborny |
Columbus |
$2.2 million |
U
|
| Mike Comrie |
New York Islanders |
$3.375 million |
U |
| Ruslan Fedetenko |
New York Islanders |
$2.9 million |
U |
| Chris Kelly |
Ottawa |
$1.26 million |
U |
| Curtis Brown |
San Jose |
$700,000 |
U |
| Brendan Morrison |
Vancouver |
$3.2 million |
U |
| Michael Peca |
Columbus |
$1.315 million |
U |