Some of the big names that were available this year were signed within hours of free agency opening up. There are, however, still a handful of players that could make an impact in the NHL as complementary or secondary players.
Here's a look at some of the top free agents still available:
Jaromir Jagr:
The name says it all. Jagr may be 41 years old, but he's a future hall of famer that still has gas left in the tank. In 45 games played, he scored 16 goals and added 19 assists for 35 points in a season split between Dallas and Boston. He wants to win and would add experience to any roster while also being a top-six forward. His skill can also help a team's powerplay so look for him to sign somewhere where he can be a supporting player.
"He definitely still wants to play, and there is some interest in him," Jagr's agent, Peter Svoboda, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I think it's going to take some time, but you never know for sure because there are three teams that are very interested." - NHL.com
There have been reports mentioning Jagr's desire to play for Montreal, which his agent confirmed:
The agent told TVA Sports there were discussions Friday with Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and "the interest is mutual, but the decision is now up to the Canadiens." - NHL.com
Mikhail Grabovski:
Coming off a disappointing season (48 GP- 9G-7A-16P) which ultimately led to his buyout from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Grabovski will be looking to prove his worth in the upcoming campaign. Upon being bought out, Grabovski had some choice words for (former) coach Randy Carlyle:
Tell us how you really feel, Mikhail..."I play in the [expletive] Russian KHL, I make lots of [expletive] points and what's going to happen? He make me [expletive] play on the fourth line and he put me in the playoffs on the fourth line and third line again," Grabovski spewed. "Yeah, I don't score goals. I need to work more about that. I know that. But if you feel support from your coach [you'll find success]. I don't feel any support from this [expletive] idiot."[...] "Wilson [expletive] pushed me same hard as this," Grabovski said, months of frustration finally bubbling to the surface, "but don't be an [expletive] with me. If you don't like something tell [expletive] right away, don't put me on the bench, healthy scratch [me] or something. Don't put me on a [expletive] third line and then [expletive] play me six minutes in a game." - Jonas Siegal of TSN
Under previous coach Ron Wilson, Grabovski was used as an offensive center where he flourished and put up consecutive 50 point seasons (59 points in 2010-2011 and 51 points in 2011-2012).
Grabovski is still a skilled center who was one of Toronto's better puck possesion players (along with Clarke MacArthur who signed with Ottawa) despite his drop in offensive production. He could fit nicely into a team's second line center spot.
Damien Brunner:
Brunner made his NHL debut as a 27 year-old rookie playing along side Henrik Zetterberg (who was his linemate during the lockout). Scoring 26 points in 44 games during the season, Brunner also added nine points in 14 playoff games (five goals, 4 assists). With many teams looking to shore up their top-six forwards, Brunner would be a nice addition for any team looking for secondary offense.
Brunner made $1.35 milllion dollars last season and is reportedly pushing for a 2-3 year contract worth $3-3.5 million annually. You can be sure that there will be a team that gives Brunner what he's looking for. An interesting story to follow this upcoming season will be to see how he fares in the NHL without Zetterberg.
Brendan Morrow:
The former captain of the Dallas Stars played extremely well during his stint with Pittsburgh where he registered 14 points in 15 games. He may be 34, but Morrow showed he can still play. Any team looking for a veteran presence in their top-nine forwards should look no further than Morrow. The gritty forward will likely sign with a Stanley Cup contender where he can contribute in a complementary role. His TOI (time on ice) has declined over the past few years but he should still be able to play 14-15 minutes a night. As he showed with Pittsburgh, given the right line mates, he can still contribute offensively as well.
Other notable free agents:
- Dustin Penner
- Had a poor offensive season but has two Stanley Cup rings
- Peter Mueller
- Coming off his first healthy season in what feels like forever, the 25 year old forward has a lot to prove and could thrive with the right offensive team
- Brad Boyes
- 35 points in 48 games while averaging 18+ minutes a night? Boyes proved he's still a solid offensive player who could probably score 20 goals with the right team.
Also available:
- G Tim Thomas
- G Ilya Bryzgalov
- F Nik Antropov
- F Kyle Wellwood
- F Scott Gomez
- F Milan Hejduk
- D Tom Gilbert
- D Douglas Murray
- D Ian White
- D Marek Zidlicky
- D Wade Redden
- G Jose Theodore
- D Ron Hainsey
- D Ryan Whitney
- F Teemu Selanne
- F Daniel Cleary
- F Simon Gagne
While these players don't have the star caliber of free agent classes of past, there's no doubt that just about every player I've mentioned can make in impact on an NHL team.
Who would you like to see on your team?
Thanks for reading!
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