Top 10 Unrestricted Free Agents Who Should Be Available At The Trade Deadline
Yes, I know it's a long title but it encompasses the category: UFA's who should be available whether it's because their teams are non-contenders or simply unlikely to re-sign with their current team. Now start dreaming about how one of these players would fit well in your teams line-up.
1. Mathieu Schneider: The biggest catch with Schneider being moved is that Atlanta is close to the cap floor. So look for Schneider to be traded either as part of a large move or for players instead of prospects. He could really go to a variety of teams that need a puck moving defenceman.
2. Jay Bouwmeester: Any team looking to trade for Bouwmeester will be looking to sign him long term and may even look for a short window to sign him before the trade is agreed. Regardless, Bouwmeester will definitely be the most talented UFA available at the deadline. It is also still possible that Florida could re-sign him but it seems like a stretch at the moment.
3. Bill Guerin: Has not been having a phenomenal year but can still be a top 6 winger. Injuries also haven't been a concern for him in the last few years so he seems ready to go to a team on the fringe. It also shouldn't cost a lot to get rid of him.
4. Mike Comrie: Comrie has been traded at the deadline before and has proven to be able to produce quickly. The team trading for him won't necessarily need to worry about re-signing him but also won't have to give up that much to get him. Something like a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick would do, or a B grade prospect.
5. Matthias Ohlund: Mike Gillis does not wat to trade Ohlund but may decide that he is the easiest or best asset to move in order to add some scoring help. Vancouver defence is one of the best in the league and removing Ohlund from it would not dramatically hinder Vancouver's depth or its ability to produce.
6. Andy McDonald: McDonald has been injured for much of the year but is expected to be back from an ankle injury either this week or next. Andy has produced more than a point per game this season and would seem to be a solid no. 2 or maybe even no. 1 center on most teams. St. Louis is really struggling and would be wise to go into full re-build mode, consequently if McDonald is healthy, he seems destined to be playing for someone else this season.
7. Nik Antropov: One of the better forwards available, and we all know that Brian Burke is trying to clean house. This may drive his value down a bit, but either way I would expect him to go because of his ability to be a productive 2nd liner on a contender.
8. Filip Kuba: Now Ottawa needs more puck-moving defenseman rather than less, but if Bryan Murray is thinking logically, he should now he'll be able to get more from Kuba by trading him than trying to re-sign him. Should be a solid addition to a playoff team as a 3rd or 4th d-men and playing on the 2nd power play unit.
9. Nikolai Khabibulin: Whether Chicago is wanting to trade Khabibulin or Huet will be a big question but with Huet playing better it only makes sense to get rid of one of them for scoring help, prospects or even some picks. There are plenty of fringe playoff teams that could use some help in the net: see Washington
10. Jere Lehtinen: Lehtinen has been playing for the Stars for a long time and may be inclined to sign an extension with the team instead of going elsewhere, but he may be an attractive option to teams looking for both defensive and offensive help; he is also a player who has been injured for more than half the season.
Honourable Mentions
Ian Laperriere, Hall Gill, Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi
Two intentional omissions
1. Marian Gaborik: It sounds like contract talks were going no where but right now he's injured and expected to be back sometime in March (perhaps after the trade deadline). He may be traded but that's a big maybe; if so it will be done with the expectation that he is fully healthy or will be soon, and may have some conditional picks or prospects attached to it based on whether he signs or whether he is healthy enough to play for the rest of the year.
2. Daniel and Henrik Sedin: It's possible they could get moved but only if Vancouver tanks over the next month. Mike Gillis would love to sign them but seems to be having trouble deciding both on term and on the dollar amount. If the Sedins are traded it could very well be part of a blockbuster deal that wouldn't necessarily have to include a playoff team.
1. Mathieu Schneider: The biggest catch with Schneider being moved is that Atlanta is close to the cap floor. So look for Schneider to be traded either as part of a large move or for players instead of prospects. He could really go to a variety of teams that need a puck moving defenceman.
2. Jay Bouwmeester: Any team looking to trade for Bouwmeester will be looking to sign him long term and may even look for a short window to sign him before the trade is agreed. Regardless, Bouwmeester will definitely be the most talented UFA available at the deadline. It is also still possible that Florida could re-sign him but it seems like a stretch at the moment.
3. Bill Guerin: Has not been having a phenomenal year but can still be a top 6 winger. Injuries also haven't been a concern for him in the last few years so he seems ready to go to a team on the fringe. It also shouldn't cost a lot to get rid of him.
4. Mike Comrie: Comrie has been traded at the deadline before and has proven to be able to produce quickly. The team trading for him won't necessarily need to worry about re-signing him but also won't have to give up that much to get him. Something like a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick would do, or a B grade prospect.
5. Matthias Ohlund: Mike Gillis does not wat to trade Ohlund but may decide that he is the easiest or best asset to move in order to add some scoring help. Vancouver defence is one of the best in the league and removing Ohlund from it would not dramatically hinder Vancouver's depth or its ability to produce.
6. Andy McDonald: McDonald has been injured for much of the year but is expected to be back from an ankle injury either this week or next. Andy has produced more than a point per game this season and would seem to be a solid no. 2 or maybe even no. 1 center on most teams. St. Louis is really struggling and would be wise to go into full re-build mode, consequently if McDonald is healthy, he seems destined to be playing for someone else this season.
7. Nik Antropov: One of the better forwards available, and we all know that Brian Burke is trying to clean house. This may drive his value down a bit, but either way I would expect him to go because of his ability to be a productive 2nd liner on a contender.
8. Filip Kuba: Now Ottawa needs more puck-moving defenseman rather than less, but if Bryan Murray is thinking logically, he should now he'll be able to get more from Kuba by trading him than trying to re-sign him. Should be a solid addition to a playoff team as a 3rd or 4th d-men and playing on the 2nd power play unit.
9. Nikolai Khabibulin: Whether Chicago is wanting to trade Khabibulin or Huet will be a big question but with Huet playing better it only makes sense to get rid of one of them for scoring help, prospects or even some picks. There are plenty of fringe playoff teams that could use some help in the net: see Washington
10. Jere Lehtinen: Lehtinen has been playing for the Stars for a long time and may be inclined to sign an extension with the team instead of going elsewhere, but he may be an attractive option to teams looking for both defensive and offensive help; he is also a player who has been injured for more than half the season.
Honourable Mentions
Ian Laperriere, Hall Gill, Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi
Two intentional omissions
1. Marian Gaborik: It sounds like contract talks were going no where but right now he's injured and expected to be back sometime in March (perhaps after the trade deadline). He may be traded but that's a big maybe; if so it will be done with the expectation that he is fully healthy or will be soon, and may have some conditional picks or prospects attached to it based on whether he signs or whether he is healthy enough to play for the rest of the year.
2. Daniel and Henrik Sedin: It's possible they could get moved but only if Vancouver tanks over the next month. Mike Gillis would love to sign them but seems to be having trouble deciding both on term and on the dollar amount. If the Sedins are traded it could very well be part of a blockbuster deal that wouldn't necessarily have to include a playoff team.
posted by Aidan Tiefenbach at
1:29 PM
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