The NHL free agency season will open up July 1st, putting these next two weeks among the busiest of the year for general managers. While the group of players lacks overall star power there is still tremendous value available to fill out a roster and push it from playoff contender to making a deep run.
In the case of the New York Rangers some more scoring could help push them past the Eastern Conference Final next season. Age and injuries caught up with the Rangers this post-season and they ran out of gas against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The problem for New York will be the salary cap.
There are several important restricted free agents the Rangers need to take care of both this year and next. With limited room available spending big money in NHL free agency doesn’t make sense. Fortunately they can find some help somewhat inexpensively.
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Derek Roy is coming off a one-year, $1 million dollar deal and a good showing in Edmonton with 22 points in 46 games. He wouldn’t have to play top-six minutes Derek Stepan and Derek Brassard handling that. If Roy could add depth at center and produce at the level he did in Edmonton, the Rangers would have added punch in the bottom six with a player able to play on the top two lines if injuries called for it.
Roy will likely not be signed the first day as he tests the waters hoping for a longer team deal. I’m not sure he finds one, and if NHL free agency drags on and the Rangers came with a one-year, $1.5 to $1.75 million dollar offer, I think that gets done and Roy starts contributing on a favorite to win the Eastern Conference.
What others players will find new teams and fresh starts as NHL free agency gets going in just under two weeks? Here are four more players that are likely to sign elsewhere and make important contributions.
Mar 19, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Capitals defeated the Wild 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s no secret the Edmonton Oilers are loaded with young talent at forward. Their top six would be enough to pressure even the better defenses in the league. Problem is, if you can’t keep the puck out of your zone and net, your picking at the top of the draft.
The Oilers are rumored as one of the teams pursuing Cam Talbot, which would stabilize the goaltending. A tandem of Talbot and Ben Scrivens sounds pretty good heading into the season. The defense, however, needs to be addressed with several young players entering restricted NHL free agency.
Assuming all three of Justin Schultz, Keith Aulie and Martin Marincin get qualifying offers, that’s seven defensemen with Marincin coming off a two-way deal.The same seven players on defense, while still improving, didn’t show enough last year to believe there would be a big jump. Mike Green would give that improvement, a veteran at 29 with playoff experience and offensive talent to capitalize on the young talented forwards Edmonton has.
The question would be cap space. The Oilers are projecting over $16 million in space before the cap ceiling. These are purely guesses but if Schultz gets $2 million per season (more than double last seasons salary), Aulie gets $1.5 million and Marincin gets $1 million, that’s $4.5 million off the cap and the NHL free agency belt begins to tighten.
Bringing in Talbot adds $1.45 million this year but would command an extension. That wouldn’t kick in right away but project that to $4 million per season. The $16 million in space is now down to $7.5 million. Green made $6.5 million last year, so without a raise his salary fits right in. Edmonton will likely look to flip some of their forward depth and create more space for future contracts.
New GM Peter Chiarelli will look to make a splashing NHL free agency and bring a proud franchise back into contention. Adding a goaltender is a must. So is adding defensive help that also adds punch to the scoresheet. Mike Green can be that addition from this years NHL free agency class.
Next: Playoff Performer Gets Another Shot At Stanley Cup
Apr 6, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Justin Williams (14) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 2-1 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
The Florida Panthers will enter NHL free agency in a similar cap situation as the Edmonton Oilers, but a different defensive outlook. Aaron Ekblad and Erik Gudbranson are studs and adding Dmitry Kulikov shows a great defensive core all under age 25. Brian Campbell is on the last year of his deal but still plays well. In short, defense is not a primary concern for the Panthers.
The problem with a group of young talent is they haven’t had much playoff experience, let alone winning and making deep runs toward the Cup. Jaromir Jagr helps offset some of that as only Jagr can but the team still need help at right-wing with only Jagr and Brad Boyes under contract. That’s depth issues.
Playoff hero Justin Williams can solve those depth issues. In the last four full seasons Williams has scored no less than eighteen goals. He has three Stanley Cup rings and is known for his Game Seven results. Even with Jagr in the locker room, how can a young team looking to make the Eastern Conference playoffs ignore that influence and production?
Justin Williams is the perfect fit from NHL free agency for the Florida Panthers. With the extra offense and leadership, I expect the Panthers youth to continue their growth and push the Panthers back to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Justin Williams will get a three-year deal worth nearly $4 million per season, and he will get it from the Panthers.
Apr 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) stops the puck during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Stars season began with such promise and went up in smoke, a combination of injuries and arguably the worst season Kari Lehtonen had as a professional. The odds of injuries ruining another season are minimal. However the Stars haven’t done a great deal with Lehtonen in the crease. Could the time be coming to find another goaltender?
With three years at nearly $6 million per, moving Lehtonen’s contract will be nearly impossible before NHL free agency, particularly with younger talent like Talbot and Eddie Lack available in trades. Braden Holtby is still available too if you like offer sheets. But I’m not talking about him in this space because I believe he gets his deal from the Washington Capitals.
Antti Niemi is available in NHL free agency, a goaltender with a track record of success and a Stanley Cup on his résumé. The Stars don’t need to get rid of Lehtonen this year but they do need a better back-up plan should he struggle or become injured. Niemi is 31 and should easily still be a starting goaltender but teams in need are looking younger.
Niemi would give that stability and should still get a contract in the $3 million dollar range. Assuming he gets a two-year deal, it gives Niemi and the Stars a chance to see if he can take the crease. If that happens it burns one of the three years left on his deal, making Lehtonen a more attractive trade target – or a less expensive buyout.
The Dallas Stars need to get better production out of their goaltenders. If that is Lehtonen so be it. But Niemi will offer experience and insurance when and if Lehtonen doesn’t bounce back. The Stars won’t be trading for a goaltender, so NHL free agency is the place to look. Antti Niemi will be the answer, and the Dallas Stars will do what they should have done last year – contend for a playoff spot.
Feb 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Daniel Paille (20) is congratulated by teammates after scoring Boston
The Tampa Bay Lightning learned a great deal in their Stanley Cup Final loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite dominating most of the first four games in the series, the Blackhawks experience proved the difference in raising the Cup. Being there before matters more than I thought it did.
Making matters worse is the cap situation in Tampa Bay. For all the talk about what Chicago has to do, the Lightning enter NHL free agency in much the same situation though most of the issues come up next year with multiple restricted free agents. The big one to handle this year is Vladimir Namestnikov.
Without much cap space the Lightning won’t be very active in NHL free agency unless they can shed some salary, which would be a good idea with Steven Stamkoscoming up after the 2015-16 season as well. That doesn’t mean they can’t get better.
I expect the Lightning to get younger on defense and move one of their older defensemen around the draft. By freeing up that money and qualifying Andrej Sutsr the room is created to sign Daniel Paille. Paille was a major contributor on the bottom two lines in Boston and helped the Bruins earn a Stanley Cup during his time there.
Paille is 31 and his experience and leadership would be a great fit in Tampa Bay at a small raise over last years contract at $1.3 million. On top of that, the Lightning need the help at left-wing with only Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat and Brenden Morrow available. Morrow himself is part of the NHL free agency parade this year and likely won’t return.
Daniel Paille won’t be talked about as a big signing but I believe he is among the best values in the NHL free agency class for 2015. The Lightning don’t have to do much to stay among the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Solving part of the wing depth with experience, energy and grit that Daniel Paille brings could be enough to get those last two wins in the 2015-16 Stanley Cup playoffs.
