Notable NHL Free Agents – 2012.
It’s only a week into the 2011-12 season, but now’s as good a time as any to post an updated list of the notable NHL players who’ll be eligible for restricted and unrestricted free agent status next summer.
Keep track of these names over the course of this season. It’ll be interesting to see how many will still be unsigned when next July 1st rolls around, especially given the uncertainty over the status of the next round of collective bargaining between the league and the NHLPA.
It’s also possible a few of them might become “trade bait” come this season’s trade deadline.
UNRESTRICTED:
Still the subject of trade speculation.
Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals.
Nicklas Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators.
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth, Edmonton Oilers.
John-Michael Liles and Mikhail Grabovski, Toronto Maple Leafs
Josh Gorges, Montreal Canadiens
Tomas Vokoun, Washington Capitals.
Dustin Penner, LA Kings
Dwayne Roloson, Tampa Bay Lightning
Brad Boyes, Buffalo Sabres
RESTRICTED
Can the Predators afford to keep Weber?
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators.
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Mike Green, Washington Capitals.
Matt Duchene and Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
David Krejci, Boston Bruins
Chris Stewart and T.J. Oshie St. Louis Blues.
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets
Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks
Kris Versteeg, Florida Panthers
James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins
Thankfully the Rangers will have nobody on that list for the next decade.
Prediction time! Don’t worry Lyle, these are just for fun on my part!
Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils = Both stay put!
Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals = After Caps make finals, stays put for a few more years
Nicklas Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings = Old Nik retires, Young Nik re-signs.
Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators = Suter signs with the Red Wings. Rinne with the relocated Phoenix Coyotes franchise (the new owner allows them the finances to do so!)
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes = With the Coyotes relocated, Doan stays in the American south-west, and signs with the Ducks or Kings in the hopes of winning a Cup.
Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth, Edmonton Oilers. = Smyth stays an Oiler for life. The Oilers do better than most expected and remain in the hunt for the play-offs past the trade deadline. In the end they miss, and Hemsky is traded at the draft to the… Carolina Hurricanes (why not?)
John-Michael Liles and Mikhail Grabovski, Toronto Maple Leafs = Leafs make the play-offs and re-sign Grabovski, but with a glut of young defenseman, Liles is allowed to walk….around Lake Ontario to the Buffalo Sabres.
Josh Gorges, Montreal Canadiens = re-signs
Tomas Vokoun, Washington Capitals = Returns to Florida….as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Dustin Penner, LA Kings = After the Kings realize that he’s had no part in their success (making it to the 2nd round), they let him go. He joines fellow Winkler boy Eric Fehr on the Winnipeg Jets!
Dwayne Roloson, Tampa Bay Lightning = retires
Brad Boyes, Buffalo Sabres = With a glut of young forwars, Sabres let Boyes go. He goes to the rebuilding Panthers.
As for the restricted free agents, I think that moist will stay put. Corey Schneider will finally be traded, possibly to the Columbus Blue Jackets, though as a Canucks fan I can hope that he’s packaged to Nashville for Weber (Remember, the Preds lost Rinne). But I think the Edmonton Oilers will put together an offer that Nashville can’t refuse.
Kris Versteeg is the only other RFA that will move. For no reason other than he can’t seem to stick anywhere!