OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Vancouver Canucks - 2014 - what if Jim Benning never happened? Pt. 2

CanuckJohnny · 01-02-2024, 09:06 PM

Free Agency Preview

June 30th, 2017

What was shaping up to be another slim free agent class has been injected with some excitement and star power after the round of compliance buyouts went through. Some big names are available and possibly at a reduced rate. Will teams immediately overspend on the same players they just cut loose or will responsibility rule the day?

Paul Stastny probably is the biggest name on the list right now. The 31 year old pivot was a victim of the numbers game in St. Louis when they used their compliance buyout on him but he has plenty of offense to give, scoring 54 points last season while also being responsible in his own end.

Scott Hartnell is a gritty veteran at 35. He may not give you a full healthy season but when he is in the lineup he will bring physicality and scoring and two way play. He had fourteen goals last year in fifty games with Anaheim.

Forty year old Jarome Iginla isn't done yet, as his first round stats from this past playoffs will tell you. He can be counted on to go to the hard areas and should still be good for 10-15 goals in a reduced role. Playoff calibre teams will likely be lining up to have his leadership and experience on their side this year.

Mikko Koivu struggled with injuries last season and his production is on the decline but he still brings leadership intangibles and great defensive chops to the lineup and if he can accept a 3C role for a contender he will be a great fit.

Physical scoring winger James Neal should have many suitors. He scored 19 goals last year and 24 the year previous. At 29 years old he should have plenty left in the tank.

Patrick Sharp didn't live up to his contract in Buffalo but on a more responsible contract he could still bring a lot of value as a defensively responsible, offensively viable veteran. Sharp still scored 15 goals last season and on a decent contract should be able to add a lot to a team's middle six.

Lars Eller won't put many points up but what you see is what you get with the defensive center. As a bottom six penalty killing center he is a great option and multiple teams should be in on him come July 1st.

Bought out by the only team he's ever played for, it's hard to imagine "Looch" in a sweater other than Boston's but Milan Lucic will be trying on new colours this July 1st. The 29 year old power forward is good for around twenty goals a year and will intimidate the opposition game in and game out.

Andrew Ladd finds himself a free agent again two summers after signing a big deal with the Oilers. His scoring has trailed off tremendously but as a physical bottom six winger who excels in his own end he is likely to find a home this offseason.

Dustin Brown was a heart and soul, ride or die Los Angeles King and he nearly cried in the press conference saying good bye after his club used their compliance buyout on him. Hockey is a business after all. The 32 year old winger is clearly on the decline and hasn't been productive the past few years but this most recent season was still something of a bounce back, hitting double digits in goals for the first time in three years with 13. Someone will pay for his abrasive style and scoring touch around the net, but they won't have to pay nearly what LA was.

At thirty one Alex Goligoski has pretty much cemented his reputation as a reliable second pair defenseman who won't bring a ton of offense but can move the puck decently well and keep it away from his own net.

Brent Seabrook has that coveted Stanley Cup experience to go along with the size coaches love at his position and the snarl to go along with it. He is still a very good defensive defenseman, though his play has dropped off a little and he wasn't worth the price tag for a cap strapped Chicago team. He's the biggest name out there on defense this free agency, and probably some general manager will overpay for his reputation.

The Sharks cut ties with Marc-Edouard Vlasic not because he isn't a competent defenseman (he just put up forty points while being +38) nor because he's named after a pickle but simply because his contract was too rich. Vlasic is not a number one defenseman. Nobody this July 1st will be paying him like he is. What he still can be and will probably be paid to be is a reliable, defensively sound top four blueliner.

At 38, Brian Campbell is a shell of his former self. Nonetheless he still is an above average skater who will throw the occasional big hit and can still put up some points. Some team will doubtless give him a shot to be a depth defenseman who contributes on the powerplay.

Brendan Smith is a physical, stay at home defenseman. He won't put much on the scoresheet but neither will his opponents. Multiple teams will be applying for the 28 year old's services, hoping he will patrol their blueline next year.

Andrej Sekera has seen his production trail off but his game was always more about keeping the puck out of his net than getting it into his opponent's. He continues to be a reliable shot blocker who plays with intelligence and defensive acumen.

Antti Niemi is cut loose by the Flyers after all the controversy last season when he stole the crease from star Corey Crawford. The coach who believed in him has been fired and he is left to find a new club to compete for. Despite being trusted with 45 starts last year his numbers were less than stellar and he is probably better suited to a backup or at least 1B role at this stage in his career.

Jonas Hiller only played seven games for the Flames this past season and will be hoping to be a backup somewhere he can see the ice a bit more frequently. At 35 time is running out on his career and this may be his last chance to have an NHL job.

Faceoff specialist Boyd Gordon will be a desirable asset despite missing all of this past season with a serious eye injury. Gordon is 33 and most teams will be wary of giving him term especially after such a serious injury but he is consistently at the top of the league in faceoff percentage and a bottom six center who can kill penalties and win key draws will be attractive to manys a team with playoff aspirations.

Physical winger Ryan Reaves will be much sought after for his policing and swagger. He doesn't contribute much on the scoreboard but does save his best performances for the playoffs, scoring three goals for the Blues en route to becoming a Stanley Cup champion this postseason.

Canucks backup netminder Thomas Greiss will be looking for an opporunity for more starts. Possibly one of the best backups in the league these past two seasons, Greiss will probably look for an opportunity in a tandem situation to prove he can play more than twenty games a year.

Mark Letestu put up 32 points for Chicago this season. The versatile offensive forward can play PP2 and play reasonably responsible minutes in your bottom six.

Thirty three year old Trevor Daley played for the Blackhawks and had 27 points as a defenseman. On a weak team he can play satisfactory top four minutes and chip in offensively. A deeper team will slot him in on the bottom pairing get valuable minutes from him in that role.

Matt Carle of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the plus minus award and had sixteen goals and thirty points but many analysts suspect he is overrated and the beneficiary of playing a lot of minutes with Victor Hedman this year. He will get the chance to pick his team this year and prove he is not merely the product of a good environment.

Zbynek Michalek was a late summer signing two years ago by the Canucks but the 34 year old could garner attention much sooner in this slim free agent class. The fact that he has a consistent resume of NHL minutes and penalty killing experience should land him another job.

Swedish goalie Anders Nilsson has garnered some NHL interest and may be convinced to come ply his trade in the world's best league. The pay would likely be better than in Sweden but he would likely find himself in more of a backup or tandem role rather than the starter's job he has been accustomed to in Sweden. This may be the 27 year old's final opportunity to come play in the NHL and it will be interesting to see if a team can win him over.

Finnish forward Teemu Hartikainen has produced over seventy points in consecutive seasons in Finland, including a 39 goal season this year. If he wants an NHL job there will likely be one available to him.

01-02-2024, 09:06 PM	#18
CanuckJohnny All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 554	Free Agency Preview June 30th, 2017 What was shaping up to be another slim free agent class has been injected with some excitement and star power after the round of compliance buyouts went through. Some big names are available and possibly at a reduced rate. Will teams immediately overspend on the same players they just cut loose or will responsibility rule the day? Paul Stastny probably is the biggest name on the list right now. The 31 year old pivot was a victim of the numbers game in St. Louis when they used their compliance buyout on him but he has plenty of offense to give, scoring 54 points last season while also being responsible in his own end. Scott Hartnell is a gritty veteran at 35. He may not give you a full healthy season but when he is in the lineup he will bring physicality and scoring and two way play. He had fourteen goals last year in fifty games with Anaheim. Forty year old Jarome Iginla isn't done yet, as his first round stats from this past playoffs will tell you. He can be counted on to go to the hard areas and should still be good for 10-15 goals in a reduced role. Playoff calibre teams will likely be lining up to have his leadership and experience on their side this year. Mikko Koivu struggled with injuries last season and his production is on the decline but he still brings leadership intangibles and great defensive chops to the lineup and if he can accept a 3C role for a contender he will be a great fit. Physical scoring winger James Neal should have many suitors. He scored 19 goals last year and 24 the year previous. At 29 years old he should have plenty left in the tank. Patrick Sharp didn't live up to his contract in Buffalo but on a more responsible contract he could still bring a lot of value as a defensively responsible, offensively viable veteran. Sharp still scored 15 goals last season and on a decent contract should be able to add a lot to a team's middle six. Lars Eller won't put many points up but what you see is what you get with the defensive center. As a bottom six penalty killing center he is a great option and multiple teams should be in on him come July 1st. Bought out by the only team he's ever played for, it's hard to imagine "Looch" in a sweater other than Boston's but Milan Lucic will be trying on new colours this July 1st. The 29 year old power forward is good for around twenty goals a year and will intimidate the opposition game in and game out. Andrew Ladd finds himself a free agent again two summers after signing a big deal with the Oilers. His scoring has trailed off tremendously but as a physical bottom six winger who excels in his own end he is likely to find a home this offseason. Dustin Brown was a heart and soul, ride or die Los Angeles King and he nearly cried in the press conference saying good bye after his club used their compliance buyout on him. Hockey is a business after all. The 32 year old winger is clearly on the decline and hasn't been productive the past few years but this most recent season was still something of a bounce back, hitting double digits in goals for the first time in three years with 13. Someone will pay for his abrasive style and scoring touch around the net, but they won't have to pay nearly what LA was. At thirty one Alex Goligoski has pretty much cemented his reputation as a reliable second pair defenseman who won't bring a ton of offense but can move the puck decently well and keep it away from his own net. Brent Seabrook has that coveted Stanley Cup experience to go along with the size coaches love at his position and the snarl to go along with it. He is still a very good defensive defenseman, though his play has dropped off a little and he wasn't worth the price tag for a cap strapped Chicago team. He's the biggest name out there on defense this free agency, and probably some general manager will overpay for his reputation. The Sharks cut ties with Marc-Edouard Vlasic not because he isn't a competent defenseman (he just put up forty points while being +38) nor because he's named after a pickle but simply because his contract was too rich. Vlasic is not a number one defenseman. Nobody this July 1st will be paying him like he is. What he still can be and will probably be paid to be is a reliable, defensively sound top four blueliner. At 38, Brian Campbell is a shell of his former self. Nonetheless he still is an above average skater who will throw the occasional big hit and can still put up some points. Some team will doubtless give him a shot to be a depth defenseman who contributes on the powerplay. Brendan Smith is a physical, stay at home defenseman. He won't put much on the scoresheet but neither will his opponents. Multiple teams will be applying for the 28 year old's services, hoping he will patrol their blueline next year. Andrej Sekera has seen his production trail off but his game was always more about keeping the puck out of his net than getting it into his opponent's. He continues to be a reliable shot blocker who plays with intelligence and defensive acumen. Antti Niemi is cut loose by the Flyers after all the controversy last season when he stole the crease from star Corey Crawford. The coach who believed in him has been fired and he is left to find a new club to compete for. Despite being trusted with 45 starts last year his numbers were less than stellar and he is probably better suited to a backup or at least 1B role at this stage in his career. Jonas Hiller only played seven games for the Flames this past season and will be hoping to be a backup somewhere he can see the ice a bit more frequently. At 35 time is running out on his career and this may be his last chance to have an NHL job. Faceoff specialist Boyd Gordon will be a desirable asset despite missing all of this past season with a serious eye injury. Gordon is 33 and most teams will be wary of giving him term especially after such a serious injury but he is consistently at the top of the league in faceoff percentage and a bottom six center who can kill penalties and win key draws will be attractive to manys a team with playoff aspirations. Physical winger Ryan Reaves will be much sought after for his policing and swagger. He doesn't contribute much on the scoreboard but does save his best performances for the playoffs, scoring three goals for the Blues en route to becoming a Stanley Cup champion this postseason. Canucks backup netminder Thomas Greiss will be looking for an opporunity for more starts. Possibly one of the best backups in the league these past two seasons, Greiss will probably look for an opportunity in a tandem situation to prove he can play more than twenty games a year. Mark Letestu put up 32 points for Chicago this season. The versatile offensive forward can play PP2 and play reasonably responsible minutes in your bottom six. Thirty three year old Trevor Daley played for the Blackhawks and had 27 points as a defenseman. On a weak team he can play satisfactory top four minutes and chip in offensively. A deeper team will slot him in on the bottom pairing get valuable minutes from him in that role. Matt Carle of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the plus minus award and had sixteen goals and thirty points but many analysts suspect he is overrated and the beneficiary of playing a lot of minutes with Victor Hedman this year. He will get the chance to pick his team this year and prove he is not merely the product of a good environment. Zbynek Michalek was a late summer signing two years ago by the Canucks but the 34 year old could garner attention much sooner in this slim free agent class. The fact that he has a consistent resume of NHL minutes and penalty killing experience should land him another job. Swedish goalie Anders Nilsson has garnered some NHL interest and may be convinced to come ply his trade in the world's best league. The pay would likely be better than in Sweden but he would likely find himself in more of a backup or tandem role rather than the starter's job he has been accustomed to in Sweden. This may be the 27 year old's final opportunity to come play in the NHL and it will be interesting to see if a team can win him over. Finnish forward Teemu Hartikainen has produced over seventy points in consecutive seasons in Finland, including a 39 goal season this year. If he wants an NHL job there will likely be one available to him.