Jason Powell
Live Free or Stay Home?
June 24, 2007 1:08pm CDT
Who says the summer months are down time for the NHL? The 2007-08 campaign got started with the entry draft last weekend and free agency begins on July 1. The following list of players consists of elite players who are slated to become unrestricted free agents on Sunday.
Daniel Briere, C, Sabres
Buffalo's co-captain passed on the team's most recent offer—reportedly a five-year deal worth $25 million. Based on that offer, I can only assume that the Sabres were hoping Briere would give them a hometown discount. Fresh off a career-high 95-point season, Daniel should get far more lucrative offers. After accumulating only 65 points in the 2003-04 season, Brieres tallied 153 points in 129 games played since the lockout ended and the new rules were introduced. He's surrounded by a lot of talent in Buffalo, but he is a talented performer who should thrive in just about any situation.
Chris Drury, C, Sabres
Briere's co-captain is also scheduled to hit the market this Sunday. The Sabres would love to bring both players back, but the salary cap will most likely prevent them from doing so. As talented as Drury is, fantasy owners must keep things in perspective. Yes, he scored 37 goals last season, but he's never reached the 70-point mark during his career. For that matter, there's no guarantee he'll maintain the 68-point average he's registered over the last two seasons if he chooses to leave Buffalo. The Sabres are arguably the most offensively potent team in the league and it's hard to imagine Drury falling into a better situation if he chooses to leave town. By the way, there are rumblings that the Sharks did their best to clear salary cap space during the draft last weekend so that they could afford to make a run at Drury.
Scott Gomez, C, Devils
Gomez hasn't ruled out the possibility of re-signing with the Devils, but all indications are that he wants to test the market. I consider Scott the the most intriguing potential free agent. We have a good idea of what to expect from the other players on this list, but we've never seen Scott play outside the Devils' defensive-minded system. He averaged 71 points over the last three seasons in New Jersey, and fantasy owners should definitely raise their expectations if he lands with a wide-open team such as the Rangers. Other rumored suitors include the Oilers, Canucks, and Flyers.
Teemu Selanne, W, Ducks
Selanne has already stated that he wants to stay in Anaheim if he opts to return for another season. The big question is whether he'll opt to hang up the skates now that he has a chance to go out on top. Fantasy owners probably won't find out the answer this weekend. Although most teams push players to announce their intentions before free agency begins, Ducks general manager Brian Burke has already stated that he will not rush Selanne or Scott Niedermayer into making such a decision. It's funny how winning the Stanley Cup can cause a general manager to lighten up.
Ryan Smyth, W, Islanders The former Mr. Oiler was stunned when he was traded to Long Island before the trade deadline back in February. He helped the Islanders earn the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the buzz in most circles is that he wants to play north of the border next season. The Maple Leafs and Flames are rumored to be among the contenders, and one can't rule out the possibility of Smyth returning home to Edmonton—assuming there isn't too much tension between him and team officials. Smyth is seeking the same huge contract and a no-trade clause that led to the fallout in Edmonton. His desire to play in Canada combined with his high asking price will most likely lead to a short list of contenders for his services. Although Smyth has reached the 70-point milestone only once in his career, he arguably has more upside than Drury. After all, Smyth wasn't surrounded by much talent during his best seasons in Edmonton. If he falls into the right situation, he could add between 10-20 points to his average total.
Writer Bio
Jason Powell
Associate Editor
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