Frozen Pucks – Free Agent Edition, Part II

July 6, 2009 4:52pm CDT

Frozen Pucks - Free Agent Edition, Part I


PLAYERS WHO RE-SIGNED WITH THEIR CLUBS

Rob Blake, San Jose: 1-years, $3.5 million
The veteran blue liner will come back for one more season hoping to help the Sharks to their goal of hoisting the Cup. Blake scored 10 goals, dished out 35 assists, was a +15 and racked up 110 PIMs last season, and though none of those numbers are amazing, the totality of them made Blake the only blue liner in the NHL who reached all of those levels in 2008-09. Even at 39 years old there is little reason to expect Blake to fall off much if at all as long as he can stay on the ice.

David Booth, Florida: 6-years, $25.5 million
After a 22 goal effort in '07-'08, Booth took his game to another level last season with 31 goals and 60 points. There is still more game for this youngster to tap, and he is clearly going to be looked at as a leader, along with Nathan Horton, for the club moving forward. This youngster has more to give, and should be looked at someone who is just entering his prime.

Erik Cole, Carolina: 2-years, $5.8 million
Cole picked a bad time to record a 4-year low with 18 goals while disappearing in the playoffs (no goals in 18 games). If he stays on a line with Eric Staal he could easily return to the 27 goal level he averaged the previous three seasons, but he has to be thought of as less than certain to return to prominence after his up and down campaign.

Ryan Clowe Circling with Sharks: 4-years, $14 million
This power forward in training had his numbers kept down last season due to missing a month with a knee injury. Still, he scored 22 times, including 11 on the power-play, and dished off 30 helpers in his first season of more than 60 games played. He is tough and isn't afraid to do the dirty work in the corners, and if he can skate on one of the top two lines with the Sharks he would appear primed to surpass his totals from last season.

Radek Dvorak, Florida: 2-years, $3.4 million
This winger dressed for 81 games this past season scoring 15 goals for the Panthers. He hasn't topped 20-goals since 2000-01 and likely won't be anything more than the middling scorer we have seen from him the past five years moving forward.

Ruslan Fedotenko: 1-year, $1.8 million
This winger took $450,000 less than last season to stay where he was comfortable (the money also allowed the club to re-sign Bill Guerin). Still, Fedotenko is nothing more than a waiver-wire pick up when someone is hurt given that he has been between 32 and 41 points the past six campaigns.

Kent Huskins, San Jose: 2-years, $3.4 million
A decent on ice defensemen who knows his limitations, Huskins has a total of six goals, 22 assists and 100 PIM in his 142 NHL career. Unless he racks up a high plus/minus mark on a Sharks team that figures to outscore their opponents, there won't be much of a reason to look Huskins way.

Jere Lehtinen, Dallas: 1-year, $1.5 million
Still a solid two-way player, Jere has been held to 23 goals and just 96 games the past two seasons due to injury. Will that change that he is now 36 years old?

Rick Nash Stays at Home: 8-years, $62.4 million
It didn't look like it was going to get done, but when Rick signed this deal with the Blue Jackets a whole host of teams let out a little sob as their dream of signing him when he became a free agent after the upcoming season vanished. Just 25, Nash was fifth in the league last season with 40 goals, and has averaged 35 goals a season the past five years despite his age. In addition to the goal scoring, Nash has seen his assist total climb in each of the last four seasons from 23 up to last years total of 39. A true superstar in every sense of the word.

Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim: 1-year, $6 million
One more year in the saddle for the smooth skating rearguard who will have top help cover up for the loss of Chris Pronger. As productive as ever, Scott had 14 goals and 59 points in 82 games last season, and still possesses one of the sweetest skating strides in recent memory. There is no reason to expect much of a drop off, if any, from this future Hall of Famer.

Chris Neil, Ottawa: 4-years, $8 million
It took a while, but a deal finally got done for this truculent forward. Neil was limited to a career low 60 games, and his offensive production was pretty woeful with 10 points, this after averaging 11 goals and 27 points the previous three seasons. He still threw his weight around with 146 PIMs and figures to have a shot at 200 over the course of a healthy season. He could return to the double-digit level in goals, but don't count on it.

Johnny Oduya, New Jersey: 3-years, $10.5 million
"We are delighted to have Johnny Oduya stay with the organization," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. Fantasy owners aren't as pleased as his back-to-back seasons of 26 and 29 points aren't exciting, though a +48 in that time certainly gives him value.

Mark Recchi, Boston: 1-year, $1 million
Back for one final season, last year's deadline move to the Bruins resulted in Recchi producing 10 goals and six assists in just 18 games. Overall he scored 23 times while handing out 38 assists in 80 games showing that despite having logged nearly 1,500 games that he still has the game to warrant attention in most fantasy leagues.

Sedin Twins, Vancouver: 5-years, $30.5 million each
Do they do everything together? Apparently. "We analyzed how much less we were taking in Vancouver," said agent JP Barry. "But for Daniel and Henrik it was always about getting this deal and fairness and Vancouver being the choice if it was fair." The Sedin Twins both scored 82 points last season and figure to perform around that level for the duration of the five year deal. The Canucks did a great job in signing the Twins for roughly half the years, and dough, that they were looking for.

Steve Sullivan: 2-years, $7.5 million
A great deal for the Preds who sorely need his offense. Sullivan, finally over back woes that cost him more than a year and a half of playing time, scored 11 goals and handed out 16 assists in his final 25 games last season to show that he still has the scoring touch. In fact, since joining the Predators, Sullivan has produced 190 points in 191 games, and that folks is nearly a point per game. Don't overlook him on draft day.

Joel Ward, Nashville: 2-years, $3 million
This two year vet scored 17 goals while handing out 18 assists in 79 games in his first year with the Preds. Should be looked at as a potential 20-goal scorer from here on out.


FREE AGENT SIGNING
What, you thought we were done covering free agent signings with PART I? Of course not. Since that article a few more signings, and a couple of trades of note, have occurred.

Alexei Kovalev Signs with Senators: 2-years, $10 million
Kovalev fell from the dizzying heights he produced two years ago (35g, 49a) though he still led the Canadiens in goals (25) and points (65) last season. With the loss of Kovalev and Saku Koivu (still unsigned though rumors have him heading to Minnesota), the Habs continue to remake their squad with the likes of Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez (who can be read about in the previous piece linked to above). As for Kovalev, could his signing signal that Dany Heatley will still be moved by the Senators? One of the most talented puck handlers in the game, Kovalev has been particularly potent on the power-play the past two years with 28 PP goals and 51 PP assists. He should fit in nicely on a line with Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza if Heatley is indeed moved (Kovalev could also work the point on the power-play if Heatley is retained which would provide the club with a potentially dynamic first unit).

Mikael Samuelsson Moves West: 3-years, $7.5 million
Most players aren't too excited to leave Motown where the tradition is lined with victory, but Samuelsson certainly cannot be too upset to find himself penciled into the first line with the Canucks which would allow him to skate with the Sedin Twins. "Certainly we see him as a top-six forward," GM Lorne Henning said. "He's a right-handed shot, which we love, and he's familiar with the twins and played with them in the Olympics." Samuelsson, a former Sharks' prospect, scored 19 times last season in a supporting role with the Wings. With the Canucks, if he does indeed skate on that first line, it would appear that only injury could stop Mikael from substantially out-producing his previous career best of 45 points.


TRADES OF NOTE
Kubina Traded to Thrashers
Pavel Kubina will patrol the blue line for the Thrashers after he was sent south to Atlanta in exchange for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart (the 32 year old Kubina is in the last year of a deal that will pay him $5 million this season). A year after scoring 14 goals and 40 points, Kubina will be looked at to man the point on the power-play for the Thrashers hoping to create some magic with Ilya Kovalchuk. He isn't necessarily a flashy option but he has scored 25 goals, 80 points and produced 210 PIMs the past two years, numbers that should place him comfortable amongst the top-30 or so defensemen in the league.

Ryan Smyth Heads to Hollywood
"They have great young players," Smyth said when asked about his feelings after being dealt to the Kings from the Avalanche. Smyth, one of the grittiest leaders in the game, is always someone looked up to for his determination an ability to do whatever it takes to win. Unfortunately Smyth is frequently injured having appeared in an average of 70 games the past four years. Still, when healthy as he was for a good deal of last season, he is a sniper of some renown from the left wing as can be gleaned from his total of 26 goals (10 on the power-play). The Avalanche picked up Kyle Quincey (4g, 34a in his first full season) and Tom Preissing (limited to just seven points in 22 games) in the deal, two options that could help produced some points from the blue line. "We are pleased to be adding two quality NHL defensemen," Av's GM Greg Sherman said. "Kyle and Tom are both versatile players who can contribute at both ends."