Talented Wingers Hit Free Agency
With the free agency deadline approaching quickly, many National Hockey League franchises are eager to either sign or re-sign many of the star wingers that are set to hit the market on July 1. The following are the top options for many teams:
Ilya Kovalchuk: It is uncertain how strongly Kovalchuk seeks to remain in the NHL, and there will be boatloads of Kontinenal Hockey League money being thrown at him come July 1. While the payday in Russia may be higher, Kovalchuk is a fierce competitor and has been tormented by his inability to win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kovalchuk has scored over 40 goals in each of his last five seasons and although slightly selfish, is easily the most talented scorer available. His current team, the New Jersey Devils seek to re-sign him, but may lack the money. The Los Angeles Kings are also rumoured to be interested in making an offer for the big-time scorer.
Ray Whitney: Whitney may not be able to score as much as Kovalchuk, but he could be a more valuable team asset. On average, Whitney will provide a team with 20-30 goals with about 30-40 assists in a season. In addition to this, Whitney is a strong power play player and at 38 years old still puts in upwards of 20 minutes per game. His age makes him affordable, and thus of great interest to many teams.
Paul Kariya: The Blues have been drafting forward prospects and do not consider the ageing Paul Kariya to be worth the money he seeks. This does not mean that Kariya will not pique the interest of other teams. The 35-year-old may have lost the speed he had earlier in his career, but has made up for it with his precision. The 15-year veteran knows how to put a puck in the back of the net, and that is the characteristic teams tend to care most about.
Alexander Frolov: Like Kovalchuk, Frolov is also being heavily courted to return to his homeland and play in the KHL. The Kings are seeking to replace him with Kovalchuk after Frolov’s under-performance of 19 goals and 51 points last season. Though pricey, he has proven himself to be a 30-goal scorer twice in his seven NHL seasons.
Raffi Torres: Torres is a good team player, but requires a good centre for set ups to generate offence. Regardless, he is a great bump-and-grind type of player and his physical play will get him a contract. If a team can utilize him for goal-scoring as well though, it will truly maximize Torres’ benefit.
Alexei Ponikarovsky: After arriving in Pittsburgh from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ponikarovsky put in one of the worst performances of his career. With only two goals and nine in 16 games, Ponikarovsky is unlikely to get the long-term deal he desires from the Penguins. He still had strong performances for the Leafs in his last two seasons, and could work very well in a less speed oriented offence than Pittsburgh.
Alex Tanguay: Tanguay’s career has been slipping, and the 30-year-old has not been able to score 20 goals in any of the past three seasons. He will most likely be re-signed by the Lightning, though any signing with him will be late in the summer and at quite a discount.
Slava Kozlov: While playing with Kovalchuk in Atlanta, Kozlov racked up 76 points 26 goals. Without Kovy, Kozlov has been fighting with the coaching staff and has scored only eight times in 55 games. Teams will have to decide if last season’s low performance is an indicator that the 38-year-old has run out of steam or if the Stanley Cup Winner was being misused by Atlanta.
Jody Shelley: The physical winger is the most likely to remain on his current team. He is inexpensive and sincerely loves playing for the New York Rangers. His bruiser playing style is highly respected by Rangers coach John Tortorello.
Tags: