Top players up for grabs in the Free Agency –National Hockey League Offseason Update
The free agency will officially kick off on the first of July for players who have not signed with another team or in some cases re-signed with their current ones till that date. Surprisingly, there are a number of players who tend to be top prospects this
time around in the 2011 free-agent crop.
Teams who need to fill up certain gaps because of player retirements or they just need to change the team overall will have this perfect opportunity to do so.
Teams like Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and several other clubs will have their eyes wide open in July as players become unrestricted free agents.
The top players up for grabs by various National Hockey League (NHL) teams are:
Brad Richards
Brad is a unique case in this list. He is leaving Dallas Stars on his own due to the team not being able to hire a new owner. The details about the conflict are unknown but Richards is in no mood to return to Dallas Stars.
The 10th overall player with regard to points and assists during the 2010-2011 regular season is eyeing an opportunity with his former team, Tampa Bay Lightning, with which he won the Stanley Cup in 2004 because of his performance which also led
him to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
It is safe to say, Richards will be eyed by almost every club in the NHL, come July.
Alex Tanguay
Calgary Flames received a great boost from Alex Tanguay during the 2010-2011 season in which he scored 22 goals with 47 assists for a total of 69 points. This has raised his value beyond expectations.
Tanguay made $2 million last year with Flames so either re-signing him or another team taking him will not be a surprise since, on the whole, he is a great player.
Unfortunately, Calgary was unable to make it to the playoffs, but if Tanguay remains with Flames, it will have a much better 2011-2012 season.
Calgary is a renewed team as they head into the 2011-2012 season. Recently hiring a new associate coach, Craig Hartsburg, it can certainly expect valuable and noticeable changes.
Kevin Bieksa
If Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup this time, the 29-year-old, Kevin Bieksa will be a hot pick in the free agency.
His ability to pair up with other defensemen to create an unstoppable defensive force is an attribute that every team would love to posses.
Currently, Bieska and Manny Malhotra, has been an impenetrable duo against Boston Bruins, which is working miracles for the Presidents’ Trophy winners who are on the road to their first ever Stanley Cup.
Bieksa is a go to player in tense situations and in the current playoff matches we have seen what he is capable of.
Not only has the offensive defenseman been able to score five goals in the postseason so far, but some of them were also game winners.
It might be that most of these players will be re-signed to their teams because of their abilities to valuably contribute. Brad Richards is the only player that will certainly not return to his original team, and whichever club is able to acquire him after
negotiations will surely benefit from his experience and abilities.
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