Top unsigned Free Agents remaining in the NHL: Second Week of August Update
It has been well over a month since the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) free agency began on July 1, but still a number of players remain who are still yet to be signed on either by their previous teams or either by someone else after not reaching mutual
ground with the franchise they played with last season.
Still remaining a free agent does not necessarily mean that the players are not useful or they are not valuable, because there are a couple of name on the list which might surprise and surely shock the listeners. Then there are other cases, where players
had a bad performance last season and teams are thinking twice on picking them up for another season.
It is highly likely that all players will be picked up before the regular season begins, unless they choose otherwise, or a negotiation is not worked out by either party.
Teemu Selanne
41-year-old Teemu Selanne, is one of the most well know names in the hockey world today and can be easily regarded as a top future hall of famer. According to many, it might be the best time to retire for him but keeping in view his past performances, it
is easy to say that the veteran forward still has a lot of game left in him.
Selanne’s case is different in the sense that Anaheim Ducks will without a doubt pay him any amount he wants, but he is thinking about much more than that at the moment. He has decided to either stay or call it quits, something which he will announce in
September.
Scoring 80 points (31 goals, 49 assists) last season, his best performance in the last four, assures that the Finnish shooter is still capable of lightning up the light as much as any young player is. Fans highly await his decision, but are hopeful that
it will be one which would allow them to continue on following him with Anaheim Ducks on the ice.
Chris Drury
Another shocking name is certainly that of former New York Rangers captain, Chris Drury. The 34-year-old from Trumbull, Cincinnati, United States, played his fourth consecutive season with New York last season, but managed to only participate in 24 matchups
due to various injuries that would come-up time to time.
This resulted in him only being able to score five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in that timeframe and forcing New York to buy out his contract so that they could open up the position for someone else to take the lead.
Not having any hope for making it back on Rangers line-up, the veteran centre can provide deep offence to the team that will sign him later on and be able to benefit from his performance once he is healthy and playing.
Steve Staios
Another veteran player on the list is 38-year-old defenseman, Steve Staios, who finished off his second straight season with Calgary Flames before the postseason began.
After leaving Edmonton Oilers during the 2009-2010 season, Staios was never properly able to make another comeback and gradually saw a decline after that. Calgary also did not give the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada native much time on the ice, allowing him to
play only 39 games and registered 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists).
It is unsure whether any team will sign the player on, which could result in an unexpected retirement.
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