Thirteen potential UFAs who figure to attract attention

Source : Nhl.com



The free-agent frenzy is scheduled to begin at noon ET on Friday, and with as many as two compliance buyouts available to all 30 NHL teams this summer, some additional intriguing players are expected to hit the open market.

Here are 13 of the most notable potential unrestricted free agents who were likely to be available Friday (listed in alphabetical order):

Danny Briere

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A compliance buyout from the Philadelphia Flyers, Briere is 35 years old and coming off his worst season in more than a decade with 16 points and a minus-13 rating in 34 games. However, few forwards have excelled in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as Briere has over his career.

He has 109 points in 108 career playoff games, including 30 points in 23 games during the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010.

Briere reportedly has a lot of teams interested in him, and it has to do in part with his performance in the playoffs. He's also two seasons removed from scoring 34 goals.

Ilya Bryzgalov

It will be interesting to see if any team takes a flyer on the eccentric former Flyers goalie, who was issued a compliance buyout despite having seven years and $35.5 million left on a nine-year, $51 million contract.

Bryzgalov became known for his brutal honesty, his wild opinions, his unique interests and beliefs as well as his feuds with the media in Philadelphia. He also won 52 games over two seasons but couldn't help the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2012-13, when he appeared in 40 of 48 games and posted a 2.79 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

The Edmonton Oilers reportedly pushed for Cory Schneider before the Vancouver Canucks traded him to the New Jersey Devils, so maybe they'll be in the market for Bryzgalov. The New York Islanders haven't re-signed Evgeni Nabokov, so it's conceivable that if he walks they could inquire about Bryzgalov.

David Clarkson

Clarkson scored 15 goals in 48 games in 2012-13 and 30 goals in 80 games in 2011-12. He is reliable and resilient, having missed two games over the past three seasons. He's coming off a three-year, $8 million contract, which was somewhat of a bargain for a 30-goal scorer who brings a physical element as well.

The Devils want Clarkson back, but his agent said he will hit the open market July 5 to see what his value is. For comparison purposes, Clarkson is a slightly cheaper option than Nathan Horton. Clarkson is from Toronto and the Maple Leafs could use a player like him.

Ryane Clowe

Clowe, a rugged left wing, is coming off multiple concussions, but when healthy he is a top-six forward with a history of performing well in the playoffs.

The New York Rangers would like to re-sign Clowe, but it may not be possible because of their salary-cap situation and the fact Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Ryan McDonagh and Justin Falk need new contracts. Clowe is coming off a four-year contract that paid him $3.625 annually.

Clowe had 19 points in 40 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Rangers in 2012-13. He had three goals and five assists in 12 games after being traded to the Rangers, but was injured for most of the playoffs and appeared in two of 12 games. He has 46 points in 70 career playoff games.

Pascal Dupuis

Dupuis was so good on a line with Sidney Crosby he enticed the Pittsburgh Penguins to give him a four-year contract worth $15 million. Dupuis scored 20 goals in 48 games in 2012-13 after scoring 25 in 82 games the previous season. Dupuis, who was making $1.5 million in each of the past two seasons, did it without a regular role on the power play.

The Penguins added him to a group that includes Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz and Brandon Sutter getting or expected to get raises for the 2014-15 season.

Andrew Ference

The Bruins have some younger, cheaper defensemen on the rise (Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski, Dougie Hamilton) and a need to replace two right wings, Horton and Jaromir Jagr, so it would appear Ference's days in Boston are over. He had quite a ride, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, getting back to the Final last month, and becoming one of the most community-driven athletes in the city.
Ference is 34 years old and coming off a three-year contract that paid him $2.25 million annually. He can play in a top-four role and brings a little bit of everything to the table. There should be teams lining up to sign him to a short-term deal.

Valtteri Filppula

Filppula is interesting for teams seeking a second-line or third-line center. He earned $3 million annually on a recently completed five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, who were in the market for Vincent Lecavalier, a sign they could have been willing to let Filppula walk.
Filppula has played center for most of his career but spent a good portion of 2012-13 at left wing in a top-six role. He struggled with 17 points in 41 games before scoring six points in 14 playoff games.

Nathan Horton

After a very strong postseason with Boston, Nathan Horton should command significant interest on the free agent market despite needing shoulder surgery.

Horton has told the Bruins he wants to test free agency. He should be a sought-after power forward even though he needs surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.
Horton spent most of his time in Boston playing on a line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Horton struggled in 2012-13 with 13 goals and 22 points in 43 games but rebounded in the playoffs with 19 points in 22 games. His 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons were cut short by concussions.

Jaromir Jagr

At 41 years old, Jagr can still play. He wasn't as productive as he was hoping to be during the Bruins' playoff run (no goals, 10 assists), but he was  dangerous with his strength and ability to control the puck on the right wing.

Jagr wants to play in the NHL next season and it's a good bet he will get another one-year contract. He had 35 points in 45 games split between the Dallas Stars and Bruins in 2012-13, when he played for $4.5 million.

Vincent Lecavalier

Already guaranteed more than $30 million for the next 14 years from the Tampa Bay Lightning because of his compliance buyout, Lecavalier agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyers on a reported five-year, $22.5 million deal.

Lecavalier spent most of the weekend meeting with teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames. They all pitched their organization and their city to the former Lightning captain, who wound up choosing Philadelphia.

There was obviously little doubt among NHL general managers that Lecavalier can be at least a No. 2 center at 33 years old. He had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games in 2012-13. He has 135 points in 168 games over the past three seasons.

Mike Ribeiro

Center - WSH

GOALS: 13 | ASST: 36 | PTS: 49
SOG: 63 | +/-: -4

Ribeiro was the best center scheduled to hit the market before Lecavalier was bought out by the Lightning. It's debatable if anything has changed considering Ribeiro, who like Lecavalier is 33 years old but is coming off a better 2012-13 season. He had 49 points in 48 games with the Washington Capitals, who could probably use him again as a No. 2 center but have so far balked at his contract demands.

Ribeiro reportedly wants a five-year deal. Some of the same teams that are after Lecavalier could be interested in Ribeiro.

Rob Scuderi

All Scuderi does is play for winning teams. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and again in 2012 with the Los Angeles Kings, who are desperate to keep the veteran stay-at-home defenseman.

Scuderi is 34 years old and coming off a four-year contract that paid him $3.4 million annually. He has not addressed his contract situation publicly, but part of the reason Kings general manager Dean Lombardi traded goalie Jonathan Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs was to make sure there was enough room under the salary cap to make a run at re-signing Scuderi.

Stephen Weiss

The longtime center for the Florida Panthers was limited to four points in 17 games in 2012-13 because of a wrist injury. He was considered potential trade bait until his season was derailed in early March.

Weiss, who made $18.6 million on a recently completed six-year contract, has played 654 games with the Panthers and has 145 goals and 249 assists for 394 points. He could be a slightly cheaper option for teams looking for help at center that don't want to pay Lecavalier or Ribeiro.