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Plenty of solid free agents still available

Source : Nhl.com



The first day of NHL free agency saw several teams open their wallets, including huge signings of Nathan Horton (Columbus Blue Jackets) and David Clarkson (Toronto Maple Leafs).

But several key players remain on the open market and are looking for a home, either with the club they played for in 2012-13 or one that has a hole it's looking to fill.
Here's a look at 25 of the top unrestricted free agents still on the market:

FORWARDS
NAME	2012-13 TEAM	STATS	SKINNY
Jaromir Jagr	Dallas/Boston	45 GP 16-19-35	Future Hall of Famer showed he still has plenty in the tank, helping the Boston Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final after being acquired from the Dallas Stars. A tireless worker who is respected by his teammates, Jagr is a solid top-six forward who can help a team's power play.
Alexei Ponikarovsky	Winnipeg/ New Jersey	42 GP 4-5-9	------------------------------------------ The big wing was re-acquired late in the season by the New Jersey Devils, who hoped his presence on the power play would help them qualify for the postseason. That didn't work out, but Ponikarovsky may help a club in search of a power-play specialist.
Mikhail Grabovski	Toronto	48 GP 9-7-16	------------------------------------------ Highly skilled offensive player didn’t see eye-to-eye with Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle and was bought out with four years remaining on his five-year contract. Wherever he lands, it’s imperative Grabovski is in a top-six role, where he’d be most effective. A three-time 20-goal scorer in Toronto.
Damien Brunner	Detroit	44 GP 12-14-26	------------------------------------------- Has 44 games of NHL experience after signing as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings, but the 27-year-old Swiss wing is coveted by several teams and would fill a role as a top-six forward. Had nine points (five goals, four assists) in 14 playoff games, helping the Red Wings reach the second round.
Dustin Penner	Los Angeles	33 GP 2-12-14	-----------------------------------------------  His production has declined in recent years -- Penner had two goals in 33 games for the Los Angeles Kings in 2012-13 -- but a change of scenery might be beneficial. Big wing (6-foot-4, 242 pounds) has two Stanley Cup championships (Anaheim, Los Angeles).
Brenden Morrow	Dallas/Pittsburgh	44 GP 12-13-25	---------------------------------------------- The former Dallas Stars captain showed he can still produce after being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 15 regular-season games. Morrow's biggest quality is his leadership, which would be beneficial to any club.
Daniel Cleary	Detroit	48 GP 9-6-15	-------------------------------------------- Didn't put up the offense we've seen in years past, but this 34-year-old wing is scrappy and would provide leadership. Cleary is hopeful he will re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings, but if negotiations fall apart, he would be a valuable penalty killer and leader.
Milan Hejduk	Colorado	29 GP 4-7-11	-------------------------------------------- Hard to envision Hejduk anywhere else -- he's spent his entire NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche -- but the 37-year-old hit the open market. Hejduk has played more than 1,000 NHL games and is 25 goals shy of 400 in his career.
Peter Mueller	Florida	43 GP 8-9-17	--------------------------------------------- The skilled center overcame previous health issues and appeared in all but two games for the Florida Panthers in 2012-13, when he had eight goals and nine assists. Mueller, 25, can thrive in the right environment.
Brad Boyes	N.Y. Islanders	48 GP 10-25-35	-------------------------------------------- The New York Islanders signed Boyes to a one-year deal last summer to see if he could find his offensive game, and he did alongside John Tavares. Now looking for a new home, Boyes will be searching for a team in need of a top-six forward.
Kyle Wellwood	Winnipeg	39 GP 6-9-15	-------------------------------------------- Wellwood spent the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and was a solid offensive player, collecting 62 points (24 goals, 38 assists) in 116 games. Much like Boyes, Wellwood needs to be in a top-six role in order to maximize production.
Scott Gomez	San Jose	39 GP 2-13-15	------------------------------------------ Gomez had his contract bought out by the Montreal Canadiens at the start of the 2012-13 season and quickly caught on with the San Jose Sharks, where he had 15 points in 39 games. Likely won't find a long-term deal, but could be a low-risk/high-reward signing this summer.
Nik Antropov	Winnipeg	40 GP 6-12-18	--------------------------------------------- Antropov suffered a lower-body injury late in the season, which may have been one of the reasons why the Winnipeg Jets again missed the playoffs. Antropov could be a decent third-line center, considering he had 15 goals for Winnipeg in 2011-12.
Mason Raymond	Vancouver	46 GP 10-12-22	---------------------------------------- Solid two-way player who probably won’t be on the market much longer. Raymond's best season with the Vancouver Canucks came in 2009-10, when he had 25 goals and 28 assists.
Simon Gagne	Los Angeles/ Philadelphia	38 GP 5-11-16	-------------------------------------------- Gagne overcame a recent history of injury problems after being reunited with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 27 games. He may not receive anything longer than a one-year deal, but can still produce offensively.
Teemu Selanne	Anaheim	46 GP 12-12-24	-------------------------------------------- Selanne turned 43 in early July and is comig off a season in which he started to look his age, But the Anaheim Ducks are still waiting to see if Selanne wants to return for another season. He's working out, and if he decides to play another season, Anaheim is the only place he'd go.
DEFENSEMEN
NAME	2011-12 TEAM	STATS	SKINNY
Douglas Murray	San Jose/Pittsburgh	33 GP 1-5-6	Hard-hitting veteran defenseman helped the Pittsburgh Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks. Solid in his own end and will provide a veteran presence in any team's dressing room.
Joe Corvo	Carolina	40 GP 6-11-17	-------------------------------------------- Another veteran (he turned 36 on June 20) who can help a team in need on the power play. Corvo isn't a top-pair blueliner these days, but can provide leadership and chip in offensively.
Ryan Whitney	Edmonton	34 GP 4-9-13	------------------------------------------- Whitney has had a tough time since suffering an ankle injury just after Christmas in 2010, and he was either a third-pairing defenseman or a scratch often in 2012-13. There's little doubt he will aim to prove Oilers brass wrong next season with whichever club is willing to give him a chance.
Wade Redden	St. Louis/Boston	29 GP 3-4-7	----------------------------------------------  After being bought out by the New York Rangers, Redden showed he's still capable of being a bottom-pair defenseman when he caught on with the St. Louis Blues before being shipped to the Boston Bruins at the NHL Trade Deadline.
Ian White	Detroit	25 GP 2-2-4	-------------------------------------------- White didn't dress for the Detroit Red Wings during the postseason, so he's out to prove he can be a quality top-six defender in the NHL. The 29-year-old has appeared in more than 500 NHL games.

GOALIES
NAME	2011-12 TEAM	STATS	SKINNY
Tim Thomas	Boston/ N.Y. Islanders	Did Not Play	The world-class goaltender opted not to play in 2012-13 and became an unrestricted free agent once the New York Islanders decided not to toll his contract. If/when Thomas signs, he'll have to show he can step right in and be a No. 1 goalie again.
Ilya Bryzgalov	Philadelphia	19-17-3, 2.79 GAA	------------------------------------------ It didn't work out for the Russian netminder in the City of Brotherly Love; his nine-year, $51 million contract was bought out with seven years remaining. Perhaps a change of scenery will help Bryzgalov get back to the form we saw in Phoenix.
Jose Theodore	Florida	4-6-3, 3.29 GAA	------------------------------------------- Ultimately, Theodore would like to stay with the Florida Panthers, but the team has Jacob Markstrom waiting in the wings. That means Theodore has to find work elsewhere, and he may have to settle for being someone’s backup.
Johan Hedberg	New Jersey	6-10-3, 2.76 GAA	------------------------------------------- Hedberg found himself without a job last week after the New Jersey Devils acquired Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks. After being bought out, it's up to the 40-year-old to see if he can find work elsewhere in a backup role.

Habs vs Sabres : Vanek scores 2 in Sabres' win over Canadiens

Source : Yahoo.com

Thomas Vanek helped the Buffalo Sabres make the most of their limited scoring chances to pull out another road win against the Montreal Canadiens.

Vanek scored two goals to lead the Sabres to a 2-1 win over the Canadiens on Saturday night. It was the Sabres' third straight win in a run that began with an overtime victory in Montreal on Tuesday.

Montreal outshot Buffalo 39-18, getting double-digit shots in each period - including 16 in the third.

''That's a good team over there. They just keep coming at you,'' Vanek said. ''They're a good puck possession team but I thought we kept them outside. We could have played a bit more offensively in the third and done some damage ourselves but in the end it's a win so we'll take it.''

Ryan Miller finished with 38 saves as Buffalo pulled two points behind eighth-place Carolina.
''We know we have a long way to go. Any time you can pick up two points and consecutively three games in a row, it feels good. But there's a lot of work left,'' Vanek said. ''We've just got to pick up points and see what happens at the end. But we need help as well.''

Michael Ryder scored the lone goal for Montreal, and Carey Price made 16 saves.

After a slow start in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres, the Canadiens had their legs moving in the opening period, outshooting Buffalo 13-5. Montreal had chances late in the first on a delayed penalty call against the Sabres but were denied by Miller.

''I thought we played a solid game. We dictated the game, we played hard, the guys were ready to play,'' said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien. ''I liked our intensity. We were competing hard to the net and to loose pucks - that's what you ask from your team. The result wasn't on our side tonight.''
Vanek broke the scoreless deadlock at 10:25 of the second period with Buffalo on a two-man advantage.

Shortly after Mike Blunden was called for interference, defenceman P.K. Subban was whistled for delay of game for shooting the puck over the glass. The Canadiens pleaded with the officials that the puck hit the glass on the way out but to no avail.
''It's bad luck,'' Therrien said of the call.

Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff found a passing lane for the Sabres and fired a shot from the point that deflected in off Vanek for his 15th of the season.

Vanek struck again in the final minute of the second off a Canadiens turnover. Brendan Gallagher broke in on a pass attempt, but the Sabres were there to intercept the puck.

Taking a pass from Tyler Ennis, Vanek finished off the play with some slick stick work to beat Price a second time.

On Tuesday, the Canadiens rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime. This time, they could only manage Michael Ryder's third period power-play goal. It was his 10th score of the season, but first back in Montreal while playing for the Canadiens since March 11, 2008.

''It's very frustrating (to lose a game like that) but we have to find ways to be resilient. We have to find ways to get the two points, even when things maybe aren't going our way, bounces don't go our way,'' defenseman Josh Gorges said. ''We had a good push at the end but we can't get down 2-0 and hope to climb back every time. We've got to try to get the early lead.''

Miller didn't start in the teams' last meeting and was pulled in a 6-1 Montreal rout back in early February. His teammates helped make life easier in front of him, blocking 31 shots.

''I was happy with (my game). It's been a bit of a tough go the last few weeks so I need to start collecting myself and give these guys a chance to get these kinds of wins. They did a nice job of sticking with it, getting to the net and getting the lead,'' he said.

NOTES: The Canadiens scratched defenseman Tomas Kaberle (healthy) and forward Ryan White (lower body). Montreal claimed C Jeff Halpern off waivers from the New York Rangers on Saturday. He didn't arrive in Montreal in time for the game. ... Forward Drew Stafford and defenseman John Scott were healthy scratches for Buffalo. Defenseman Andrej Sekera remained sidelined with an injury. ... Buffalo clinched the season series. The Sabres haven't lost a season series to Montreal since 2007-08.

LE CANADIEN JOUE DE MALCHANCE...

Jordan Caron et Milan Lucic ont réussi les buts des Bruins, dont la fiche est de 8-2-0 à leurs 10 derniers matches. Tim Thomas a effectué 33 arrêts. C'est une nouvelle hors glace qui a retenu l'attention après le match: le Canadien a échangé l'attaquant Michael Cammalleri aux Flames de Calgary, en retour de Rene Bourque. Cammalleri n'avait pas été utilisé au troisième vingt. La veille, il a soulevé un tollé avec ses déclarations quant à la mentalité de perdants et la façon similaire de jouer du club montréalais.

"Soyons honnêtes: ils ont leur lot de problèmes, a dit Thomas au sujet du Canadien. Ça affecte sans doute leur volonté de se battre. L'esprit d'équipe n'est probablement pas à son mieux de leur côté." Yannick Weber a été l'unique marqueur du Canadien, qui a un rendement de 3-7-0 depuis 10 rencontres. Carey Price a stoppé 28 tirs. La guigne n'a pas tardé à frapper le Tricolore en début de match. Johnny Boychuk a envoyé le disque contre la baie vitrée à l'arrière de Price, à sa gauche. Celui-ci s'est déplacé pour saisir la rondelle, mais un bond capricieux l'a dirigée directement vers Caron, devant le filet, et ce dernier a marqué facilement à 1:23 au premier vingt.

"C'était un mauvais bond, mais en même temps il faut trouver le moyen de se relever de ça, a dit Price. Tim a bien fait, mais ce n'est pas surprenant quand il joue contre nous. Il a été comme un mur pendant tout le match, surtout en première période." Avec un peu plus de trois minutes à faire au premier tiers, Thomas a frustré tour à tour Max Pacioretty et Erik Cole, à quelques secondes d'intervalle. Tomas Kaberle a repéré Pacioretty avec une longue passe et l'attaquant a décoché un tir bas de courte distance, bloqué par Thomas. De l'arrière du filet, Pacioretty a ensuite refilé devant pour un tir à bout portant de Cole, mais le gardien des Bruins a encore résisté.

Un peu plus tard, Andrei Kostitsyn a intercepté une passe en zone adverse et a décoché un tir vif, mais l'Américain l'a repoussé de la jambière. Les Bruins sont venus près d'ajouter à leur avance à mi-chemin en deuxième période, lors d'un deux contre un, mais Patrice Bergeron a lancé trop haut en voulant convertir la remise de Tyler Seguin. Les Bruins ont finalement doublé leur priorité en début de troisième tiers. Lucic a saisi une rondelle libre et a battu Price du revers à 3:43, obtenant son 15e but cette saison. La rondelle a touché au bâton de Josh Gorges au dernier moment.

Les esprits se sont échauffés avec un peu moins de huit minutes à faire au match: après une mise en échec de P.K. Subban aux dépens de David Krejci, Andrew Ference s'en est pris au défenseur du CH. Le résultat: Subban a été puni pour avoir donné du coude, et Ference a écopé d'une double mineure. Weber a rétréci l'écart peu après, à 12:46, marquant son quatrième filet de la saison en avantage numérique. La troupe de Randy Cunneyworth va disputer ses trois prochains matches au Centre Bell, à commencer par samedi et dimanche, contre les Sénateurs et les Rangers. Les Capitals seront en ville mercredi prochain.

Krejci a contribué au but de Lucic. Il a amassé cinq buts et 15 points au fil d'une série de 10 matches avec au moins un point. Les Bruins dominent les affrontements Montréal-Boston 3-2 cette saison. Les deux équipes vont croiser le fer à nouveau le 15 février, à Montréal. Les Bruins amorceront samedi une série de quatre matches à l'étranger, où le club brille avec une fiche de 12-4 cette saison.

source : lametropole.com