As spots dwindle, these 'name' free agents still without homes
With only a month until NHL preseason games get under way, several veteran free agents are still without a home.
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| David Tanabe was a first-round draft pick in 1999 but he's never lived up to his potential. (Getty Images) |
The reality is the market might not be able to accommodate them now, although there's still time for teams to maneuver through trades. But seven of the league's 30 teams are already within $3 million of the $50.3 million salary cap, while another dozen have at least $43 million committed and not much wiggle room should they need it. And the teams with the most space might be among the league's most undesirable destinations. So much for the notion that summertime's when the living is easy.
Here's a look at some of the top players still without a contract.
Peter Forsberg, C: Forsberg apparently hasn't decided if he wants to come back to North America or stay home in Sweden and start the three-year countdown until his Hall of Fame nomination, but there are signs he's leaning toward the NHL. For one thing, he tested his surgically repaired foot on the ice last week in a Helsinki charity game and told reporters he felt good. There aren't many teams who will be able to fit the $5 million or so he'll require under their caps, but Forsberg will definitely have options. His last team, Nashville, won't be one, and neither will the cap-squeezed Flyers, where he played before that. But Forsberg's former team in Colorado is one a possibility, and so is Vancouver, where hometown buddy Markus Naslund plays or Detroit, where he could join Swedes Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg.
Danny Markov, D: The Red Wings tried to bring Markov, a hard-hitting, 31-year-old defenseman who made $2.5 million, back for next season, but he wanted more than a two-year deal. He was on the Islanders radar until this week, but might have priced himself out of there as well, because New York ended up giving Andy Sutton, who is a year older, a three-year, $9 million deal. Markov's camp has been saying he would go home to play in Russia, which might end up happening if he overplays his hand.
Michael Peca, C: There has been a big debate in Toronto about bringing back the veteran whose qualities have been overshadowed by injuries in the past few seasons. Peca was a $2.5 million player last season, and the Leafs are bumping up against the cap. So are the New York Rangers, for that matter, but Peca's agent said he has been talking only to them recently because his client wants to play there. He'd have to take a big pay cut, although Peca's former team, Buffalo, is a possibility, and the Sabres have plenty of cap space.
Ed Belfour, G: There's a glut of 40-something goalies out there who should come at a reasonable price, with Belfour, Curtis Joseph and Sean Burke available. They're all backup types now, but Belfour thinks he's should be a No. 1 and played well enough last season to justify it. Still, Belfour also thinks he is worth several times the $750,000 he made last season in Florida. That's one of the reasons he's not back with the Panthers, though not the only one. If he sets his financial sights a little lower, he could draw interest from a team like Columbus or Tampa Bay, which need a veteran backup who might even win the starting job eventually.
David Tanabe, D: He was a first-round draft pick in 1999, but Tanabe has never lived up to his potential in seven NHL seasons with three teams. He finished last season with Carolina, the team that originally drafted him, but even though he made only $900,000, the Hurricanes let him test the market. The thing is that he can really skate and move the puck, and he's about to turn 27, so he could be worth taking a chance on for a nominal price.
Jason Allison, C: Allison has played only played one NHL season since 2002-03, and that was in the first year after the lockout. He has had some serious injury issues including concussions but was one of the more skilled offensive players when healthy. He's still only 32 and is available at a bargain price.
Anson Carter, RW: He had a forgettable season with Columbus and Carolina last season and has as many detractors as supporters, but the veteran has decent offensive skills and likely will cost well under $2 million. He plays a soft game but could contribute nicely in the right situation.
Mike Johnson, RW: The Canadiens want to push some of their younger players to the forefront, which made Johnson, a 32-year-old who was an underappreciated role player, expendable. He played in 80 games and contributed some decent offensive totals in addition to the speed and defense he brings. Johnson made less than $1.8 million last season, so he'll come at the right price for someone looking to deepen a third or fourth line.
Eric Lindros, C: It's hard to imagine that Lindros was once one of the most hyped players to enter the NHL, because a series of concussions and other injuries hampered his career so much over his 13 seasons in the league. Obviously, he's not the force he was when he broke in, and he might not even want to play anymore. In fact, Lindros has spent a lot of time working with the NHLPA and might be ready to make it a full-time endeavor. Lindros can be an imposing and productive presence when he stays healthy, but he's definitely a risk. He made $2.5 million with Dallas last season.
Ossi Vaananen, D: He's a big, durable, stay-at-home type of defenseman who loves to play a physical game. Vaananen won't put up much in the way of points, but he won't hurt anyone in his own end and he's only 26. Vaananen's salary was slightly under $1 million last season with Colorado.
Brent Sopel, D: Sopel finished last season in Vancouver where he began his career in 1998, and then caught in a numbers game with the Canucks. He's prone to mistakes in his own end, but Sopel has a great shot from the point and can play a physical type of game. He should be a top-four defenseman on most teams, which means he was priced right $2.4 million last season.
