Post by djoos36 on Jun 28, 2007 9:28:36 GMT -5
www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2007-06-26-top-free-agents_N.htm?csp=34
3. Left wing Ryan Smyth: Every major contender would like a crack at Smyth because of his scoring ability and character. Few players drive to the net with more determination and purpose. He simply knows how to score.
Age: 31. 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $6.5 million
7. Left wing Slava Kozlov: The Thrashers desperately want him back, but they have budgetary issues. He's a smart player who can still score and work effectively with highly skilled players. There is significant interest in Kozlov among contenders.
Age: 34 2006-07 salary: $2 million. Projection: $3.5 million-$4 million
9. Defenseman Mathieu Schneider: The Red Wings are trying to sell him on taking a little less in the name of helping the organization continue to have the budget flexibility necessary to stay highly competitive. He has been respected more in Detroit than he has anywhere else during his career. But it seems as if he will test the marketplace.
Age: 37. 2006-07 salary: $3.3 million. Projection: $5 million
17. Defenseman Roman Hamrlik: He's a top four defenseman with skating ability and the ability to play on the power play.
Age: 33. 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $4.5 million
18. Defenseman Brad Stuart: Played much better after he was traded to Calgary. He's not quite an "A-list" defenseman but when he's playing well he's a "B" or "B-plus-performer."
Age: 28 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $3.5 million-$4 million
19.Defenseman Scott Hannan: He's a pure shutdown defenseman who can play against the other team's power forwards. He has some bite in his game. Teams will want to pay him $3.5 million, but some team will go higher
Age: 28 2006-07 salary: $2.2 million. Projection: $4 million-$4.25 million
21.Right wing Todd Bertuzzi: The Red Wings want to re-sign him, although at a much lower rate. Coming back from the back injury, Bertuzzi didn't show much scoring touch for the Red Wings, but they like his toughness and intimidation value. They want to upgrade the team's muscle. There is a market for him if he turns down the Red Wings. It will all come down to how much he wants to play in Detroit because he will have other options.
Age: 31. 2006-07 salary: $5.26 million. Projection: $2.5 million, plus bonuses
22.Center Dainius Zubrus: He was a 24-goal scorer this past season, and he's 6-4, 225. He could be an attractive mid-range free agent.
Age: 28. 2006-07 salary: $1.8 million. Projection: $2.5 million-$3 million
23.Center Robert Lang: Had a subpar season in Detroit, and yet he still had 19 goals. His mobility has become an issue in the new NHL, but he has hands and he's a very likeable guy.
Age: 35. 2007-08 salary: $3.8 million. Projection: $2.5 million-$3 million
The predictions for Smyth, Kozlov, Schneider and Zubrus look pretty accurate to me. I think the predicitions for Hamrlik, Stuart and Hannan are a little low, and the ones for Bertuzzi and Lang are a little high.
3. Left wing Ryan Smyth: Every major contender would like a crack at Smyth because of his scoring ability and character. Few players drive to the net with more determination and purpose. He simply knows how to score.
Age: 31. 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $6.5 million
7. Left wing Slava Kozlov: The Thrashers desperately want him back, but they have budgetary issues. He's a smart player who can still score and work effectively with highly skilled players. There is significant interest in Kozlov among contenders.
Age: 34 2006-07 salary: $2 million. Projection: $3.5 million-$4 million
9. Defenseman Mathieu Schneider: The Red Wings are trying to sell him on taking a little less in the name of helping the organization continue to have the budget flexibility necessary to stay highly competitive. He has been respected more in Detroit than he has anywhere else during his career. But it seems as if he will test the marketplace.
Age: 37. 2006-07 salary: $3.3 million. Projection: $5 million
17. Defenseman Roman Hamrlik: He's a top four defenseman with skating ability and the ability to play on the power play.
Age: 33. 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $4.5 million
18. Defenseman Brad Stuart: Played much better after he was traded to Calgary. He's not quite an "A-list" defenseman but when he's playing well he's a "B" or "B-plus-performer."
Age: 28 2006-07 salary: $3.5 million. Projection: $3.5 million-$4 million
19.Defenseman Scott Hannan: He's a pure shutdown defenseman who can play against the other team's power forwards. He has some bite in his game. Teams will want to pay him $3.5 million, but some team will go higher
Age: 28 2006-07 salary: $2.2 million. Projection: $4 million-$4.25 million
21.Right wing Todd Bertuzzi: The Red Wings want to re-sign him, although at a much lower rate. Coming back from the back injury, Bertuzzi didn't show much scoring touch for the Red Wings, but they like his toughness and intimidation value. They want to upgrade the team's muscle. There is a market for him if he turns down the Red Wings. It will all come down to how much he wants to play in Detroit because he will have other options.
Age: 31. 2006-07 salary: $5.26 million. Projection: $2.5 million, plus bonuses
22.Center Dainius Zubrus: He was a 24-goal scorer this past season, and he's 6-4, 225. He could be an attractive mid-range free agent.
Age: 28. 2006-07 salary: $1.8 million. Projection: $2.5 million-$3 million
23.Center Robert Lang: Had a subpar season in Detroit, and yet he still had 19 goals. His mobility has become an issue in the new NHL, but he has hands and he's a very likeable guy.
Age: 35. 2007-08 salary: $3.8 million. Projection: $2.5 million-$3 million
The predictions for Smyth, Kozlov, Schneider and Zubrus look pretty accurate to me. I think the predicitions for Hamrlik, Stuart and Hannan are a little low, and the ones for Bertuzzi and Lang are a little high.
