Another great NHL articl from The Score...
An older article from The Score, which still has teeth... I've editted out those players that have already signed. You can read the whole article at the link provided below. - KF72
SLIM PICKINGS
http://forecaster.ca/thescore/hockey/extras.cgi?ufa-best-of-rest
Unrestricted free agents: Best of the rest...
THE FREE AGENT FRENZY is by all accounts pretty much over as the most sought-after free agents able to impact a club have signed. While there are still some big-name unrestricted free agents on the market, their best years are behind them. Mostly, the players available will play speciific roles when and, in some cases, if they latch onto a club for 2005-06. As general managers continue to complete their off-season moves through trades and signings, let's take a look at notable players still on the unrestricted free agent market:
Forwards
Peter Bondra, LW/RW
Is still a brilliant, swift skater. Has a deceptively hard wrist shot and likes to use it from anywhere. Is very strong on the power play and even more dangerous when a man short. Doesn't get a lot of assists because he shoots so often. Isn't a physical player but still takes a few too many penalties. Top six winger. The new NHL rules and open play may give him new life. Could return to Washington, but rumblings also have him looking Atlanta's way.
Vincent Damphousse, C
A heady and deft playmaker. Sees the ice well and makes soft, well-timed passes. Has grit, durability, size, versatility and solid face-off skills. Can fall victim to slumps, going long stretches without scoring goals. Is prone to taking bad penalties. Has lost a step over the years, but can still contribute. Pittsburgh may be a destination, especially now that prospect Evgeni Malkin is staying in Russia for 2005-06.
Mark Messier, C
Is still one of the game's great warriors and an unquestioned leader. Can still play a sound two-way game when used properly. Age has taken away a lot of his best skills and he's only a shadow of the offensive threat he used to be. Has lost some acceleration and can no longer dominate the game physically. Rumors have him returning to Edmonton, which makes sense. Messier can still bring a lot of intangibles to the rink.
Bates Battaglia, LW
Keeps his motor running for 60 minutes. Has great work habits and an infectious attitude. Skates very well and is sound defensively. Needs to show more consistency on offense. Has struggled numbers-wise, but improving them considerably may be too much to ask from him these days; Battaglia is now, first and foremost, a grinder with decent speed. Doesn't always use the body effectively, though, despite a good-sized frame.
Brian Savage, LW
Owns a great shot and is very good at getting into open areas to create scoring chances. The new NHL rules could be just what the doctor ordered for Savage. Can play either wing effectively. Staying healthy has proven to be a huge task for him over the years, though. Has earned the moniker "Mr. October" for his blazing starts to the season--and subsequent fades down the stretch.
Mike Eastwood, C
Is excellent on draws. Has ideal size for the center position. Can kill penalties and even be used as a shadow against top centers, despite being 38. Lacks skating speed, which makes him a risky proposition for the third line. Can go through extensive dry spells on offense. Now a fourth line center.
Dan LaCouture, LW
Is a strong, fast skater that is very responsible in the defensive zone. Uses his size effectively and works very hard every shift. Excels while shorthanded. Has a very limited offensive game and lacks hockey sense. Will never be able to shed the fourth-line label. Defensive winger with a lot of bump in his game.
Yanic Perreault, C
Has excellent hockey sense and tissue-soft hands. Can find holes to avoid heavy traffic and loves to unleash his accurate shot from anywhere. Is also one of the league's top face-off men. Is small in stature and his skating is a major weakness. Defensively, he can be overmatched in one-on-one battles and isn't a physical player at all. Now mostly a power-play specialist; the Penguins had reportedly expressed interest at one point this summer.
Scott Young, RW
Has an excellent slapshot. Plays a sound two-way game. Kills penalties with a vengeance and scores timely goals. Is a consummate team player. Doesn't play the body nearly enough. Has lost a step over the years. Can probably still help a team in a fourth-line winger role.
Brian Holzinger, C/RW
Has good skating speed and decent playmaking skills. Likes to take his game to the outside, which puts a lot of pressure on defensemen. Can play all three forward positions. Has a tendency to go into prolonged scoring slumps. Is smallish in stature and lacks a physical element to his overall game. Fourth line forward.
Steve Thomas, RW/LW
The 42-year-old is very intense; a fearless, fine forechecker and the owner of a bullet shot. Works the boards extremely well and adds versatility to the lineup. Sometimes elects to shoot when a pass would be more effective. Is injury-prone and starting to miss a lot of great scoring chances. Rumblings had him returning to the Maple Leafs.
Peter Worrell, LW
Big Worrell is an intimidating presence on the ice. Can punish people with a hit or his fists. Needs to work on his skating if he wants increased playing time. Has trouble avoiding taking bad penalties. Is becoming somewhat injury-prone.
Sandy McCarthy, RW
While McCarthy has lost the edge over the years, he could still be a very tough customer if he'd put his mind to it. Can chip in with timely goals and is solid defensively. Has proven to be a capable defensive player when given extra playing time. Still has skating limitations, though. McCarthy has a lot to prove again, especially as a top-tier enforcer.
Jim McKenzie, LW
The veteran brings toughness to the table whenever he's in the lineup. Accepts his role and also provides decent leadership skills. Can play on either side of center. Isn't talented enough to be in the lineup every night and is totally lost in non-physical matchups. Has cement for hands. Nashville's acquisition of Darcy Hordichuk made him expendable.
Defensemen
Brad Bombardir
Has decent size and plays a simple game in the defensive zone. Understands the Jacques Lemaire system and thrives in it. Owns a limited physical package and has very little offensive ability. Defensive defenseman who should find a job and hold on to it.
Bryan Marchment
His reputation for high-impact hits keeps the opposition guessing. Is still one of the most physical players in the game and a solid defender. Often takes foolish penalties, loses focus on the ice and earns far too many suspensions. His offensive game is extremely limited. No. 6 or 7 defenseman.
Scott Stevens
Hits everything that moves and sometimes hurts people as a result. Rarely makes mistakes in his own zone. Always leads by example. Has excellent hockey sense. Isn't the offensive defenseman he was a decade ago. Occasionally gets carried away when he goes for the big hit in open ice. Concussion woes have placed his career in jeopardy. The 41-year-old defensive defenseman still hasn't made up his mind about a return, or not, to the NHL. If he does play another season, it will most likely be with New Jersey, who needs to juggle with the cap in order to make room.
Jason Woolley
Sees the ice well and has good decision-making skills. Gets off a solid shot from the point more often than not. Struggles in physical contests, lacks size and loses too many one-on-one battles for the puck. Must show a more consistent game from behind the blueline. Depth defenseman.
Jason York
Possesses a sound skill level, good skating ability and an accurate shot from the point. Reads the ice well and has a very sound work ethic. Is not a physical player at all and relies solely on positioning to stop opposing forwards. While he's worked on his defensive game over the years, it's still mediocre at best. No. 5 or 6 defenseman.
Boris Mironov
An impressive physical package, including great size, a terrific shot from the point and a smooth skating stride. Can occasionally dominate a hockey game. Doesn't use his size enough. Needs to make better decisions with the puck, especially in the defensive zone. Must start showing up for every game on the schedule, since he lacks consistency. It's anybody's guess if Mironov will be back in the NHL.
Jason Doig
Has terrific skating ability to go along with ideal size for a defenseman. Looks like a complete defenseman in terms of physical tools, but the whole does not equal the sum of his parts. Lacks the hockey sense to thrive at the NHL level. Has apparently taken up acting this past summer.
Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
Has great size and decent speed for his 6-3 frame. Can play either along the blueline or as an imposing winger. Needs to fine-tune his overall game. Must gain more experience and improve his hockey sense in order to earn more ice time. Utility player.
Brad Brown
Plays an intimidating game from the back end, and can also drop the gloves at will. Has excellent leadership qualities. Lacks foot speed and has trouble going up against shifty forwards in the NHL. Has not developed his defensive game as well as expected. Depth defenseman.
Goaltenders
Felix Potvin
Is used to a heavy workload. Has excellent reflexes, which allow him to play far deeper in his crease than most goalies. Always displays mental focus and doesn't let outside distractions affect his play. If his reflexes let him down, his chances of stopping the puck decrease significantly. Can also be guilty of giving up too many juicy rebounds.
Ron Tugnutt
Has a history of coming up big in pressure situations. Is an excellent team player and perfect role model for any late-blooming netminder still in the minor-pro ranks. Isn't physically capable of handling a major workload. Tends to play in streaks. Veteran backup.
Byron Dafoe
Is very athletic and light on his feet. Moves very well laterally and plays a smooth butterfly style. Has been hamstrung with injuries--pun intended--for a good chunk of his career. Can be prone to giving up a bad goal at the wrong time. Depth goalie.
