This is part six of a ten part, team by team analysis of the NHL's current crop of unrestricted free agents. I will give my opinion on each player and wether their team should keep them or not. These lists are up to date at the time of writing. Only players who saw significant playing time last season are included.
Montreal
Saku Koivu - Let go. This decision will not win me any friends north of the border, but this may be the best move for Montreal. Yes, Koivu has been the leader and the heart of the Canadiens for years, but one has to wonder when his age and his history of injuries will catch up to him. Also, Montreal has a ton of UFA's they will need to make decisions on. The salary cap looms big for the Canadiens. If the estimates of $56.7 million are correct, it could cause issues for Montreal if they want to keep Koivu.
Tom Kostupoulos - Keep. If Montreal decides to lose the finesse of Koivu, then gritty players like Kostupoulos will almost be required. A solid checking forward, Kostupoulos can also tap in the occasional goal to help out the offense.
Alexi Kovalev - Let go. Now, before you Canadiens fans grab your torches and pitchforks, Montreal probably will keep either Koivu or Kovalev, but they will not be able to afford both. With 5 UFA's on defense who saw at least 41 games last season, the Canadiens have a lot of decisions to make. If they decide to go young on D, then they may be able to squeeze Koivu and Kovalev in, but don't count on it.
Robert Lang - Let go. Even if Lang bounces back from the Achilles tendon injury that ended his season, I can't see the Canadiens bringing back the 38 year old. This roster spot will better serve Montreal by being taken by a young prospect.
Alex Tanguay - Keep. Shoulder injury aside, Tanguay will need to take on more of the workload to help the Canadiens transition from older stars like Lang, Kovalev, and Koivu to a younger crew of Tomas Plekanec, Sergi and Andrei Kostitsyn. Tanguay's experience while winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001 is a valuable resource.
Francis Bouillon - Keep. If the Canadiens want to go gritty, Bouillion is a keeper. Sixth on the team and second among defensemen in hits, Bouillion looks to add to his on ice time this season. His -7 and relatively low 55 blocked shots will need to improve though.
Patrice Brisebois - Let go. Another veteran who is getting a bit long in the tooth. This would be a good spot for Montreal to save a bit of cap space and get a younger prospect some NHL experience/
Mathieu Dandenault - Let go. When you are facing the cap like Montreal is, you need to look for value among the second tier of players. $1.75 million for 41 games at defense isn't quite the deal that the Canadiens need next season.
Mike Komisarek - Keep. Part of a Montreal heavy starting line up in last year's All Star Game, Komisarek will command a bit of a raise, but should make it worth Montreal's time to re-sign him.
Mathieu Schneider - Let go. Another in a long line of older NHL veterans who will be forced to peddle their wares on the free agent market this off season. Schneider may latch on somewhere, but it probably won't be in a starting role.
Nashville
Radek Bonk - Keep. While Bonk never turned into the star that led Ottawa to take him 3rd overall in 1994, he has adjusted to his role. Nashville was third in the NHL last year in faceoff percentage due in large part to Bonk.
Vernon Fiddler - Let go. With the stellar AHL seasons of Mike Santorelli and Cal O'Reilly, the Predators have other options for Fiddler's roster spot.
Scott Nichol - Keep. If he's medically cleared after the concussion he suffered on December 9th, the Predators will welcome back their gritty centerman.
Steve Sullivan - Keep. Now that the back injury that cost him 142 regular season games appears to be behind him, Nashville will rely on the veteran leadership of Sullivan.
Joel Ward - Keep. Consider Ward an insurance policy. Should either Santorelli or O'Reily not be ready when the season starts, Ward will be a placeholder until they are ready.
Greg De Vries - Keep. Nashville's elder statesman should earn a return to Nashville for probably one more season. A willing shot blocker is always welcome on any team.
Ville Koistinen - Keep. This versatile young defenseman should see his ice time increase a bit this season as he returns to the Predators.
Greg Zanon - Let go. Although Zanon posted career highs in games played (82), goals (4), assists (7), and points (11) last season, Nashville will let him test the free agent market in favor of the other young defensemen.
New Jersey
Brian Gionta - Keep. Knowing Lou Lamoriello, there will be a few tweaks to the Devils roster this year, but Gionta won't be one of them. Coming off a third straight 20 goal season, Gionta is in line for a nice new contract from New Jersey.
John Madden - Keep. Although the Devils have opened up a bit from their classic shut-down defensive game, a four time Selke nominated forward is still a huge asset. Look for Madden to come back to New Jersey for at least one more year.
Michael Rupp - Let go. With the Devils opening up their game a bit more, all of the defensive forwards are not as important as in years past. Look for Rupp to hit the open market.
Brendan Shanahan - Let go. Shanahan's return to New Jersey didn't go quite as people would have hoped. Limited to just 34 games, Shanahan just may call it a career.
Niclas Havelid - Let go. With one of the oldest defenses in the NHL, the Devils need to bring up young talent now. Havelid will more than likely be let go to make room.
Johnny Oduya - Keep. The Devils only defenseman to appear in all 82 games last season. Oduya is a solid young veteran who will continue to see plenty of ice time in the next few years.
Scott Clemmensen - Keep. The biggest question over the last few years in New Jersey is who will take over once Martin Brodeur calls it a career. Finally it appears that Clemmensen could be ready to take over that monumental task.
Kevin Weekes - Let go. The Devils will eventually need to get younger talent ready for the NHL. They can't do that with a older veteran like Weekes on the roster. With his solid play last season, look for Weekes to get a serious look from the teams in need of goaltending that lose in the Jonas Gustavsson sweepstakes.
Tomorrow we will cover the Islanders, Rangers, and Ottawa.
Comments
Oh, Tim, I just don't see how this will work. (Talking about my Preds, now).
Nashville already has $33 million tied up next season in contracts. I'm guessing they're not gonna raise payroll for next season - so that leaves about $13 million dollars.
Resigning Sully will cost about $3 mil.
That leaves $10 mil for 8 players.
With that amount of scratch, how do you justify paying $1.5 mil for a journeyman who had one good season - an career year at age 29? (Ward)
How do you justify paying $2.75 million for a one-dimensional, role-playing, third-pairing defensemen? (DeVries)
And Koistinen...SERIOUSLY? The dude requested a trade in February...then was a healthy scratch...then was played at FORWARD.
Basically - you think the Preds were happy enough with their season that they only replace TWO players?
Man, alive. What is wrong with you?
Wow. Did you follow the Predators at all last season?
Bonk has more value than Fiddler? Keep Nichol? How many 4th line centers does this team need?
Sullivan is going to ask for lots of money...it's not just as easy as saying Keep-don't keep.
Ward was the unsung hero last year, and you have him pegged as a placeholder?
Keep DeVries and let Zanon go? Have you watched DeVries play defense at all? I'm guessing not. If Zanon goes elsewhere, he will be missed in Nashville, no doubt.
And Koistinen?????? He asked for a trade last season! He played forward last season in some games! You can call it being versitile all you want....but he underperformed and obviously doesn't want to be there.
And you think Santorelli is going to be ready this year? Did you watch him play when he got his cup of coffee in Nashville? He didn't look good.
Disappointing, Tim. I figured this would be the one that you would nail.
Zanon was third in the league in blocked shots.
Devries was 5th on the team and finished as a -15. How is DeVries the willing shot blocker you need to keep and Zanon expendable?
And keep VK? What are you smoking?
Come on Tim. Defend your work. Make your case, or lose your credibility.
Have you even been watching the Predators play at all!!! Santorelli was horrible in Nashville. And Ville Koistinen?? He wanted to be traded! Do you think they want him back after that? Seriously watch some hockey and then do this
Tim! Where are you?
Face the music!
If you don't care enough to defend your opinions, then you really are wasting your time blogging.
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