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NHL free agency, part 4
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This is part four 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.
Dallas
Steve Begin - Let go. Expect lots of changes this off season in Dallas. Begin will be one of those. With the NHL evolving more and more to emphasize offense, the Stars need lots more now. More and more veterans will find themselves on the market like Begin.
Chris Conner - Let go. Normally I would be in favor of keeping a young free agent with NHL experience, but Dallas' offensive woes doesn't give them that option. If it wasn't for the freefall of Phoenix and Los Angeles at the end of the season, the Stars would look even worse than they did.
Jere Lehtinen - Let go. A tough decision to be sure. You don't take a three time Selke Award wining forward and toss him out with the trash, but neither can the Stars afford to tie up too much cash in a guy who hasn't come close to a full season since 2006-07. Would the Stars love to have him back? Probably. Can they afford to? That seems less likely.
Joel Lundqvist - Let go. Splitting time between the NHL and AHL is fine in your early twenties. Not so fine in your late twenties. If Dallas would have been closer to the playoffs, they might consider giving Lundqvist another shot, but with a long climb ahead, the Stars may go another direction.
Brendan Morrison - Let go. Several young Stars prospects are ready to make the jump up and they need to go somewhere. Morrison's roster spot may be where they go.
Mark Parrish - Let go. Not quite the 20 goal scorer the Stars thought they were getting when they signed him away from Minnesota last year, Parrish just might be let go in favor of a younger prospect.
Landon Wilson - Let go. Coming back to the NHL after a four season stint in Europe didn't turn out well for Wilson. If Dallas needs a veteran presence to round out the lineup, Wilson could be back, otherwise he will be gone.
Darryl Sydor - Let go. Sydor, along with fellow blueliner Sergei Zubov, have been mainstays on the Stars defense for years. However age, and to a lesser extent price, will keep the Stars from keeping these two in the fold.
Sergei Zubov - Let go. Price plays more of a factor in the Stars decision on Zubov, but injury will factor in as well. $5.35 million for ten games is quite a high price. He won't command that level this year, but because he is who he is, his cap number still will be pretty high. Possibly too high for Dallas.
Tobias Stephan - Keep. Another goaltender who is waiting on the Gustavsson lottery. The Stars would be wise to re-sign Stephan just in case. Nothing wrong with putting him back to the AHL should Dallas get Gustavsson.
Detroit
Marian Hossa - Let go. Sooner or later, the 'Wings will have to rebuild a little. All of their high priced veteran talent is nice, but if you don't retool a bit, the fall will be hard and fast. Hossa might be a little too high priced for even the 'Wings.
Tomas Kopecky - Keep. A solid transitional player, Kopecky adds the veteran knowledge and leadership all teams need to stay on top. The fly in the ointment will be his offense. He had a good season last year in a support role, but will need to step it up a bit.
Darren McCarty - Let go. There comes a time in every enforcer's career where his age and talent work against him. McCarty seems to be at that point. Don't be too surprised if he calls it a career.
Mikael Samuelsson - Keep. A 19 goal season last year should convince Detroit that Samuelsson will be a valuable veteran to keep around while they bring in the next crop of youth. Don't expect it to be a long term deal though.
Chris Chelios - Let go. With all due respect, I can't quite understand how the 47 year old Chelios is still playing. Rumors are that Chelios will call it a career, but if he still feels he can play at a high level, expect some team to take a chance on him.
Ty Conklin - Let go. Look for Detroit to give Jimmy Howard the job backing up Chris Osgood. Sooner or later though the 'Wings will have to audition one of their prospects.
Edmonton
Ales Kotalik - Keep. The good news for the Oilers is that they are very short on UFA's. That will allow them to keep a solid player like Kotalik and still stay on budget. The 20 goal scorer Kotalik will compliment the Edmonton roster well.
Jason Strudwick - Keep. A good bargain veteran for the Oilers. A great extra defenseman who should be back in Edmonton.
Dwayne Roloson - Keep. Another player who is at a level seldom seen at his age, Roloson should be back in Edmonton. The worry for the Oilers though is who will take over when Roloson calls it quits or gets injured.
Tomorrow I will look at Florida, Los Angeles, and Minnesota.
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