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NHL free agency, part 9
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This is part nine 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.
San Jose
Mike Grier - Let go. A defensive and PK specialist, Grier was made expendable by the deadline day trade for Travis Moen. Grier's best days are behind him and so are his days as a Shark.
Claude Lemieux - Let go. The grand experiment failed. While Lemieux showed that he can still play in the NHL, it was not at a high level. Look for Lemieux to finally hang up the skates.
Travis Moen - Keep. Moen proved that he can bring the grit as well as be a defensive specialist, especially on the PK. He can also add a bit of offensive punch as well.
Jeremy Roenick - Let go. This is probably the hardest FA decision the Sharks have to make among the skaters. Roenick proved that he still has enough left in the tank for one more go around. The decision is Roenick's to make though. He has said that he will make his feelings known in the next week or two.
Rob Blake - Keep. The Sharks had too much questionable play on the blueline last season to let Blake go. Granted, Blake is nearing the end of his career but he still outplayed several younger guys for the Sharks last season.
Kent Huskins - Keep. If the Sharks defense had not fallen apart at the end of the season, Huskins would have found himself on the free agent market. With Alexi Seminov basically playing himself out of a job, Huskins should be re-signed despite not playing a game for the Sharks last season.
Alexi Seminov - Let go. For every brilliant play Seminov made last season, he made one equally boneheaded one. Consistently inconsistent sums up Seminov's game the last few seasons pretty well.
Brian Boucher - Let go. The #1 toughest decision Doug Wilson has to make this off season. Does Boucher have enough left to be a #1? Can he play well enough to earn a #1 spot? Will Tomas Greiss be ready to come up anytime soon? These are all questions that need to be answered now.
St. Louis
Dan Hinote - Let go. The Blues already have a nice mix of veterans and young talent. Hinote would be nice to have back as an extra player on the roster, but I think St. Louis would be better served with youth on the bench.
Brad Winchester - Keep. This youngster has showed that he can be an elite player. Given a chance to play a full season, Winchester has the ability to be a 30+ goal scorer.
Mike Weaver - Keep. A sound, disciplined defenseman who will give the Blues a needed stability on the blueline this season.
Manny Legace - Let go. The fact that the Blues placed Legace on waivers shows that they feel that Ben Bishop has what it takes to back up Chris Mason next season. Time will tell if they are right.
Tampa Bay
David Koci - Although major changes need to be made with the Lightning, grit will never go out of style. Look to Koci to return as well as see his ice time increase.
Mat Pettinger - Let go. Pettinger could be back if the Lightning cannot find a better, less expensive replacement or if Pettinger shows he can improve on his 15 point season last year.
Marek Malik - Let go. Although he ended the season injured, look to Tampa to go younger on defense. The Lightning need production from all 18 guys on the ice every night. 5 assists and a -3 for the season doesn't get the job done.
Josef Melichar - Let go. If the Lighning decide to really go young on defense, Melichar will be gone as well. With $20 Million tied up in just three forwards, the Lightning can't really afford to go out and go after high priced free agents on defense. It would be best to build young now while the expectations are still low.
Cory Murphy - Keep. Despite spending most of the season out with various injuries, Murphy shows that he can be a two way defenseman that the Lightning need at this point of their rebuilding.
Richard Petiot - Keep. One of a young core of defensemen who could see significantly more ice time this season as the rebuilding in Tampa continues.
Noah Welch - Keep. While still youngish, if Welsh doesn't have a great year next season, he could find himself on the open market with the older veterans.
Tomorrow we will finish up with Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington.
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