Sundin, Hossa top NHL free agents
Posted on 7/1/2008 12:31:15 AM
By Don Melrose
A little early for NHL picks and Stanley Cup odds? Never! Hockey's free agency period begins today, and the Bettor's Edge will give you the lowdown on all the available talent. Free agency is an opportunity for a franchise to make or break its future.
A few of the household names are already off the board. Former Pittsburgh Penguins Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts will sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning after their negotiating rights were acquired for a third-round pick. Malone had a break out campaign last season, scoring 27 goals in the regular season and adding 16 points in 20 playoff games. He was rewarded with a seven year, $31.5-million deal. Roberts, a perennial fan favorite, will give the team some extra toughness.
A lot of action will definitely be headed Mats Sundin's way. Numerous teams hotly pursued the forward at the trade deadline last year, but he refused to waive his no-trade clause. After scoring 78 points in 74 games in '07-08, the center is good enough to put a team over the top. It's unknown what direction Sundin wants to go though; options include resigning in Toronto, taking the first half of the season off, or retiring altogether.
Marion Hossa is sure to get plenty of attention from big-spending teams. Hossa will inject a lot of juice into any offense. He's a five-time All-Star who consistently scores 35-40 goals a year. A strong performance in this year's playoffs (26 points in 20 games) has only boosted his stock, meaning odds are a club will spend nearly eight or nine or million a year to acquire his services.
Brian Campbell is the top-rated defenseman. He'll bring a lot of scoring to any team's blue line, though he'll command a hefty price tag after a banner season. Campbell played very well in Buffalo, but he exploded after being traded to San Jose at the deadline. In 20 regular season games with the Sharks, Campbell racked up three goals and 19 points.
Brooks Orpik will also be a highly sought-after defenseman. The Pittsburgh Penguin is a physical presence who focuses on keeping pucks out of the net more than putting them in it. Expect free agent money to also be spread amongst Nik Kronwall, Michal Rozsival and Brad Stuart. And keep an eye on Tampa Bay d-man Dan Boyle. Though he has a no-trade clause, Boyle could be traded in the near future.
That's a very solid list of players. There aren't many franchise-changers in there—though Sundin, Hossa and Campbell are intriguing—but all of them can be valuable role players in changing a team's fortunes. Rest assured, however free agency unfolds over the next week or two will be shaping your NHL picks and Stanley Cup futures down the road.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey
tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps,
breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
