TaLoN
Posts : 2219
Join date : 2009-09-20
Location : Farmington, Minnesota
 |  Subject: Wild Free Agency Options  Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:45 am | |
| From the Strib...Wild's free agency options
Last update: June 30, 2010 - 11:05 PM
WILD FREE AGENCY
The free-agent bell opens at 11 a.m. Thursday, and the Wild's biggest priority will be signing a center. The Wild has $49,302,693 committed to next year's $59.4 million salary cap, excluding the eventual re-signing of restricted free agent Josh Harding. Here are some players who could be of interest to the team:
CENTERS
Matt Cullen, Ottawa: Minnesotan can win draws, contribute at both ends and play the power-play point.
Olli Jokinen, N.Y. Rangers: Scored 200 goals over six-year span before 15 last year.
Saku Koivu, Anaheim: Mikko Koivu's brother didn't want to play here last year, but could he change his mind?
Vaclav Prospal, N.Y. Rangers: Skates like he's dragging an elephant, but all he does is score.
Manny Malhotra, San Jose: Very solid checking center.
Others of interest: Jeff Halpern, Los Angeles; Jason Williams, Detroit; Ryan Johnson, Vancouver; Adam Burish, Chicago.
WINGERS
Colby Armstrong, Atlanta: Gritty winger who can contribute offensively, and Wild GM Chuck Fletcher had him in Pittsburgh.
Ray Whitney, Carolina: The Wizard might be 38, but he's as skilled as anybody available.
Maxim Afinogenov, Atlanta: Poor man's Pavel Bure rebounded last year.
Lee Stempniak, Phoenix: Became the player everybody always expected he'd be after trade to Coyotes.
Miroslav Satan, Boston; The quick fix the Wild should have signed instead of Petr Sykora last year.
Others of interest: Eric Nystrom, Calgary; Arron Asham, Philadelphia; Jamal Mayers, Calgary; Alex Ponikarovsky, Pittsburgh; Ruslan Fedotenko, Pittsburgh
DEFENSEMEN
Paul Martin, New Jersey: Smart, mobile, big-minute, two-way defenseman -- but expensive.
Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa: If you're going to spend money, here's your hard hitter.
Zbynek Michalek, Phoenix: Sign him, and we'll all forget the Wild traded him for Erik Westrum.
Jordan Leopold, Pittsburgh: Could be an affordable alternative, and will get the puck out.
Kurtis Foster, Tampa Bay: Big rebound year for big-shot blueliner.
Others of interest: Lukas Krajicek, Philadelphia; Willie Mitchell, Vancouver; Derek Morris, Phoenix; Toni Lydman, Buffalo; Shaone Morrisonn, Washington; Garnet Exelby, Toronto; Milan Jurcina, Washington; Carlo Colaicovo, St. Louis.
Wild free agents to hit market
• Derek Boogaard, LW; Owen Nolan; RW; Andrew Ebbett; C; John Scott, D; Shane Hnidy, D; Robbie Earl, LW. | |
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