The Hockey News: Edward Fraser's blog: THN.com Blog: Top '09 UFAs from the Northwest Division

THN.com Blog: Top '09 UFAs from the Northwest Division

Marian Gaborik could find himself on the UFA market next summer. The speedy forward tallied 83 points in 77 games for the Wild last season. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)

Edward Fraser
2008-08-01 10:38:29

Any one of four teams could claim top spot in the Northwest Division this season (sorry, Colorado) and that team just might have to win it to get into the playoffs.

While they’re the worst lot in the West, the division is home to the league’s best potential unrestricted free agent crop in 2009.

As I’ve done for the past two weeks and will continue to do for the next three, here are each squad’s top freedom fighters of the next off-season.

CALGARY FLAMES
Mike Cammalleri ($3.6 million’08-09 salary)
Coming off his L.A. arbitration deal, shifty 26-year-old center will be one of the top UFAs on the market.

Adrian Aucoin ($4 million)
Big shot from the point will spark interest, but a one-year deal is all a smart GM will offer.

Todd Bertuzzi ($1.95 million)
Once the game’s most promising power forward, this season will show what Big Bert is really made of.

Other ’09 UFAs - Anders Eriksson, David Moss, Marcus Nilson, Andre Roy, Rhett Warrener.

COLORADO AVALANCHE
Tyler Arnason ($1.75 million)
So much potential, so few results. Perhaps large UFA dollars will be enough to motivate?

Jordan Leopold ($1.5 million)
Think the Avs would like Alex Tanguay back? Either way, Leopold hasn’t lived up to lofty expectations in his first five seasons.

Ian Laperriere ($1.15 million)
Has the nose to prove he’s one of the league’s grittiest, hard-working players.

Other ’09 UFAs - Ben Guite, Andrew Raycroft, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Scott Parker.

EDMONTON OILERS
Erik Cole ($4 million)
Fan favorite in Carolina sure to win over Oil flock, too. Don’t expect new GM Steve Tambellini to let him get anywhere near July 1 without a new deal.

Mathieu Garon ($1 million)
If he can follow up last season’s breakout campaign in ’08-09, he should look for Cristobal Huet money.

Related Links

Dwayne Roloson ($3 million)
Best years are well behind the 38-year-old, but if Curtis Joseph can still make a living on the ice…

Other ’09 UFA - Jason Strudwick.

MINNESOTA WILD
Marian Gaborik ($7.5 million)
If the Wild can’t get his name on an extension, Gaborik – and his groin – will be next summer’s most sought-after commodity.

Niklas Backstrom ($3.1 million)
Despite playoff problems, the Finnish late-bloomer is the real deal. He has only 21 regulation losses in 99 career NHL games.

Kurtis Foster ($1.025 million)
To use an insufferable cliché, he is what he is – a big body who’s not great, but not terrible, either.

Other ’09 UFAs - Marc-Andre Bergeron, Martin Skoula, Stephane Veilleux.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Daniel Sedin ($3.575 million)
Man oh man, I wouldn’t want to be GM Mike Gillis next summer. If the Sedins head for greener pastures, there’ll be ECHL teams with better offenses.

Henrik Sedin ($3.575 million)
Could this be the last season we see the Bros. play together on the same NHL team? Don’t bet on it. Even if they’re split at the trade deadline, they’ll rejoin in the summer.

Mattias Ohlund ($3.5 million)
At 31 years of age, he will be the second-best blueliner available – behind Jay Bouwmeester - with lots of gas left in the tank.

Other ’09 UFAs - Nolan Baumgartner, Alexandre Burrows, Jeff Cowan, Matt Pettinger, Taylor Pyatt, Curtis Sanford.

Edward Fraser is the editor of thehockeynews.com. His blog normally appears Fridays.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (28)

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Ian Gould Posted
(2009-04-30 06:51:29)

The Canucks time is Up? Premier goaltender and a great defense. It usually is far more successful than a great offense and no goaltending! Two years ago the canucks were counted out and won the division with an incredible record after the X-mas break. Last year Luongo was AT Best average and half there regular defensemen were out of action on most nights and they still came close to making the playoffs. The challenge Vancouver had last year was maintaining a team identity and style: That will be back this year! Look for them to challenge for the division title. The only team in the NW that may not be competitive is the Oilers; But they have improved. There are four premier teams in the West - Detroit, Dallas, Anaheim and SJ - after that there are about 8 teams that will fight for the last four playoff spots. The Canucks will be one of them!

MaxBenson Posted
(2009-04-30 06:49:12)

So the Flames have lost offense? Let's take a better look. Compare the four prominent aquisitions up front as compared to the four largest subtractions. Out goes Nolan, Tanguay, Huselius and Yelle. They combined to average 0.54 points per game last season. Bring in the likes of Cammalerri, Bertuzzi, Borque and Glencross, who last season combined for an average of 0.53 ppg. So there we have it, the Flames have definitely taken a huge hit on offense. If they can't find someone to produce 0.01 more ppg then write them off immediately...

Cole Posted
(2009-04-30 06:48:59)

scotty87 that last part in your comment was hilarious!

Barrows Posted
(2009-04-30 06:48:59)

The Northwest as a whole is not as strong as years past but the Oilers, Flames and Wild all look decent and time will tell if they live up to expectations. Expectations in Vancouver are down, sorry to the few Nucks fans here that haven't come to terms with it. Unless Luongo learns to play the puck like other NHL goaltenders the Vancouver defense corps will suffer all sorts of injuries again this season. I personally hopes he pulls a hammy trying to oversell a penalty rather than play goal. Bertuzzi is a big question mark in Calgary but I think a little ice time with Iggy and he will surprise.

Gagner 89 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:48:25)

Edmonton needs to get rid of Roloson. The guy is horrible. Send him packing and make room for Dubnyk or Deslauriers

daniel Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:24)

the kings will make a run for gaborik coming either in the offseason of next season or at the trade deadline. i truly believe this because they could afford that kind of player on the team at this point. they can afford anybody at 28 million under the salary cap. they have a lot of good young talent in the system to give up for a player of this calibur and i think they will try to make a run for him. it would be a nice line to. just think of this. gaborik, kopitar, frolov. sounds like another triple crown in the making. then the second line would sound almost even better. brown, o'sullivan, stoll. it's looking promising for the kings either way.

QuitbringinupSundin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:18)

Man, it seems to jinx us. Or him. If you utter his name in print or by mouth...he tacks on another week to making his decision. Either way, I want Gillis to take the offer off the table all ready. If it isn't signed, then tear the sumbeach up (the contract). I can't believe Sundin is still playing stupid. Yes, or no man. Simple question. As to all the other FA'S coming up...Gaborik is the one I would most want Gillis to go after. Even though his groin is like angel hair pasta. And the slightest breeze is bound to put him in rehab for half the year. Gillis!!! Offer Gaborik the ten mill. I am sure his groin will hold up if he's making stupid rich money. Sundin can go eat a barrel of rusty nails for all I care. And Gillis had better find a way to re-sign the Sedins. Otherwise, we may as well go defunct like the Golden Seals or whatever other NHL team went belly up.

scotty87 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:46:08)

I wouldn't count the Canucks out until Sundin makes a decision. Also, defence wins championships, and I guarantee no one here is going to hate on Vancouver's defence/goalie tandem, cuz all of you know its good. If Sundin doesn't sign, look for one of the top 4 to get moved for some added offence, probably Bieksa. P.S. Conor WingHater Corrigan: I'm pretty sure I saw someone dump beer all over you at that game. I hate you.

Brian Kemp Posted
(2009-04-30 06:42:53)

Aaron, I'll say it again, tight does not equal good. Just because all of the teams in a division are fairly close in terms of quality does not mean any of them are better than average. The only team in the Northwest that looks above average is Calgary, but we've been saying that they look real good on paper for a few years, and they haven't done anything since the lockout. Edmonton improved, but they were a crap team last year. And before you tell me where they finished in the standings, almost all of their final games where they picked up a ton of points and jumped up in the final standings were against, you guessed it, other Northwest division teams. Colorado (who has definitely gotten worse, at least on paper) got out of the first round because they faced another average Northwest division team. Calgary got bounced by perrenial underachieving San Jose. Detroit has been the best team in the Central for years, but they've also been either the best team in the NHL, or very nearly the best team in the NHL. Chicago has improved, and Nashville was better than Minnesota (who are worse than they were last year, losing Rolston and Demitra), the Northwest division champion from a year ago. (I think they'll miss Radulov if he plays in Russia, and miss the playoffs because of it, but that's just me.) Personnaly, I like Columbus' chances, even if others don't. Teams don't like making the western Canada trip because it's long and cold, not because the Northwest is something to be feared. In the past, that was true. It's not anymore. Having said all of that, the game is played on the ice, not paper, so the division may suprise people. All I'm saying is the fans of the Northwest's teams shouldn't be real shocked if the best team in the division is the only one that makes the post season.

steve Posted
(2009-04-30 06:42:48)

I'll tell you what, after this season tally the records and eat your words. I would rather my OIL head out to the South West/East etc then take a road trip through our own division, there is a reason teams dread the Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver road trip, and with usualy one win and a hell of alot of bruises later they are glad to go home. stats dont lie ladies, stats dont lie......

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