Faceoff Factor

The Top 15 Centers Available July 1

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jun 24, 11:20 PM | Hype this story!

T-minus one week until one of the most hectic times on the NHL calendar: the free agency period. Once again, there’s a rich crop of fantastic forwards, delectable defensemen and great goaltenders available to all 30 National Hockey League teams. Forced alliteration aside, Faceoff Factor will take a peek at some of the league’s most coveted free agents.

First up: centers.

Mats Sundin
Former team: Toronto Maple Leafs
07-08 cap hit: $5,500,000
07-08 stats: 74 GP, 32 goals, 46 assists, 78 points

Sundin, even at 37, brings a ton to the table. His reputation precedes him; he’s a big center with a fantastic shot and is very industrious offensively. He is one of the league’s most consistent players. From 1997-98 to 2007-08, Sundin has registered no less than 72 points in any one season and no more than 83.

What he wants: Sundin would probably like to remain in or near Canada but would also like a shot at a Stanley Cup before he hangs’em up for good.

What can you expect: Point per game first line center at about $5 million per year.

Who’s interested: Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, New York (Rangers), Florida and a host of others.

Joe Sakic
Former team: Colorado Avalanche
07-08 cap hit: $6,750,000
07-08 stats: 44 GP, 13 goals, 27 assists, 40 points

Burnaby Joe turns 39 on July 7 and he’s coming off of a major injury, but he’s still one of the premier players in the game. His laser of a wrist shot is still one of the league’s most feared and his crafty passing ability makes him a constant offensive threat. His 1629 points in 1363 games cements him as an NHL legend.

What he wants: I can’t imagine Sakic leaving the Colorado organization, a place he’s been a part of since he was selected 15th overall by Quebec in 1987.

What can you expect: Point per game first line forward at about $5 to $6 million per year.

Who’s interested: Who isn’t? Again, I can’t imagine it not being Colorado.

Peter Forsberg
Former team: Colorado Avalanche
07-08 cap hit: $5,000,000
07-08 stats: 9 GP, 1 goal, 13 assists, 14 points

“If only Peter Forsberg could stay healthy,” something that he and all hockey fans have heard for a long time now. Forsberg, even at 80% health is a world-class talent that can dominate a game. He seemingly can’t help but to be a better-than-point-per-game player when he’s able to lace up the skates.

What he wants: A skate that fits properly and a shortened season on a contender.

What can you expect: Certainly not 82 games, but at least a point per game when he is out there at about $4 to $5.5 million per year.

Who’s interested: Colorado, Philadelphia, Detroit, all the usual suspects.

Martin Straka
Former team: New York Rangers
07-08 cap hit: $3,300,000
07-08 stats: 65 GP, 14 goals, 27 assists, 41 points

Straka is a determined player that typically plays a very high tempo, but skilled, game. He’s an honest player that can play a sound two-way game and adds quickness to any lineup. However, based on his injury history, you have to wonder whether or not Straka goes home every night and breaks a mirror while standing under a ladder where his black cat sleeps

What he wants: A lucky rabbit’s foot and a top six forward position, seems to always end up on Czech-heavy teams. May go home to the Czech Republic where a very lucrative offer is on the table for him.

What can you expect: A top six forward that is very injury prone, he could still be good for 50 to 65 points in the right situation.

Who’s interested: New York (Rangers), Pilsen (Czech), Pittsburgh, or Jagr’s future team

Brendan Morrison
Former team: Vancouver Canucks
07-08 cap hit: $3,200,000
07-08 stats: 39 GP, 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points

Brendan Morrison is a smooth skater and playmaker that sets up his wingers with prime scoring chances. With the exception of last season, he does a good job of staying injury free (played 6 consecutive 82 game seasons). Probably isn’t consistent enough for the top line center role like the Canucks had hoped for.

What he wants: A good contract despite his 07-08 campaign. A chance to be a second line center.

What can you expect: Well, there’s some question marks because of that injury, but generally, 50 or 60 points as a second line center at about $2.25 to $3.75 million per year.

Who’s interested: A number of teams could use a quality second line center, like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Jersey, New York (Islanders) and Toronto.

Honorable mention:

Jason Williams (Chicago) – Williams is coming off of a sports hernia injury that obliterated his 07-08 season but managed 36 points in 43 games before going down. He could surprise fans with the amount of points he can accumulate in a top six role and at any position on the power play. An underrated/not well known NHL talent.

Sergei Fedorov (Washington) – While Fedorov has fallen off on the scoresheet, he is still a serviceable player that could be a valuable utility player who can line up at center or on the blueline because of his great defensive and skating ability.

Michael Peca (Columbus) – A well-known two-way forward that can also put the puck in the net on occasion. His big value comes in his intangibles and other qualities that do not make the scoresheet (leadership, defensive play, penalty killing, hits, faceoffs, etc.). Though, he is injury prone, he’s only made it to 80 games twice in his career.

Bobby Holik (Atlanta) – Holik was Atlanta’s captain this past season but will not be retained. He is a hard-working player that uses his size to his advantage for his strong two-way game. His stats have been awful the last couple years but he still brings his hard hat for all 82 games.

Doug Weight (Anaheim) – Weight is another player that has fizzled on the scoreboard but can still bring something to the table if he’s put in a position to succeed. He is still a swell passer but is losing ground on depth charts and therefore is no longer surrounded with top-end talent to help him out of his increasingly frequent slumps.

Other notables: Craig Conroy, Chris Gratton, Glen Metropolit, Randy Robitaille and Josef Vasicek.

Next up: left wingers