Faceoff Factor

The Top 15 Left Wingers Available July 1

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jun 26, 03:23 AM | 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 were the centers, now it’s time for left wingers.

Ryan Malone
Former team: Pittsburgh Penguins
07-08 cap hit: $1,375,000
07-08 stats: 77 GP, 27 goals, 24 assists, 51 points

Ryan Malone is a big time power forward that set career highs in goals, assists and points playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora. His physical forechecking style is complemented nicely by his underrated hands and deking ability. He brings a complete two-way physical game to the table and showed that he is a warrior in every sense of the word during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He does need to show that he can handle the top-six forward role with consistency.

What he wants: His once-in-a-lifetime, big pay day, probably would like to remain in the Minnesota to Pittsburgh “corridor” where he has spent all of his life.

What can you expect: A second line power forward that can play in every situation at about $3.5 to $5 million per year

Who’s interested: Any number of teams, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Columbus, Chicago and plenty of others.

Kristian Huselius
Former team: Calgary Flames
07-08 cap hit: $1,400,000
07-08 stats: 81 GP, 25 goals, 41 assists, 66 points

Huselius enjoyed two and a half fantastic seasons as a Calgary Flame where he notched 182 points in 216 games (.84 pts/gm). He possesses fantastic skating ability, quickness and agility. His shiftiness makes him a constant threat in the offensive zone where he can make a brilliant pass or put one off the post and in. He needs to continue to work hard and develop a better two-way game to become a more complete player.

What he wants: He’s probably looking for the big bucks also and if a top line spot should come with that, all the better.

What can you expect: A top six winger that oozes offensive talent and in the right situation could net you 30 goals and 45 assists at about $3.75 million to $5 million per year.

Who’s interested: Teams that need scoring wingers, notably, all 30. Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Vancouver.

Cory Stillman
Former team: Ottawa Senators
07-08 cap hit: $1,750,000
07-08 stats: 79 GP, 24 goals, 41 assists, 65 points

Stillman is an under-the-radar offensive player in the league that seems to get kicked around but still puts up some respectable point totals. He doesn’t necessarily carry the lines that he’s been on but he owns above average offensive skills. He’ll certainly never be confused for Jay Pandolfo, but he is a veteran player that can be a viable option for any club’s top six.

What he wants: He, too, is probably looking to cash in, he’s 34, so the opportunities for that are about to expire.

What can you expect: A top six winger that can fill a gap with a spot next to two very talented players and not slow them down. Good for about 20 or 25 goals and 40 assists at about $2.75 to $4 million per year.

Who’s interested: Probably about the same teams that want Huselius and, soon, Rolston/Brunette.

Andrew Brunette
Former team: Colorado Avalanche
07-08 cap hit: $1,600,000
07-08 stats: 82 GP, 19 goals, 40 assists, 59 points

Brunette is probably a pretty fair comparison to Cory Stillman except he’s probably a little more responsible defensively. Brunette also has trouble hitting the 30 goal mark and also has trouble carrying a line by himself; he does his best work when paired with fantastic players (but who doesn’t?). He’s not the quickest player in the world and his age (35 in August) probably isn’t helping, but he has only missed a combined 7 games in the past 8 years.

What he wants: As per the pattern, he’s looking for that big time pay day but he’s never played in the Stanley Cup Finals, much less won one.

What can you expect: A solid second line winger that can produce 20 or 25 goals and 40 or 45 assists at $2.5 to $3.75 million per year.

Who’s interested: Teams that need a filler for a line with two talented players on it already, like the Sedin’s in Vancouver or the Malkin/Sykora duo in Pittsburgh.

Brian Rolston
Former team: Minnesota Wild
07-08 cap hit: $2,432,000
07-08 stats: 81 GP, 31 goals, 28 assists, 59 points

The 35-year-old Brian Rolston brings his patented rocket of a slapshot with him where ever he goes. He’s a fast player but one that doesn’t get mixed up the physical stuff. Doesn’t seem to have world-class talent by any stretch and tends to be noticeably less effective when he’s unable to use his slapshot. Doesn’t miss too many games in a season.

What he wants: A place that gives him time to unload his slapper, plus a top six forward role where there is a mucker that can retrieve pucks for him.

What can you expect: A decent scorer that can line up at any forward position who is capable of 30 goals and 30 assists at $2.75 to $4.25 million per year.

Who’s interested: New York (Rangers), Minnesota (was), and Vancouver among others.

Honorable mention:

Markus Naslund (Vancouver) – Naslund’s point production is sliding but he has the talent to be a very productive player. His reputation on the ice precedes him as a former 100-point getter. Needs motivation to perform at a high level and a change of scenery might just do that.

Sean Avery (N.Y. Rangers) – Avery is probably the league’s best agitator. His antics will sometimes get him into trouble both in the press and on the ice. Has shown some offensive ability but is often too distracted by his own shenanigans to be an effective and consistent top-six player. He is, however, a hard worker that would be an asset to any team’s group of forwards.

Ladislav Nagy (Los Angeles) – Has gotten swept under the rug in most hockey circles, but he just turned 29 and has a lot of talent with the puck on his stick. He has transformed himself into a playmaking winger from a goal scorer in recent years. The Slovak winger has been bitten by the injury bug in recent years and doesn’t always seem to have his head completely in the game, perhaps due to frustration.

Brendan Shanahan (N.Y. Rangers) – Shanahan still has a top-notch wrist shot which is absolutely devastating from the slot. He’s not as consistent as he used to be, nor does he possess the wheels or grit he used to show back in the day. He’s still a valuable member to any hockey club and a mentor to a group of young forwards who’s still capable of grabbing 20 goals in the process

Niklas Hagman (Dallas) – The 28-year-old Finn set a new benchmark in goals this year with 27. He hasn’t really proven anything yet as he only amassed 36 goals in four full seasons before becoming a Star. He tends to become snake-bitten in terms of goal scoring and he doesn’t possess natural offensive giftedness. He is a determined two-way forward that plays a strong defensive game when he isn’t scoring, however.

Other notables: Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis, Ruslan Fedotenko, Curtis Glencross and Jan Hlavac

Next up: Right Wings