Faceoff Factor

The Top 15 Right Wingers Available July 1

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jun 26, 11:52 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.
With centers and left wings out of the way, it’s time to wrap up the last forward position, right wingers.

Marian Hossa
Former team: Pittsburgh Penguins
07-08 cap hit: $6,000,000
07-08 stats: 72 GP, 29 goals, 37 assists, 66 points

Marian Hossa was shipped to Pittsburgh in the trade deadline’s biggest trade. He is an elusive winger that has offensive talent to spare. His shot and his hands are quite remarkable and he is a fine skater. He also chips in mightily on the backcheck, lifting the stick of would-be puck carriers, stealing the puck and starting the rush the other way. He has also shaken off any “regular season-only” tags that he has acquired.

What he wants: He wants to win and have a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup every year, he also wouldn’t mind hitting the lottery on July 1st. I still think he ends up on a winner.

What can you expect: A first line winger that plays a solid two-way game but with explosive offensive potential. A potential 90 point player at about $6 to $8 million per season.

Who’s interested: Anyone that can afford it.

Jaromir Jagr
Former team: New York Rangers
07-08 cap hit: $4,940,000 (salary: $8,360,000; split with Washington)
07-08 stats: 82 GP, 25 goals, 46 assists, 71 points

Jaromir Jagr, the greatest European skater of all-time, even at 36 years old is still a tremendous player. The use of his body in combination with his hands is still almost unmatched across the league. He possesses a lethal shot but has become more of a setup man since his 54-goal campaign in 2006. Jagr does bring along some character and work ethic issues when he’s unhappy.

What he wants: Not terribly certain, could be one last big payday or a victory lap.

What can you expect: A top line, point-per-game power forward that brings a wealth of experience; prices from $5 million and up.

Who’s interested: Veteran-laden teams that are prepared to make a Cup run without relying on Jagr to provide mentoring. Also, Avangard Omsk.

Pavol Demitra
Former team: Minnesota Wild
07-08 cap hit: $4,500,000
07-08 stats: 68 GP, 15 goals, 39 assists, 54 points

Demitra had a down year by his standards, but he is a very capable offensive threat. He responds favorably to both the set up role and the finisher role and can line up at center as well. He owns exceptional skating ability and is still quite quick for his age. Demitra can be silenced with excessively physical play and is almost certainly a lock to miss 10 games per season.

What he wants: I would imagine he is looking for a Stanley Cup, but may be content with another big payday in an at least halfway respectable situation.

What can you expect: A top six forward that is certainly not irresponsible defensively and can punch in 60 to 75 points at $4 to $5.5 million.

Who’s interested: Teams that need a versatile forward like Vancouver, Calgary or Boston for instance.

Radim Vrbata
Former team: Phoenix Coyotes
07-08 cap hit: $1,225,000
07-08 stats: 76 GP, 27 goals, 29 assists, 56 points

Vrbata has been underrated across the league for years. Whenever he is given ice time he produces, quite adequately in fact (Phoenix gives players like this a chance to show that they are top six forwards, see: Oleg Saprykin). Vrbata has excellent offensive skills; his hands, vision and shot are top-six quality. He is not a very physical player, but as a former third liner he shows good poise, however, he will never be confused for Michael Peca.

What he wants: The big payday that he’s never gotten the chance to earn before and a top six role.

What can you expect: An offensive second line winger that has 30-35 goal and 60 point potential at $2.75 to $4.25 million per year.

Who’s interested: Teams that need wingers such as Boston, Edmonton, Pittsburgh and Phoenix just to name a few.

Teemu Selanne
Former team: Anaheim Ducks
07-08 cap hit: $5,158,696 (signed his contract during the season, this is the non-prorated version)
07-08 stats: 26 GP, 12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points

Selanne turns 38 on July 3rd but he is still a potent offensive talent in the NHL, provided he remains in it. He is still the gifted skater that took the league by storm in Winnipeg in 1993, only aged 15 years. The Finnish Flash still has the shot that has struck fear in the hearts of goaltenders since he entered the league. He is getting older and his future plans are undecided. He may not be up for the rigors of a full 82 game season anymore.

What he wants: No one is completely sure except for Teemu himself. Whatever he wants, though, he’ll probably end up with.

What can you expect: With talented linemates, a nearly point-per-game winger that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience at whatever price he deems fit based on the amount of time he wants to play.

Who’s interested: Anaheim and Jokerit Helsinki, it’s unclear if anyone else is in the running.

Honorable mention:

Darcy Tucker (Toronto) – Tucker was bought out after a forgettable season with Toronto. He still brings the energy to his game when he’s not injured. He’s proven to be a capable goal scorer when put in an area to succeed. He is a small ball of energy, but isn’t skilled or fast enough to keep up with most elite talent.

Mark Recchi (Atlanta) – Recchi was scooped up off re-entry waivers by the Thrashers after getting dumped by Pittsburgh. He came away with a surprising 40 points in 53 games in a Thrashers jersey. He appears to still have some game left, even at age 40. Obviously age is a concern, he isn’t the dynamic two-way energy scorer that he used to be.

Michael Ryder (Montreal) – Ryder put together back-to-back 30 goal seasons before laying a 14 goal egg in Montreal this season. He is a pure goal scorer with a deadly shot. There are questions surrounding his work ethic, defensive awareness and selfish play with the puck; he also been known to cherry pick. Still possesses 25 or 30 goal potential.

Miroslav Satan (N.Y. Islanders) – Satan is a sniper with remarkable hands and creativity with the puck on his stick. He is a sight to behold in one-on-one situations and on breakaways. However, he has tended to become a disinterested (or lazy) perimeter player in the last year or so with the Isles. Perhaps a winning team would rejuvenate him back to his old Buffalo Sabre days.

Antti Miettinen (Dallas) – Unknown to many hockey fans, this Finnish winger is a responsible two-way forward that has untapped offensive potential. He gathered 34 points in 69 games with Dallas this season and put his hockey sense on display at both ends of the ice. He isn’t big, nor does he ooze offensive-giftedness, but he is a capable winger that could play the third line and fill in on the second if need be.

Other notables: Brandon Bochenski/Stanislav Chistov/Matt Foy*, Mike Johnson, Georges Laraque, Owen Nolan and Branko Radivojevic.

* sorry, I couldn’t decide between the unproven talents, my personal nod is to Chistov, but I like flashy, talented Russians.

Next up: Defensemen