Faceoff Factor

The Top 20 Defensemen Available July 1

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jun 29, 09:27 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 forwards out of the way, it’s time to review the defensemen.

Brian Campbell
Former team: San Jose Sharks
07-08 cap hit: $1,500,000
07-08 stats: 83 GP, 8 goals, 54 assists, 62 points

Brian Campbell was part of a big deadline deal that saw him join the San Jose Sharks. He enjoyed a career high 62 point season on his way to July 1. Campbell is a creative offensive defenseman who does his best work on the power play. He’s a smooth skater and passer and can occasionally land a big hit. However, on the whole, he’s undersized and is somewhat “loosey goosey” in the defensive zone.

What he wants: There are reports that he has a very sick family member and would like to remain within reach of the Buffalo area for that reason. It’s unclear how big of a deal-breaker that will actually be however.

What can you expect: A first pairing offensive defenseman that specializes as a power play quarterback, good for at least 45-50 points in most scenarios.

Who’s interested: Teams that have money to spend and a puck-mover to grab. Ottawa, Chicago and San Jose are probably good bets.

Wade Redden
Former team: Ottawa Senators
07-08 cap hit: $6,500,000
07-08 stats: 80 GP, 6 goals, 32 assists, 38 points

Redden probably would have liked to duplicate his 2005-06 season before heading into unrestricted free agency. A rather disappointing season that was mired with trade rumors produced a 38 point campaign for the former second overall pick. Redden is still only 31 years old, so there’s plenty of gas left in the tank. He’s an effective, two-way defenseman that has a calming effect on any club’s blueline. He plays a smart game, but could probably produce more.

What he wants: Probably a good offensive system that he can thrive in. He would also like to continue to have a prominent role with his new team.

What can you expect: A top-pairing two-way defenseman capable of more than 40 points at $4.25 million to $5.75 million per year.

Who’s interested: Teams that lose out on Brian Campbell in all likelihood. Except Ottawa, who isn’t likely to have him back.

Brooks Orpik
Former team: Pittsburgh Penguins
07-08 cap hit: $1,037,500
07-08 stats: 78 GP, 1 goal, 10 assists, 11 points

Orpik rises so high on the list because of the amount of physical top-four defenders that are on the market, it is roughly zero, give or take. Orpik brings a punishing defensive game that can yield heavy-duty hits. His skating has always been smooth and it has allowed him to simplify the breakout for his team. His defense has progressed well in the past season and he is finally starting to “get it” at age 27. He lacks any sort of upside offensively.

What he wants: A long-term deal that pays him well.

What can you expect: A top-four, hard-hitting defensive defenseman that is capable of leading your team in hits with ease at about $3 to $4.5 million per year.

Who’s interested: With the amount of defensemen like this on the market, there probably isn’t a team that isn’t interested. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Edmonton and New Jersey probably will lead the charge.

Mark Streit
Former team: Montreal Canadiens
07-08 cap hit: $600,000
07-08 stats: 81 GP, 13 goals, 49 assists, 62 points

Streit posted gaudy offensive numbers this year on a talented Montreal team. Streit’s versatility to play both forward and defense is valuable to most clubs. He has tremendous offensive skills and isn’t awful in his own end. He is capable of carrying the puck up the ice and he owns an accurate shot from the blueline or the high slot. On the other hand, he will not wow anyone with his defensive prowess, but it’s passable. The idea of him repeating these numbers remains a questionable one.

What he wants: After bursting on the scene late (he’s 30 and he was drafted in the 9th round of 2004), he is probably looking for his big payday and a chance to continue to quarterback a power play.

What can you expect: A talented offensive swingman that can anchor the point on the power play. Capable of 10 goals and 40 assists at more than $3.25 million per year.

Who’s interested: Well, it’s the same old story, this is probably the bronze or silver medal for a team that didn’t get the power play quarterback they initially wanted.

John-Michael Liles
Former team: Colorado Avalanche
07-08 cap hit: $1,325,000
07-08 stats: 81 GP, 6 goals, 26 assists, 32 points

Liles, at 27, brings the prospect of a “still-progressing” defenseman that could intrigue a number of clubs. As Liles prepares to enter his prime, he had a down year by his standards on the scoreboard. He likes to have the puck on his stick and possesses remarkable offensive skills. He’s undersized but decent, although unspectacular, in his own end. Comes from the NCAA, so physical play is not something he’s afraid of taking, but isn’t necessarily something that he’ll dish out.

What he wants: Time to play with the puck, he’s from the Midwest and went to Michigan State, so perhaps a team in that beltway would be most palatable to him, but that’s merely speculatory.

What can you expect: An offensive defenseman that is capable of 10 or 12 goals and 45 or 50 points at around $3 to $4.25 million per year.

Who’s interested: I’m running out of ways to say the aforementioned. For some reason, he just has “Devil” or “Hurricane” written all over him. That said, Colorado might be wise to hold on to him.

Honorable mention:

Ron Hainsey (Columbus) – Hainsey had his coming out party with Columbus these past two seasons. He’s got the skating, size and offensive acumen. However, he doesn’t use his body very well, offensively or defensively. He’s not the greatest in either zone, but he’s very capable in both ends and projects to further progress and really polish his game.

Michal Rozsival (N.Y. Rangers) – The Czech blueliner has made a name for himself on the Rangers’ back end in recent seasons, but is still only a second-tier offensive defenseman in this year’s free agency pool. He has a wonderful shot that he likes to use from the point. Not the most stellar of players defensively, he tends to stop moving his feet too much when fast skaters approach. Is a stupid penalty waiting to happen some nights.

Brad Stuart (Detroit) – Stuart is likely to remain in Detroit to get his career going back in the right direction. He’s gone from being traded for Joe Thornton to getting traded for Andrew Ference in the matter of just a couple years. He is solid in the offensive zone and when he’s using his size to make heavy crunches he really looks like a force to be reckoned with. However, he is prone to elongated slumps and boneheaded errors at times.

Adam Foote (Colorado) – Adam Foote has been stalwart for the Colorado Avalanche and Team Canada in the past, but his age is catching up with him. Foote will be 37 in a week and he already wasn’t the quickest player on the ice to begin with. He is, though, still a very consistent stay-at-home defender. He has run into injury troubles over the past couple seasons, he’s only completed more than 75 games in a season once since 1998.

Rob Blake (Los Angeles) – Blake is another one getting up there in age, he’ll be 39 in December. He has been fairly inconsistent in his later years. He also isn’t as capable defensively as he once was. Still owns a cannon and plenty of offensive ability. He would be best served in a place that shelters him a bit more, instead of on a team that requires him to be the go-to guy.

Mike Commodore (Ottawa) – Commodore would be very highly sought after in this particular offseason, except for the fact that he’s had a very forgettable time in Ottawa. He was a minus-9 with two assists in just 26 games for Ottawa since being traded from Carolina. Is becoming more and more exposed to quick, agile forwards. However, he still possesses the same size and nastiness that he always had and he’s only 28 to boot.

Paul Mara (N.Y. Rangers) – The former 7th overall pick in 1997 has struggled to regain the offensive production he accrued in Phoenix. His game, despite his size, is intended to be that of an offensive defenseman, but he can’t seem to put it together very well anymore. If you combine his past two seasons and count it as one, it’s still only his 3rd best season in terms of point production. He is apt defensively, but at 6’4” 220 lbs he could stand to be more physical and defensively aware.

Dmitri Kalinin (Buffalo) – Kalinin is another one that can’t seem to put it all together. He had a pretty awful year in Buffalo this year and could probably use a change of scenery. He’s only 27, so there’s plenty of hope for him. He doesn’t do anything spectacular but there isn’t much in the way of weaknesses in his game either. Offensively capable, but not a power play quarterback, defensively capable, but nothing like Scott Stevens. He is good at getting hurt though.

Bryce Salvador (New Jersey) – Salvador is a pretty average defensive defenseman with a nasty, physical edge to his game. He’s also a warrior come playoff time. He doesn’t stand out in any area really (except he’s a good hitter) and it would be good idea not to have him handling the puck too much. A solid third pairing guy though.

—-Toss up—-

Jeff Finger (Colorado) – Finger is a relatively unknown but effective defensive defenseman. He plays a very simple game and is the definition of “solid third pairing defensive defenseman.” He gathered an inordinate amount of goals this season (8), which is the most he has scored, at any level, in nearly a decade. All that can be said about his offensive game can be had from the previous sentence.

Jason Smith (Philadelphia) – Jason Smith is a tremendous warrior. It is thought that the black eye(s) is permanent at this point. He is a team player and a leader. He is defensively responsible, physical and a great shot blocker. He has no offensive game and has lost a step in the last year or so and his effectiveness may be reduced significantly from this point forward.

Other notables: Bryan Berard, Mark Eaton, Andreas Lilja, Marek Malik and Kurt Sauer.