Pacific Division Outlook: 2015 Free Agents
Apr 25, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks center Brad Richardson (15) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The Canuck Way looks at how the Pacific Division members shape up when it comes to their soon-to-be free agents.
With just one round left in the playoffs after the Conference Finals are finished, the focus is starting to shift more and more to the off-season. The 2015 NHL Draft is in a month, but teams are going to have start work on re-sign players.
The teams that are out of the playoffs are already working on re-signing players as some to-be RFAs have already signed with their club.
So let’s look at the free agents in the Pacific Division, starting with the Canucks and then going on from worst finish to best finish.
Vancouver Canucks
Cap Space: $3,205,834
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Linden Vey, Ronalds Kenins, Brandon McMillan, Yannick Weber, Ryan Stanton, Jacob Markstrom
AHL – Joacim Eriksson, Michael Zalewski, Sven Baerstchi, Adam Clendening, Alexandre Grenier, Cory Conacher, Peter Andersson, Frank Corrado, Alex Friesen
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Shawn Matthias, Brad Richardson
AHL – Tom Sestitio, Will Acton, Darren Archibald, Alex Biega, Cal O’Reilly, Bobby Sanguinetti, Joe Cannata, Brandon Defazio
Out of every team in the Pacific, the Cancuks have the least amount of cap space. The sad part is that they have a lot of players to sign.
Markstrom could be traded depending on what the Canucks decide to do with their goaltending. The young free agents such as Baertschi, Clendening and Corrado will be priorities. Matthias and Richardson will probably not return.
Next: Arizona Coyotes
Apr 7, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes left wing Martin Erat (10) skates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Coyotes
Cap Space: $34,805,558
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Mikkel Boedker, Tye McGinn, Mark Arcobello, Craig Cunningham, John Moore, Brandon Gormley, Klas Dahlbeck, Louis Domingue
AHL – Greg Carey, Mark Visentin, Brendan Shinnimin, Jordan Martinook, Michael Lee, Darian Dzuirzynski, Philip Lane, Philip Samuelsson
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Martin Erat, B.J. Crombeen, David Moss, Justin Hodgman, Andrew Campbell
AHL – David Leggio, Alexandre Bolduc, Patrick McNeill, Mike McKenna, Dylan Reese
Wow, just wow. The Coyotes have to spend over $16 million just to get to the salary floor. That could go up to $18 if the cap goes up to $71 million. The Coyotes could do anything this off-season.
Max Domi and Anthony Duclair will join the team next season. Arizona remains a budget team so more than a few of the UFAs may not return. Erat has probably seen the last of his days in the NHL.
Next: Edmonton Oilers
Mar 8, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Derek Roy (8) skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 7-4. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Edmonton Oilers:
Cap Space: $16,650,834
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Tyler Pitlick, Andrew Miller, Matt Fraser, Justin Schultz, Keith Aulie, Martin Marincin
AHL – Curtis Hamilton, Tyler Bunz, Brandon Davidson, Brad Hunt
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Derek Roy, Viktor Fasth, Richard Bachman
AHL – Jesse Joensuu, Kellan Lain
It should be a fun off-season for Oilers fans. With new management, new coach and of course, a new superstar in Connor McDavid, how will that impact free agency for Edmonton.
Roy played pretty well after arriving in Edmonton, but with McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl set to be on the team next year, he will be more than likely have to move on. The Oilers will be looking for a new goalie, so one or both of Fasth and Bachman could be gone.
Next: San Jose Sharks
Apr 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) makes a save during the second period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
San Jose Sharks
Cap Space: $14,041,670
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Melker Karlsson, Daniil Tarasov, Brenden Dillon
AHL – Peter Emanuelsson, Taylor Doherty, Eriah Hayes, Rylan Schwartz, Konrad Ebelshauser, Troy Grosenick, Christopher Crane, J.P. Anderson, Aaron Dell
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – John Scott, Matt Irwin, Scott Hannan, Antti Niemi
AHL – Karl Stollery, Michael Haley, Taylor Fedun, Bryan Lerg, Travis Oleksuk
This should be a rather standard off-season for the Sharks when it comes to free agents. Other than Niemi, there isn’t many big names on their free agent list. Brenden Dillon is probably the biggest priority out of everyone. Niemi has probably seen the last days with the Sharks.
A request though: Can this be the last season John Scott plays in the NHL?
Next: Los Angeles Kings
Apr 6, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Justin Williams (14) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 2-1 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Kings
Cap Space: $9,052,273
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Nick Shore, Tyler Toffoli, Andy Andreoff, Martin Jones
AHL – Nic Dowd, Jordan Weal, Andrew Crescenzi, Vincent Loverde
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, Andrej Sekera, Jamie McBain
AHL – David Van der Gulik, Andrew Bodnarchuk
This will be a turning point for the Kings this off-season for the sure. They are paying for not buying out Mike Richards a couple of seasons ago. Now, they will probably have to lose Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll in order to sign young players like Toffoli and Jones.
His salary might not count against the cap, but the Slava Voynov situation still needs to be resolved.
Next: Calgary Flames
May 8, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Karri Ramo (31) against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Anaheim Ducks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Calgary Flames
Cap Space: $22,145,434
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Mikael Backlund, Josh Jooris, Drew Shore, Lance Bouma, Michael Ferland, Paul Byron
AHL – Bryce Van Brabant, Bill Arnold, David Wolf, Ben Hanowski, Kenny Agostino, Sena Acolatse, John Ramage, Max Reinhart, Turner Elson
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – David Schlemko, Raphael Diaz, Corey Potter, Karri Ramo
AHL – Brian McGrattan, Devin Setoguchi, Mark Cundari, Brad Thiessen
After the surprise season the Flames had this year, they should really try to maintain as much of the lineup as possible. The big UFA is Ramo. After taking the net back from Jonas Hiller in the second round, will the Flames be able to bring him back? Or will he look elsewhere to a team that he can be the No. 1 goalie with little challenge? Edmonton could certainly be an option for Ramo.
Interesting that two of the Flames RFAs are second-generation players.
Next: Anaheim Ducks
May 25, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Matt Beleskey (right) is congratulated for scoring the game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the overtime period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Anaheim Ducks
Cap Space: $17, 594,170
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Chris Wagner, Emerson Etem, Jakob Silfverberg
AHL – Max Friberg, Ryan Faragher, John Kurtz, Michael Sgarbossa, Antoine Laganiere, Igor Bobkov, Louis Leblanc
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Tomas Fleischmann, Matt Beleskey, Sheldon Souray, Francois Beauchemin, Korbinian Holzer
AHL – Jason Labarbera, Colby Robak
The biggest question is whether or not the Ducks will be able to bring back Beleskey. If he does leave, he will be missed. However, Nick Ritchie should be ready to jump into the lineup, possibly replacing him.
Also, is this Beauchemin’s swan song with the Ducks? The Ducks defense is a bunch of young players with him being the oldest of the group.
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