Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 11, 2024
A look at the best players still available in the unrestricted free-agent market in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
DAILY FACEOFF: Hunter Crowther recently looked at the top five wingers and defensemen still available among this summer’s crops of unrestricted free agents (UFAs).
The top five wingers include James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Johnson, Kevin Labanc, Mike Hoffman and Max Pacioretty.
Former Boston Bruins winger James van Riemsdyk (NHL.com).
Crowther believes the 35-year-old van Riemsdyk could still have value in a limited third or fourth-line role. Injuries and inconsistency plagued the 34-year-old Johnson but he also played for a bad Chicago Blackhawks club.
Labanc, 28, and the 34-year-old Hoffman saw their production affected by playing for the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.
When healthy, the 35-year-old Pacioretty can play a decent two-way game and contribute to the second power-play unit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Age and/or injuries have affected these forwards. Labanc should be in his playing prime but his production tumbled from his career-best 56-points performance in 2018-19 skating with a more talented Sharks team. He was a frequent healthy scratch last season, seeing action in just 46 games.
Crowther listed Tyson Barrie, Justin Schultz, Marco Scandella, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Calen Addison as his top five remaining UFA defensemen.
Barrie, 33, was a frequent healthy scratch with the Nashville Predators last season. However, he could get a one-year contract from a club looking for a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman who can help their power play.
The 34-year-old Schultz has Stanley Cup experience but his performance has declined, logging the worst plus-minus on the Seattle Kraken last season despite seeing third-pairing minutes. Scandella, also 34, also had difficulties in a third-pairing role with the St. Louis Blues last season.
Shattenkirk’s game is also in decline. He’s no longer the dynamic offensive blueliner he was earlier in his career. Addison, 24, was a once-promising defenseman who bounced from the Minnesota Wild to the San Jose Sharks, who opted not to qualify his rights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barrie could still have some value playing sheltered minutes if he’s paired with a good stay-at-home defender. Addison might have value as a reclamation project.
Schultz, Scandella and Shattenkirk are all now past their prime. They might have to consider professional tryout offers to secure an NHL contract this season or look overseas to continue their playing careers.
After looking at these guys and their limitations it looks like around32-33 the wheels start falling off! However guys like Joe Pavalski and Brad Marchand challenge this logic!
NHL season is very long and injury-filled. Most of these guys will find a job, especially with teams looking to go deep into playoffs.
With all due respect to Crowther, aside from Van Riemsdyk – who I think will be signed somewhere – the others listed – Tyler Johnson, Kevin Labanc, Mike Hoffman and Max Pacioretty – I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.
At least Clutterbuck brings an edge to his game, and is durable unlike a couple Crowther lists (he played in all 82 games for the NYI scoring 7g 12a 19 pts and was a +4)
As for the D he lists – Marco Scandella? If there was no such thing as the IR they’d have to invent one thanks to this guy
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/16895/Marco_Scandella/transactions
And he turns 35 during this coming season. I doubt his durability is going to improve,
As for Addison, at 5′ 11″ 173 lbs he’s not much on the physical side of things and, in 152 career NHL gp, he’s a cumulative minus 65.
Penguins have no 3rd pairing or depth RD
Letang and Karllsson, that’s it
4 of the D listed above are righties
Shattenkirk is 35 and past his prime , nix him
Offer the other 3 ; 1 yrat 850,000; sign the first two that call back and agree; at training camp keep the better of the two; waive/send down the other
Better still, why not offer Gustav Lidstrom league min 1 yr?
Forwards
Why not offer Borris Katchouk league min for 1 year
Statistically much better than Accairi, 4” taller, 7 years younger, way faster, much stronger , OH and better still… at League min, he’s about only 1/3rd Accairi’s cap hit
Scandella has played a consistent 60-70 games per year throughout his career.
He is a solid physical d-man who plays within his abilities as a stay at home guy.
His stay in Montreal was short-lived but getting a 2nd and 4th was too tempting.