Speculation: Veteran UFAs - NHL, Europe or retirement?

[mcpw]

List of veteran UFAs (some formerly pretty good players on there):

Patrik Elias (40)
Marek Zidlicky (39)
Dan Boyle (39)
Willie Mitchell (39)
Matt Cullen (39)
Dainius Zubrus (38)
Shawn Horcoff (37)
Brad Stuart (36)
Alex Tanguay (36)
David Legwand (35)
Barret Jackman (35)
Scott Gomez (35)
Dominic Moore (35)
Radim Vrbata (35)
Jarret Stoll (34)
Dennis Seidenberg (34)
Christian Ehrhoff (34)
Rene Bourque (34)
Travis Moen (34)
Raffi Torres (34)
Brad Boyes (34)
RJ Umberger (34)
Paul Gaustad (34)

Who stays (and gets a contract), who continues their career in Europe, who retires?

bits I've gathered:
- Mitchell, Boyle probably retire
- Elias might get a contract with NJD if healthy enough
- Cullen might re-sign with PIT, he was still effective last year
- Tanguay scored 35 points in 70 games last year, tank's not empty yet. Same with Vrbata (27 in 63).
- Torres is broken, retirement seems likely

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[Hennessy]

Tanguay will always have his hands and vision, but his wheels are broken. I doubt he retires, but whoever gets him needs to realize that he's got severe limitations. Also, he'll go offside at least 3 times a game. It's his thing.

 

[BigRangy]

If Tanguay wants to come back to Calgary, there's a spot wide open for him on 3LW with Benzo.

 

[StuckOutHere]

I'd love it if the Leafs got Hudler. Guy still has game.

 

[HiggsBroson]

Just misses the age group of this thread but considering Id throw him into veteran and UFA statuses I can tell ya C.Higgins has gotten a few phone calls and hopefully gets something solid soon.

 

[Booba]

I could see Tanguay, Gaustad, Seidenberg and Vrbata getting cheap contracts around training camp time.

Zidlicky and Ehrhoff might get training camp invitations but I think they'll end playing in Europe.

For the rest of them, I guess they'll either retire or remain on the UFA list indefinitely. Many of them (Zubrus, Stuart, Jackman, Gomez, Seidenberg, Ehrhoff, Umberger) are getting paid buyout money anyway.

 

[PhoenyX]

Horcoff played well for the Ducks when he wasn't suspended. He could definitely play at least 1 more season as a 4th line centre.

 

[mcpw]

Just misses the age group of this thread but considering Id throw him into veteran and UFA statuses I can tell ya C.Higgins has gotten a few phone calls and hopefully gets something solid soon.

Haha, had to make the cutoff somewhere. Nice to know, and good for him.

 

[Eric Sachs]

Elias is NJ or nothing, it sounds like.

Both sides have said they are waiting until later in the summer to see if he's healthy enough to play. There's still the chance that NJ won't want him back even if he's healthy but I still imagine that it will be NJ or nothing for Patty. He'll probably be around the team regardless next year in some capacity.

 

[CaptPantalones]

I wouldn't be crazy shocked if legwand gets a PTO in Sabres camp. He was pretty valuable last year

 

[Milos Krasic]

Zubrus would retire rather than play in Europe.

Not sure about Zidlicky, he could get a KHL or Czech deal if he wanted.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

List of veteran UFAs (some formerly pretty good players on there):

Patrik Elias (40)- 1 more year with NJ
Marek Zidlicky (39)- KHL
Dan Boyle (39)-Retired
Willie Mitchell (39)-Retired
Matt Cullen (39)- 1 more year
Dainius Zubrus (38)-KHL
Shawn Horcoff (37)-Retired
Brad Stuart (36)-Retired
Alex Tanguay (36)- 1 more year
David Legwand (35)-AHL deal/2 -way
Barret Jackman (35)-KHL
Scott Gomez (35)-KHL
Dominic Moore (35)- NHL deal
Radim Vrbata (35)-NHL deal
Jarret Stoll (34)- Retired
Dennis Seidenberg (34)
Christian Ehrhoff (34)
Rene Bourque (34)
Travis Moen (34)
Raffi Torres (34)
Brad Boyes (34)
RJ Umberger (34)
Paul Gaustad (34)

Rest retire.

 

[FlamesFan18]

My view on the remaining UFAs by groupings. The top 9 Fs and Top 5 D guys most definitely deserve a contract or try out.

Top 6 F/Top 4 D Remaining
R Jiri Hudler
D James Wisniewski

Middle 6 F/ 4/5 Dmen
L Alex Tanguay
L Patrik Elias
L/R Kris Versteeg
R Radim Vrbata
F Matt Cullen
F Brandon Pirri
L/R Brad Boyes
L/R Tomas Fleischmann
R David Jones
F Sam Gagner
D Kris Russell
D Dan Boyle

Bottom Liners/ 6/7 Dmen
L/R Justin Fontaine
F Chris Higgins
D Marek Zidlicky
L/R Mike Santorelli
F Tyler Kennedy
F Steve Downie
C Shawn Horcoff
F Jiri Tlusty
D Christian Ehrhoff
C David Legwand
D Matt Carle
C Nick Spaling
D Kyle Quincey
F Ben Smith
L/R RJ Umberger
L/R Gabriel Bourque
C Dominic Moore
L/R Steve Bernier
F Cody Hodgson
D Luke Schenn
D Brad Stuart
D Carlo Colaiacovo
L/R Lauri Korpikoski
D Dennis Seidenberg
D Dylan Olsen
D Nicklas Grossman
L/R Eric Nystrom
D Eric Gryba
L/R Ryan Carter
D Jakub Nakladal


Backup Goalies
Jhonas Enroth

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Just misses the age group of this thread but considering Id throw him into veteran and UFA statuses I can tell ya C.Higgins has gotten a few phone calls and hopefully gets something solid soon.

Maybe a 2 year 1.25 each year who knows.

I can see him as a solid cheap depth on a 4th line and lower third minutes.

 

[Street Hawk]

Maybe a 2 year 1.25 each year who knows.

I can see him as a solid cheap depth on a 4th line and lower third minutes.

If Higgy gets $1.25 million per, then the Canucks would have dealt him and eaten half the salary.

My guess is that he gets a PTO where he would get $800K or so for the year.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I don't know which avatar is creepier, Timberlake at 20 or Gartner without the stache. I can't focus on the issue at hand.....

 

[MMC]

List of veteran UFAs (some formerly pretty good players on there):

Patrik Elias (40)
Marek Zidlicky (39)
Dan Boyle (39)
Willie Mitchell (39)
Matt Cullen (39)
Dainius Zubrus (38)
Shawn Horcoff (37)
Brad Stuart (36)
Alex Tanguay (36)
David Legwand (35)
Barret Jackman (35)
Scott Gomez (35)
Dominic Moore (35)
Radim Vrbata (35)
Jarret Stoll (34)
Dennis Seidenberg (34)
Christian Ehrhoff (34)
Rene Bourque (34)
Travis Moen (34)
Raffi Torres (34)
Brad Boyes (34)
RJ Umberger (34)
Paul Gaustad (34)

Who stays (and gets a contract), who continues their career in Europe, who retires?

bits I've gathered:
- Mitchell, Boyle probably retire
- Elias might get a contract with NJD if healthy enough
- Cullen might re-sign with PIT, he was still effective last year
- Tanguay scored 35 points in 70 games last year, tank's not empty yet. Same with Vrbata (27 in 63).
- Torres is broken, retirement seems likely

Bolded Im surprised don't have contracts yet.

 

[Blueshirts 94]

Dan Boyle is almost definitely retiring.

 

[Lunatik]

If Tanguay wants to come back to Calgary, there's a spot wide open for him on 3LW with Benzo.

He's not welcome back

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

The game is transitioning into a much younger one, it seems.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

If Higgy gets $1.25 million per, then the Canucks would have dealt him and eaten half the salary.

My guess is that he gets a PTO where he would get $800K or so for the year.

Ye true. BuT maybe a team didn't want to do the Canucks any favors

 

[Skobel24]

He's not welcome back

I'd give him a training camp invite. If he shows he can produce at a 30-40 point pace, I'd bring him in for a year.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tanguay - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland/Chiasson
Bouma - Stajan - Chiasson/Ferland

 

[Wabit]

Stoll should retire, might be a pressbox/lockerroom guy at best.

 

[Lunatik]

I'd give him a training camp invite. If he shows he can produce at a 30-40 point pace, I'd bring him in for a year.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tanguay - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland/Chiasson
Bouma - Stajan - Chiasson/Ferland

The guy is known to quit on his teams. That is the last guy you want on a rebuilding team. He's a crybaby, whiner and has probably (we don't know for sure about the 2nd time) asked for a trade both times he has been here. The Flames should stay far far away from Tanguay.

 

[klassic]

Hawks could use a cheap veteran LW to put with Toews.