Saturday, July 30, 2011

Top Remaining UFAs, According to Pool Points

Teemu Selanne, forward
2011 points: 80, 17th overall, 8th among forwards
2011 cap hit: $3.25 million

Yes, we are still awaiting word as to whether or not Teemu Selanne will indeed return for another season.  That is about the only question left, when it comes to the Finnish Flash, because if he does decide to return for another season, it will only be with the Anaheim Ducks.  After such a fantastic 2011 season, I think most are hoping for one more year to say good-bye to the 41-year old veteran.

Sergei Samsonov, forward
2011 points: 40, 199th overall, 148th among forwards
2011 cap hit: $2.533 million

Samsonov is one of the last few forwards that would be considered pool-eligible by his scoring standards, as we're looking at about the top 160 for 20 teams in the draft next season.  The 32-year old Russian winger is spotty at best and turns into a pretty big gamble every season.  If he can find his game again, he might be a valuable player for an NHL team.  Then again, interest in him may have fallen to the wayside, so possibly a return to the Mother Land is in order.

Cory Stillman, forward
2011 points: 39, 209th overall, 153rd among forwards
2011 cap hit: $3.533 million

The last of the pool eligible forwards comes in the form of 37-year old Cory Stillman, who had a decent season between the Panthers and Hurricanes in 2011, but you can really see the quality of his production slip from year to year now.  If Stillman is to go anywhere, I would imagine he would be going to a team that is working with their youth to be better, needing some veteran leadership to get through the rocky early years.

Bryan McCabe, defense
2011 points: 28, 306th overall, 51st among defensemen
2011 cap hit: $5.75 million

With a cap hit like McCabe's in 2011, compared to his overall production in Florida and New York, he was not at all a bargain, rather quite the bust.  I can't say that I'm surprised that he hasn't signed yet, as those numbers have likely left a bad taste in a lot of mouths around the league.  A lot of teams have already filled out their blueline rosters for next season, so McCabe could come down as a training camp signing, before it is all said and done.

Chris Campoli, defense
2011 points: 21, 396th overall, 82nd among defensemen
2011 cap hit: $1.4 million

Technically on the outside looking in on qualifying as a fantasy defenseman in the draft (top 80), Campoli will make an appearance, just to round out the numbers here on the blog.  Campoli does have enough talent to jump into the top 80, but a rough season saw him drop out.  Campoli and the Blackhawks went to arbitration this Summer, to which the team walked away from their decision, making the now 27-year old defender an unrestricted free agent.

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