Although this group of unrestricted free agent defenceman is far from pretty, there are still pieces that could be highly valuable to a Cup-contending team.
While there are few Stanley Cup rings in the group, the overarching motif amongst these players is that they were once known for their quality yet have rarely been given a chance to shine on a true contender.
Don’t expect to be impressed by this list, but understand that inexpensive, reliable fillers are the future of a top-heavy league with a lowering cap.
TOP DEFENCEMEN AVAILABLE
Ryan Whitney
2012 salary cap hit: $4 million
Whitney did not enjoy his time in Edmonton as injuries and underwhelming performances were the name of the game for the 30-year-old Boston native. Yet the talent that led the Pittsburgh Penguins to take him with the fifth overall pick in 2002 is still there. Mobile, 6’3”, 210-pound offensive defencemen with a booming shot do not come around often. His price tag will be greatly diminished, due in part to the fact he has not had a single injury-free campaign in his eight-year career — but a change of scenery could bring out the best in him.
Possible fits: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Tampa Bay
Andrew Ference
2012 salary cap hit: $2.25 million
If you’re not a Bruins fan, chances are you hate the pants off of this guy — but that’s his best quality. Steady between the whistles and a pest after them, Ference is a win-at-all-costs type who provides a reliable presence on a second pairing. He is not too big at 5’11” and 189 pounds, but he gets by with his competitiveness and ability to get under the skin – two valuable attributes, especially for a team looking to make a run for the Cup.
Possible fits: Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit
Marek Zidlicky
2012 salary cap hit: 4 million
Zidlicky is getting a little long in the tooth at 36 years of age, but he remains an intelligent, productive puck-mover and power-play quarterback. He has five 42-points-plus seasons in his career, an even more impressive stat considering he has only played on defence-first outfits in Nashville, Minnesota and (most recently) New Jersey. Zidlicky is a two-time Olympian for his native Czech Republic but has had only limited NHL playoff experience and will be as hungry as anyone to lead a power-play unit on a winner.
Possible fits: Los Angeles, San Jose, Boston
Ron Hainsey
2012 salary cap hit: $4.5 million
Whenever the 32-year-old Connecticut native has been given a chance on an adequately talented team, he has produced (six points in nine games at his lone world hockey championship appearance in 2009, for example) – but those opportunities have been few and far between. Going from the woeful Columbus Blue Jackets teams to an equally as woeful Atlanta Thrashers squad, Hainsey still managed to be productive as an offensive catalyst with a big body. His numbers have declined, but put in a situation where he can feed talented forwards, the 13th overall pick in 2000 could be a diamond in the rough.
Possible fits: Chicago, Detroit, Vancouver
Rob Scuderi
2012 salary cap hit: $3.4 million
Rob Scuderi is a winner, plain and simple. The 34-year-old won’t wow you with offence, but he’ll sacrifice everything he has for his teammates – it’s no coincidence he was an important, if unheralded, part of both the Penguins’ 2009 and the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup championships. Known as a great guy in the dressing room, he loves to battle the league’s best players, and does so effectively. To use a cliché, Scuderi is the type of guy you want beside you in a bar fight.
Possible fits: Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Joe Corvo — A talented offensive guy with strong puck-moving ability, his production has been in decline the last few years. That said, someone will take a chance on the 11-year veteran.
Douglas Murray – Has made a name for himself as a thug. For a team looking to go far in the postseason, a huge slab of angry beef might just be what the doctor ordered.
Mark Fistric – When Fistric is on the ice, other players are advised to look out. One body check from him could send you back to Grade 4. He will find a job to do just that.
Tomas Kaberle – Is Kaberle done? Probably, but with the talent he once exhibited, someone could take a chance on him for cheap. Who knows? Maybe the former Maple Leafs all-star has something left to show the world.