It’s now over a week past the annual free agent frenzy, and the dust has settled in the NHL’s busy transaction world. That being said, there are still a number of solid NHL players on the free agent market that could help a hockey team, like, say, the Edmonton Oilers. There aren’t too many, but there are some bargain contracts out there to be had.
The Candidates:
Derek Roy – Center, St. Louis Blues: The Oilers badly need help with their center depth chart, and the veteran Roy would give them a solid option with a lot of NHL experience. He’s not clearly better than internal option Mark Arcobello, but he’s a proven NHL player and would add competition to the line-up in camp.
Roy has seen his career begin to decline, thanks to both age and injury. He’s slowly started to see his point totals decline and he’s started to see his role decrease the last few years as well. That’s why the Sabres dumped him off two summers ago, and why both the Stars and Canucks moved on from him so quickly prior to this season.
He was a decent depth option for the Blues this past season, but is not the player he once was. His possession numbers are okay, but he no longer can push the river and his offense has dried up to somewhere between 30-40 points a year. He’s no longer a legit second line center option, but he would add competition and would certainly come cheap.
Andrei Loktionov – Center, Carolina Hurricanes: Loktionov is an interesting case. He was a highly touted prospect for years in LA, but never got a chance until he was dealt to New Jersey, where he was decent for the Devils. They moved him for veteran help to Carolina this year, and the Canes elected to let the 24 year old walk as part of a bit of a roster revamp.
Loktionov has put up below-average offensive numbers since taking a full-time NHL role during the 2012-13 season, when he posted 12 points in 28 games as a Devil. This past year, split between Jersey and Carolina, he posted 22 points in 68 games. Nothing earth shattering, and certainly leaving room for more.
Loktionov has posted good possession numbers however, posting two straight over 50% Corsi For%’s. In 2012-13 he clocked in at 59.5%, and this past season at 55.1%. Obviously playing for the Devils plays a part in that, but he was also a positive player in Carolina as well, which is a decent feat.
He’s an offensively challenged player at this stage, but he is a guy that does some things right and could be a great get on a bargain contract. Like Roy, he’d also add competition at the center position.
David Moss – Right Winger, Arizona Coyotes: We talked about Moss prior to free agent frenzy, and he’s still around on the market as we speak. Moss is a solid winger that has good possession numbers yearly, can put up respectable offensive totals, play on your penalty kill, and add that sandpaper that every team needs.
He’s a very good defensive forward and would fit perfectly on that tough minutes fourth line that Edmonton is trying to build with Boyd Gordon, whom he has chemistry with, and Matt Hendricks. The Oilers also happen to have a right wing spot wide open on the fourth line as we speak.
Moss will likely command a higher contract than the two players mentioned above, but he could still be had at what would be a bargain contract for such a solid bottom six player. He’d improve the Oilers a bit as well.
Jamie McBain – Defender, Buffalo Sabres: This is an interesting player that could fit what the Oilers like in terms of offensive defenders that can put up points. That’s what McBain does, although he is more of a third-pairing kind of player. McBain posted 17 points in 69 games, a down year, but has a decent history as an offensive guy.
He’s been a decent possession player before, posting a 49.2% Corsi For in 2011-12 and a 52.5% mark in 2012-13, both with Carolina, and does have a 27 point season to his credit, which came in that 2011-12 season. He’s coming off of a nightmare season in Buffalo, where he had low point totals and a low Corsi For% of 40.8%.
He wasn’t qualified, and is in need of a change of scenery in a big way. If deployed smartly as a third pairing guy, McBain can help an NHL team. He’ll likely take a small deal as well, and would no doubt be a cap friendly add as he tries to regroup his play.
This option should only be on the table should the Oilers decide to move Jeff Petry (which has been rumored) or if negotiations go south with Justin Schultz, which is totally possible as well.
Ryan Carter – Left Winger, New Jersey Devils: Yes, the Oilers have four NHL left wingers, but it isn’t out of the question that Matt Hendricks could end up on the right wing if need be. Ryan Carter could be a perfect fit on a tough minutes line for the Oilers with Gordon and the above mentioned Hendricks.
Carter is a solid possession player and isn’t an offensive black-hole. He’s posted double-digit point seasons each of the last two seasons, and has seen his role increase year after year.
Carter posted a solid 51.3% Corsi For this past year in 62 games, while he posted a 55.2% Corsi For in 44 games during the 2012-13 season, both very solid campaigns. He’s a guy that gets his fair share of work on the PK as well, but rarely on the power-play.
He’s a guy that New Jersey trusted as a defensive forward, and is a guy that Edmonton should be willing to trust as well. He’d likely come at a cheap one-year deal too, and would help the forward depth at the bottom of the roster, pushing players like Jesse Joensuu further down the depth chart.
The Final Thought:
There aren’t any sexy names left on the market, but there are some solid players still to be had and guys the could provide the Oilers with good bargain contracts. Will MacT use these to his advantage, and create competition in camp? I’m not sure, but it’s a good idea to at least look.
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