It's now been a full ten days since the beginning of the NHL free agency period, enough time for most of the big fish to have been scooped up and things to settle down a bit. However, as we enter the dog days of summer, some mid-level players that could make an impact are still up for grabs.
Damien Brunner: The undrafted 27 year old Swiss winger with only one NHL season under his belt might actually be one of the more intriguing names left. Brunner was an offensive star for years in the Swiss NLA and brought his talents to Detroit last season. Playing with other offensive stars like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, Brunner fit right in with 26 points in 44 games and adding 9 more in 14 post-season contests. With numbers like that in his first NHL season, there's no doubt Brunner is skilled, but the question is whether he can produce at that same level without the likes of a Zetterberg or a Datsyuk helping him along. The latest rumour is that, with the defection of Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey is hot after Brunner.
Mikhail Grabovski: The 29 year old Grabovski was an unexpected buyout by the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer, and absolutely ripped his former team after learning the news. He had a somewhat mediocre season, only notching 9 goals and 16 points in 48 games after two seasons of 50+ points prior to the lockout. This shouldn't deter teams from going after the only Belarussian player in the NHL however. Grabovski is a quick center who can drive the play forward and works best with a skilled winger, as he did with Phil Kessel. For teams looking for offensive depth up the middle, Grabovski would be a good option, however the right fit has to be there. It's clear from what he went through with Toronto that he doesn't want to jump into another uncomfortable situation. There isn't much chatter currently about where Grabovski might end up, but his agent indicated recently that "several" teams were interested. However, given recent events, one shouldn't rule out the KHL as an option either.
Jaromir Jagr: A man of Jagr's stature really needs no introduction, he's one of the best European players of all time. However, Jagr isn't the dominant offensive force he used to be and has seen his role reduced in the last few years. Last year Jagr split time between Dallas and Boston, and put up 16 goals and 35 points in 45 games. Not bad for a 41 year old approaching the end of his NHL career. However, in 22 post-season contests for Boston, Jagr didn't manage to score a single goal and some have begun to wonder if he's lost his hands, or has the physical ability to last for another full NHL season. At this point in his career, Jagr looks to be a hired gun and will go almost anywhere in the NHL for one last chance at a Stanley Cup. It appears there are more than a handful of teams interested in the first ballot Hall of Fame winger, and the front runners appear to be Montreal and Carolina.
Tim Thomas: Before last season, when Thomas announced that he was going to be taking a year long sabbatical, few saw him returning to the NHL. Yet here we are in July and Thomas is looking for a job. It's a tough sell currently, as there doesn't appear to be any openings for a starting goalie on an NHL team, however Thomas was one of the best on the planet before his exile, and surely someone will be interested. If the 39 year old truly wants to work, it's likely going to be in a backup or platoon role with another goalie, and likely at a reduced salary. The Flyers were a rumored destination earlier, but then they snatched up Ray Emery, and are also about $5 million over the cap anyways. Thomas might have to wait until just before the season starts, as some goalies such as Ryan Miller in Buffalo and Jaroslav Halak in St. Louis are on the trading block. Basically, for Thomas to fit somewhere at this point, the goalie landscape needs to change.
Mason Raymond: Plain and simple, Raymond is one of the fastest skaters in the entire NHL. He's a pure north-south player that can move the puck into the offensive zone with incredible speed and is outstanding along the boards. However, he lacks toughness and has difficulty bringing the puck into the high traffic areas in front of the crease. The former 25 goal scorer just hasn't been the same since an horrific back injury during the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. All that being said, he's still only 27 years old and can bring speed and offense to the top six of any team that is in dire need of it. The latest rumor on Raymond has him joining the Flames, however that interest seems to be coming more from the player (he's from Alberta) than from the team.
Dustin Penner: The reasons why Penner hasn't been signed yet are pretty obvious: his conditioning (or lack thereof) and his inconsistent play. Since joining the Kings in 2010, Penner has seen his offensive output decline massively. Also hurting Penner is that there were some more preferable power-forward types on the market, such as David Clarkson and Nathan Horton. However, there are some intangibles that make Penner an intriguing pickup. He's a huge body that is nearly immovable in front of the net, and he has good possession numbers. He's also got two Stanley Cup rings, a fact that can't be ignored by a team looking for veteran experience. With yet another change of scenery, the 30 year old is a potential bounce-back candidate for next season. There hasn't been much talk about where Penner will land but, believe it or not, the Oilers may be interested in bringing him in for a third line role.
Other Notables: Brendan Morrow, Ilya Bryzgalov, Brad Boyes, Ron Hainsey, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Dan Cleary, Milan Hejduk, Ryan Whitney, Jose Theodore.
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