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By the time the clock strikes 12:01 p.m. ET on Thursday, the agents for top unrestricted free agent defensemen Anton Volchenkov of the Senators and Paul Martin of the Devils will undoubtedly receive a lot of phone calls. According to league sources, however, the possibility exists that at least one -- and possibly both -- could decide to remain with their current teams.
Unlike defenseman Dan Hamhuis, whose negotiating rights have been dealt from longtime home Nashville to Philadelphia and now Pittsburgh, Volchenkov and Martin have not bid adieu to their teams. Quite the contrary. A source reports that negotiations between Volchenkov and the Ottawa Senators have remained amicable and productive. Although the rugged blueliner will reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, "the door is very much open."
Since he was drafted by Ottawa in the first round in 2000, the 6-1, 230-pound Russian defenseman has played a combined 489 regular season and playoff games with the Senators. In NHL FanHouse's rankings of the top unrestricted free agents, the 28-year-old Volchenkov is the second-best player still available overall, behind forward Ilya Kovalchuk.
Martin is the fourth-best player still available on the FanHouse chart, and the No. 3-rated defenseman behind Volchenkov and Hamhuis. The 29-year-old American, who was picked for the 2010 U.S. Olympic team but was sidelined by an injury, is on record saying he would like to test the free agent market. However, Martin has a strong relationship with Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello and is said to have a deep appreciation for his development in New Jersey after joining the team after three years at the University of Minnesota.
"Paul is going to take a look around," said a source, "but conversations in New Jersey are still positive. He loves it there and has close ties with many of his teammates."
Volchenkov and Martin are likely to be contacted Thursday by at least a dozen franchises each. While an overwhelming majority of players that make it to July 1 end up signing with new teams, at least one of the best available defensemen may stay right where he is.
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