NHL Free Agency: A Primer

Not sure what to expect as NHL free agency kicks off at noon on Thursday? FanHouse's Christopher Botta breaks it down, college outline style.


We begin our NHL FanHouse primer on the unrestricted free agency period with a life lesson. Through my two decades on the team side of the NHL, I often picked the brains of the various league hockey ops personnel to learn how to get your man in free agency.

-- Before you leave the office late on June 30, finalize your list of the free agents you really want. If there are any players you are only kinda-sorta interested in, eliminate them from your list and never think about them again.

-- One second after the opening of the UFA Megsatore at noon on July 1, take what you would like to offer the agent of your desired free agent, add 50 percent more cash and one year to the term.


-- Fax your offer to the agent. Since the fax is in your office, you don't have to worry about the disapproving look from your assistant, or the look of shame from your chief pro scout.

-- After the agent stops laughing and tells you he already has offers that blow yours away, ask agent, "What will it take to close the deal and for you to not shop my offer?"

-- So he knows you mean business, take agent's proposal and add 10 percent. Don't think twice. Fax offer.

-- Host media conference call right away before anyone changes their minds. Talk about how this was the player you wanted all along. Smile as your new player tells the media your team was his first choice.

-- Take shower. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.


1. Toronto: Even with his astute Wednesday night acquisition of top-six week Kris Versteeg from Chicago, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke still needs to shop out of necessity. His prospect pool is not stellar and he does not have his first round pick in the 2011 draft. What Burke has is some top players -- Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, inevitable trade bait Tomas Kaberle -- and a need for more. The money-printing Maple Leafs will spend to the cap; it's only a question of whether they go for one A-lister or a handful of second-tier players.

2. Los Angeles: Considered the front-runners for big fish Ilya Kovalchuk, the Kings want to go from rebuilt to completed. If they don't like Kovalchuk's demands, they'll still land some of the best available free agents.

3. St. Louis: The Blues are far enough under the cap to sign a top forward, top defenseman, LeBron and Wade. Their prospect pool is deep, but they have been re-tooling for a while now. It's time to take the next step. Team owner Dave Checketts has publicly stated that St. Louis will be "ambitious."

And watch out for a surprise from the Chicago Blackhawks. They were under no immediate cap pressure to trade Versteeg. Is it possible they were clearing some room not just for their own restricted free agents, but to import a player for a Stanley Cup defense? Making boatloads of cash in the 22,000-seat United Center, the Blackhawks will continue to spend.


1. Matthew Lombardi, Phoenix: Whether teams regard him as a strong second liner or a 'tweener, everyone likes Lombardi (pictured). As the offers pour in, he just doesn't want to wait too long to decide.

2. Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa: Agent Jay Grossman will have his hands full weighing three or four great offers for Kovalchuk. At the same time, he'll get 20 calls about the fierce defenseman from Russia. Volchenkov should be signed by the end of July 2.

3. Dan Ellis, Montreal: Acquired by the Canadiens two days before he becomes a UFA, Ellis may not be the best goaltender available in the market, but he is universally respected. If Montreal does not close the deal, teams will pounce on him. Since there are more free agent goalies than teams desperately pushing to fill openings, Ellis will act fast. A year ago, Martin Biron did not and accepted a one-year deal with the Islanders three weeks into July.

4. Ray Whitney, Carolina: The veteran playmaker seemed uncertain about what he wanted to do at the March trade deadline, and it didn't play well across the league. He'll learn from it and immediately hook up with a team -- possibly Pittsburgh.

5. Colby Armstrong, Atlanta: He's 27 years old, hits to hurt and can score 20 goals. What's not to like? Somebody would be wise to snap him up quick.


Kovalchuk may be the only electrifying name on the market, but it would be a mistake to denigrate the importance of what will transpire over the next month. More than 50 valuable players will change uniforms, most just over the next two or three days. Many are bound to make an impact in the NHL standings. Successful shopping could be the difference between teams like the Kings and Blues becoming contenders. The right additions could get the Capitals in -- and the Penguins and Red Wings back in -- the Stanley Cup Final.