In case you missed it, Justin put together a solid collection of six players the Ducks should have their eye on when the Free Agent Frenzy gets under way. It’s a good list and all of those players have the potential to help the Ducks. I wanted to add to that a quick list of some candidates who were a bit more off the beaten path that might warrant consideration. Indulge me.
Colby Armstrong: Armstrong was just bought out by the Leafs, and he is an interesting acquisition for any team willing to take the risk. Recent injury problems have led him to play in only 79 games over the last 2 seasons. However, he averaged .70 pts/60 last season and over 2 pts/60 the season before that. He’s scored 10+ goals 4 times including a 20 goal season. He has a physical edge to his game, and he will be cheap. Armstrong offers a solid third line player for probably a million or less, given his recent injury history. Anaheim should kick the tires and give him a physical.
Jason Garrison: Garrison had a career year, and people think he’ll garner Denis Wideman money, meaning he’ll get $5M+ a year. He offers good offensive punch on the blueline, especially on the PP where he scored 9 of his 16 goals. He had good Corsi numbers while facing the best competition of any Florida defenseman. Garrison could be a good signing, if Murray pulls the same move that he did with Toni Lydman. Make Garrison a priority while everyone else is chasing the bigger names. It’s probably a long shot, but maybe the Ducks get him at $4.5M for an extended staty. He’d be good with Cam Fowler on the PP and would round out the Top 4.
Peter Mueller: This is the kind of reclamation project we are used to seeing from Murray. Mueller is a former first round pick who flashed promise, then crashed hard with a few poor performances and tough injuries. If he somehow came on board and managed to find the old talent that got him drafted high in the first place, the Ducks would have another candidate for a second line center. It’s probably not the best idea, but it is something I expect Murray to check out.
Samuel Pahlsson: I know, I know…but a man can dream. [Ed. Note: Signed with Modo in Swedish Elite League, but we’ll let Daniel have his moment.]
Shane Doan: He should probably be higher up the list, but I think Doan would be the perfect compliment to Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. He’s a no nonsense leader who will do dirty work, but has phenomenal skill. If the Ducks can get him to take 2-3 years at $4M per, I say do it. Then point and laugh at anyone else who didn’t want to pay him. Hell, I’d give him $5M a year.
Ruslan Fedotenko: Yeah, I said it. Fedotenko is one of those guys who has spent his career on winning teams. He just always seems to be scoring big goals or making big plays for teams that go deep into the playoffs. He is a fantastic role player, and the Ducks should think about using him to upgrade the Bottom 9.
P.A. Parenteau: Another player who would look really good with the Finns. His playmaking ability and solid two-way play could really help that line. He should probably be high on the Ducks list of priorities, given his age.
Wojtek Wolski: Another reclamation project that might find his way to a Ducks team potentially looking for more offense. Wolski started out well in Colorado and then struggled to keep it going in Phoenix and New York. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for these former first rounders, and sometimes they just become Jonathan Cheechoo. Either way, I think he’s a player the Ducks should monitor and maybe consider signing to a cheap deal. It’s at least an option.
Shaone Morrisonn: He offers the Ducks an opportunity to add some size on the back end at a relatively cheap price. He won’t cost more than $2 million and was a Top 4 player in Washington before being priced out by Christian Erhoff in Buffalo. He still played good minutes and might be a way to round out the bottom pair at an affordable price. He’s not a Top 4 guy anymore, but he’d be a little extra muscle at a good price, becuase there might be relatively low interest.
Pavel Kubina: He’s definitely getting old, but he’s still a Top 4 defenseman who can play in any situation and offers just enough physical play. He could be a good replacement for Lubomir Visnovsky while we wait forHampus Lindholm to round out his game.
Bryan Allen: He blocked a ton of shots for Carolina last year, while logging 19 minutes a game. He could be an affordable addition to the backend, but he might also be a slightly younger Lydman.
Zach Parise/Ryan Suter/Alexander Semin: It’s easy to say that these guys aren’t interested and are way out of our price range, but they are also the most unique talents available. The Ducks should at least call and ask. Landing a Parise or Suter could be huge. I don’t know about Semin, but it could work out. You never know.
This isn't meant to be a completely comprehensive list. It's just meant to give us a few more names to keep an eye on while we are watching the madness unfold. Enjoy the frenzy; I'll probably be canoeing on a river and won't get any news until that night.