With the start of free agency Friday (we are planning a live blog from 12-7 for the July 1 festivities, more on that later), we figured we'd do a little free agency preview. Below are 22 free agent forwards the Islanders might look into. We've separated them into different categories, their stats, their 2010/11 team, and how likely the Islanders will target them. Just a fun little exercise to get us ready for a crazy July 4 weekend.
Top 6 Centers
Brad Richards - 31 - 28 G 49 A 77 P - Minimal Chance, At Best
Obviously the best free agent on the market, the Isles have the cap space if they really want to overpay. Chances are Richards will go for the money, but that will most likely be NYR or TOR. Wouldn't completely count the Isles out, but as close as you can get to that.
Tim Connolly - 30 - 13 G 29 A 42 P - Could Be A Target
Connolly is a wiz when he is healthy, but he's never healthy. If the Isles think he could give them a productive couple of years, he may be an option while Ryan Strome develops in juniors. But I wouldn't count on it, the Isles may go with Bailey - cheaper and still developing.
Top 6 Wings
Ville Leino - 27 - 19 G 34 A 53 P - Isles Target
Leino has had a few good years with the Flyers, especially in the 2010 playoffs. He's looking for a big raise over his last contract, and the Isles may be a team that's willing to give him one.
Erik Cole - 32 - 26 G 26 A 52 P - Isles Target
Cole has an Islander connection in Doug Weight, who could be very influential in getting Cole to come play on John Tavares' wing if the price is right. Could and should be the Isles #1 target for a top-6 player.
Jussi Jokinen - 28 - 19 G 33 A 52 P - Isles Target
Jokinen is another Hurricane that fits in very nicely on Tavares' wing. Another guy the Isles should be calling early Friday to try and get a jump start on. Plus, he's a shootout wiz.
Radim Vrbata - 30 - 19 G 29 A 48 P - Isles Target
Vrbata doesn't fit as nicely on the first line, but is still an improvement in the top-6, and could really help Josh Bailey bring his game up a notch.
Michael Ryder - 31 - 18 G 23 A 41 P - Isles Target
By no means should he be a top option, he needs to be in a perfect situation to be productive. I don't think this is it. That said, he's a veteran presence and if the Isles feel he can help in the top 6, they'll go after him.
Sergei Samsonov - 32 - 13 G 27 A 40 P - Could Be A Target
Not sure if the Isles want to go in this direction, but he could be a target for the Islanders as he does complement John Tavares' skillset well. Very fast, could be a target, but I think the Isles look elsewhere first.
Simon Gagne - 31 - 17 G 23 A 40 P - Isles Target
Gagne will no doubt be towards the top of the Isles list on Friday. He's had concussion problems but he is a perfect fit on this team, especially when he is healthy. If he signs, expect more years than any other team as the Isles could offer him security and give him his last big payday.
Tomas Fleischmann - 27 - 12 G 19 A 31 P - Isles Target
If he can prove that he is healthy after his blood clot scare last year, he could be a major addition to the Isles lineup. His injury history will scare other teams away, so the Isles could have an advantage if they want to sign him. Risky, but the reward is phenomenal.
Steve Sullivan - 36 - 10 G 12 A 22 P - Could Be Target
Sullivan is getting up there in age, but his skills complement John Tavares very well. It's a matter of if the Islanders think he is done, but if not, he'll have a great chance to revive his career with a great young center.
Bottom 6 Centers
Eric Belanger - 33 - 13 G 27 A 40 P - Isles Target
Should be the Islanders #1 choice to play the 4th line center. There were rumors they were going after Belanger last season, but now it makes more sense. A 4th line of Martin-Belanger-Hunter is one of the better ones in the league and gives the Isles flexibility to pick and choose spots for Micheal Haley.
Marty Reasoner - 34 - 14 G 18 A 32 P - Isles Target
Like Belanger, Reasoner fits the mold of what the Isles could be looking for as an upgrade in their bottom-6. He won't break the bank and is an effective player in the correct role.
Jeff Halpern - 35 - 11 G 15 A 26 P - Isles Target
Short-term he's a potential answer for the 4th line, but you won't get more than 2 years out of him. Still, he's a viable option and a good veteran leader.
Marcel Goc - 27 - 9 G - 15 A - 24 P - Isles Target
A close friend of Christian Ehrhoff's, Goc would be a perfect transitional player for the 4th line. If not Belanger, Goc is the guy to bring in. Great on faceoffs as well.
Bottom 6 Wings
Scottie Upshall - 27 - 22 G 12 A 34 P - Could Be Target
Upshall has proved to be a pretty productive player, but really doesn't fit the mold of a top-6 forward, which is what the Isles should be looking for. He may be an option as a transitional player, but unless other avenues run dry, I don't see them making a big push.
Raffi Torres - 29 - 14 G 15 A 29 P - Could Be Target
I don't see where Torres fits per se, but if the Islanders want to bring their former draft pick home, they'll have a shot.
Joel Ward - 30 - 10 G 19 A 29 P - Isles Target
By now, everyone knows about Ward's Long Island ties. After his monster playoffs, he's going to get a contract he doesn't deserve. Great team guy, not sure the Isles should be overpaying him though. Still, I'd assume they'll make a decent push for him.
Sean Bergenheim - 27 - 14 G 15 A 29 P - Probably Not, But For Fun
Bergie isn't coming back, but he's the type of guy like Ward who is going to get way overpaid for his playoff run. Looking forward to seeing how he does in the UFA market.
Chris Higgins - 28 - 13 G 15 A 28 P - Isles Target
The native Long Islander has the ability, but hasn't put it together in a few years. He'll get an opportunity to do that in a pressure-less situation with his hometown team. Would not be surprised at all to see him come home.
Cody McCormick - 28 - 8 G 12 A 20 P - Could Be Target
McCormick would be a great guy to have on the fourth line. If the Isles feel Trent Hunter is done, they may explore an option like this, but I wouldn't count on it.
Ben Eager - 27 - 7 G 10 A 17 P - Could Be Target
Eager made waves with his temper in the last game against the Canucks in the playoffs, but like McCormick, if Hunter is done the Isles may decide to bring in someone of his ilk in.
AT: My top targets remain Jussi Jokinen, Ville Leino or Simon Gagne. Either one would fit fantastically on JT's wing and would create an offensive explosion on the first line. There's always been missing pieces on the team - one of those being a solid RW for the first line to replace PAP, the other being a center. With Strome now in the mix and possibly playing in the NHL in a year, I doubt the Isles go for Richards. Jokinen, Leino and Gagne seem like the most likely options.
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