Free is not always easy
Ask Adam Pardy, one of three Newfoundlanders set to become UFAS with the start of NHL free agency
NHL free agency begins Saturday, with well over 400 players available to be signed— or re-signed — either as restricted (RFA) or unrestricted (UFA) free agents
Included in that number are three Newfoundlanders — forwards Teddy Purcell and Colin Greening of St. John’s, and defenceman Adam Pardy of Bonavitsa, all who fall under the UFA heading
The feeding frenzy ensues at 1:30 p.m. NT on Saturday and most of the movement will take place on that day. In 2016, almost 100 players changed teams and three-quarters of the players who would switch organizations in free agency would do within the first week of July.
Of the remainder, a large number inked contracts just before or after the start of the 2016-17 season, although a few, including Pardy, had to wait even longer. The 33-year-old didn’t sign with the Nashville Predators until Nov. 30 after playing for seven weeks in the American Hockey League on a minor-league contract.
Pardy had attended the training camp of the Florida Panthers on a tryout, but was one of the Panthers’ last cuts. He bided time on a minor-league deal with Florida’s farm team, the Springfield Falcons, then got moved to the Milwaukee Admirals in an AHL trade. Eventually, he was signed by the Predators, the Admirals’ NHL parent team.
“I don’t know if you really can say if (that experience) meant I learned about being patient in the free-agent process since I think I had already learned quite a bit about free agency over the years,” Pardy told the Telegram earlier this month.
In fact, Pardy has been an unrestricted free agent five times in his career. The first time was in 2011 when he left the Calgary Flames for the Dallas Stars on a two-year deal. But since then, he’s been year-to-year and station-to-station, operating on four one-year-contracts and playing in four other cities — Buffalo, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Nashville.
Pardy, Purcell and Greening all finished the 2016-17 season in the AHL, and while that fact may contribute to the quality of any offers they receive, it doesn’t preclude them being signed on Saturday.
Yes, the focus is always on the big-name, big-money transactions, but announced free-agent deals on July 1, 2016 included those given to the likes of Sam Carrick, Zach Trotman, Christian Thomas, Ryan Stanton, Jeremy Morin, Michael Latta, Andrew Agozzino, Will O’neill, Pierre Luc Letroneau-leblond, Victor Bartley, Chris Mueller, Garrett Ross, Michael Paliotta, Carter Camper, Morgan Ellis and Andrew Bodnarchuk, none of whom would play a single NHL game in 2016-17.
Purcell — who was signed on July 1, 2016 by the Los Angeles Kings — and Pardy both saw time in the NHL last year. Pardy played four games with Nashville in December, and Purcell got into a dozen contests with Kings at the start of the season before they assigned him to the AHL’S Ontario Reign in early December.
Both would be hampered by mid-season injuries. Purcell was sidelined the entire month of February after hurting his knee, while Pardy missed 10 weeks with a broken arm suffered in January.
Greening, meanwhile, never got into any games with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the Leafs chose to keep his $3.2 million salary buried in the minors in a cap-saving move. If it was any consolation, Greening was not alone. The Leafs also had Brooks Laich ($4.5 million) and Milan Michalek ($4 million) with the Marlies last season.
Not every free agent will change locations. A number will — or already have — re-signed with their current organizations.
Others will have to brace themselves for the possibility of a major change, and not just in pay. They’ll end up — as Pardy did for a time last fall — settling for try-out deals or minor-league contracts. Others will relocate to European leagues.
Pardy says he isn’t considering the latter option.
“It’s not really for me,” he said. “I once told my agent the only way I would be go to Europe would be as a tourist who’s travelling.”
Free agent star power is in short supply yet again this July 1, but that doesn’t mean helpful contributors and potential bargains aren’t out to be found.
Here are eight names to keep an eye when Canada Day rolls around:
1. Patrick Marleau Age: 37
Position: Left wing/centre Marleau has quietly been one of the most productive players of the last 20 years, and though he’s not quite elite anymore, the 37-year-old can still be a difference-maker. He had 27 goals last year and hasn’t had fewer than 17 since he was a rookie with the Sharks in 1997. He’s also the picture of durability, yet to miss a game since the 200809 season while suiting up in all but 31 games over a 19-year career. The Saskatchewan native remains a strong skater, faceoff man and power play contributor with solid underlying numbers.
2. Brian Elliott Age: 32
Position: Goaltender Need a backup goalie who can step in and play regularly when you’re in a pinch? Elliott is your guy. His first and likely only season in Calgary started off disastrously, but Elliott actually had the ninth-best save percentage (.919) in the league after Dec. 1 — though he struggled again in the post-season. He also has a long track record of excellence, dating back to his lengthy stint as the sometimes starter, sometimes backup in St. Louis. Interested teams could peg Elliott for 25-30 games and be comfortable knowing he could play more if the starter gets hurt or struggles.
3. Sam Gagner Age: 27
Position: Centre Because he went so high in the 2007 draft — sixth overall — more was expected of Gagner, but the product of London, Ont., has actually been a pretty consistent contributor over a 10-year NHL career — averaging 14 goals and 40 points. Gagner, who’s still only 27, had his career-best 50 points last year as a fourth line centre who got plenty of power play time for Columbus. That would seem to be his ideal role moving forward. He doesn’t kill penalties and is weak on the draw, but if slotted right and counted on for modest offence, Gagner can help someone.
4. Steve Mason Age: 29
Position: Goaltender Starting destinations are limited for the former Calder trophy winner with only Winnipeg and Philadelphia — Mason’s last team — having obvious openings. That might mean a year or two of backup duty for Mason, who had the eighth weakest save percentage (.908) last year among regular starters. But in the two seasons previous, Mason performed quite well for the Flyers with a .928 save percentage in 2014-15 and .918 mark in 2015-16. All of which suggests that Mason might be an ideal buy-low candidate for a team that needs a little extra stability in goal.
5. Jordan Weal Age: 25
Position: Centre
Weal might just be one of those players who only needs an opportunity. The 25-year-old has been a potent minor league producer — including 47 points in 43 games last year — who has gotten only a rare sniff in the NHL. He made the most of the latest and longest chance this past spring with eight goals and 12 points in 23 games for Philly. One year ago, Florida took a chance on Jonathan Marchessault, another productive minor league player who hadn’t had much opportunity in the NHL, and he delivered 30 goals and 51 points for US$750,000 on the cap. Could Weal be that guy this time around?
6. Justin Williams Age: 35
Position: Right wing Even as he approaches his 36th birthday in October, Williams still checks a lot of boxes. He averaged 23 goals and 50 points over two seasons in Washington with strong puck possession numbers. He’s also one of those cherished veterans with winning experience — including three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy. Williams can play anywhere in the lineup, too, and though he didn’t do so last year, has been an effective penalty killer in the past. For a team looking to make a jump and needing a veteran boost, the Cobourg, Ont., native might just be a perfect fit.
7. Kevin Shattenkirk Age: 28
Position: Defence Probably the top available player on the market and lone impact defenceman, Shattenkirk will help your power play and generate plenty of offence. The American is top-10 in goals and points among defenders since the start of the 2011-12 season and even better with the man advantage. Only Erik Karlsson has more than Shattenkirk’s 131 power-play points and only Shea Weber and Oliver Ekmanlarsson have more than his 32 power-play goals.
8. Mikhail Grigorenko Age: 23
Position: Centre Unlike Shattenkirk, Grigorenko is a pure gamble. Things haven’t panned out well for the Russian in the NHL, but Grigorenko was a high first round pick for a reason — a big six-foot-three, 200-pound centre with skill. The Sabres mishandled his development early — bouncing him between the NHL and junior - and there’s reason to think he could still be a useful piece with more opportunity. Grigorenko scored all 10 of his goals at evenstrength last year and though he had only 23 points in 75 games, those came with fourthline ice-time and secondunit power play duty. More of both with better players, and perhaps Grigorenko can be something for someone somewhere.