Free, For A Price

With the salary cap going down, teams are starting to fill out their rosters at the cheapest way they can.  Unfortunately for some, that means some of the "core" players of some teams have been bought-out, or just not signed to an extension.  Many teams have made lots of deals and moved lots of players around, and we're seeing the market slowly wind down, which is bad news for the remaining FA's on the market.

So here are a few notable FA's remaining, why they haven't been signed yet, and who (if anyone) will take them, in no particular order:

Teemu Selanne - There isn't really a question on who he will play for if he decides to return next season.  If he wants to play, Anaheim will be his team.  And if Anaheim doesn't want him, he'll probably retire then and there.  But Anaheim isn't exactly stacked at RW, and his leadership could prove to be a good asset for the young players there.  Plus, he can still play, he had a great season last year, with respect to his age, and is a dependable playoff performer.  If he wants to play, he'll play, most likely in Anaheim.

Brendan Morrow - Morrow is a strong leader, capable of pulling 3rd line minutes and being a dependable tool on the power play of most teams.  He's not a top line scorer anymore, but could produce good secondary scoring, and bring lots of playoff experience to a young team.  I could see him signing a 1-year deal for a team like the Senators or Islanders.

Mason Raymond - Raymond is a young veteran player who is adaptable and can fit in almost any team's core group.  He's dependable when healthy, but his durability and injuries are probably the reason he hasn't been locked up by the Canucks.  Still, he's capable of being a high-scoring 3rd-liner, and still has plenty to give to any team that takes him.  He could probably fit well on a team like Buffalo or Carolina, who are weak in LW depth.

Mikhail Grabovski - The drama in Toronto settled with Grabovski being shipped out of town.  He had a rather disappointing season last year, so that will hurt his stock.  If he's willing to take a smaller salary than what he seems to want, then many teams will want his hockey smarts and face-off dominance.  He could fit well as Edmonton's or Washington's 3rd-line center.

Brad Boyes - Boyes has struggled in the few years leading up to this season, but had his best season in the lockout-shortened 2013 year for the Islanders.  Still, his dependability is a big question mark.  His hockey smarts and potential for 40+ points per season are worth the risk for a safe 1-year deal, and his locker-room presence can be a big asset for any team who is willing to sign him.  Younger, skilled teams like Colorado and Nashville could use his services well.

Tim Thomas - Thomas is easily the best goaltender in the market right now.  Unfortunately, thats because there aren't many goaltenders in the market, or teams looking for a starting goaltender.  I like Thomas, not really for his antics and views (but everyone is entitled to their opinion), but I like his playing style.  Taking a year off, hockey-wise, was a bad decision, as his conditioning is a big unknown.  But if he can prove that he's in shape, I think he could find a role somewhere.  I think the Flames could use him the most, to help Ramo and give him a bit more time.  But he could be a good fit in Colorado (his home), Tampa, or for the Islanders if Nabokov doesn't pan out for another season.  But thats IF he's conditioned.

That's all the FA's I'll talk about today.  If you think theres another I should talk about, or have an opinion of your own, feel free to leave a comment.