Screen Shots: Got 'em; need 'em
Rather than provide a list of the top free-agents out there – you're not going to believe this, but Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Sheldon Souray are among the best available – here's a quick rundown of what each of the 30 teams need, as well as some potential targets. Click HERE for a team-by-team list of potential UFAs.
Anaheim Ducks
Got ‘em: goalies; high-end blueliners and forwards
Need ‘em: third-unit defensemen; third-and-fourth-line forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Jon Klemm (DAL), Adam Hall (MIN), Jon Sim (ATL), Bryan Muir (WAS)
Atlanta Thrashers
Got ‘em: elite European forwards; expensive checking centers
Need ‘em: playmaking centers; puck-moving blueliners
Potential Free Agent Targets: Mike Comrie (OTT), Bryan Berard (CLB), Petr Sykora (EDM), Janne Niinimaa (MTL)
Boston Bruins
Got ‘em: skilled wingers; physical, mobile defensemen
Need ‘em: platoon-friendly goaltenders; gritty forwards; offensive defensemen
Potential Free Agent Targets: Tom Poti (NYI), Tom Preissing (OTT), Kevin Weekes (NYR), Ronald Petrovicky (ATL)
Buffalo Sabres
Got ‘em: young, skilled forwards; front-line goaltending; organizational depth
Need ‘em: veteran scorers/leaders; offensive defensemen; backup goaltending
Potential Free Agent Targets: Daniel Briere (BUF), Chris Drury (BUF), David Aebischer (MTL), Robert Esche (PHI)
Calgary Flames
Got ‘em: high-priced, talented prospects; starting goaltending
Need ‘em: depth at forward; backup goaltending
Potential Free Agent Targets: Alex Auld (FLA), Martin Gelinas (FLA), Wes Walz (MIN), Aaron Downey (MTL)
Carolina Hurricanes
Got ‘em: offensive wingers and centers; veteran defensemen
Need ‘em: elite-level blueliners; hard-nosed, third-and fourth-line forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Ville Nieminen (STL), Mathieu Schneider (DET), Wes Walz (MIN), Jeff Cowan (VAN)
Chicago Blackhawks
Got ‘em: talented prospects; starting goaltending
Need ‘em: elite, veteran centers and defensemen
Potential Free Agent Targets: Roman Hamrlik (CGY), Brian Rafalski (NJ), Paul Kariya (NSH), Michael Nylander (NYR)
Colorado Avalanche
Got ‘em: core of well-rounded forwards; steady, low-key defense corps
Need ‘em: all-around leaders; physical blueliners
Potential Free Agent Targets: Ryan Smyth (NYI), Chris Drury (BUF), Andy Sutton (ATL), Danny Markov (DET)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Got ‘em: young offensive talent; second-and third-unit defensemen
Need ‘em: playmaking centers; first-unit blueliners, physical forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Mathieu Schneider (DET), Jozef Stumpel (FLA), Adam Mair (BUF), Michael Nylander (NYR)
Dallas Stars
Got ‘em: goaltending; defense
Need ‘em: goal-scorers, goal-scorers and more goal-scorers
Potential Free Agent Targets: Yanic Perreault (TOR), Dainius Zubrus (BUF), Robert Lang (DET), Anson Carter (CAR)
Detroit Red Wings
Got ‘em: skilled, savvy veterans; speedy young forwards
Need ‘em: dependable, top-end point producer; rugged, mid-tier blueliner
Potential Free Agent Targets: Aaron Miller (LA), Ryan Smyth (NYI), Slava Kozlov (ATL), Brent Sopel (VAN)
Edmonton Oilers
Got ‘em: youth; speed
Need ‘em: first-unit defensemen, playmaking forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Brad Stuart (CGY), Scott Gomez (NJ), Scott Hannan (SJ), Michal Handzus (CHI)
Florida Panthers
Got ‘em: breakout-level young talent; all-star goaltending
Need ‘em: veteran scorers, leaders; defense-minded forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Mike Peca (TOR), Jason Blake (NYI), Bryan Smolinski (VAN), Bill Guerin (SJ)
Los Angeles Kings
Got ‘em: Pittsburgh aside, arguably the best collection of young talent in the game
Need ‘em: veteran infusion at forward and defense, as well as in goal
Potential Free Agent Targets: Sheldon Souray (MTL), Chris Drury (BUF), Curtis Joseph (PHX), Eric Lindros (DAL)
Minnesota Wild
Got ‘em: goaltending out the wazoo; balanced mix of forwards
Need ‘em: mobile defenseman; depth at forward and defense
Potential Free Agent Targets: Greg de Vries (ATL), Tom Preissing (OTT), Kyle Calder (DET), Dainius Zubrus (BUF)
Montreal Canadiens
Got ‘em: goaltending depth; skilled forwards
Need ‘em: versatile forwards and defenseman; size
Potential Free Agent Targets: Darryl Sydor (DAL), Ladislav Nagy (DAL), Daniel Briere (BUF), Viktor Kozlov (NYI)
Nashville Predators
Got ‘em: blossoming defense corps; proven scoring punch
Need ‘em: defense-minded veterans; backup goalie
Potential Free Agent Targets: Todd White (MIN), Robert Esche (PHI), Ossi Vaananen (COL), Ed Belfour (FLA)
New Jersey Devils
Got ‘em: quick, defensively-responsible forwards; starting goaltending
Need ‘em: blueline depth; backup goaltending
Potential Free Agent Targets: Cory Sarich (TB), Brian Boucher (CLB), Joe DiPenta (ANA), Sean Burke (LA)
New York Islanders
Got ‘em: goaltending; plugger-style forwards and defensemen
Need ‘em: elite forwards and blueliners
Potential Free Agent Targets: Ryan Smyth (NYI), Mathieu Schneider (DET), Roman Hamrlik (CAL), Petr Sykora (EDM)
New York Rangers
Got ‘em: offensive talent; top-tier goaltending
Need ‘em: physical ‘D'-man; playmaking forwards; leadership
Potential Free Agent Targets: Brendan Shanahan (NYR), Andy Sutton (ATL), Sheldon Souray (MTL), Scott Gomez (NJ)
Ottawa Senators
Got ‘em: the league's best first line and deepest defense corps
Need ‘em: secondary scoring; gritty third-and fourth-line forwards
Potential Free Agent Targets: Mike York (PHI), Michel Ouellet (PIT), Richard Zednik (NYI), Patrik Stefan (DAL)
Philadelphia Flyers
Got ‘em: goaltending; youth
Need ‘em: veteran scorers
Potential Free Agent Targets: Peter Forsberg (NSH), Scott Gomez (NJ), Daniel Briere (BUF), Owen Nolan (PHX)
Phoenix Coyotes
Got ‘em: skilled, mobile defense unit
Need ‘em: goaltending; young, offensive depth
Potential Free Agent Targets: Todd Bertuzzi (DET), Michal Handzus (CHI), Robert Esche (PHI), Jason Blake (NYI)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Got ‘em: superior young talent; grit
Need ‘em: blueline depth; backup goaltending
Potential Free Agent Targets: Aaron Miller (LA), Danny Markov (DET), Kevin Weekes (NYR), Andy Sutton (ATL)
San Jose Sharks
Got ‘em: forward depth; size and speed
Need ‘em: veteran leadership; depth on defense
Potential Free Agent Targets: Sheldon Souray (MTL), Martin Skoula (MIN), Paul Kariya (NSH), Cory Sarich (TB)
St. Louis Blues
Got ‘em: emerging defense corps; above-average forward unit
Need ‘em: forward depth; checking center
Potential Free Agent Targets: Keith Tkachuk (ATL), Wes Walz (MIN), Todd Bertuzzi (DET), Yanic Perreault (TOR)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Got ‘em: offensive first-line forwards; fourth-line pluggers
Need ‘em: second-and third-unit defensemen; second-and third-line forwards; goaltending insurance
Potential Free Agent Targets: Brent Sopel (VAN), Patrick Stefan (DAL), Ed Belfour (FLA), Anson Carter (CAR)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Got ‘em: defensive depth; third-and fourth-line forwards
Need ‘em: secondary scoring; elite-level winger
Potential Free Agent Targets: Ryan Smyth (NYI), Jason Blake (NYI), Michal Handzus (CHI), Michel Ouellet (PIT)
Vancouver Canucks
Got ‘em: starting goaltending; well-balanced blueline
Need ‘em: goal-scorers; backup goalie
Potential Free Agent Targets: Alexei Yashin (NYI), Kevin Weekes (NYR), Paul Kariya (NSH), Dainius Zubrus (BUF)
Washington Capitals
Got ‘em: elite young goal-scorers; steady mid-tier defensemen
Need ‘em: playmaking centers; veteran savvy
Potential Free Agent Targets: Alexei Yashin (NYI), Michael Nylander NYR), Robert Lang (DET), Viktor Kozlov (NYI)
Adam Proteau's Screen Shots appears every Thursday only on thehockeynews.com. Want to take a shot at Adam Proteau? You can reach him at aproteau@thehockeynews.com or through our Ask Adam feature. And be sure to check out Proteau's Blog for daily insight on the world of hockey.
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