NHL Free Agent Targets: Forwards Part Two

by BReynolds on Jun 28, 2011 4:00 PM CDT in News

When considering who the Wild might target in free agency, we have to focus our energies on the proper target market. With the two top lines looking pretty good, the bottom two lines are the key demographic, and the kids in Houston will get their shot at those spots. The Wild got their character guy in Darroll Powe, but if the right player became available for the right price, you just never know who Chuck Fletcher might pull the trigger on.

After the jump, we look at some grinders that might catch the eye of NHL GMs, and perhaps even one specific GM located in Saint Paul.

Maxime Talbot

#25 / Center / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

Born: Feb 11, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Maxime Talbot	82	8	13	21	-3	66	0	2	2		117

Current Cap Hit: $1.05 million
Age: 27

JS: No way. Yuck. I really, really don't like him.
Verdict: No. No no no no no no no.

Bryan: Talbot is cheap enough, he is a grinder, and he is younger than some of the other options. Main problem? He is a center. You may have heard, the Wild have a few of those. He also is not remarkably fast, and his offensive production is almost nil. If this were the best option available, or if the kids aren't the option, then maybe. I would rather see Cody Almond or another Aeros player get the spot. I am not opposed to Talbot, though and would not be angry should he be signed.
Verdict: One year, $1.2 million

Nathan: If he could play on the wing, I'd jump at the chance, but I don't see him wanting to leave Pittsburgh.
Verdict: One year, $1.67 million

Ben Eager

#55 / Left Wing / San Jose Sharks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 235

Born: Jan 22, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Ben Eager	68	7	10	17	4	120	0	0	1		84

Current Cap Hit: $965K
Age: 27

JS: See Maxime Talbot
Verdict: Nuh-uh.

Bryan: Seventeen points, 120 PIMS? Unless Brad Staubitz is leaving, there is no need for Ben Eager. Thanks anyway.
Verdict: Pass

Nathan: Million dollar body, five cent talent.
Verdict: I want so much for him to not suck.

Michael Rupp

#17 / Left Wing / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 6-5

Weight: 230

Born: Jan 13, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Michael Rupp	81	9	8	17	-4	124	0	0	1		81

Current Cap Hit: $825K
Age: 31

JS: Pretty much a better Brad Staubitz, but his point total is likely inflated from playing with the Penguins. He plays a good, physical game and would be an interesting replacement for Staubz, as he had 12 majors and only one Game Misconduct, so simple misconducts. However, we have Staubitz for one more year, so there's no real need for a player like Rupp at this time.
Verdict: Pass.

Bryan: Mike Rupp intrigues me for a linemate with Powe and Clutterbuck, although I ma not sure how he fits, since he is not as fast. As JS said, he is a similar player to Brad Staubitz. There really isn't room for another player of that ilk on the team. He is, however, a great character guy, so if Chuck Fletcher wants to go that way, so be it. Much like with Talbot, I wouldn't be upset to see him signed, though.
Verdict: One year, $875K

Nathan: No. Not interested. We don't need more penalty heavy guys.
Verdict: Pass

More targets tomorrow and Thursday. Make sure you check back, and check out the Hockey Wilderness Free Agency Page to keep up with all of the free agency coverage.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

This

just shows how awful this year’s FA class is. And looking ahead, 2012 is not much better. Free agency is not really going to be an option as long as teams keep locking up their players with these long-term contracts as has been the trend since the lockout.

by cgp711 on Jun 28, 2011 5:59 PM CDT reply actions

By ''so simple misconducts''

I mean NO simple misconducts… same thing really.. Also, Bryan, Nathan, think about what you’re saying. Talbot? One of the biggest turtles in the league? Rather dirty player to boot? No friggin’ thanks.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 28, 2011 10:15 PM CDT reply actions

I just don't quite get the ideas here.

This just isn’t the year where the Wild should be looking to round out the bottom 6 with a FA, especially any of these guys. The Wild currently have Clutterbuck, Powe, Nystrom, and Staubitz. They need to decide which of Cullen or Brodziak is going to center that second line, the other will probably be a bottom 6. They need to determine this year if Gillies, Wellman, and probably Almond can seize a role on the Wild… do they have NHL games?

Powe is that ‘character’ forward the Wild got, when character means grit, toughness, energy, determination. If the Wild add anyone to play in the bottom 6 that isn’t from the organization, I hope it’s a character guy like a Owen Nolan or a John Madden… a guy who can come in and teach some of the young guys something while providing some value to the team.

This year will have to be about the Wild forming around Yeo’s system and style. It will be about determining which players in the system will be here in 3 years. It’ll be about making decisions on guys like Bouchard, Latendresse, Clutterbuck, Stoner, Spurgeon, Scandella, Falk, Wellman, Gillies, Almond. As contracts come off the books, or players are traded, over the next couple seasons, then you might start looking to rounding out some positions. Right now, the Wild need to see what they have and if some guys can take a step up.

Joel Ward… he’d be a nice player to add if it was three years from now and the Wild were looking to build around their in place and identified core. It’s just not now.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 29, 2011 7:50 AM CDT reply actions

Frankly I'd have no problem paying Nystrom and Staubitz to sit in the press box

Those two are useless. Talbot, Ward, Almond, Wellman, Gillies are all better for the future of the club than these two chumps.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Jun 29, 2011 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd have a problem with paying Nystrom to do that...

in that the guy has 2 years left. As I said before, if the Wild can move Nystrom, or Staubitz, or can get a guy like Cullen to waive his no-trade and move him, then I’m more open to the idea of another guy coming in. I just think that even if Nystrom and Staubitz are sitting in the press box, there are enough guys that the team need to see playing in the NHL to get a better understanding of, that adding a guy or two just muddles the picture.

Powe – Cullen – Clutterbuck
Gillies – Almond – (Are we really going to spend money on bringing in a 4th liner for 6 minutes a game?)

Then they still have to figure out how to get Wellman some meaningful minutes in even something close to a scoring role. Personally, I think we’ll see a ‘bounce back’ season by Nystrom. Since we’re stuck paying the guy anyway, the Wild might as well see what happens.

Cullen really is that albatross right now. $3.5 million for two more seasons and quite possibly looking at a bottom 6 role with PP minutes.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 29, 2011 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

No sense really in discussing more grinders for this team when we already have enough. We need to just let the kids play at this point and prove they do or don’t belong in this league.

by cgp711 on Jun 29, 2011 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions

You can say that as a fan

But you’re not the one who needs to make money. Wins make money. It’s tough, but true.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Jun 29, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

So it is your contention that...

Signing Maxime Talbot to a 4th line spot will make the Wild money this year… and help toward their plan to get younger and reshape the team?

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 29, 2011 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

If Talbot is better at this very instant than Almond/Gillies(which he probably is), he will help the team win more games. But like you know, and everyone knows its a balance of what is best for the team at that very moment and what is best for the team in the long term, which is why the Wild likely won’t sign a grinder type player.

by ThatGuy22 on Jun 29, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

That was my point.

Talbot is probably better than Nystrom and he’s more proven than Gillies and Almond. However, how are the Wild ever going to bring in self-developed talent if they don’t ever give the kids a shot at making a position their own? And the other contention is that a single grinder is unlikely to greatly impact the bottom line of wins on this team until team scoring and a rebuilt defense is handled.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 29, 2011 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I think signing a veteran for the 4th line costs the Wild very little, and adds some leadership to the team. They are not going to make a big splash, but they will sign someone. As much as I am willing to let Cody Almond and others come up, I think they bring up some kids on D and maybe Gillies. If they can swing a trade in the top six, maybe Wellman. Other than that, I think they will sign a grinder or two to one or two year deals (likely one), so yes, Max Talbot helps them.

Winning? Eh. I don;t think they win much this year.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Jun 29, 2011 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Also, we need to be careful bringing up all the kids. Say they do that, just say screw free agency, and bring up the kids to give them their chance. What happens when someone gets hurt? Now Talbot or someone else is playing in Philly, there are no free agents left, and you have to call up whichever ECHL player you signed to fill out the Aeros roster.

As deep as the Wild are, there is nothing past Almond, Gillies, Wellman, etc. Someone has to be available to fill in.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Jun 29, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

A team can be too careful...

Almond, Gillies, and Wellman are fighting for 1, maybe 2 available spots. If the team is honestly trying to get younger, faster, and is willing to take the pressure off a little bit, the team signs some journeymen AHLers that routinely get a handful of games in the NHL a year, and you rotate call ups as you need them. You don’t sign a filler pick that clogs the 4th line when you do have kids you want to see get some real time in the NHL.

There are Ortmeyer’s and Earl’s out there to bolster the AHL roster. The Aeros are a year away from a probable real talent infusion as the first waves the Wild’s prospects start filtering in. The Aeros have added Justin Fontaine, Brett Bulmer, that kid from New Jersey in the trade of Noreau. Other teams round out their lineups with the young guys in their system. The Wild haven’t been able to do that in years, but they’ll have to start at some time. This year is as good as any.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 30, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions