The deadline to qualify Restricted Free Agents has passed, and as is the case again this summer, there's a number of interesting names that did not receive qualifying offers.
Picking diamonds out of this rough -- one that largely consists of young, under-performing talent -- is pretty difficult, but there's no denying some of the skill and talent in the group below. In the right system and under the right coaching staff, one of the many names below could easily turn his professional career around.
And, there's always your classic late-bloomer -- the player that simply projects through his developmental curve at a later-than-expected stage of his career.
Below, the full list of unqualified RFAs. I've underlined a few that may be of interest to the Ottawa Senators, and will touch on them accordingly.
Anaheim Ducks: Riley Holzapfel, Rick Schofield, Dale Mitchell, Calgary Flames: Riley Grantham, Logan MacMillan, Blake Comeau Carolina Hurricanes: Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll, Matthew Pistilli, Kyle Lawson Colorado Avalanche: Kevin Porter, Peter Mueller Columbus Blue Jackets: Brent Regner, Taylor Ellington, Shawn Hunwick Dallas Stars: Angelo Esposito, Mikhail Stefanovich, Michael Neal, Jake Hauswirth Edmonton Oilers: Cam Barker Florida Panthers: Wojtek Wolski, Ondrej Roman, Keith Seabrook, Justin Bernhardt Los Angeles Kings: Ray Kaunisto Minnesota Wild: Kris Fredheim, Nick Johnson, Guillaume Latendresse Montreal Canadiens: Michael Blunden, Petteri Nokelainen, Mark Mitera, Hunter Bishop, Olivier Fortier, Robert Slaney, Andrew Conboy, Danny Masse Nashville Predators: Zach Stortini, Jack Hillen, Brodie Dupont, Ryan Flynn, Atte Engren New Jersey Devils: Timo Pielmeier, Kory Nagy New York Rangers: Andreas Thuresson, Lee Baldwin, Francois Bouchard, Sam Klassen, Chris Chappell New York Islanders: Tyler McNeely, Tony Romano, Yannick Reindeau, Yuri Alexandrov Ottawa Senators: Craig Schira Phoenix Coyotes: Gilbert Brule Pittburgh Penguins: Cal O'Reilly, Mattias Modig, Boris Valabik, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Alexandre Picard San Jose Sharks: Benn Ferriero, Cam McIntyre, Tyson Sexsmith Tampa Bay Lightning: Benoit Pouliot, Sebastian Piche Vancouver Canucks: Marc-Andre Gragnani, Mike Duco, Victor Oreskovich, Ryan Parent
Winnipeg Jets: Michael Forney, Eric Fehr, John Negrin, Fredrik Pettersson
Naturally, I've noted some of the more common NHL names that have really been victimized by inconsistent play more than anything else. Gilbert Brule is your classic case of confounding skill -- on some nights, he looks like he belongs. On other nights, he's invisible.
Still, as a natural center, I wonder if Ottawa could find him a spot on an extremely-short term deal -- if only to provide more insulation for this team in the immediate future. Ottawa's loaded with F prospects and already has to make some room, but if Jesse Winchester winds up walking away from this team(we already know Zenon Konopka is gone, too), there may be a spot available.
Wojtek Wolski's an interesting case. Wolski was some player for four years with Colorado, scoring at a 0.64 PPG clip. Then, Wolski left Colorado for stops in Phoenix, New York, and Florida, and hasn't looked like the same player we once saw in his days with the Avalanche.
Wolski's biggest issue right now appears to be staying on the ice. Since 2008-2009, Wolski hasn't even sniffed a full healthy season.
What probably does his chances in with Ottawa, though, was this now-legendary head shot on Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson:
Marc-Andre Gragnani -- formerly of Buffalo and Vancouver -- seems to have been dumped off the end of the Canucks ship thanks to a logjam on the blue line. Buffalo parted with him in that famed Hodgson/Kassian swap, and Vancouver never really found a spot for him in the rotation. At the age of twenty-five, Gragnani's potential to boom appears slim, but the guy was a PPG player in the one season ago, and looked okay at times on Buffalo's blue line(44 GP).
UPDATE: Looks like Iiro Tarkki -- formerly of the Anaheim Ducks -- has signed in the KHL. So, no dice here w/ Ottawa.
Oh, before you ask: No, I don't think Eric Fehr of the Winnipeg Jets is a fit here, although Bryan Murray may have at some point last season. Allegedly.
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