2014 NHL unrestricted free agent defensemen. SORRY LONG LIST !!!

Player Pos Age Team Cap Hit
Dan Boyle D 37 Sharks $6,666,667
Dion Phaneuf D 28 Maple Leafs $6,500,000
Kimmo Timonen D 38 Flyers $6,000,000
Andrei Markov D 34 Canadiens $5,750,000
Joni Pitkanen D 30 Hurricanes $4,500,000
Andrej Meszaros D 27 Flyers $4,000,000
Marek Zidlicky D 36 Devils $4,000,000
Kyle Quincey D 28 Red Wings $3,775,000
Sami Salo D 39 Lightning $3,750,000
Brooks Orpik D 33 Penguins $3,750,000
Nick Schultz D 31 Oilers $3,500,000
Willie Mitchell D 36 Kings $3,500,000
Henrik Tallinder D 34 Sabres $3,375,000
Dan Girardi D 29 Rangers $3,325,000
Stephane Robidas D 36 Stars $3,300,000
Chris Phillips D 35 Senators $3,083,333
Rostislav Klesla D 31 Coyotes $2,975,000
Matt Greene D 30 Kings $2,950,000
Derek Morris D 35 Coyotes $2,750,000
Matt Niskanen D 26 Penguins $2,300,000
Nikita Nikitin D 27 Blue Jackets $2,150,000
Cory Sarich D 35 Avalanche $2,000,000
Ron Hainsey D 32 Hurricanes $2,000,000
Anton Stralman D 27 Rangers $1,700,000
Chris Butler D 26 Flames $1,700,000
Mark Stuart D 29 Jets $1,700,000
Matt Hunwick D 28 Avalanche $1,600,000
Anton Belov D 27 Oilers $1,525,000
Denis Grebeshkov D 29 Oilers $1,500,000
Kris Russell D 26 Flames $1,500,000
Francis Bouillon D 37 Canadiens $1,500,000
Douglas Murray D 33 Canadiens $1,500,000
Mark Fayne D 26 Devils $1,300,000
Mark Fraser D 27 Maple Leafs $1,275,000
Sheldon Brookbank D 32 Blackhawks $1,250,000
Raphael Diaz D 27 Canadiens $1,225,000
Brian Lee D 26 Lightning $1,150,000
Mike Weaver D 35 Panthers $1,100,000
Clayton Stoner D 28 Wild $1,050,000
Paul Ranger D 29 Maple Leafs $1,000,000
Scott Hannan D 34 Sharks $1,000,000
Mark Fistric D 27 Ducks $900,000
Andre Benoit D 29 Avalanche $900,000
Ryan Whitney D 30 Panthers $900,000
Tom Gilbert D 30 Panthers $900,000
Joe Corvo D 36 Senators $900,000
Bruno Gervais D 28 Flyers $825,000
Nate Prosser D 27 Wild $825,000
Derek Smith D 28 Flames $775,000
Corey Potter D 29 Oilers $775,000
Stu Bickel D 27 Rangers $750,000
Alexander Sulzer D 29 Sabres $725,000
Matt Gilroy D 29 Panthers $700,000
Mike Mottau D 35 Panthers $700,000
Mike Komisarek D 31 Hurricanes $700,000
Hal Gill D 38 Flyers $700,000
Jeff Schultz D 27 Kings $700,000
Matt Taormina D 26 Lightning $650,000
Jon Landry D 30 Wild $625,000
Mike Kostka D 27 Blackhawks $625,000
Brian Connelly D 27 Wild $612,500
Nate Guenin D 30 Avalanche $600,000
Patrick McNeill D 26 Blue Jackets $600,000
Aaron Johnson D 30 Rangers $600,000
Taylor Chorney D 26 Blues $600,000
Patrick Mullen D 27 Canucks $600,000
Andrew Alberts D 32 Canucks $600,000
Tyler Eckford D 28 Senators $600,000
Adam Pardy D 29 Jets $600,000
Nolan Yonkman D 32 Ducks $600,000
Danny Syvret D 28 Rangers $587,500
Frederic St-Denis D 27 Blue Jackets $575,000
Chay Genoway D 26 Capitals $575,000
Deryk Engelland D 31 Penguins $566,667
Andrew MacDonald D 27 Islanders $550,000
Tyson Strachan D 28 Capitals $550,000
Mike Moore D 28 Bruins $550,000
Bryan Rodney D 29 Predators $550,000
Joe Piskula D 29 Predators $550,000
Mark Flood D 29 Hurricanes $550,000
Julien Brouillette D 26 Capitals $550,000
Rob Davison D 33 Sharks $550,000
Joe Finley D 26 Islanders $537,500

He was sooo bad the last couple of seasons that its going to take more than 5-6 strong games to make me a full blown believer. Coby is what he is.... Mostly inconsistent.
- moylander

Last couple of seasons?

Last year sure, then again almost everybody had a bad year last year...

2 seasons ago he had 24 points, and was a plus 10 and he's been more than solid in 5-6 games this season after a rough start.

Let's hope we dont see this in an orange uni
- Yosimar89

he got imprisoned by the net against the boards

Stamkos participated in a morning skate...that's just impressive.

I do believe the future is bright for our defensive prospects. I also like the mix and variety of skills they hold. A trend I foresee in the coming drafts is that as teams over emphasize D, many ultra talented forward prospects will be had in later rounds or slip into the 2&3 rds......go get em Hexy and Pryor

great write up

im excited to see him develop. im sure he needs several more years but i have no patience whatsoever so i hope they rush the hell out of him.

- Crimsoninja

*smacking palm with bat, preparing to bludgeon Crims*

Bill's quote

One fan comment I frequently hear about Streit is that he's a "turnover machine." He has had a few costly turnovers up ice that have ended up in the Flyers' net, which are inevitably the ones that people remember. On the whole, though, he has not been charged with an excessive number of giveaways

Same as a goalie making key momentum saves, this guy turns the puck over at bad times, & seemingly always ending up in our net.
example Byfuglien, (who no one is in love with), turns over the puck very often, however, he does contribute in other facets of the game, offensive shot, & physical play.

When a one trick pony is cashing sizable checks while not performing his one trick, how long does he get until someone corrects the situation?

come on coach, start holding players accountable.

Stamkos participated in a morning skate...that's just impressive.
- wolfhounds

Wouldn't hurt to maybe hire their training staff and lure them away with higher salaries.

I still firmly believe that our medical/training staff is one of the worst in the league.

I do believe the future is bright for our defensive prospects. I also like the mix and variety of skills they hold. A trend I foresee in the coming drafts is that as teams over emphasize D, many ultra talented forward prospects will be had in later rounds or slip into the 2&3 rds......go get em Hexy and Pryor
- KINGKENZO

I'm excited as well, but by the time Morin enters his prime years, Giroux will be over 35.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Streit,
- bmeltzer

I laugh when people suggest Gostisbehere could be running the Flyers PP next season. There's no way that they should be rushing him or any of the other young defenseman, such as Alt, Morin, Hagg or others like Reece Willcox or Valeri Vasiliev.

Streit's play has been awful. He's not especially mobile, but he'd shown he could carry the puck in New York. however, he's rarely done that in his short time as a Flyer.

The worst part for me has been his decision-making. Every game he's making a high risk, low percentage play or two, often in dangerous spots-like at the opposing team's blueline when he's the last man back.

His defensive zone coverage has been atrocious, too. It's not that he's too small to be effective, it's that he looks lost in his own end. Far too often he's failed to make the right read or even simply pick up an opposing player in the Flyers' defensive zone.

Bill's quote

One fan comment I frequently hear about Streit is that he's a "turnover machine." He has had a few costly turnovers up ice that have ended up in the Flyers' net, which are inevitably the ones that people remember. On the whole, though, he has not been charged with an excessive number of giveaways

Same as a goalie making key momentum saves, this guy turns the puck over at bad times, & seemingly always ending up in our net.
example Byfuglien, (who no one is in love with), turns over the puck very often, however, he does contribute in other facets of the game, offensive shot, & physical play.

When a one trick pony is cashing sizable checks while not performing his one trick, how long does he get until someone corrects the situation?

come on coach, start holding players accountable.
- puckhead17

If Berube held everyone who deserved it accountable, the Flyers taking the ice vs Montreal would have been Couturier, Downie, Coburn & Mason...everyone else would have been a scratch.

I laugh when people suggest Gostisbehere could be running the Flyers PP next season. There's no way that they should be rushing him or any of the other young defenseman, such as Alt, Morin, Hagg or others like Reece Willcox or Valeri Vasiliev.

Streit's play has been awful. He's not especially mobile, but he'd shown he could carry the puck in New York. however, he's rarely done that in his short time as a Flyer.

The worst part for me has been his decision-making. Every game he's making a high risk, low percentage play or two, often in dangerous spots-like at the opposing team's blueline when he's the last man back.

His defensive zone coverage has been atrocious, too. It's not that he's too small to be effective, it's that he looks lost in his own end. Far too often he's failed to make the right read or even simply pick up an opposing player in the Flyers' defensive zone.
- Jsaquella

I can't stand his complete lack of ability to hold the puck in at the point.

I can't stand his complete lack of ability to hold the puck in at the point.
- twotoekenn

Yeah, he does that spin o rama crap and I just cringe and start praying to Joe Pesci that Mason or Emery can make the stop

I can't stand his complete lack of ability to hold the puck in at the point.
- twotoekenn

his struggles in this area have cost them lately. not good.

More like 3-5 years out, IMO.
- bmeltzer

Agreed, if the want them to come along properly at least.

You could have just posted a link for that list or was that something that escaped you?

If Berube held everyone who deserved it accountable, the Flyers taking the ice vs Montreal would have been Couturier, Downie, Coburn & Mason...everyone else would have been a scratch.
- Jsaquella

That's funny


so Streit deserves to play every game while Mez & Gus alternate?

There are no levels of underachievement?

even Luke sat out a few

I think Streit's been...adequate, at best. Obviously, like everyone else, I wish he was playing better, maximizing his strengths.

He was pretty much horrific for the middle of the road trip, and we all saw that. I'm certainly not disputing that, at times, his play wasn't nearly where anyone would want it to be.

That being said: We're 30-ish games into this thing. I think there are plenty of ways, things that can happen, where Mark Streit becomes not just a player whose strengths we can maximize, but also a player whose weaknesses we can minimize.

We still can strengthen our forwards to the point where we have better offensive flow, score more goals. The trade market just doesn't seem like it wants to shake free, but Talbot-for-Downie came out of nowhere. If we can find another Top 9 forward who has the offensive ability to move up in the lineup and score goals, then perhaps we would be able to insulate ourselves from any inconsistent stretches from Michael Raffl or Brayden Schenn, when the younger players go 6-8 games without a point.

That would also mean that Jay Rosehill, maybe even Zac Rinaldo, become players who don't, well, dress. Even Chris VandeVelde's five minutes the other night were effective for what I'm talking about -- simply skating with pace, no stupid penalties, forecheck and backcheck, get off the ice. Make simple plays, get the puck in deep.

As for the defense...well, Bill said it and we all know it: We need to wait for the young players. I'm hopeful that Mark Alt might get a few games in at the end of the season, if he's playing well enough. Same with Lauridsen or Manning, anyone else who Terry Murray's been working with in Adirondack.

The solution to the defense is going to come from within. We have some defensemen, will draft more, I'm certain. We can wait a few years to be elite -- Claude Giroux won't have to be the best player on the team if Sean Couturier becomes a 25-goal, 60-point, two-way force at age 23, at 6-4, 215 pounds.

We're not too old to wait for the young defensemen. We can wait.

That's funny


so Streit deserves to play every game while Mez & Gus alternate?

There are no levels of underachievement?

even Luke sat out a few
- puckhead17

Schenn should sit out more than anyone. He's been horrible.

No, I'm not saying that Streit should be playing above Gustafsson, although I prefer him to Meszaros.

Just saying that it's not as simple as saying scratch this guy or that guy, if they scratched everyone who deserved it, they'd have very few guys dressed.

I think Streit's been...adequate, at best. Obviously, like everyone else, I wish he was playing better, maximizing his strengths.

He was pretty much horrific for the middle of the road trip, and we all saw that. I'm certainly not disputing that, at times, his play wasn't nearly where anyone would want it to be.

That being said: We're 30-ish games into this thing. I think there are plenty of ways, things that can happen, where Mark Streit becomes not just a player whose strengths we can maximize, but also a player whose weaknesses we can minimize.

We still can strengthen our forwards to the point where we have better offensive flow, score more goals. The trade market just doesn't seem like it wants to shake free, but Talbot-for-Downie came out of nowhere. If we can find another Top 9 forward who has the offensive ability to move up in the lineup and score goals, then perhaps we would be able to insulate ourselves from any inconsistent stretches from Michael Raffl or Brayden Schenn, when the younger players go 6-8 games without a point.

That would also mean that Jay Rosehill, maybe even Zac Rinaldo, become players who don't, well, dress. Even Chris VandeVelde's five minutes the other night were effective for what I'm talking about -- simply skating with pace, no stupid penalties, forecheck and backcheck, get off the ice. Make simple plays, get the puck in deep.

As for the defense...well, Bill said it and we all know it: We need to wait for the young players. I'm hopeful that Mark Alt might get a few games in at the end of the season, if he's playing well enough. Same with Lauridsen or Manning, anyone else who Terry Murray's been working with in Adirondack.

The solution to the defense is going to come from within. We have some defensemen, will draft more, I'm certain. We can wait a few years to be elite -- Claude Giroux won't have to be the best player on the team if Sean Couturier becomes a 25-goal, 60-point, two-way force at age 23, at 6-4, 215 pounds.

We're not too old to wait for the young defensemen. We can wait.
- AllInForFlyers

in bold, not going to happen, coach likes him

You could have just posted a link for that list or was that something that escaped you?
- ob18

you could just post a link to chl.ca instead of posting period by period updates on every game

That's funny


so Streit deserves to play every game while Mez & Gus alternate?

There are no levels of underachievement?

even Luke sat out a few
- puckhead17

Whoever is partnered with look is going to look bad. That dude is flat out awful. I feel bad for streit in that regard. Luke schenn is garbage

Schenn should sit out more than anyone. He's been horrible.

No, I'm not saying that Streit should be playing above Gustafsson, although I prefer him to Meszaros.

Just saying that it's not as simple as saying scratch this guy or that guy, if they scratched everyone who deserved it, they'd have very few guys dressed.
- Jsaquella

There's a big difference between playing under expectations, (Giroux, Voracek, for example), and just playing poorly, (Striet, Luke)

I don't think Mez has been terrible, & the coach clearly has his favorites, (Rinaldo) & otherwise, like Gus, who hasn't really done anything to deserve being scratched 1/2 the season.

Whoever is partnered with look is going to look bad. That dude is flat out awful. I feel bad for streit in that regard. Luke schenn is garbage
- Just5

How does he go from the way he played last season to this one?

like night & day

I think Streit's been...adequate, at best. Obviously, like everyone else, I wish he was playing better, maximizing his strengths.

He was pretty much horrific for the middle of the road trip, and we all saw that. I'm certainly not disputing that, at times, his play wasn't nearly where anyone would want it to be.

That being said: We're 30-ish games into this thing. I think there are plenty of ways, things that can happen, where Mark Streit becomes not just a player whose strengths we can maximize, but also a player whose weaknesses we can minimize.

We still can strengthen our forwards to the point where we have better offensive flow, score more goals. The trade market just doesn't seem like it wants to shake free, but Talbot-for-Downie came out of nowhere. If we can find another Top 9 forward who has the offensive ability to move up in the lineup and score goals, then perhaps we would be able to insulate ourselves from any inconsistent stretches from Michael Raffl or Brayden Schenn, when the younger players go 6-8 games without a point.

That would also mean that Jay Rosehill, maybe even Zac Rinaldo, become players who don't, well, dress. Even Chris VandeVelde's five minutes the other night were effective for what I'm talking about -- simply skating with pace, no stupid penalties, forecheck and backcheck, get off the ice. Make simple plays, get the puck in deep.

As for the defense...well, Bill said it and we all know it: We need to wait for the young players. I'm hopeful that Mark Alt might get a few games in at the end of the season, if he's playing well enough. Same with Lauridsen or Manning, anyone else who Terry Murray's been working with in Adirondack.

The solution to the defense is going to come from within. We have some defensemen, will draft more, I'm certain. We can wait a few years to be elite -- Claude Giroux won't have to be the best player on the team if Sean Couturier becomes a 25-goal, 60-point, two-way force at age 23, at 6-4, 215 pounds.

We're not too old to wait for the young defensemen. We can wait.
- AllInForFlyers

For Streit to be effective he needs to be paired with a solid, mobile partner.
However for Timonen to be at his best, he too needs a mobile partner as does Grossmann and Schenn. Since Coburn is the Flyers ONLY experienced, defensively sound and mobile dman, well there's the problem!