Sign or trade? Questions surround free agents-to-be
- Jarome Iginla deserves the Ray Bourque treatment
- Ryane Clowe has no goals%2C but he has done enough in the past to draw interest
- If Oilers trade Ladislav Smid%2C it won%27t be easy to replace him
With the NHL's April 3 trade deadline fast approaching, general managers will have to decide whether to sign or trade their potential unrestricted free agents. The Anaheim Ducks, for example, face that situation with star Corey Perry, but USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen believes they are playing too well to consider dealing him. His take on what other teams should do about their potential free agents:
1. Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), trade him: After years of faithful service to Calgary, Iginla deserves the Ray Bourque treatment. Send him to a city where he could win a Stanley Cup, such as Pittsburgh or Boston or Los Angeles. The Flames would benefit because they undoubtedly would receive at least a first-round pick and a prospect. It's a touchy situation because Iginla wants to be viewed as a loyal Flame, but he has to know that this wouldn't change how fans feel about him. Boston fans still love Bourque. Iginla will waive his no-trade clause for the right team.
2. Valtteri Filppula (Detroit Red Wings), sign him: This situation is tricky because it's hard to determine his market value. He's an impressively skilled player who, at 28, has had one 20-goal season. But the romance of Filppula's potential is alluring, and he'd be attractive on the open market. The Red Wings want and need to sign him, particularly with Pavel Datsyuk's status unknown after next season.
3. Ryane Clowe (San Jose Sharks), trade him: The big winger doesn't have a goal in 25 games, but he has done enough to have value. When he's on his game, he's a 50-point forward. The Sharks look like a team in need of change. Dealing Clowe could help general manager Doug Wilson upgrade the team elsewhere.
4. Mark Streit (New York Islanders), sign him: To make the transition from building team to playoff team, you have to keep a few older veterans. Streit, 35, remains an offense-producing, 25-minute defenseman who knows how to run the power play (the Islanders rank fifth). His asking price will have a bearing on the Islanders' decision, but he's very much worth keeping.
5. Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars), trade him: The Stars seem like a team in transition, and Morrow is the symbol of the old guard. He's 34, and he doesn't offer the same high-level offensive production as he once did. But he would be desirable to a contender looking for a gritty veteran with plenty of playoff experience.
6. Ladislav Smid (Edmonton Oilers), sign him: He's not a star defenseman, but he has 436 games of NHL experience and he understands his strengths and limitations. He's 6-3, 225. For the Oilers to become a playoff team, they will need a defenseman or two like Smid. If they trade Smid, 27, it won't be easy to replace him.
7. Mike Ribeiro (Washington Capitals), trade him: Enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, Ribeiro, 33, probably is curious about what price he could command on the open market. The Capitals, meanwhile, have taken a step back this season and could use the draft pick and/or prospect that dealing Ribeiro could bring.
8. David Clarkson (New Jersey Devils), sign him: He's 28, and he could be a Devils fixture for many years if GM Lou Lamoriello can get him signed. The Devils lost Zach Parise last summer, and they won't want to lose another prime free agent.
9. Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders), trade him: No one was sure whether Visnovsky was coming back to the NHL this season. He wanted to remain in Europe. It would seem prudent to move him now because so many teams are looking for defensemen with quality transition skills. Visnovsky could be a prize for a contender, and the Islanders could add another draft pick or prospect.
10. Viktor Stalberg (Chicago Blackhawks), sign him: No one appreciates the importance of depth and secondary scoring more than Chicago GM Stan Bowman. It has taken him three seasons to rebuild what he lost to the team's cap woes after winning the 2010 Stanley Cup. Stalberg is a third-line winger who can look as dangerous as a top scorer.