2009 NHL free agency cheat sheets

by James Mirtle on Jun 30, 2009 11:44 AM CDT in Free Agency Comment 0 comments

A lot of the bloggers around the SBN Hockey network have been putting together preview posts for what they expect their teams will do in free agency come tomorrow afternoon. Here's a quick spin through their thoughts on what they have to spend and what they're looking for:

Team	Cap space	Key need(s)	Read more at:
Anaheim	$18.6-mil	Re-signing Niedermayer and Beauchemin	Battle of California
Atlanta	$19-mil	Top four defenceman, big top six forwards	Bird Watchers Anonymous
Boston	$6.8-mil	Re-sign Kessel or add puck-moving defender	Stanley Cup of Chowder
Buffalo	$8.6-mil	Team toughness	Die By The Blade
Calgary	$10.9-mil	Top six scoring forward	Matchsticks & Gasoline
Carolina	$13.2-mil	Sign Cole and LaRose or replace them	'Canes Country
Chicago	$18-mil	Havlat or Havlat-like replacement	Second City Hockey
Colorado	$11.5-mil	Quality veteran goalie, top six forward	Mile High Hockey
Columbus	$17-mil	Offensive defenceman, backup netminder	The Cannon
Dallas	$14.7-mil	Depth on defence, backup goaltender	Defending Big D
Detroit	$4.5-mil	Depth forward (which could be Hossa)	Winging It
Edmonton	$10-mil	A No. 1 goalie and first-line left winger	Copper & Blue
Florida	$17-mil	No. 1 centre, scoring winger, backup goalie	The Litter Box
Los Angeles	$14-mil	High-scoring winger	Battle of California
Minnesota	$14-mil	Top line scoring	Hockey Wilderness
Montreal	$34.8-mil	Retain Komisarek, Kovalev, add size	Eyes on the Prize
Nashville	$22.4-mil	Two 20-plus goal scoring wingers	On The Forecheck
New Jersey	$13-mil	Offensive defenceman, upgrade at No. 2 centre	In Lou We Trust
NY Islanders	$24-mil	1A option goaltender, a winger with size	Lighthouse Hockey
NY Rangers	$18.7-mil	More offence from their forwards	Blueshirt Banter
Ottawa	$5.7-mil	Depends on return in Heatley trade	Silver 7 Sens
Philadelphia	$4.3-mil	Backup goaltender, depth defenceman and two more forwards	Broad Street Hockey
Phoenix	$26.3-mil	Another defenceman and centreman	Five For Howling
Pittsburgh	$5.5-mil	Top six winger, top four defenceman	PensBurgh
San Jose	$6.5-mil	Toughness, depth and PK help up front	Fear The Fin
St. Louis	$10-mil	Backup goaltender, affordable puck-moving defenceman	St. Louis Game Time
Tampa Bay	$21.2-mil	Veteran defenceman, winger for Vinny and a backup goalie	Raw Charge
Toronto	$13-mil	Goaltending and skilled forwards	Pension Plan Puppets
Vancouver	$23-mil	Re-sign Sedins or find new first line	'Nucks Misconduct
Washington	$10-mil	Top line winger, second-line centre	Japers' Rink