Not everyone will agee with it, but here is our Top 25 NHL free agent list for 2012 unrestricted free agents. In creating this list we took into account a players age, position, and likelihood of re-signing with current team.
Teemu Selanne was not included as we assumed that they will re-sign with their current team or retire.
| Rk. | Player |
’11-’12 Team
|
Pos.
|
’11-’12 Cap Hit
|
Notes |
| 1 | Zach Parise |
NJ
|
LW
|
$6,000,000
|
Signed with the Wild. 13 years, $98 million |
| 2 | Ryan Suter |
NAS
|
D
|
$3,500,000
|
Signed with the Wild. 13 years, $98 million |
| 3 | Alexander Semin |
WAS
|
LW
|
$6,700,000
|
Signed with the Hurricanes. 1 year, $7 million |
| 4 | Justin Schultz |
ANA
|
D
|
–
|
Signed with the Oilers. 2 years, $7.55 million |
| 5 | Matt Carle |
PHI
|
D
|
$3,438,000
|
Signed with the Lightning. 6 years, $33 million |
| 6 | Jiri Hudler |
DET
|
C
|
$2,875,000
|
Signed with the Flames. 4 years, $16 million |
| 7 | Shane Doan |
PHO
|
RW
|
$4,550,000
|
Re-signed with the Coyotes. 4 years, $21.2 million. |
| 8 | P.A. Parenteau |
NYI
|
RW
|
$1,250,000
|
Signed with the Avalanche. 4 years, $16 million |
| 9 | Jason Garrison |
FLA
|
D
|
$675,000
|
Signed with the Canucks. 6 years, $26.7 million |
| 10 | Martin Brodeur |
NJ
|
G
|
$5,200,000
|
Re-signed with the Devils. 2 years, $9 million |
| 11 | Ray Whitney |
PHO
|
LW
|
$3,000,000
|
Signed with the Stars. 2 years, $9 million. |
| 12 | Paul Gaustad |
NAS
|
C
|
$2,300,000
|
Re-signed with the Predators. 4 years, $13 million |
| 13 | Brandon Prust |
NYR
|
$800,000
|
Signed with the Canadiens. 4 years, $10 million. | |
| 14 | Olli Jokinen |
CAL
|
C
|
$3,000,000
|
Signed with the Jets. 2 years, $9 million |
| 15 | Andrei Kostitsyn |
NASH
|
LW
|
$3,250,000
|
|
| 16 | Jaromir Jagr |
PHI
|
RW
|
$3,300,000
|
Signed with the Stars. 1 year, $4.5 million. |
| 17 | Dustin Penner |
LA
|
LW
|
$4,250,000
|
Re-signed with the Kings. 1 year, $3.25 million |
| 18 | Filip Kuba |
OTT
|
D
|
$3,700,000
|
Signed with the Panthers. 2 years, $8 million |
| 19 | Pavel Kubina |
PHI
|
D
|
$3,850,000
|
|
| 20 | Ryan Smyth |
EDM
|
LW
|
$6,250,000
|
Re-signed with the Oilers. 2 years, $4.5 milion |
| 21 | Bryce Salvador |
NJ
|
D
|
$2,900,000
|
Re-signed with the Devils. 3 years, $9.5 million |
| 22 | Bryan Allen |
CAR
|
D
|
$2,900,000
|
Signed with the Ducks. 3 years, $10.5 million |
| 23 | Carlo Colaiacovo |
STL
|
D
|
$2,125,000
|
Signed with the Red Wings. 2 years, $5 million. |
| 24 | Guillaume Latendresse |
MIN
|
LW
|
$2,500,000
|
Signed with the Senators. 1 year, $1.2 million |
| 25 | Sheldon Souray |
DAL
|
D
|
$1,650,000
|
Signed with the Ducks. 3 years, $11 million |