1. Bieksa, Kevin » D VAN 30 $3,750,000 2011 (UFA) - Kevin Bieksa = Beast 2 - played with heart and soul during the play-offs, you can't not reward loyalty and if he's willing to come back. Why not. He showed that he can play the game. And what we're looking for is post-season drive. Verdict: re-sign (at a fair cost $4M-YR/3YRs)
2. Salo, Sami » D VAN 36 $3,500,000 2011 (UFA) - Injury-struck Sami Salo is gonna be a tough one, with a NTC on his contract, it's going to be a tough thing. Do we take the risk of taking this player who is aging and near retirement on another year and re-evaluate in June of 2012 just to see if he'll last another season and another potential Cup Run or do we dump his salary; get nothing back for him and hope to hell that the salary that we save on him somehow gets us another player that we can use to make a deep and successful run? Verdict: Let him test out the UFA waters and see if anyone takes a stab at him. If not, we can negotiate a 1 year contract at a reasonable price.
3. Ehrhoff, Christian » D VAN 28 $3,100,000 2011 (UFA) - was very helpful to our Cup run, would like to sign him again, but he did seem lukewarm to the idea of returning unless he got a raise. "What's fair" was what he said, but you know what? It'a numbers game and the 14 goals and 36A. It's nice to have a top tier defenceman, but if he starts asking for numbers like $4.5M or so...it's time to hit the pavement. We need defencemen who can help to keep the puck out of the net and take heat off the goaltender Verdict: Let someone take him, use the salary saved to pick out a big, strong defenceman who can throw bodies off the net.
4. Higgins, Chris » F VAN 28 $1,600,000 2011 (UFA) - Has expressed interest in staying here. He has some size to him but he still comes in on the short side. He only tallied 2 goals and 3 A for 5 points which means that he doesn't come with a lot of offensive power. Do we keep him and pay him $2M or do we free up his cap space: Verdict: Free up the cap space and shop around.
5. Alberts, Andrew » D VAN 29 $1,050,000 2011 (UFA) - Andrew Alberts did pick up his game, he was throwing bodies off the back end when he did see ice time. But he did make some costly errors. He needs to step up his game and he is a rare big body in front of the net. He needs to work on his physicality and ability to throw people off. He needs to work in the off-season on bulking up a bit more and getting some strength in his upper-body. He's a rare big man in this team and we need his strength and ability to be able to throw bodies around when opposition forwards get too close. We would do well to look for another big guy like him too whether through trade or through free-agency. Verdict: Keep him...have him develop his game. Make it an ultimatum.
6. Torres, Raffi » F VAN 29 $1,000,000 2011 (UFA) - aggressive, hits everything in sight...we nicknamed him the human bowling ball. I would love to see Raffi come back again. He's one of the highlights of this year's team and he takes some of the heat off the players of any line that he's on. He's one of the smaller guys on the team, but he can hit...OH...can he hit. And on a team that doesn't have much hitting power, he's necessary: Verdict: Re-Sign him (at least $1.5M, show him that he's wanted. Aggressiveness was shown to be a weakness on this team. He's needed.
7. Glass, Tanner » F VAN 27 $625,000 2011 (UFA) - his games played increased this year, his production during the season decreased and he was pretty much a non-factor during much of the post-season. If he wants to stay, he's going to have to up his play significantly. And it's not warranted to give him much of a payraise as a result of his diminishing return. Do we give him a chance or do we let him walk at $625.000. I'd say you up his pay to $750,000 one year contract and if he doesn't produce, then let him walk. If you let him walk without giving him an opportunity we lose size on the team; and on a team that doesn't have much size to begin with, that's hard to get back. Verdict: Re-sign him.
8. Baumgartner, Nolan » D VAN 32 $550,000 2011 (UFA) - he spent much of his time with the Large Land Mammals of Manitoba where for much of the season, he did nothing. He was called up for Game 7 but still did pretty much nothing. Maybe people saw this as a rebound year but his goal totals were down and his assists were up, thereby sparking the impression of a turnaround year. Verdict: let him walk.
9. Tambellini, Jeff » F VAN 27 $500,000 2011 (UFA) - I'd almost say, keep him just to be a thorn in the side to Steve Tambellini, his father, GM of the Edmonton Oilers. but with his post-season healthy scratches, and absolutely no point production in the 6 games he dressed for...it's not a risk that I'm willing to take. I'd say let him walk. Verdict: let him walk.
10. Bolduc, Alexandre » F VAN 25 $500,000 2011 (UFA) Bolduc wasn't a factor during the Stanley Cup Finals where he centered a line with Jeff Tambellini and Victor Oreskovich. He's also 5'11" which makes him small for a team that should be bigger going into the post-season. Verdict: Let him walk.
(Stuck with the Manitoba Moose - not a factor)
Andersson, Jonas » F VAN 30 $675,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
Desbiens, Guillaume » F VAN 26 $550,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
Rypien, Rick » F VAN 27 $550,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
Paetsch, Nathan » D VAN 28 $525,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
Weiman, Tyler » G VAN 27 $500,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
Peters, Andrew » F VAN 31 $500,000 2011 (UFA) - not really a factor as he spent most of his time with the Land Mammals (the Moose)
These guys you can either try to see if they'll develop or let 'em walk. Rick Rypien has served his time here. Let him walk if he isn't ready to become a solid NHL player. He's been up and down so many times it's like watching a yoyo. Most minor league UFAs are hedges. RFA's are usually development prospects or tradebait.
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