Free agency in hockey is going to be starting in just over 24 hours and while everyone is focused on the NHL, a few hundred dedicated AHL fans are hoping that they’re teams will land some top free agents as well. Jonathan Bombulie (covers the WB/S Penguins) put together this excellent list of the top free agents that are likely to play in the AHL next season.
Any team that can land Alexandre Giroux, Darren Haydar or a Corey Locke will immediately go from being an AHL team with no expectations to a playoff contender. Add Steve MacIntyre to your lineup and you immediately have someone that will protect your teams assets.
Along with a team becoming a contender in the AHL, a lot of these players will also help boost the numbers of an NHL teams prospects and help them get promoted to the show much faster.
Here’s the list:
| 1. Alexandre Giroux, Her | 29 | 139 goals the last two years (counting playoffs) |
| 2. Darren Haydar, LE | 30 | If he stays in North America, an all-time AHL great |
| 3. Brett Sterling, Chi | 26 | Will get you 30 goals, might get you 50 |
| 4. Corey Locke, Hart | 26 | Point totals the last three years: 85-79-72 |
| 5. Tim Stapleton, Chi | 28 | Made his name in Europe, awesome last two seasons |
| 6. Dan Jancevski, Tex | 29 | Aside from one bad year in Norfolk, a big, physical winner |
| 7. Tyler Weiman, LE | 26 | Imagine what he could do on a good team |
| 8. Andrew Hutchinson, Tex | 30 | A puck-moving winner |
| 9. Danny Groulx, Wor | 29 | One-time top prospect broke through last year |
| 10. Jared Ross, Adk | 27 | Struggled a bit last year, but a proven AHL scorer |
| 11. Tim Brent, Tor | 26 | You can bank on 60 AHL points |
| 12. Chris Minard, Spr | 28 | He’d be higher up if not for concussion problems |
| 13. Danny Syvret, Adk | 25 | I’ve always found him an impact AHL defenseman |
| 14. Kyle Wilson, Her | 25 | Goal totals in the AHL: 24-28-30-24 |
| 15. Jamie Johnson, Roch | 28 | Back from Europe to put up 70-point season |
| 16. Dany Sabourin, Pro | 29 | A consistent AHL performer for almost a decade |
| 17. Garrett Stafford, Tex | 30 | Practically a lock for 40 points from the blue line |
| 18. Trevor Smith, Bri | 25 | Coming off a down year, but he’s a 30-goal guy |
| 19. Derek Smith, Bing | 25 | Had 14 goals, 51 points in breakthrough season |
| 20. Sean Sullivan, SA | 26 | Had 12 goals, 49 points and is young enough to improve |
| 21. Bryan Rodney, Alb | 26 | Always looked great handling puck vs. Penguins |
| 22. Kyle Greentree, Rock | 26 | Legit AHL sniper |
| 23. Peter Mannino, Chi | 26 | Coming off huge year: 25-6-1, .921 save percentage |
| 24. Mike Glumac, Ham | 30 | AHL goal totals: 20-33-21-27-32-25 |
| 25. Curtis Sanford, Ham | 30 | Coming off big year: 23-11-3, .916 save percentage |
| 26. Tim Conboy, Alb | 28 | Defenseman with snarl |
| 27. Matt Climie, Tex | 27 | Goalie made a name for himself in playoffs |
| 28. Steve MacIntyre, Roch | 29 | No debate: The baddest man in the league |
| 29. Mark Flood, Bri | 25 | Good character, puck-moving ability |
| 30. Greg Mauldin, Bri | 28 | Exciting player, 50 goals last two years combined |
| 31. Mike Angelidis, Alb | 25 | Prototypical hard-nosed checking line center |
| 32. Jeremy Williams, GR | 26 | Big-time AHL scorer the last two years |
| 33. Jon DiSalvatore, Hou | 29 | Between 20 and 22 goals all seven years in AHL |
| 34. Ben Walter, Low | 26 | He’ll get you 20 goals, 50 points |
| 35. Shawn Belle, Ham | 25 | Big strong kid who could still get better |
| 36. Greg Moore, Syr | 26 | Had 66 points two years ago |
| 37. Dean Arsene, Spr | 29 | Hard-nosed winner |
| 38. Andre Deveaux, Tor | 26 | Led Marlies in points, PIMs |
| 39. Joey Crabb, Chi | 27 | Had breakthrough 24-goal season |
| 40. Josh Tordjman, SA | 25 | Four straight 20-win seasons in San Antonio |
| 41. Chris Lee, WBS | 29 | Finished in top 20 in AHL defenseman scoring |
| 42. Alex Henry, Ham | 30 | Massive defenseman with snarl |
| 43. Nolan Yonkman, Mil | 29 | Massive defenseman with snarl |
| 44. Boyd Kane, Her | 32 | You might not like his style, but he wins |
| 45. Joey Mormina, Adk | 28 | Missed Lovejoy, but still a decent year |
| 46. Jordan Smotherman, Syr | 24 | Big guy who will get you double-digit goals |
| 47. Zach FitzGerald, Alb | 25 | Big, mean, led league with 311 PIMs |
| 48. Nathan Smith, Hou | 28 | Does the little things |
| 49. Robbie Earl, Hou | 25 | More talent than his numbers show |
| 50. Joey MacDonald, Tor | 30 | Stops pucks, wins fights |
The list could probably be debated and there’s probably players left off, but stick tap to Bombulie for spending time putting something like this together.
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