Forwards: Alex Tanguay, Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopoulos, Steve Begin
Defensemen: Mike Komisarek, Francois Bouillion, Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault
That doesn't include restricted free agents Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins, and Guillaume Latrendresse.
That's 10 UFAs and 3 big-time RFAs.
How does this affect the Rangers and Islanders?
Notice on that list the two Long Island-born players, Komisarek and Higgins. I can't speculate on what the Habs will do, but there won't be room or money for all of these players.
Higgins had 52 points last year and was on pace for around 40 this season, but he has been out of the lineup since early December with a shoulder injury. He isn't a great player and probably never will be first-line material, but he is a real solid third-line player who can float through the lineup (he can be a banger on the 4th line or a scorer on the 2nd). He's technically a left wing, but he played center at times last year. A comparison to Higgins would be Ryan Malone.
Komisarek is the type of defender you build your team around, the type of player that every team covets. You know the type of d-man the Rangers are missing? The kind they overpaid for and hoped Wade Redden would be? This is him. He is the real deal. He doesn't play the power play a lot, but he kills penalties and he shuts down the opponents' top lines, night after night. He crushed Jaromir Jagr every time they met last year, which at the time made me angry because a) I didn't want him to injure Jagr and b) the Rangers were sorely missing a player like him.
If the Canadiens don't re-sign Komisarek, they would be making a huge mistake. Obviously, they won't deal him at the trade deadline because they'll need a warrior like him in the playoffs, so they one way to get him would be through the checkbook in the summer. Whenever you hear someone say they need a "top 2 defenseman" who can "log minutes" and "play shut-down hockey," they are talking about him.
Now, let's just hope he grew up a Rangers fan.
I know Komisarek played for the Junior Islanders back in the day... but that could be because he grew up on Long Island and they don't have Junior Rangers teams around here. I see the Habs doing what it takes to keep Komisarek... but I'd be quite happy if they didn't.
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