3. Marek Zidlicky
Age: 39
Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
Last Team/Cap Hit: New York Islanders – $1.5M
Zidlicky, even at 39, still has some gas left in the tank. He’s still an effective third pairing defender at 5v5 that has gone unappreciated for the second straight off-season.
The Islanders picked him up last year and got steady play out of the aging veteran for 53 games. Father time is sure to catch up on him, but he’s a smart player that remains effective because of how he reads the game and the decisions he makes.
He had 16 points last year for the Isles and it’s likely his ceiling at this stage is 25 points, so dynamic offense isn’t going to be what you’re looking for if you want Zidlicky.
Zidlicky’s ideal fit is a team looking for a sixth defender that plays safe, or a team looking for a seventh defender to rotate in and out. He might only have one season left in him, but he’s a better option than most defenders left over.
His downfall is that he’s a left shot, when most teams are looking for a right shot.
For the Leafs he’s not a fit with how their defensive group is made up unless there’s a few trades in the mix in the near future – which is unlikely.
Next: 2. Brad Boyes