1. James Wisniewski
Age: 32
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Last Team/Cap Hit: Carolina – $5.5M
Wisniewski spent all but one game injured last season for the Hurricanes, and that’s the main reason he went unsigned to date.
Only Tampa Bay, who offered him a PTO, showed him legitimate interest so far.
In Wisniewski’s last full season, he was a legitimate top four defender. There’s no reason to believe that, if he’s healthy, much has changed.
He brings excellent possession and shot generation numbers with a good amount of offense. There’s a reason the possession savvy Lightning are bringing him to camp.
Next: Top 10 UFA's Remaining Part One: 6-10
Wisniewski is easily the best UFA available right now and if the Tampa Bay Lightning don’t sign him, someone will – so long as he’s healthy.
He wouldn’t have been a long-term solution for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and would have only taken away ice-time from Zaitsev, Carrick or whoever else plays this year as the Leafs evaluate their defensive corp.
That said, if he’s healthy, he’s going to make a team very happy this year. His cap hit won’t near the $5.5M it was on his last deal, but he’s still going to be a costly defender on a one year deal.
That wraps up the Top Ten UFA’s left. What do you think? Are there other players you would have swapped in? Switched up where the players landed? Let me know in the comment section.