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Six months remain until the 2015 summer free agent signing binge, and here's our preliminary list of the top 25 available players:
1. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk (New York Islanders): He has had an immeasurable impact on this team. He has made the Islanders mentally tougher, plus harder to play against. Boychuk is a hard-nosed, two-way competitor. The Islanders will make a heavy pitch to keep him, but he will be highly coveted if he doesn't re-sign.
2. Defenseman Marc Staal (New York Rangers): Is he interested in joining his brothers on the Carolina Hurricanes? The problem with that scenario is the Hurricanes are in a rebuilding mode and Staal is playing on a contending team. He will have most of the NHL's teams trying to sign him.
3. Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff (Pittsburgh Penguins): Ehrhoff, 32, is a highly dependable two-way defenseman. He fits well into a puck-possession team. Many contenders will be interested.
4. Center Carl Soderberg (Boston Bruins): He's 29 and on pace to top 50 points this season. He's the Bruins' second-leading scorer. Most teams in the NHL are looking for big centers, and Soderberg is 6-3.
5. Defenseman Mike Green (Washington Capitals): He's a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman with a booming slap shot. He's the kind of player the Detroit Red Wings have been seeking for a couple of seasons. In his prime at 29, he can put a charge in a team's power play.
6. Center Antoine Vermette (Arizona Coyotes): A consistent two-way center, Vermette, 32, is among the NHL's most versatile performers. He's a 20-goal scorer who is comfortable playing whatever role he is assigned. He's hockey's version of a great sixth man in the NBA.
7. Defenseman Cody Franson (Toronto Maple Leafs): He's a right-shot defenseman, and that alone gives him an edge over some of the other blue-liners in the free agent marketplace. He also could finish with 45 to 50 points. He has 360 games of NHL experience, and he's 27.
8 Defenseman Paul Martin (Penguins): He's 33, but he is the type of polished defenseman that most upper-echelon teams seek. He would be a safe signing.
9. Center Mike Ribeiro (Nashville Predators): After being drummed out of the Coyotes organization for his off-the-ice behavior, Ribeiro has been a changed man in Nashville. He has worked at being a model citizen, and on the ice, he has been almost a point-per-game player. The Predators should attempt to re-sign him. He leads all potential unrestricted free agents in scoring.
10. Right wing Martin St. Louis (Rangers): The best guess would be that he will re-sign with the Rangers, given how he maneuvered to land there last season. He is 39 but remains an effective player.
11. Defenseman Johnny Oduya (Chicago Blackhawks): He could be odd man out in Chicago because of the team's salary cap issues once the extensions for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane kick in next season. He's an experienced defensive defenseman who has spent considerable time playing against the top stars in the game.
12. Left wing Matt Beleskey (Anaheim Ducks): He's 26 and is having a career season with 17 goals in 41 games. The caution is that he previously never had more than 11 goals in a season.
13. Defenseman Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers): Right-shot defensemen are like left-handers in baseball. Everyone wants them. Petry is 27, and the perception is he would improve dramatically if he could land with a winning organization.
14. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin (Ducks): Still a very effective player. He's a rugged competitor with the ability to play physical and launch a big shot from the point.
15. Right wing Justin Williams (Los Angeles Kings): The Kings likely will get him re-signed. He's Mr. Playoffs. He steps up in a big way in the postseason.
16. Left wing Mats Zuccarello (Rangers): He was much more productive last season than he has been this season. He can be a spark plug forward in a team's top six. Zuccarello, 27, should be a 50-plus-point guy.
17. Goalie Jhonas Enroth (Buffalo Sabres): The market for free agent goaltenders is always weak. But a handful of teams are usually looking, and there has been a buzz about Enroth this season. He's an intriguing possibility. He has been impressive at times.
18: Center Brad Richards (Blackhawks): At 34, his best days are behind him. But there is a shortage of skilled centers, and he still plays like a 50-point guy. Look at his even-strength production; it's better than the numbers for Toews and Kane.
19. Left wing Jiri Tlusty (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes aren't likely to get him re-signed. He's essentially a 20-goal scorer, and there aren't many scorers available.
20. Right wing Michael Frolik (Winnipeg Jets): He's 26, and a team could view him as possessing the ability to score 15 to 20 goals if given the right opportunity. He's a handy player to have on a team.
21. Left wing Eric Fehr (Washington Capitals): He's 6-4 and in the midst of one of his better NHL seasons. He could flirt with 20 goals this season.
22. Defenseman Barret Jackman (St. Louis Blues): Jackman, who has played 762 games in the NHL, is great in the defensive zone, particularly in front of the crease. You don't get him for offense.
23. Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders): He's 38, but he still has some offensive magic. Good fit for a team needing a power play point man.
24. Left wing Curtis Glencross (Calgary Flames): In a league where every team is still looking for offensive help, he will be looked upon as a 20-goal scorer even if he doesn't quite get there this season.
25. Left wing Erik Cole (Dallas Stars): He posted 16 goals last season, and he could finish at 16-18 this season. He's a veteran presence who knows how to play the game.
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