Two key dates get closer and closer on the NHL and Calgary Flames calendar.  First, we’ve got the NHL Entry Draft on the June 25th weekend, followed one week after by the beginning of free agency on July 1st.  We’re going to be preparing you for those dates over the next few weeks.

We’ll start by profiling the top names available in terms of free agent goaltenders.  Plenty of names are kicking around, with some high profile ones out there.  Later we’ll move to the blueline and high profile forwards.

Marty Turco – Turco comes off a frustrating season in Dallas, and after 9 seasons with the Stars, he will be joining a new team.  Turco ended up playing 53 games, finishing with a 22-20-11 record.  In talking with Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News during the season, it was an up and down year for Turco.  He’d have games where he was on, and then he’d have games where he just didn’t seem to have it.  His numbers were average, and he played on an average team.  Turco counted $5.7 million against the cap this past season, and at 34 years old, he’s no longer in those defined “prime years”.  However, he’s a veteran guy who’s shown he can win…I think you’ll see a few teams interested.

Evgeni Nabokov – What a weird season for Nabby in San Jose.  He was doing just fine prior to the Olympic break, but all reports out of the Bay Area had him not the same after being shelled by Team Canada in the quarterfinals.  He was 44-16-10 in the regular season playing for the Western Conference Champion San Jose Sharks.  He was suspect at times and pretty good at times posting an 8-7 record in the playoffs.  I’ve got two questions when it comes to Nabokov.  First, is he back in San Jose?  Nabokov has spent his entire pro career in the Sharks organization as a ninth round pick in 1994.  If he’s not, it would end 11 straight seasons with Nabby in teal.  The second question: is Nabokov worth the $5.375 million against the cap he got last year.  I’ve always been a fan, but we all know he’s prone to lapses.  I wouldn’t pay him that much, but two years at, say, $8 million…I might if I needed a goalie.

Jose Theodore  – Here’s an interesting one.  Theodore counted $4.5 million against the cap last season, and ended with a stellar 30-7-7 record on the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals.  Yet he wasn’t the guy for the Caps in the postseason, as Semyon Varlamov got the bulk of the starts.  You wonder if there’s any way Jose figures into Washington’s plans for next season…Varlamov is 22 while Theodore is 33, plus Michal Neuvirth seems ready to play in the NHL by many accounts.  Neuvirth got into 17 regular season games posting a 9-4 record.  It seems like Theodore may be the odd man out.

Vesa Toskala – Here’s a guy who will take a pay cut.  He spent last season in Toronto, Anaheim and Calgary, finishing the season with the Flames.  He was making $4 million and won’t get that much anywhere else, as he hasn’t shown number one chops.  I do wonder if GM Darryl Sutter and the Flames take a look at bringing him back at a reduce salary.  He’s got a relationship with fellow Finn Miikka Kiprusoff, which many believe to be the tipping point.  If he signed for 2 years at $3 million total, I think a lot of fans would be all right with that.

Chris Mason - Here’s a really good guy, great in the room, and who has shown he can back it up in net.  The 34 year old Mason 30-22-8 for the Blues this past season, one year after he helped lead the Blues on an unreal run down the stretch to qualify for the postseason.  In two seasons with the Blues, he’s put 57 wins and has been their most reliable guy in net during that time.  He made $3 million last year, and to be honest, I’d have no problem if a team went out and got him on a one or two year deal for the same annual salary.  I’ve also heard the Blues are looking at keeping Mason in the fold, which I think would be a great move.  Yes, he’s a little older at 34, but he’s going to give you reliable minutes in net, and you know you’re getting a great influence inside the room.  Is he an unchallenged number 1?  No, but he’s a low risk, solid reward guy in my eyes.

The Rest - I hate using that term, but the five above goalies are the highest profile of the UFA crop this year.  Other notable names include Dan Ellis, who will most likely go elsewhere after 3 seasons in Nashville.  He’s a guy that could be solid in a backup role, but his $1.75 million cap hit from last year might be a little steep.  What’s next for Ray Emery?  After an injury shortened season in Philly, it would be surprising if the Flyers re-signed him after the success Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher had.  And with questions about when he’ll be ready again, will there be any team willing to take a chance?  But then again, Leighton is also unrestricted come July 1st…will the Flyers feel the pressure to re-sign him after the great playoff he’s had?  Regardless, Leighton will have no problem finding work.

The crop also includes restricted free agent Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak.  So, while Montreal holds both players rights, many wonder if one will be moved.  The feeling remains that Price would be the one to be moved, as Halak had his unbelievable playoff run.  That will also be a hot goaltending story to keep an eye on.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg.

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