2020 NHL UFA Top 75: Mikko Koivu, Andy Greene, Radko Gudas, Colin Wilson and Jason Spezza

Welcome to the DailyFaceoff UFA preview. Over the next 15 days, I’ll be profiling the top 30 players in this years UFA class, as listed by TSN. Contract information is from our friends at Puckpedia. Full UFA list via puckpedia here. Analytics provided by hockeyviz.com and naturalstattrick.com. Contract projections are done by evolving-hockey.com with the presumption contracts are signed between Aug. – Oct. 11. 

Today, we’re looking at the 55th ranked @Mikko Koivu, 54th ranked @Andy Greene, 53rd ranked @Radko Gudas, 52nd ranked @Colin Wilson and the 51st ranked @Jason Spezza.

@Mikko Koivu

A defensive zone specialist, Koivu, 37, is coming off a two-year deal that paid him $5.5-m with the Minnesota Wild. The centreman scored 12 goals and 50 points in 103 games over the length of the deal, and has totalled 709 points in 1028 games in the NHL, all with the Wild.

In his own zone, he provided defence at a six percent rate better than league average and contributed offence at an league average rate. His usage dipped throughout the season from a first-line role, to a third line center. At 5v5, Koivu posted a 50.12 CF%, a 54.84 xG% and a goals for rate of 51.85.

Koivu is clearly still a solid player despite his age.

Contract projection: One year, $1.153-m.

@Andy Greene

Ah, Andy Greene. Another aged man like Koivu, Greene, also 37, had spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils until they traded him to the New York Islanders at the deadline this year. He scored two goals and 14 points this year in 63 games, and is coming off a five-year, $5-m AAV deal.

Offensively he provided at an eight percent rate worse than league average, but his defence was at a five percent rate higher than league average. In front of his own net, he was a vacuum. At 5v5, he posted a 45 CF%, a 46xG% and a goals for rate of 45% playing as a second pairing defenceman.

Greene still might be a decent option in a third-pairing role.

Contract projection: One year, $1.1366-m.

@Radko Gudas

Gudas, 30, is coming off a four year, $3.35-m AAV deal signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, but finished with the Washington Capitals last season. The right-shot defenceman scored 14 goals in 74 points in 277 games over the contract, and put up two goals and 15 points in 63 games.

His isolated impacts were bad, but his underlying numbers were decent. Offensively he contributed at a three percent rate worse than league average and defence at an eight percent rate worse than league average as mostly a third-pairing defenceman. At 5v5, he posted a 51.43 CF%,  a 49.44 xG% and a goals for rate of 54.65 percent.

It’s hard to get a great read on Gudas, but teams will likely be interested in him for a bottom-pairing role.

Contract projection: One year, $1.164-m.

@Colin Wilson

Coming off a one year, $2.6-m deal with the Avs, Wilson, 30, is looking for a new home. Last year, he only played nine games scoring four assists before he suffered a season-ending lower-body injury. Thus, he’ll be looking for a home to get his feet back underneath him.

Contract projection: One year, $760,200.

@Jason Spezza

What a year Spezza had in his first away from the Ottawa Senators playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored nine goals and 25 points in 58 games playing less TOI after signing a one-year, $700k deal. H

e had solid numbers for the Leafs, contributing defence at a seven percent rate above league average and offence as a one percent rate below league average. He contributed on the powerplay at a 10 percent rate above league average. At 5v5, he posted a 50.25 CF%, an xG% of 52.33 and a goals for rate of 50.98.

Spezza would be a solid fourth liner for any team who signs him.

Contract projection: One year, $843,900.

On Twitter: @zjlaing