2020 NHL UFA Top 75: Patrick Marleau, Tyler Ennis, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Derek Grant and Mark Borowiecki
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 with different teams.
Today, we’re looking at the 50th ranked @Patrick Marleau, 49th ranked @Tyler Ennis, 48th ranked @Trevor van Riemsdyk, 47th ranked @Derek Grant and the 46th ranked @Mark Borowiecki.
@Patrick Marleau
Marleau had signed back with the San Jose Sharks last year in a homecoming, but was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins near the deadline as he chased a Stanley Cup. Over the year, Marleau scored 11 goals and as many assists in 66 games.
He provided offence at a league average rate, and defence at a six percent rate worse than league average. At 41 years old, Marleau played as a second liner for the large majority of the year. At 5v5, he posted a 50 CF%, a 48 xG%, and a goals for rate of 46 percent.
Marleau struggled, but a team close to the cup may take a shot at signing him for a veteran presence.
Contract projection: One year, $1.099-m.
@Tyler Ennis
Acquired by the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL’s trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators, Ennis was a dynamic weapon last year with both teams. He scored 16 points in 37 games between the two clubs and contributed offence at a 10 percent rate above league average. Defensively, he contributed at a rate two percent below league average.
At 5v5, he posted a 48 CF%, a 50 xG% and a goals for rate of 47 percent.
Ennis has bounced around between five teams in the last four seasons, so he’ll undoubtedly be looking for somewhere to call home. Ennis is clearly a solid middle-six winger for whoever signs him.
Contract projection: One year, $881,700.
@Trevor van Riemsdyk
After breaking into the NHL with Chicago, TVR was taken by Vegas in the expansion draft and flipped to the Carolina Hurricanes one day later. In the three years since, van Riemsdyk has scored seven goals and 38 points in 206 games on a stacked defence.
While he doesn’t bring much offence producing at an eight percent rate below league average, he’s rock solid in his own zone brining defence at a five percent rate above league average playing as a third-pairing defenceman. This year at 5v5, he posted a 53.22 CF%, a 52.12 xG% and a goals for rate of 42 percent.
He would be a solid third pairing defenceman for any club.
Contract projection: One year, $713,800.
@Derek Grant
Grant split time with the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers last year scoring 15 goals and 25 points in 56 games. His isolated impacts were nothing short of abysmal.
Offensively he contributed at a five percent rate below league average and defensively, he was a sieve bringing defence at a 13 percent rate worse than league average. At 5v5, Grant posted CF%, xG% and a GF% all around 40 percent.
Grant seems to struggle in nearly every facet on the ice.
Contract projection: One year, $899,500.
@Mark Borowiecki
After spending all nine NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Borowiecki is heading to the free agent market. Last year the 31-year-old scored seven goals and 18 points in 53 games.
HE contributed offence at a four percent rate worse than league average, and defence at a two percent rate below league average. He was solid on the penalty kill, however, posting a five percent rate above league average. At 5v5, he posted a 43.92 CF, a 48.48 xG% and a 42.28 GF%.
Someone will surely take a swing at Borowiecki, but I’d hope it isn’t my favourite team.
Contract projection: One-year, $1.067-m.
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