As NHL arbitration concludes and NHL Free Agency has been stripped of almost all major players, there is still some talent remaining that could possibly push a team over the edge on their way to hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup. These are the Top 3 NHL Free Agents remaining.

3. Darroll Powe

Now for most fans, people will probably be going to Google to look up who Powe is. The next thing people will see is that over the course of a six-year NHL career, Powe has only played in 329 games and has only produced 56 points. However, for hockey fans who have cheered on the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, and New York Rangers, they will understand why he is on this list. Powe may not be the biggest, standing at only 5’11 and 212 lbs., and he may not be the flashiest player, scoring 20+ goals per season, but he is one of the best penalty killers of recent NHL times. At only 29 years old, Powe could possibly continue to play for another five or six years before he will finally decline to a point where he will not be worth signing. Surely most teams will not give him a contract for more than 2-years, but for teams like Florida, the New York Islanders, Toronto, and Minnesota, Powe could be the key to bringing their struggling penalty kill above 80%.

2. Michael Del Zotto

Michael Del Zotto has had an up and down past few seasons. At some points, he led the New York Rangers power play from the point and effectively helped the team. However, at others, he struggled to a point where it would be a surprise to see him handle the puck and not turn it over for a breakaway goal at the other end. Nonetheless, Michael Del Zotto could benefit if a coaching staff could convince him to make the move from defenseman to forward. Del Zotto’s skating abilities are not doubted by anyone, but his puck handling skills are respectably questioned. If Del Zotto were to accept the change of position, and a pay reduction from his past $2.9 million contract, he could possibly become a key 2nd or 3rd line player for rebuilding teams such as Buffalo, Florida or Vancouver who struggled in scoring goals last season.

1. Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner is a player that always found a way to be in the spotlight, even when he has not performed at an NHL level, through social media. Penner’s skill level is doubted by next to no one, however it is agreeable that he does not apply himself. Earlier in his career he was projected to be an NHL All-Star with at least 37 points in five of his first six NHL seasons including an 84-point season over a span of 57 games in the AHL. However, Penner began to seemingly lose interest in hockey and became more concerned with his luxurious lifestyle. He has played for four teams since the 2010-2011 season and has only had 30+ points in a season twice over that same span. However, Penner did show that if he is with a group that has depth where he is not a main factor, he will excel.

With the Anaheim Ducks this season, Penner had 32 points in 49 games before being traded to the Washington Capitals. Once in Washington, his play began to decline as the team did. He only contributed three points in 19 games which ultimately led to him not being re-signed. If Penner were to sign a contract for a few years with a team like Chicago, Anaheim, New York (Rangers), or Boston who are consistently deep, Penner may begin to find his game once again and prove that he is serious about hockey as opposed to the luxurious lifestyle.