Hartnell, Hamhuis and Upshall among the best players still on the market

The second week of NHL free agency has started and a trio of Nashville Predators first-round draft picks remains on the market.

Forwards Scott Hartnell and Scottie Upshall and defenseman Dan Hamhuis are among the top free agents still available. According to TSN’s ranking, Hamhuis and Hartnell are among the top five players who have yet to get new deals and Upshall is in the top 20.

All three were taken in successive years at a time before the Predators made their first playoff appearance. Hartnell was the sixth overall selection in 2000. Hamhuis was 12th overall in 2001 and Upshall was the No. 6 choice in 2002.

Each ranks among the most successful picks in franchise history, based on their longevity, although all three have played fewer than half of their career games for the Predators. By contrast, goalie Brian Finley, taken sixth overall in 1999, made just four NHL appearances in his career.

A rundown of the Nashville Predators’ first-round draft picks with the most NHL games played:

Player

Drafted

NHL Games

Scott Hartnell

Sixth overall, 2000

1,249

David Legwand

Second overall, 1998

1,136

Dan Hamhuis

12th overall, 2001

1,031

Ryan Suter

Seventh overall, 2003

991

Scottie Upshall

Sixth overall, 2002

759

Colin Wilson

Seventh overall, 2008

558



Only two other Predators draft picks from 2002 or earlier remain active in the league. Goalie Mike McKenna (sixth-round, 2002) signed with Ottawa last week and forward Matt Hendricks (fifth round, 2000) got a deal with Minnesota.

Hartnell, 36, just completed his second stint with Nashville, which included 62 games played last season. In his first six seasons, he appeared in 436 games with the Predators. He also has spent time with Philadelphia and Columbus.

Hamhuis, 35, spent the last two seasons with Dallas after six years with Vancouver. He spent his first six seasons with Nashville and logged 483 appearances.

Upshall, 34, made just 77 appearances for the Predators in parts of four seasons before he embarked on a journey that has taken him to Philadelphia, Arizona, Columbus, Florida and – for the past three seasons – St. Louis. His 206 games played for the Blues, are the most he has had for any one organization.