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Roundup: Comeau, Barker and others hit the bricks

Calgary Flames v Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Blake Comeau #10 of the Calgary Flames is pursued by Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings in the closing seconds of the third period at Staples Center on February 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Flames defeated the Kings 1-0. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Jeff Gross

In the previous post, we collected some of today’s most interesting signings (or at least extended qualifying offers). Of course, there’s still the other end of the spectrum to account for; let’s take a look at the players whose teams allowed them to walk away, thus fattening a rather thin free agent market a bit. Peter Mueller isn’t the only interesting-if-risky player to become an unrestricted free agent today, after all.

(Note: Rotoworld was once again a very helpful resource for this post. You should keep an eye on their updates when you’re not reading PHT.)


  • The Calgary Flames quite reasonably decided that qualifying Blake Comeau at $2.5 million wasn’t a wise idea, as Vicki Hall discusses. Many wondered if Comeau’s 24-goal season in 2010-11 would be a breakthrough, but then came the breakdown. Perhaps the Flames will give him another shot at a reduced rate. If I were Comeau and/or his representation, I’d be more concerned with the team and his role on it than squeezing as much money as possible out of a deal. At 26, the window isn’t closed all the way, he just really needs to get on the right track. More than anything else, that might come down to getting his confidence back.
  • It’s hard to believe that Cam Barker once seemed destined to be a piece of the puzzle with the Chicago Blackhawks. His career has taken a serious tumble since then; Barker is now the go-to punching bag with the Edmonton Oilers. Or at least he was, that is. At 26 years old and with the pedigree of a third overall pick (in 2004), it’s not crazy to imagine him getting another shot. The clock is ticking, though.
  • Much like his former trade mate in Mueller, Wojtek Wolski did not receive a qualifying offer from the Florida Panthers. Not a big shocker considering that Florida essentially took a shot in the dark on him, but don’t be shocked if his next job comes overseas.
  • Ben Kuzma passes along the Vancouver Canucks’ long list of rejects, highlighted by evildoer Aaron Rome.
  • In sad pun-related news, the Nashville Predators said goodbye to Francis Bouillon. That’s likely the right move for the Preds, but hopefully “The Bouillon Cube” lands somewhere else so his wonderful nickname lives on.