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Tuesday, 28 June 2011 14:00

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

The Penguins made a curious move yesterday when they opted not to make a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Tyler Kennedy (above). That decision means Kennedy is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent Friday.

When you look how lean the free agent market is scheduled to be come Friday, the move is even more of a head scratcher.

With 21 goals last season, Kennedy will be one of the best goal-scorer on the market among unrestricted free agents.

Here are the 12-best goal-scorers on the unrestricted free agent market based on goal totals from the 2010-11 regular season:

-It should be noted that Selanne has maintained a position of either playing for the Ducks or retiring for the past several seasons. So essentially, everyone on this list should move up one slot.

-Update: A heads-up reader reminded us that the Blues did not tender a qualifying offer to Matt D'Agostini.

(Photo: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Comments (11)

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written by Disgruntled Goat, June 28, 2011 - 02:23 PM

The more I think about it, the less I understand the non-tender. If Shero intended to resign Kennedy, why give away a bargaining chip and let him test the waters and maybe get a better offer with nothing in return? If Shero does not intend to resign Kennedy, why give away his rights for nothing? I know he did not want Kennedy to go to arbitration later this summer and end up having to walk away, but why not get something, anything, for him? They both say that they want a deal to get done, but what else would they say? There is a reason that no other significant RFA was non-tendered.

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written by Uli, June 28, 2011 - 02:25 PM

U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

No, I´m not insane. Congratulations to Team U.S.A. on beating North Korea at the women soccer world cup a couple of minutes ago.

It´s a difficult situation. Wether you sign a young and promising player long term or a future hall-of-famer for one year. What is the better option? I assume we can´t afford both...

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written by Disgruntled Goat, June 28, 2011 - 02:29 PM

You claim to be sane, but admit to watching women's soccer.

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written by Uli, June 28, 2011 - 02:35 PM

Well DG, it´s evening here, no hockey on and the world cup in our country. Germans love soccer as you probably no. And I bet money on Team U.S.A. winning the cup. All the other guys bet on Germany so I had to make a different choice.

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written by Uli, June 28, 2011 - 02:43 PM

I meant "know" not "no". Sorry!

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written by eman41, June 28, 2011 - 03:52 PM

If they tender him and the arbitrator gives him a $3 million dollar 2 year contract, that would not be good for the Pens and their cap situation next summer.

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written by EastPAFan, June 28, 2011 - 04:41 PM

I have tremendous respect for Ray Shero and the job he has done with the Pens. I in no way claim to be an expert on the inner workings of hockey, but all this seems like gamemanship with TK & Jagr. Why does everyhting have to be such drama. Sign him don't sign him, offer him don't offer him. For the love of God Ray make a decision and go with it. More often than not your decisions seem to work out (Except for Poni and Kovy) you have a good track record.

All the Pens are doing is setting themselves up for criticism is one or both of these deals fall through and there is no comparable replacement.

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written by Disgruntled Goat, June 28, 2011 - 05:33 PM

The Blues did not tender a qualifying offer to Matt D'Agostini.

That's interesting, considering the fact that his stat line (21G/25A/46P) is almost identical to Kennedy's.

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written by espo33, June 28, 2011 - 05:44 PM

The problem is look at the shoots and shooting %. He has the 2nd worst shooting percentage with the 3rd highest shots on net. Yeah it is great to shoot the puck and he does it a lot, but wow does he hit the goalie a lot... I would rather get Leino or Ryder (not getting him). Brunnette even at 37 is good.

1. Teemu Selanne, Ducks 73 31 had 213 with 14.6%
2. Brad Richards, Stars 72 28 had 272 with 10.3%
3. Erik Cole, Hurricanes 82 26 had 201 with 12.9%
4. Scottie Upshall, Blue Jackets 82 22 had 191 with 11.5%
5. Tyler Kennedy, Penguins 80 21 had 234 and 9%
Matt D'Agostini, Blues 82 21 163 and 12.9%
7. Ville Leino, Flyers 81 19 had 117 and 16.1%
Radim Vrbata, Coyotes 79 19 had 240 and 7.9%
8. Andrew Brunette, Wild 82 18 had 117 and 15.4%
Michael Ryder, Bruins 79 18 had 165 and 10.9%
11. Simon Gagne, Lightning 63 17 had 154 and 11%
Jason Arnott, Capitals had 169 and 10.1%

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written by jameshutton, June 28, 2011 - 11:24 PM

TK's going to get in the $2.5MM/year range, unless he's willing to take less to stay with the Pens. My guess is that several teams will pay him in that range, even if his shooting percentage is low.

Isles got rights to Ehrhoff for fourth round pick. Interesting. A Flyer/Pronger-esque signing in the making?

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written by espo33, June 29, 2011 - 10:56 AM

I guess my whole point is that while he got some goals, I wouldn't put him in the category as some of those other guys. I like him, but he misses a lot of goals that he probably could have scored. I am sure the others have as well, but I would probably say TK, Dupius are the top 2 guys on our team like that...

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