An early look at free agency for the Ducks: Who stays and who goes?

Published Jun. 5, 2015 2:35 p.m. ET

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The good news for the Anaheim Ducks is that the majority of their unrestricted free agents are only short-term rentals. But the bad news is that they'll likely have to part with either a heart-and-soul defenseman or a young 20-goal scorer entering his prime.

"You get in the room and you look around. You kind of have that sick feeling that you might not be back with that group of guys," said forward Matt Beleskey, an unrestricted free agent on July 1. "At the trade deadline this year, my biggest worry was leaving this team and watching them win the Stanley Cup. It's something I've been a part of here for seven years now and you never want to leave a group like this."

Here's a look at Beleskey and the other Anaheim players set to become free agents next month. 

Unrestricted free agents: Any player at least 27-years -ld whose contract has run out or has at least seven years of NHL service time can declare for free agency, negotiate and sign with any other teams.

LW Matt Beleskey

Beleskey had a career year. Playing on the first two lines -- primarily the second with Ryan Kesler -- benefitted the 26-year-old winger immensely, as Beleskey scored 22 goals in the regular season and eight in the postseason. He's developed nicely into a true power forward and that fits nicely with Anaheim's high-scoring, hard-hitting system.

But a 22-goal season could command a high price, and given his inconsistencies in seasons past, it's yet to be seen just how much the Ducks want to invest in a young talent with a high upside.

"I don't know if they expected me to score 22 goals, but obviously (the organization) was happy with it," Beleskey said. "I'm going to come to work and play the same game. I want to hit, be physical and get my shots off, get my opportunities. If I work hard, there could be a lot more to come."

D Francois Beauchemin

Of his 673 career NHL games, Beauchemin has played all but 148 with the Ducks. And he wants to finish out the rest of his career with the same team as well.

"I've been here my whole career but a year and a half," Beauchemin said. "I don't have 10 years left, but I'm hoping those last years are here."

Thursday is the defenseman's 35th birthday, but he says he can play well after 35. He ate up key minutes for the Ducks and rebounded from injuries exceptionally fast. Practically a coach on the ice, he's been influential in the development of his defense partner Hampus Lindholm - a priority player for the organization.

RW Tomas Fleischmann, D Sheldon Souray, D Korbinan Holzer

Fleischmann was a solid veteran pickup that played strong minutes in closeout games. With the ability to play right, left or center he's versatile and familiar with the way coach Bruce Boudreau runs things, but it appears as though he's lost his shot. The Ducks may not have a use for him now that the postseason is over.

Souray played in only 44 games for the Ducks before going down with what was ultimately a career-ending wrist injury. Holzer was an insurance pickup at the trade deadline that never even saw game action for the Ducks.

Restricted free agents: Players with expiring entry-level deals without enough service time to become an unrestricted free agent. Offer sheets can be presented by other teams and the current team can match it or let the player go.

RW Jakob Silfverberg

An under-the-radar Selke candidate, Silfverberg played far bigger than his 39 points might lead you to believe. Silfverberg's two-way presence has his linemate Ryan Kesler campaigning for the Swede's return.

"He's a special player and he was good for us this year and especially with Hampus," Kesler said. "We found chemistry early on and fed off each other throughout the playoffs. He was unbelievable."

Silfverberg rarely had bad games and was always a noticeable presence on the ice. When let loose, he has a deft scoring touch. Losing him would be a big blow to this team and he sounds ready and willing to sign any sort of contract to be able to stay in Anaheim.

"I think this is a team that's going to be a great team for the next couple of years and I like it a lot here," he said. "I'd like to stay here, yeah."

LW Emerson Etem

Etem should be the poster child for Southern California hockey but he still hasn't been able to find consistency at the NHL level. The constant trips back and forth to the minors have many wondering why isn't panning out just yet, but the constant trips back and forth to the minors haven't deterred him.

"Maybe my numbers show they're just kind of stagnant, but at the same time, I'm always trying to work on my game and get better," he said. "Obviously I've had to change my game, I guess, since coming to Anaheim, and that's fine with me. We've had some great teams. I've pretty much tried to do whatever they've asked me to do. Sometimes that can be difficult at times."

Etem's checking game and speed should make him worth extending. The Long Beach native wants to stay closet to home, but it may not be up to him.

RW Chris Wagner

Wagner saw action in two playoff games before getting injured against Winnipeg. He's an energy player that has drawn high praise from Boudreau and his chances of getting extended are good.

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