Often, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to signing unrestricted free agents. Last summer, 30 general managers tried to find key components for their rosters, and here's my list of 13 that should be considered as one of the top free agent signings of 2009-10.

G   Craig Anderson  Colorado
Career back-up has made 69 starts for the Avs and was fabulous until the Olympic break. Like his team, Anderson has cooled off (6-9-3) since, but his 37 wins and seven shutouts are the primary reasons Colorado is still alive for a playoff spot with four games left.

D   Kurtis Foster   Tampa Bay
Cast-off from Minnesota has flourished under head coach Rick Tocchet with eight goals and a career-high 30 assists in 67 games for the Bolts. His minus-6 rating trails only Victor Hedman of those Tampa defenders who have played 50 games or more this season.

D   Dennis Seidenberg    Florida (traded to Boston)
Too expensive for Carolina's Jim Rutherford, this German Olympic team defenseman was signed by Florida and then traded to the Bruins at the deadline. He has four goals, 28 assists and a plus-6 rating in 79 total games, building upon the solid season he had in Carolina last year.

F   Nik Antropov    Atlanta
Versatile forward can play center or on the wing. He has 24 goals and 43 assists (a career high) in 75 games and has a +16 rating. Atlanta's most productive and consistent player this season.

F   Maxim Afinogenov    Atlanta
A tryout offer was extended by Thrashers GM Don Waddell in mid-September and Afinogenov signed a one-year deal worth $800,000 Sept. 29. The veteran responded with 24 goals and 37 assists, and hasn't missed a game all season.

F   Mikael Samuelsson Vancouver

His 30 goals and 53 points are career bests and he has four game-winning markers for the Canucks after several seasons in the Motor City.

F   Matt Moulson    NY Islanders
In his first full NHL season, Moulson has a team-leading 27 goals and has 18 assists in just 16:43 of ice time per game. He carries an even rating through 78 games and has five game-winning goals for the Isles.

F   Mike Rupp       Pittsburgh
He had never scored more than six goals in any of his prior six NHL seasons, but the defensive specialist has 13 tallies for the Pens and has a career-high rating of plus-3 in a career high 77 games this year.

F   Nigel Dawes     Calgary
This little-known, speedy mucker has acheived career highs in assists, points and games played after leaving Phoenix.

F   Blair Betts     Philadelphia
Defensive specialist responded with career high in assists, plus/minus rating and two-game winning tallies for Philadelphia despite missing nearly 20 games. The Rangers never even called!

F   Marian Gaborik  NY Rangers
After appearing in just 17 games for the Wild last season, Gaborik has responded for the scoring-challenged Rangers in a big way. The oft-injured winger prior to this season has missed just six games, and has 41 goals, 42 assists and 26 power play points this season.

F   Marian Hossa    Chicago
Despite missing 25 games in Oct. and Nov., Hossa has 23 goals and 25 assists in 53 games since his return and has a rating of plus-24 and five shorthanded tallies.

F   Mike Knuble     Washington
Another solid season for the 37-year-old winger, who has 27 goals and 24 assists for the Caps, and now has 21 goals or more in seven straight seasons. He's connected on 19 percent of his shots, tied for 5th in the NHL.

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