Top 10 Most Untouchable Players on Non-Playoff NHL Teams
As the 2016 NHL playoffs got underway last month, the offseason plans of 14 clubs that missed the cut could garner increasing interest among NHL fans and pundits. Many of those teams could make trades to shake up their rosters, but players such as Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (pictured above) can be considered untouchable.
Like Bergeron, many of the players on this list are veteran stars filling roles of significant importance. Some, such as Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, are rising young superstars key to the rebuilding process of their respective teams.
In this slideshow, we'll examine the top-10 most untouchable NHL players on this year's non-playoff teams. Individual skills, contracts and roster role factored into this ranking. Did we miss anyone? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Honorable Mentions
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Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets: The Jets re-signed Byfuglien (pictured above) to a lucrative long-term extension in February. Big Buff remains a vital part of their roster.
Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes: Enjoyed a solid NHL debut with 18 goals and 52 points in 81 games. The 21-year-old winger is a significant part of the Coyotes offense.
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames: The Flames captain ranks among the NHL's best all-around defenseman. He is the anchor of their defense corps.
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets: Acquired in a midseason trade with the Nashville Predators, the 21-year-old Jones will become the foundation of the Jackets defense.
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames: First-line centers such as the 21-year-old Monahan are tough to come by. Eligible for a new contract this summer, the Flames will likely re-sign him to a lengthy extension.
Ryan O'Reilly, Buffalo Sabres: In his first season with the Sabres, O'Reilly wasted no time proving he's among the league's top all-around forwards. He is an important part of their rebuilding process.
Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins: His struggles this season were largely due to the weakened defense in front of him. A Vezina Trophy winner in 2014, the Bruins need Rask to provide stability in goal.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs: Recently re-signed to a six-year, $30 million deal, the 22-year-old Rielly is blossoming into an elite puck-moving defenseman.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks: The 35-year-old Sedin twins are getting long in the tooth. However, management seems reluctant to part with their top center and left wing.
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens: A high-risk, high-reward player, Subban is the Canadiens' best defenseman and most dazzling star. They cannot afford to part with him.
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets: Wheeler is the engine of the Jets' offensive attack. The 29-year-old left wing tallied a career-best 78 points in 2015-16.
10. Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
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As the second-overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel entered this season in the shadow of Edmonton Oilers center (and first-overall pick) Connor McDavid. However, the 19-year-old wasted little time establishing himself as a key forward with his new club.
Despite Eichel's youth and inexperience, he adapted very well to the NHL pace. With 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games, the young center led the Sabres in goals and finished second in points. He also placed second in the rookie scoring race.
Eichel has the skills to be the foundation of the rebuilding Sabres. In the near future, he could become their leading scorer and top player. Management hopes to build a Stanley Cup contender in Buffalo. Eichel is the most important part of that plan.
9. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
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The 2015-16 season was a disappointment for the Colorado Avalanche, but it did see a bounce-back performance from center Nathan MacKinnon. After struggling through an injury-hampered sophomore campaign in 2014-15, the 20-year-old finished third among Avs scorers with 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points.
Winner of the 2014 Calder Memorial Trophy in his rookie campaign, MacKinnon is among the Avalanche's core players. With his speed and offensive skills, he has the potential to blossom into a top NHL scorer. His best seasons remain ahead of him.
MacKinnon has completed his entry-level contract. Considering his bright future and value to the Avalanche, it won't be surprising if he gets a lucrative new deal. MacKinnon is a significant part of the Avs' lineup. They'll want to keep him around for a long time.
8. Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
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The rebuilding Carolina Hurricanes made noticeable improvement this season, remaining in the Eastern Conference playoff chase until late in the campaign. Had they not lost top defenseman Justin Faulk for most of February and March to injury, perhaps they would've clinched a postseason berth.
Toiling for the Hurricanes, the 24-year-old Faulk is often overlooked as one of the league's best blueliners. In 64 games this season, he netted 16 goals and collected 21 assists for 37 points. He was among this season's top goal-scoring defensemen. Don't be fooled by his plus/minus of minus-22. He led all Hurricanes rearguards in hits (109) and was among their leaders in blocked shots (65) and takeaways (45).
Faulk's contract also makes him untouchable. With an annual salary-cap hit of $4.833 million through 2019-20, that's an incredible bargain for the Hurricanes. Factor in his value to their defense corps, and it's apparent Faulk won't be leaving Carolina anytime soon.
7. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
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For the 10th consecutive season, the Edmonton Oilers missed the playoffs. That could prompt second-year Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli to shake things up, perhaps by moving one of his young core forwards. While left wing Taylor Hall, center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or right wing Jordan Eberle could become trade candidates, center Connor McDavid won't be going anywhere.
Despite missing 37 games to a broken left clavicle, McDavid is a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. The 19-year-old tallied 48 points in 45 games to finish fourth among rookie scorers. Had he played the full season, McDavid might have topped the rookie leaderboard and finished as the Oilers' leading scorer.
McDavid is a generational player, the type rebuilding franchises such as the Oilers construct their rosters around. He has the tools to become the NHL's best player. Expect him to be in Edmonton for a long time.
6. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames suffered a setback in 2015-16, but the same cannot be said for sophomore left wing Johnny Gaudreau. With 78 points in 79 games, the 22-year-old topped the Flames in scoring and finished sixth among the league's leading scorers.
While there are other valuable players (center Sean Monahan, defensemen Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie) on the Flames, the 5'9", 157-pound Gaudreau is indispensable to their scoring attack. He's the straw that stirs the drink. In just two seasons, he's joined the ranks of the league's elite scorers, dispelling the notion that small players can't succeed in the NHL.
Gaudreau is completing his entry-level contract. Given his importance to the Flames offense, it wouldn't be surprising if they lock him up to a lengthy and expensive new deal. He remains a vital part of their long-term plans.
5. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
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On April 11, TSN's Frank Seravalli reported Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc dismissed speculation his club might offer up defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the first-overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft. That's because the 24-year-old blueliner is their best player and the linchpin of their defense corps.
With 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points, Ekman-Larsson was the Coyotes' leading scorer for the second consecutive season. He also tied for second among NHL defenders in goals and finished seventh in points. Ekman-Larsson plays a strong game in his own zone. He logged 24 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time per game, ranking among the Coyotes' leaders in hits (154), blocked shots (125) and takeaways (40).
Ekman-Larsson's contract is another reason why the Coyotes won't part with him. With three more seasons left at an annual cap hit of $5.5 million, that's a bargain for one of the NHL's best defensemen.
4. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
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In early March, the New Jersey Devils remained very much in the hunt for a playoff berth. Had starting goaltender Cory Schneider not suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for 11 games, perhaps they might have clinched a berth. Without him, the Devils struggled down the stretch and fell out of the playoff chase.
Even with the Devils' lack of scoring punch, Schneider kept them in contention for most of the season. Despite his injury, the 30-year-old Schneider had one of his best campaigns. His 2.15 goals-against average and .924 save percentage ranked among the top NHL starters.
The Devils need scoring depth, but they won't be dangling Schneider to get it. He's their indispensable player, signed through 2021-22 at an annual salary of $6 million with a full no-trade clause. Management must ensure it finds the offensive support he deserves.
3. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins missed the playoffs for the second straight season, but few could fault the effort of center Patrice Bergeron. With 32 goals and 36 assists for 68 points in 80 games, the 30-year-old Bruins star led his club in scoring for the second straight season. Since 2009-10, he's been their leading scorer three times and finished no lower than third four times.
Bergeron is also one of the league's top defensive forwards. For the fifth straight season, he's a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He's won that award three of the last four seasons. A team leader in his own right, Bergeron will take on more importance with the Bruins as the career of current captain Zdeno Chara winds down.
Bergeron is under contract through 2021-22 with an annual salary-cap hit of $6.875 million and a full no-movement clause until 2019-20. Given his value to the retooling Bruins at both ends of the ice, he's the one player they cannot afford to lose.
2. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
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The Montreal Canadiens' tumbling of playoff contention following goaltender Carey Price's season-ending knee injury should dispel any doubt as to his value to that club. Prior to being sidelined last November, Price won 10 of 12 starts with a 2.06 goals-against average, .934 save percentage and two shutouts. Once he was knocked out of the lineup, the Habs were never the same.
Last season, Price carried the Canadiens to first place in the Atlantic Division. He was honored with the Vezina and Hart Memorial Trophies, the Ted Lindsay Award and was co-winner (with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks) of the William M. Jennings Trophy. Understandably, the Canadiens hope he'll make a complete recovery in time for next season.
Price has two more seasons on his contract at an annual cap hit of $6.5 million. Though he lacks a no-trade clause, it's a safe bet Canadiens management has no intention of moving him. Price remains the most vital piece of the Habs' playoff puzzle.
1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
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On March 22, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk vowed changes could be coming for his underachieving roster. Don't expect superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson to be part of them. Indeed, the 25-year-old blueliner was among their few bright spots this season.
The two-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy is among this season's finalists for the award. The Senators captain set a franchise record for assists (66) and points (82) in a single season while leading the club in scoring. For the third straight season and the fourth in five seasons, he's the NHL's top-scoring blueliner.
With three seasons remaining on his contract worth $6.5 million per season, Karlsson isn't going anywhere. He's the type of player the Senators must build around if they're to return to playoff contention.
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