NHL Free Agency 2010: 14 Major Upcoming UFA's

With the NHL regular season coming to a close in just a few days, 14 NHL teams will be done with their 82 games and move onto the summer offseason—a time that, despite its slow-moving pace, can often make the difference for a team's success for seasons and seasons to come. Soon handfuls more teams eliminated from the postseason will join them, and quickly enough the free agent market will become the buzz of the league.

This summer there's going to be plenty of commotion in the free agent market, as there are plenty of superstar players ready to jump into the hectic period of NHL free agency, beginning July 1. As their seasons wind down, there are also a number of players, many of whom just made a move at the March 3 trade deadline, who are poised to become unrestricted free agents in a couple months, eligible to sign with any team, anywhere they want.

That pool is especially big this year, with massive stars from both conferences on the last months of their multi-million dollar contracts. However, the more players involved, the more interesting our summers are! Here are 14 UFA's (unrestricted free agents) sure to make a splash in this offseason's market.

14. Teemu Selanne

At 39, Teemu Selanne is very likely done with his legendary NHL and Olympic career. However, if he's not, a couple teams probably would be willing to spend less than $2 million (what he earned this season from Anaheim) to ink the productive veteran for a one-year opportunity.

13. Anton Volchenkov

Anton Volchenkov may not be a breakout star, or a top defensive scorer, but he's still only 28, and I can't think of any team that wouldn't be happy to have him.

Sandwiching a February Winter Olympics appearance, Volchenkov conservative, hard-hitting style has shown even more readily this season, along with his 14 scoring points. His career so far has been highlighted by the 2006-07 campaign, where he put up 19 points along with a whopping +37 rating.

12. Sergei Gonchar

Russian Olympian Sergei Gonchar's career may be on the downfall, especially at age 35, but if someone has enough cap room to haul in his likely to be downgraded $4 million contract, then Gonchar still has the skills to make a large impact on the back end. He's racked up 47 points this year, and he can do even better: 2007-2008 brought Gonchar 65 points and a +13 rating.

While Gonchar may not be the biggest name on the market, the Penguins don't seem especially confident in keeping him around, and he could be a highlight veteran acquisition for a young, athletic team such as the Kings, Avs, or Blue Jackets.

11. Joe Corvo

Joe Corvo, who was traded from Carolina to Washington at the trade deadline, seems likely to stay with the Caps this offseason. However, if that ends up not being true, Corvo is one of the most cost-effective and affordable top-end defensive acquisitions available.

He's suffered through some injury issues this season, but the 32-year-old D-man is a reliable power-play producer and all-around balanced player, available for less than $3 million per season.

10. Saku Koivu

In a list plagued with veterans, Saku Koivu is yet another in that category at age 35—but really, he's a lot more. He could be overlooked by the Ducks, who are going to have plenty of troubles to deal with this offseason.

The long time Canadien center moved to Anaheim a year ago, and he's kept up a good pace. Now finishing up his seventh consecutive season with 50 or more points, Koivu is right on target with 19 goals and 31 assists. He also won't blow off the bank on anyone; Koivu's expiring contract only paid him $3.2 million a year, and any new deal would probably be worth even less than that.

9. Tomas Holmstrom

Starting off the top 10 is Tomas Holmstrom. At 37, he's not getting any younger, but the Swedish winger still has enough years remaining to give a big boost to whoever signs him.

This season Holmstrom has recorded 44 points and a +4 rating; a production level that he consistently reaches season after season. In fact, he's only recorded less than 34 points in a season twice since 1998. Holmstrom also brings a lot of help on the power play, scoring 13 of his 24 goals with the man advantage.

With his $2.25 million a year Red Wings contract expiring, it seems likely that Holmstrom might be headed to a new team for the first time in his long NHL career.

8. Alex Tanguay

Alex Tanguay is a little unstable at the moment. His current (but expiring) $2.5 million, one-year deal with Tampa—his fourth team in five seasons—didn't work out, and 30-year-old Tanguay's numbers have dropped significantly.

However, a significant drop for Tanguay isn't by any means an issue: he still has 35 points. But it's still a far cry away from his 78 and 81 point seasons in '05-'06 with Colorado and '06-'07 with Calgary. If he can finally find another team where he'll fit in, just watch for Tanguay to explode with another 70-plus point season earning just $2.5 million per season.

7. Scott Neidermayer

The 36-year-old gritty Ducks captain doesn't seem likely to move anywhere from Anaheim, but if he does, Scott Neidermayer would be a huge veteran pick-up for any team lacking defense.

At $6.0 million per season, Neidermayer is no cheap signee. But his superb defensive efforts, coupled with his 264 scoring points over his last 370 games played, make Scott Neidermayer the ultimate veteran captain.

6. Alexander Frolov

Alexander Frolov may be one of the most underrated players in the NHL in the modern era. The 27-year-old left winger has 51 points for the jumpstart Kings this season, which has him 85th in the in a league with 90 better known top liners.

Even more surprisingly, 51 is the lowest point total he's had in the last five seasons, as Frolov's 71 points in 2006-07 and 32 goals last season give him an impressive resume, while still being on the younger side of his prime years.

As a bonus deal, Frolov also shouldn't be relatively expensive. He's only getting about $4 million per season, and any new contract is unlikely to exceed that total.

5. Paul Kariya

Despite only playing 11 games in the season before this one, Paul Kariya has an array of career accomplishments and, at 35, still has several years left.

His 402 career goals and 586 career assists have him approaching his 1,000th career point, and this season hasn't hurt those totals either. Kariya has 42 points in 73 games played for the Blues this year, where he is finishing up a three year, $18 million contract with St. Louis.

If he decides to go elsewhere, Paul Kariya won't go unnoticed. However, plenty of interested teams will be happy to find that Kariya still isn't nearly the biggest name on the market.

4. Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen has been all over the headlines with his trade deadline deal from the Flames to the Rangers. Furthermore, it would be quite a surprise if New York didn't ink him for a multi-year deal in the next month or less. However, if Jokinen does squirt free into the UFA pool, his appearance will make quite a splash even with his $5.5 million contract.

The 2010 Finnish Olympian was his best years ago in Florida, where he recorded 73 goals and 162 points in his last two seasons with the Panthers. Since then, he's floated around all corners of the NHL, making additional stops in Phoenix, Calgary, and now the Big Apple. While Jokinen probably should be expected to stay with the Blueshirts for a while, if they let him go, Jokinen is clearly one of the five biggest upcoming UFA's around the league.

3. Ilya Kovalchuk

Like Jokinen, Ilya Kovalchuk has had his fair share and more of the NHL headlines this spring, as his deal from Atlanta to New Jersey was perhaps the biggest of the 2010 NHL trade deadline. And while the Devils would be seen as crazy if they didn't ink him into a long-term contract almost immediately after the conclusion of their season, even the possibility of Kovalchuk's appearance on the UFA market has 28 other NHL teams licking their lips.

"Kovy" has been one of the biggest names in the world of hockey over the past decade, and he hasn't let up on the stat sheet either. Since 2000, Kovalchuk has 337 goals, six consecutive 40 goal or more seasons, and three Winter Olympic appearances with Russia.

However, one thing he hasn't experienced is more than four playoff games. If that urge isn't satisfied with Jersey, there are plenty of already successful teams that wouldn't have any regrets at signing Kovalchuk, even with his $7.5 million contract.

2. Tomas Plekanec

Of all the breakout stars around the NHL this season, Tomas Plekanec may be the most consistent and affordable. He's been a crucial part of Montreal's playoff push this season, racking up 70 points—23rd in the league—and a +9 rating. Plus, his age (27) and under $3 million contract make Plekanec an attractive offer even without his exceptional scoring touch.

With the Canadiens tightly up against the salary cap this offseason, Plekanec, a Czech Olympian just a couple months ago, may be poised to slip away. Most squads would love to have him, not only for his goal production, but also for his day in, day out consistency; Plekanec has only missed four games in his last four seasons. With a $2.75 million contract not looking very intimidating at all, there should be plenty of teams interested in this blossoming center in his prime.

1. Patrick Marleau

There's a big, wide world of hockey waiting for a player that's never played anywhere but San Jose, California. And his name is Patrick Marleau.

Despite lugging around his expensive $6.3 million contract, 30-year-old Marleau is very well worth the price. His 43 goals this year, fourth in the NHL, have just added to impressive career numbers in 12 seasons with the Sharks, which includes 691 points, 97 power play tallies, and an incredible 14.6 shots to goals ratio.

Marleau may be a one of the greatest all-around players in the NHL right now, and he still has many, many years left. But, there's still one question: How will he fare once he's left the Shark Tank?