NHL Free Agent Rumors: 1 Contract Each Team Will Be Looking To Shed Soon

As veterans report to NHL training camps and the new hockey season inches closer and closer, teams are still trying to finalize their rosters to give them salary cap flexibility.

Having salary cap flexibility allows teams to make vital midseason moves like trades that help them add the final pieces to their Stanley Cup puzzle.

Let's look at one contract each NHL team would like to shed to better their salary cap situation.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for NHL/Bruins news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

Anaheim Ducks, Sheldon Brookbank

The Anaheim Ducks have a lot of young talent and a great amount of salary cap space, so there isn't really a need to get rid of someone due to having a high cap hit.

If they wanted to get rid of someone, it would be Sheldon Brookbank. His zero points in 40 games last season didn't justify his $750,000 cap hit.

Boston Bruins, Andrew Ference

Andrew Ference is a good player, but he isn't a shutdown defenseman or a good offensive D-man. He's solid, don't get me wrong, but his $2.25 million cap hit might be a bit rich for what he gives the Bruins.

Buffalo Sabres, Shaone Morrison

Shaone Morrison has a $2.075 million cap hit and definitely is not worth it. The Sabres are currently about $3 million over the salary cap, so some players are going to depart in the coming weeks/months.

Morrison had just five points in 62 games last season.

Calgary Flames, Jay Bouwmeester

Jay Bouwmeester is a talented defenseman but hasn't had the offensive touch that the Flames hoped he would when they acquired him a few years ago.

A $6.68 million cap hit for a 24-point player, even as a defenseman, is simply unacceptable.

Carolina Hurricanes, Tomas Kaberle

The Carolina Hurricanes have over $14 million in salary cap space, but signing Tomas Kaberle, a defenseman who played poorly last season, was not a good move.

His $4.25 million cap hit will be a burden for the Hurricanes, and will need to be moved at some point.

Chicago Blackhawks, Rostislav Olesz

Rostislav Olesz has a $3.125 salary cap hit and has been battling a knee injury that may hurt his ability to get decent ice time on a Chicago Blackhawks team with loads of offensive talent.

Colorado Avalanche, Cody McLeod

Cody McLeod is making just a bit over $1 million this season, but he takes too many penalties and does not contribute enough offensively.

On a team with lots of salary cap room and young talent, he may be able to prove his worth with a solid season this year.

Columbus Blue Jackets, Steve Mason

Steve Mason is a talented goaltender, but after winning the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year a few seasons ago, Mason has been mightily disappointing.

His $2.9 million cap hit isn't bad, but he needs to have a great season for an improved Blue Jackets team to keep his job.

Dallas Stars, Sheldon Souray

Sheldon Souray is a veteran defenseman who is still a good defensive player, but won't bring much offense to the Dallas Stars.

His $1.65 cap hit is a bit much for what he's going to bring to the ice.

Detroit Red Wings, Jiru Hudler

Jiri Hudler had a disappointing season for the Detroit Red Wings last year, and his name has been thrown around in numerous trade rumors surrounding Detroit.

His $2.875 million cap hit is too much for what he brings to the Red Wings.

Edmonton Oilers, Nikolai Khabibulin

Nikolai Khabibulin spent a lot of time in prison this summer, so it's not hard to realize that the Edmonton Oilers would love to shed his $3.75 million cap hit.

Florida Panthers, Brian Campbell

Brian Campbell was shipped out of Chicago because his $7.142 million salary cap hit was a huge burden, and with five more seasons at this cap hit, the Florida Panthers will have to move him at some point.

The Panthers cannot build a perennial winner with Campbell's massive contract hurting their cap health for years.

Los Angeles Kings, Justin Williams

Justin Williams signed a new four-year deal worth $14.6 million this season for the Los Angeles Kings, and it wasn't a good move for the team.

If he disappoints this season the Kings should consider moving him to free up some cap space.

Minnesota Wild, Devin Setoguchi

The Minnesota Wild made a lot of moves this summer, and one of them was acquiring Devin Setoguchi in one of multiple trades made with the San Jose Sharks.

Setoguchi is a good player, but the Wild cannot count on him to lead them to the playoffs.

Montreal Canadiens, Scott Gomez

Scott Gomez is making over $7 million for the next several seasons and contributes very little for the Montreal Canadiens. With that said, there's no doubt Gomez's contract is the worst in the NHL, by far.

Nashville Predators, Mike Fisher

Mike Fisher hasn't been a terrible performer for the Nashville Predators, but with his $4.2 million cap hit for the next two seasons, the Predators will have trouble extending the contracts of Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne.

New Jersey Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk is a great player, but had a disappointing season in 2011, but to be fair the entire New Jersey Devils team played poorly.

Kovalchuk has a $6.67 million cap hot for many years to come, and this contract will really hinder the financial health of the franchise if it's not moved.

New York Islanders, Rick DiPietro

When Rick DiPietro signed his massive contract with the New york Islanders, the team had no idea he would be injured so often that he'd barely play a role in the team's success on the ice.

DiPietro has a $4.5 million cap hit that will be a burden until he can become a free agent in 2021.

New York Rangers, Sean Avery

The New York Rangers don't need to put up with Sean Avery's off-ice antics any longer, and his $2 million cap hit for his low production doesn't help Avery's case.

Ottawa Senators, Jason Spezza

Jason Spezza is a very good player, but his $7 million cap hit is not worth it to the Ottawa Senators who need a lot more pieces in order to get back to the playoffs,

His name is often mentioned in trade rumors, and this season might be the year he is dealt from Ottawa.

Philadelphia Flyers, Scott Hartnell

Scott Hartnell did not have a terrible season last year, and scored a respectable 49 points, but for $4.2 million that isn't enough.

The Flyers would be better off by moving his contract and allowing some younger prospects to get more ice time.

Phoenix Coyotes, No One

The Phoenix Coyotes have some major financial issues, and they need to find a stable owner or ownership group to lead them into the future.

Until the Coyotes find some financial help, they shouldn't be making any major moves.

Pittsburgh Penguins, Paul Martin

Paul Martin is a good defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but his $5 million cap hit for the next four years is not good for the salary cap health of the team.

Kris Letang is the best defenseman on the team, and will need a new contract soon, and with Martin's cap hit it will be harder to give Letang what he wants.

San Jose Sharks, Antero Niittymaki

Antero Niittymaki is a good goalie, but with the San Jose Sharks acquiring Antti Niemi last summer Niittymaki has fallen on the depth chart.

The Sharks have some goalies in the minors who look good as well, and because of that and Niemi, Niittymaki and his $2 million need to go.

St. Louis Blues, No One

The St. Louis Blues need to be healthy this season above anything else, and if they are healthy for the most part, the playoffs are a real possibility for them.

The player that needs to be healthy the most for the Blues is young forward TJ Oshie.

Tampa Bay Lightning, Vincent Lecavalier

Vincent Lecavalier is the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning and a very good offensive player, but as he gets deeper into his 30's, his $8 million cap hit for nine more years is a scary thing for Lightning fans to envision.

Lecavalier is a very good player still, but he is grossly overpaid.

Toronto Maples Leafs, Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf is the captain of the Toronto Maples Leafs, and a good player, but is very overrated. His $6.5 million cap hit is not worth the production he gives the Leafs.

It's unlikely Phaneuf leaves Toronto this season, but his contract is a burden to the team.

Vancouver Canucks, Keith Ballard

Keith Ballard is an easy choice for the Vancouver Canucks because his contract is much too large for the production he gives them, and his deal hindered the team's ability to re-sign defenseman Christian Ehrhoff this summer, who left for Buffalo in free agency.

Ballard's $4.2 million cap hit is way too much for the Canucks.

Washington Capitals

Alexander Semin has been mentioned in many trade rumors over the years, and now he has one year left on his contract, with a $6.7 million cap hit.

He has 40-goal potential but has not lived up to that consistently with the Capitals, and it's likely he is moved this season so Washington can re-sign some younger players such as John Carlson next summer.

Winnipeg Jets, Blake Wheeler

The Winnipeg Jets have over $10 million in salary cap space, and don't have any real burdensome contracts.

If you want to get picky, Blake Wheeler's $2.55 million cap hit isn't all that great. Wheeler is a tall, big player, but plays very small and does not wow you offensively.