NHL Free Agency: Every Team's Most Prominent Upcoming Free Agent in 2012

With several teams trying (and struggling) to get into contention for a playoff spot, the trade deadline is already starting to become a topic of discussion. Who will be buyers? Who will be sellers? Are any veterans going to request a trade to a contending team?

This is always interesting speculation, though after the season is over all that talk and thought process gets thrown out the window as teams begin to glean new hope from the fountain of restoration that is the 2012 NHL free-agent class.

This is a list of every NHL team's most prominent upcoming free agent, based on their current production, age, restricted/unrestricted status, salary and likelihood of signing with another team. The players in this list will be the most sought-after free agents among those coming off the same roster and are presented with the inclusion of the honorable mention that they eclipsed.

Anaheim Ducks: Francois Beauchemin

At 31 years old Beauchemin is still a high-ticket defender and could be valuable to just about any NHL team. Some might consider him a bit pricey at just under $4 million, though that number may fall if he signs with a new club next year.

Honorable Mention: Teemu Selanne

Boston Bruins: Tuukka Rask

As a restricted free agent, Rask may be destined to stay in Boston as Tim Thomas' replacement. Yet the fact that so many teams with a lot of cap space are in need of a goaltender requires some speculation in this area. If he goes it will be a significant addition for whoever signs him, no matter how many fits he threw in the AHL.

Honorable Mention: Rich Peverley

Buffalo Sabres: Brad Boyes

Brad Boyes' production has been on the decline and he is probably a bottom-six forward on most teams. With a cap hit of $4 million, he is somewhat overpriced, which actually bodes well for teams needing help on the third or fourth lines as he is due for a decrease in pay. Put in simpler terms, he will be a nice (though not unexpected) find in the bargain bin.

Honorable Mention: Paul Gaustad

Calgary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Currently on pace to eclipse the 82-point mark this season, Jokinen leads the Flames in scoring. At 33 he is still young (by Selanne's standards), and assuming he continues his production, is an absolute steal at $3 million.

Honorable Mention: Lee Stempniak

Carolina Hurricanes: Tuomo Ruutu

Though he plays on a team with a poor offense, Ruutu leads the Hurricanes in goals this year. At only 28 years old and just under $4 million, his value in free agency will be fairly high and certainly the best coming out of Raleigh.

Honorable Mention: Jaroslav Spacek

Chicago Blackhawks: Ray Emery

He has played in 14 games this season as a backup but Ray Emery wants to be a starter in the league and proved he could handle it last year in Anaheim. With Corey Crawford in the driver's seat Emery will look to spend the beginning of his 30s with a club where he gets more playing time.

Honorable Mention: Andrew Brunette

Colorado Avalanche: Milan Hejduk

Milan Hejduk is in the twilight of his career but still provides an excellent source of leadership and secondary scoring for somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million. Colorado does not look like a contender this year, which could lead Hejduk to consider finishing his career elsewhere.

Honorable Mention: Matt Duchene

Columbus Blue Jackets: Vaclav Prospal

No one expected Vaclav Prospal to be leading the Columbus Blue Jackets in scoring nearly midway through the season. Not to be outdone, Vinny has in fact accomplished just that.

Whether that success continues on is yet to be seen. Part of the notoriety of his solid year is due to the poor production of those around him, as Jeff Carter and Rick Nash have not been able to meet expectations.

Honorable Mention: Samuel Pahlsson

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn

Again, this is a player you may be surprised to see at the top of a team's scoresheet, but he is there all the same. Jamie Benn is a restricted free agent at the end of the year, and is likely to stay in Dallas. Even still, he is certain to be receiving other offers from around the league.

Honorable Mention: Sheldon Souray

Detroit Red Wings: Brad Stuart

Brad Stuart comes out on top here primarily because of the age and salary of Nicklas Lidstrom, who will likely retire a Red Wing.

Stuart, on the other hand, is in his early 30s and could be looking to get away from a team who many believe to be in sharp decline with the retirement of Lidstrom marking the end of an era.

Honorable Mention: Nicklas Lidstrom

Edmonton Oilers: Ales Hemsky

Hemsky has seen a bit of a slowdown in his offensive production this year. With the young guns taking over in Edmonton, he could be looking to garner a more prominent role with the offense of another team.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Smyth

Florida Panthers: Kris Versteeg

At 25 and leading the team in scoring, Versteeg is the centerpiece of Florida's franchise right now. Don't expect management to wait too long to lock him up.

Honorable Mention: Mikael Samuelsson

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Penner

Accommodating Penner's style has been something neither the Oilers nor Kings have been able to do. It is a foregone conclusion that the Anaheim Duck's were Penner's best suitor. Even if the Ducks' ship has sailed on Penner (and I am not convinced that it has), he is not likely to be wearing a Kings uniform next season.

Honorable Mention: Willie Mitchell

Minnesota Wild: Kyle Brodziak

As the third-line center for an excellent defensive team, Brodziak is proving his worth and would be bargain free-agent pickup at just over the $1 million mark.

Honorable Mention: Guillaume Latendresse

Montreal Canadiens: Andrei Kostitsyn

He is only 26 years old but a $3.5 million cap hit might be tough for some teams to swallow. That being said, he could still be very helpful on the third or fourth line.

Honorable Mention: Travis Moen

Nashville Predators: Shea Weber

No surprise here, as the Predators captain has been the subject of rumors since his contract talks went to arbitration in August. He was awarded a one-year, $7.5 million contract and is living on borrowed time in a Nashville uniform.

As one of the elite defenders in the league, his massive cap hit will not discourage teams from trying to lure him out of Music City.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Suter

New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise

Similar to Shea Weber, Zach Parise's name is not foreign to the NHL rumor mill. He wants out of New Jersey, and at only 27 years old is likely to sign a long-term contract with another club, regardless of whether or not he is dealt at the trade deadline.

Honorable Mention: Martin Brodeur

New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov

Only a few seasons removed from being one of the most successful regular-season goaltenders, Nabokov is now playing in the shadows of Rick DiPietro and will garner offer sheets due to the high number of teams in need of a starting goaltender.

Honorable Mention: Brian Rolston

New York Rangers: Wojtek Wolski

Despite missing most of this year's season due to injury, Wolski is still going to be prime real estate in the free-agent market at only 25 years old. The Rangers will look to keep him on board.

Honorable Mention: Sean Avery

Ottawa Senators: Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is only 21 years old and is currently second on the team in scoring as a defenceman with 33 points (only five behind Jason Spezza). This increases his value significantly, and if Daniel Alfredsson retires the Senators will have more then enough room to re-sign him. Either way, other offers will almost certainly be in play.

Honorable Mention: Nikita Filatov

Philadelphia Flyers: Jaromir Jagr

Jagr is proving that he can still play great hockey. Conventional wisdom says that if he comes back, it will be with the Flyers. However his production and gravitas, despite his age, would make him a valuable addition to any team.

Honorable Mention: Matthew Carle

Phoenix Coyotes: Shane Doan

At 35 years old Shane Doan is nearing the end of his career yet is still a very capable leader and a productive offensive player. All around he's the complete package and if does not re-sign with Phoenix to finish his career, he will likely settle in centering the second line somewhere else.

Honorable Mention: Michal Rozsival

Pittsburgh Penguins: Chris Kunitz

When he is healthy, Chris Kunitz has consistently been reliable to reach the 50-point mark. If he stays healthy this season (something he has not been able to do since playing in Anaheim), his value should increase during free agency as a top-line player.

Honorable Mention: James Neal

San Jose Sharks: Torrey Mitchell

Mitchel is productive enough to consistently shoulder a third- or fourth-line center spot. Though his offensive upside is not great, his defensive abilities are respectable and at under $1.4 million he is a low-risk option.

Honorable Mention: Antero Niittymaki

St. Louis Blues: Jason Arnott

Highly touted for his veteran leadership, Arnott has also shown that he is still capable of 30- to 40-point seasons even at 37 years old.

Honorable Mention: Barret Jackman

Tampa Bay Lightning: Pavel Kubina

Kubina will not put up huge offensive numbers as a No. 1 or 2 defender but is very physical and tough to play against. At 34 years old there are a lot of teams who will be very interested in him. He is going to be one of the most sought-after free-agent defenders next year.

Honorable Mention: Steve Downie

Toronto Maple Leafs: John-Michael Liles

Along with Pavel Kubina, Liles is in the upper echelon of upcoming free-agent defenders. He is only 31 years old and in his prime as far as offensive contribution is concerned.

Honorable Mention: Mikhail Grabovski

Vancouver Canucks: Cory Schneider

Schneider has been providing some tough competition for a struggling Roberto Luongo. If Schneider's success and Luongo's decline continue, expect Vancouver to do everything in their power to hang on and re-sign Schneider.

Honorable Mention: Sami Salo

Washington Capitals: Alexander Semin

Semin has been scratched numerous times and has been the subject of many trade rumors. He appears to be biding his time and playing out his contract. Washington currently sits out of a playoff spot and are looking less and less like the powerhouse they once were. As a result, Semin will almost certainly sign somewhere else.

Though he carries a steep price tag, he will be the most sought-after free agent on the market next year.

Honorable Mention: Mike Green

Winnipeg Jets: Johnny Oduya

At $3.5 million, he is priced high considering his low offensive output. However, with so many teams in dire need of defense, he will get the most attention of any free agent coming off this roster.

Honorable Mention: Evander Kane