NHL Free Agency: The One Free Agent Each Team Must Re-Sign This Summer

Every NHL team has at least one upcoming free agent, either restricted or unrestricted, that it must re-sign for next year.

Whether it's an important fourth line player or a superstar, face-of-the-franchise type of guy, each team owes it to their fans to try and build the most competitive roster possible over the summer.

Let's look at one player each team cannot allow to leave.

Anaheim Ducks: George Parros

George Parros is an unrestricted free agent this summer for the Anaheim Ducks, and must be re-signed because he's an important fourth-line player who can score goals and take on the opposing team's toughest player in a fight.

He also should be an inexpensive signing since he just made $875,000 this season. Also, how could you not re-sign the guy with the best mustache in hockey? Just saying.

Boston Bruins: Tuukka Rask

The Boston Bruins cannot let young Finnish goaltender Tuukka Rask walk in free agency because they need him to take over the starting job when Tim Thomas is no longer with the team, which could be as early as next season.

The Bruins think Rask will be a real star as a No. 1 goaltender, and re-signing him will be general manager Peter Chiarelli's No. 1 priority this summer.

Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Ennis

Tyler Ennis is a quality young left winger the Buffalo Sabres would be smart to re-sign as a restricted free agent because he's only going to get better with more experience.

Ennis has 13 points thus far and brings some speed and skill to the Sabres lineup, which they'll need if Brad Boyes isn't re-signed in the summer.

Calgary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen is leading the Calgary Flames in assists (32) and points (51) this season, and must be re-signed to a short-term contract extension in the summer.

The Flames cannot afford to let key offensive players leave in the summer. They must re-sign Jokinen, or their ability to score consistently will diminish severely.

Carolina Hurricanes: Bryan Allen

The Carolina Hurricanes need to sign one of two unrestricted-free-agent defensemen this season, Bryan Allen or Jaroslav Spacek.

Allen is the one the team must bring back because he is better defensively, younger, and will be less expensive to keep around long-term.

Chicago Blackhawks: Brendan Morrison

Brendan Morrison is a good veteran center who can provide leadership and offense for at least one more season in Chicago. He also would not be an expensive player to bring back as well.

Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene is a star in the making and must be re-signed by the Colorado Avalanche because he's a young player with elite talent.

Duchene has 26 points through 44 games this season and is a top-line caliber center who, at just 21 years old, still has much room for improvement.

He's a restricted free agent and is unlikely to leave Colorado.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Derrick Brassard

Derrick Brassard is a talented young forward with tremendous size and an improving offensive game. He has 27 points for the Blue Jackets this season and should be signed long-term. He's a restricted free agent in the summer.

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn

The 22-year-old star forward has 49 points in 52 games for the Dallas Stars this season and is one of the best young offensive players in hockey.

Benn has to be re-signed by Dallas if they wish to remain competitive. 

Detroit Red Wings: Kyle Quincey

The Detroit Red Wings acquired young defenseman Kyle Quincey from the Tampa Bay Lightning before the trade deadline for more defensive depth and a younger presence on the blueline.

With veterans Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart both unrestricted free agents in the summer, Quincey must be re-signed so the team can build a core of good young defensemen again.

Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Smyth

Many Edmonton Oilers fans would be shocked if captain Ryan Smyth left in the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

He loves being in Edmonton and did not want to be traded at this year's deadline even though contenders like the New York Rangers were interested.

Smyth is still a capable offensive player, with 40 points so far this season, and should be back with the Oilers for a few more years.

Florida Panthers: Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg is having a career season for the Florida Panthers and leads the team with 49 points on 22 goals and 27 assists.

He is a restricted free agent in the offseason, and the Panthers must re-sign him since he's still young and will improve even more than he has this season.

Versteeg is a huge part of the Panthers offense, and must be kept long-term.

Los Angeles Kings: Colin Fraser

The Los Angeles Kings have several free agents they might let walk in the summer, such as forward Dustin Penner, but they don't have too many they likely will try hard to keep.

One player they should consider brining back is forward Colin Fraser, who brings good size and toughness to the team and isn't an expensive player.

Minnesota Wild: Josh Harding

Josh Harding is one of the better back-up goaltenders in the NHL, and the Minnesota Wild did not trade him at the deadline, so I would imagine they will look to re-sign him in the summer, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.

Harding will be coveted by a lot of teams, but with starting netminder Nicklas Backstrom's injury history, the Wild would be smart to hold on to Harding.

Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price

Carey Price is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and has done well for the Montreal Canadiens since taking over the starting job full-time last season.

Being the stating goaltender for the Canadiens is one of the toughest jobs in sports, but Price has won a ton of games despite this pressure placed upon him, plus the fact he has had little help in front of him.

Montreal must do everything they can to re-sign Price long-term.

Nashville Predators: Ryan Suter

Even though the Nashville Predators have to re-sign their two most important skaters, defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, this summer, Suter is a priority since he's the only one of the two who can become an unrestricted free agent.

Suter is a franchise cornerstone and excels at both ends of the ice. Signing him will be quite expensive, but it would be well worth it to the Predators, who are a team that wins on goaltending and strong defense.

New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise

Zach Parise is the New Jersey Devils' best player and team captain. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, and it is massively important that the team re-signs him if they wish to remain a playoff caliber squad.

Parise is a talented goal-scorer and is just entering the prime of his career. The Devils' financial issues might sway into Parise's decision, but the team will certainly do everything it can to keep the face of their franchise around for a long time.

New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov

The one thing that has kept the New York Islanders from being a playoff team for the last decade has been a consistently good goalie.

The Islanders must re-sign Evgeni Nabokov before the summer if the team wants to continue to build a good young roster capable of making the playoffs next season.

New York Rangers: Michael Del Zotto

After a poor sophomore season, New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto has become a very dependable player, and his offensive skills have really helped the team climb to the top of the Eastern Conference standings this season.

It is important the Rangers general manager Glen Sather keep Del Zotto in a New York sweater for a long time because he will be a tremendous blueliner for many years to come.

Ottawa Senators: Erik Karlsson

This is a pretty easy one for the Ottawa Senators. Despite not dominating defensively, young star Erik Karlsson is a top Norris Trophy candidate this season thanks to his incredible offensive talents.

Karlsson has scored 66 points in 64 games thus far, which leads all defensemen. He is only 21 years old and is a budding superstar.

The Senators must re-sign him at all costs because Karlsson is too important to the team's future success.

Philadelphia Flyers: Pavel Kubina

With captain Chris Pronger's future status as an NHL player uncertain, the Philadelphia Flyers would be smart to re-sign defenseman Pavel Kubina to a long-term contract this summer. He was acquired by the Flyers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning before the trade deadline.

He is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Phoenix Coyotes: Ray Whitney

Even at 39 years old, Ray Whitney is still a tremendous offensive player who can still score goals and make his teammates better.

The Phoenix Coyotes must re-sign him in the summer if they want to remain a good offensive team. He is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Captain Shane Doan is too, but I think Doan is more likely to stay than Whitney.

The Coyotes will have to persuade Whitney that the team can remain a playoff-caliber squad without a stable ownership.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Arron Asham

There aren't a whole lot of important players that the Pittsburgh Penguins need to re-sign now that James Neal has been locked up with a long-term contract extension, but forward Arron Asham is a solid bottom-six forward who adds some nice depth to the team.

Re-signing Asham will be an inexpensive move for the Penguins.

San Jose Sharks: Dominic Moore

If veteran forward Dominic Moore plays well for the San Jose Sharks in the playoffs this year, then the team must re-sign him in the summer.

He's a high-character guy that brings leadership and timely goal scoring to whichever team he's playing for.

St. Louis Blues: T.J. Oshie

After battling injuries throughout the first few years of his NHL career, St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie is finally starting to realize his potential this season.

Oshie has 42 points through 61 games and is an important part of the Blues' future. He must be re-signed because he's only going to get better if he can remain healthy.

He is a restricted free agent this summer.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Keith Aulie

Keith Aulie was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on trade deadline day from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and if he plays well under head coach Guy Boucher, then the team should re-sign him because the Lightning don't have a ton of good young defensemen.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Mikhail Grabovski

Mikhail Grabovski and the Toronto Maple Leafs haven't been able to reach a contract extension this season, but considering Grabovski is the team's best center, it's important that he is re-signed.

Grabovski's two-way game and playmaking abilities make him a very valuable part of the Leafs roster. He is an unrestricted free agent in the summer.

Vancouver Canucks: Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider beat the Boston Bruins on the road this season, which is something starting goaltender Roberto Luongo couldn't do in the Stanley Cup Final last season.

Luongo's struggles in the playoffs, combined with the composure and talent of Schneider, make the young goalie someone Canucks general manager Mike Gillis must re-sign in the summer.

Schneider is ready to be a star No. 1 goaltender at the NHL level, and it will be interesting to see if he will accept a back-up role for another season. He is a restricted free agent.

Washington Capitals: John Carlson

At 22 years old, defenseman John Carlson is one of the franchise cornerstones of the Washington Capitals.

He plays well at both ends of the ice and has 29 points through 63 games this season. He is a restricted free agent and must be re-signed before fellow defenseman Mike Green.

Winnipeg Jets: Evander Kane

Evander Kane's improvement as a young offensive player this season is a major reason why the Winnipeg Jets are in the playoff race right now in the Eastern Conference.

He has 42 points in 57 games and is the best offensive player on the Jets. At just 20 years old, Kane has not come close to his potential, and has the ability to become a superstar player very soon.

Winnipeg cannot afford to lose hos goal-scoring talents.