NHL Free Agency 2012: One Player Each Team Is Guaranteed to Lose This Summer

Each NHL team has at least one player it will lose this summer. Whether it's because the player will be too expensive to re-sign or that player is not worth re-signing, each team will lose a few players and have to fill those gaps through the draft, free agency or with trades.

Let's look at one player each NHL team is guaranteed to lose.

Anaheim Ducks: Jason Blake

With 11 points in 35 games this season, Anaheim Ducks forward Jason Blake is not likely to return to the team for next year. 

The Ducks will gladly take the 38-year-old's $4 million salary cap hit off the books.

Boston Bruins: Joe Corvo

Joe Corvo was brought to the Boston Bruins to replace Tomas Kaberle, who left in the offseason to join the Carolina Hurricanes.

Corvo was supposed to make the Bruins power play better and really shine offensively. Well, he has done neither for Boston this season and has been a liability defensively way too often.

He won't return to the Bruins next year.

Buffalo Sabres: Brad Boyes

In 56 games this season, the Buffalo Sabres forward has just five goals and a total of 18 points.

He's not the offensive force he used to be, and the team would be foolish to re-sign Boyes to anywhere near the $4 million he made this year.

Calgary Flames: Cory Sarich

At age 33 and with just six points in 55 games, Cory Sarich may find himself looking for a new team in the summer. 

The Calgary Flames don't have to let him go, but some teams needing defensive depth will look to sign the unrestricted free agent.

Carolina Hurricanes: Bryan Allen

Many were surprised the Carolina Hurricanes held on to defenseman Bryan Allen at the trade deadline, but as an unrestricted free agent in the summer, several contending teams will show interest in the veteran.

He plays very well in the defensive zone and is a physical presence at both ends of the ice.

Chicago Blackhawks: Johnny Oduya

Johnny Oduya is a good defenseman, but the Chicago Blackhawks would be foolish to bring him back at the same $3.5 million salary cap hit he has this season.

A good performance in the playoffs would really help his case for staying in Chicago.

Colorado Avalanche: Matt Hunwick

Despite having a ton of free agents to sign this summer, the Colorado Avalanche have plenty of salary cap space to work with.

If a contending team makes a strong offer for defenseman Matt Hunwick, it will be tough to see the Avalanche matching when the organization has good depth on the blue line.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Kristian Huselius

Injuries have caused Kristian Huselius to miss all but two games for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season.

The team would be smart to let his $4.75 million salary cap hit come off the books and find a player who can be consistently productive.

Dallas Stars: Sheldon Souray

In the midst of a playoff race at the trade deadline, the Dallas Stars decided not to part with veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray.

In the summer as a free agent, it's likely that he'll join a contending team for one last Stanley Cup run in his career.

Detroit Red Wings: Jiri Hudler

If the Detroit Red Wings can re-sign Jiri Hudler to a similar amount they're paying him now, then they may keep him. But his inconsistent play is quite frustrating for the team and fans alike.

Edmonton Oilers: Sam Gagner

The Edmonton Oilers don't have too many important players they could lose this summer, but as a restricted free agent, Sam Gagner could draw interest from teams. 

With Edmonton having to sign Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to new deals soon, Gagner may be the one who goes.

Florida Panthers: Scott Clemmensen

Scott Clemmensen likely won't be back with the Florida Panthers next season, when veteran goaltender Jose Theodore is still under contract and top prospect Jakob Markstrom is ready for NHL duty full time.

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner's tenure in Los Angeles has been an absolute nightmare because of his poor play and injury problems. There's no way the team re-signs him in the summer.

Montreal Canadiens: Travis Moen

With a few important free agents to sign this summer, such as goaltender Carey Price and defenseman P.K. Subban, the Montreal Canadiens could allow veteran forward Travis Moen to sign with a contending team.

Minnesota Wild: Josh Harding

With so many teams looking for goaltending help, Minnesota Wild backup Josh Harding will certainly be given a nice contract from a team looking to pry him from the Wild.

The team cannot afford to pay Harding too much money when starter Niklas Backstrom makes $6 million per season.

Nashville Predators: Andrei Kostitsyn

With the Nashville Predators needing to sign star defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to new contracts this summer, forward Andrei Kostitsyn will likely be one free agent the team chooses not to re-sign.

New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise

Zach Parise is the face of the New Jersey Devils franchise and is an unrestricted free agent this summer. If a team like the Detroit Red Wings or New York Rangers make a big play for Parise, he might leave the Devils.

New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov

The New York Islanders would like to re-sign goaltender Evgeni Nabokov but with his playoff experience and strong skills, a contending team is a better option for him.

New York Rangers: John Scott

The New York Rangers have enough defensive depth and physical players that makes re-signing veteran defenseman John Scott something that won't happen.

Ottawa Senators: Alex Auld

After acquiring Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues before the trade deadline, having starter Craig Anderson signed for several more years and having good goaltending depth throughout the organization, there's no need for the Ottawa Senators to re-sign backup goalie Alex Auld.

Philadelphia Flyers: Matt Carle

With a few defensemen having expiring contracts this summer, the Philadelphia Flyers will not re-sign Matt Carle when the team has better players blueliners to keep around.

Phoenix Coyotes: Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney is still a talented offensive player and likely won't re-sign with the Phoenix Coyotes when he can make more money on a team with a real chance to win the Stanley Cup next season.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Brent Johnson

The Pittsburgh Penguins don't have many free agents to re-sign this summer, but backup goalie Brent Johnson hasn't played well this season and could be replaced by a more reliable netminder.

San Jose Sharks: Dominic Moore

The San Jose Sharks brought Dominic Moore to the team through trade this season to give them some scoring in the playoffs. If Moore plays poorly in the postseason or if the Sharks don't even make it there, Moore could be signed by another contender in the summer.

St. Louis Blues: Jason Arnott

If the price to re-sign veteran forward Jason Arnott is too high in the summer, then expect the St. Louis Blues to not re-sign him.

The Blues could look to acquire some more veteran forwards through free agency with their abundance of salary cap space.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Dwayne Roloson

After leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Eastern Conference finals last season, veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson has been awful this season.

With the Lightning needing to find a franchise goaltender for the future, expect Roloson to not be re-signed by Tampa Bay.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Jonas Gustavsson

The Toronto Maple Leafs must address their goaltending problems in the summer, and with goalie Jonas Gustavsson set to become an unrestricted free agent, it's likely that he won't be re-signed.

Vancouver Canucks: Aaron Rome

The Vancouver Canucks will have good defensive depth next season when Keith Ballard returns from injury, which makes defenseman Aaron Rome, who is an unrestricted free agent in the summer, expendable.

Washington Capitals: Alexander Semin

With the Washington Capitals having several areas to address in free agency, especially on defense, there is little expectation that the team will give Alexander Semin a long-term deal with a salary cap hit of $5 million or more.

Semin is too inconsistent to pledge lots of money and years of commitment to.

Winnipeg Jets: Eric Fehr

Eric Fehr is back with the Winnipeg Jets after recovering from surgery, but if he cannot prove he can stay healthy consistently, the team would be smart to not re-sign him in the summer when Fehr is an unrestricted free agent.