NHL Free Agency: One Player Each Team Will Let Walk on July 1

July 1 is one of the biggest days on the NHL calendar. It's the day where a team can go from being a chump to being a champ with just money. It's the day where the biggest names are signed and team's futures are changed.

It is also the day where teams can finally get out of a bad contract or just let a player go that is no longer in their plans. This article focuses on those players. Players that are going to have to find a new place to play in the NHL or elsewhere.

Who are these player? Let's find out.

Anaheim: Jason Blake

2011-12 Cap Hit: $4 million

Jason Blake has been a serviceable player for the Anaheim Ducks since he was acquired in January of 2010, but the fact is that he was acquired only to get rid of Jean-Sebastien Giguere's cap hit.

They may have taken in more cap than they took out, but they had two players for a total of $8 million instead of paying one player $6 million.

That being said, the Ducks could use Blake's money elsewhere and will let him go July 1.

Boston: Marty Turco

2011-12 Cap Hit: $600,000

This one is quite simple. All of the other Boston UFAs are worth retaining and Marty Turco was only brought in to serve as a backup for a couple of weeks.

He'll be unemployed again in a couple of months.

Buffalo: Ales Kotalik

2011-12 Cap Hit: $3 million

He's not playing in the NHL but owners don't like to pay $3 million to a player that is playing in the NHL. He's gone.

Calgary: Cory Sarich

2011-12 Cap Hit: $3.6 million

With the speculation that Cory Sarich asked for a trade earlier this season, it could be said that he does want to get out of Calgary.

It would probably be better for both parties as Sarich is still valuable to a contending team, and the Flames could use the money they save to help with the rebuild.

Carolina: Jaroslav Spacek

2011-12 Cap Hit: $3,833,333

Carolina wanted a forward in return for Tomas Kaberle, but they had to settle for Jaroslav Spacek. The deal definitely worked out for them as they got rid of a player with two years left on his contract with a cap hit of over $4 million, for a player that is paid just a little less, but whose contract ends at the end of the season.

They weren't successful in trading him at the deadline, so he will be done by July 1.

Chicago: Cristobal Huet

2011-12 Cap Hit: $5.625 million

Being paid over $5.5 million and playing in Switzerland is not a good combination for the Chicago Blackhawks. They will be more than happy when Cristobal Huet's contract ends this summer.

Colorado: Milan Hejduk

2011-12 Cap Hit: $3 million

In my opinion, Milan Hejduk will probably retire at some point during the summer. If he doesn't, he might need to find himself a new team.

With nearly half the team as some sort of free agent—including Matt Duchene—the Colorado Avalanche might have to let their captain go.

Columbus: Kristian Huselius

2011-12 Cap Hit: $4.75 million

Put simply, I'm pretty sure that Columbus will retain very few of its UFAs on July 1. Kristian Huselius departing will open up a bunch of cap space that can be used in another rebuild.

Dallas: Andrew Raycroft

2011-12 Cap Hit: $650,000

The Dallas Stars have the goaltending prospects that could fill the backup role. That makes Andrew Raycroft expendable.

The former Calder Trophy winner is going to have to look for yet another new home.

Detroit: Jiri Hudler

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2.875 million

It's not that Jiri Hudler has been a bad player during his second stint in Detroit, but it might be time for him to find a new home. Detroit is going to be very active in free agency, and they could open up more cap space by letting Hudler go.

Edmonton: Darcy Hordichuk

2011-12 Cap Hit: $825,000

Edmonton's crop of UFAs this season isn't at all spectacular outside of Ryan Smyth. Since it's pretty much a sure thing that he will be re-signed, I'm going with Darcy Hordichuk, but it could be anyone on their list of free agents.

Florida: Scott Clemmensen

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.2 million

Jacob Markstrom will be, if he is not already, ready to play for the Florida Panthers. He will more than likely step right into the starting role, pushing Jose Theodore into the backup spot.

That makes Scott Clemmensen expendable.

Los Angeles: Dustin Penner

2011-12 Cap Hit: $4.25 million

It's no secret that Los Angeles has wanted to get out from under Dustin Penner's cap hit. He has played horribly this season. The Kings probably tried everything possible, and no one would take him.

LA is counting down the day until Penner is no longer taking up a roster spot.

Minnesota: Josh Harding

2011-12 Cap Hit: $750,000

With Matt Hackett ready to assume the backup role, and Niklas Backstrom firmly entrenched in the starting role, Josh Harding will be looking for a team that is willing to give him a chance at a starting job.

Montreal: Travis Moen

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.5 million

Travis Moen is one of the players that a lot of teams will take a look at in the summer. He has played well for Montreal, but it looks like the Habs might be entering a rebuild in the summer, and it would be wise for it to be a total rebuild.

Moen's career would be better served elsewhere.

Nashville: Jordin Tootoo

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.25 million

This one's simple. Nashville wants to re-sign Ryan Suter, and if they do, they might go after more impact players.

It doesn't bode so well for Jordin Tootoo. The Masterton nominee might have to continue his resurgence elsewhere.

New Jersey: Bryce Salvador

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2.9 million

If New Jersey is to re-sign Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur, they might have to give up some of their other players. With his cap hit gone, Bryce Salvadore would open up the money to at least sign Brodeur.

New York Islanders: Mark Eaton

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2.5 million

This is another case in which a rebuilding team should be ready to replace their veterans with youngsters. Mark Eaton has played in New York for two years, and his roster spot should be given to a young defenseman such as Calvin de Haan.

New York Rangers: Sean Avery

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1,937,500

Well, seeing that he's gone already, I feel pretty safe that this is a sure bet.

Ottawa: Alex Auld

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1 million

Now with Robin Lehner and Ben Bishop, the Ottawa Senators have two of the best young goalie prospects in their pipeline. With Craig Anderson the starter for now, one of the two will take over the backup role starting next season.

Alex Auld will be the unfortunate victim of the Sens richness of prospects.

Philadelphia: Michael Leighton

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.55 million

Another player that has been sitting in the minors, Michael Leighton will be fighting for another chance to be a goaltender in the NHL. With Philadelphia's goaltending positions taken up for quite some time, he's definitely not going to get the chance in Philly.

Phoenix: Adrian Aucoin

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2 million

Phoenix owns one of the best crops of young defenseman in the NHL. With Oliver Ekman-Larsson, David Rundblad, Brandon Gormley and Connor Murphy all in their pipeline, Adrian Aucoin is very expendable at this time.

Pittsburgh: Steve Sullivan

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.5 million

When you have a team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, you really don't need to get rid of anyone. Seeing that I have to name one, I'm going with Steve Sullivan. Only signing a one-year contract, Sullivan could be replaced by any number of Pittsburgh's young talent.

San Jose: Antero Niittymaki

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2 million

Yet another player that's sitting in the minors, Antero Niittymaki will probably be heading out of the NHL once his contract expires. Unless he is willing to take a significant pay cut, I don't see many teams going after him.

St. Louis: Carlo Colaiacovo

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2.125

The injury-prone defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo will finally see his time in St. Louis come to an end. The Blues are strong enough on defense to withstand the loss of Colaiacovo.

Tampa Bay: Dwayne Roloson

2011-12 Cap Hit: $3.5 million

Age finally caught up to Dwayne Roloson this season. He will be let go on July 1 and will be looking for a backup role for one more season before he retires.

Toronto: Jonas Gustavsson

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1.35 million

The Jonas Gustavsson experiment is over. While at times he has appeared to be a great goaltender, other times he's looked unworthy to play in the NHL. The Maple Leafs will be looking elsewhere. Some other team will play the "potential" card and give him another chance.

Vancouver: Steven Reinprecht

2011-12 Cap Hit: $2.05 million

Acquired in the David Booth deal, Steven Reinprecht has been sitting in the AHL waiting for the playoffs to begin. As their is no salary cap in the playoffs, Reinprecht will provide some extra depth. That will end as soon as the playoffs end, and it will be tough for him to find another NHL job.

Washington: Alex Semin

2011-12 Cap Hit: $6.7 million

This season was Alex Semin's last chance. He has failed along with most of the Washington Capitals and will be let go as a result. His talent should merit another team taking a chance on him, but he might end up going back to Russia.

Winnipeg: Jim Slater

2011-12 Cap Hit: $1 million

If you were to look at Winnipeg's crop of free agents, it doesn't look all that enticing to other teams. They all could stay or they all could go, and it probably won't make much difference. Jim Slater was pretty much chosen out of a hat.