11 NHL Players Who Will Find Themselves out of a Job

The 2011-12 season has been very kind to such high-profile stars as Steven Stamkos, who has a chance to eclipse the 60-goal plateau. However, for other former standouts, this season has been quite the opposite.

Some stars have played so poorly that they will find themselves out of a job next season.

Who will those players be? Here's my best guess.

Ilya Bryzgolov

Under normal circumstances, you'd be to think Bryzgolov won't be the starter next year. However, after a rocky first year with the Flyers, I don't think he is in the clear, with Sergei Bobrovsky breathing down his neck.

However, give credit where credit is due. Bryzgolov has been phenomenal in the second half this season. He is 14-5 with a 1.48 goals against average. But if Bryzgolov struggles again next season, the Flyers could be looking at a time share.

Semyon Varlamov

Semyon Varlamov's situation is nearly identical to Bryzgolov's.

Varlamov was abysmal the first half of the season and even lost his starting job to Jean Sebastian Giguere for a bit. However, the second half of the season has brought Varlamov some time and breathing room.

But just like with Bryzgolov, some early-season struggles next year could cost Varlamov his starting job.

Steve Mason

The Columbus Blue Jackets and their goaltender are mess. Steve Mason has not had a goals-against average under three since his rookie year four seasons ago.

Would a different goaltender make this franchise good, or even decent? Probably not. But I feel if they brought in a goaltender to start instead of Mason, it would certainly improve the team.

Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur is one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. But unfortunately for him, the NHL, just like any other sports league, is a "what have you done for me lately"-type of league.

Brodeur, who is in a contract year, may be playing his last games as a New Jersey Devils. He is not the same player he was. At this point of their careers, Johan Hedberg is the better goaltender.

However, Brodeur still could still find himself on a team like Edmonton or Columbus that has a rocky goaltender situation.

Devan Dubnyk/Nikolai Khabibulin

The Oilers have a young core of stars in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. But when it comes to goaltending, they are adrift.

Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk have been nothing short of awful. Granted, the Oilers defense needs all the help it can get. But the goaltending needs to be better if they are ever going to be a playoff team again.

Cory Schneider

This is a contract year for Cory Schneider, who has has simply played too well as Roberto Luongo's backup to remain in that role. 

Schneider is 35-11 with a GAA under 2.20. He has the potential to put up elite numbers with a different team. Teams such as the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets will undoubtedly be eying Schneider. He is the type of goaltender who can make a bad team a great team.

Michael Grabner

One of the biggest disappointments of the 2011-12 season has to be Michael Grabner. He was a force  the second half of last season, finishing with 34 goals, the most on the Islanders. And everyone expected him to build on that.

Instead, he has struggled to find the net, scoring just 17 goals in one fewer game. Grabner has found himself on the third line in recent weeks and will need to earn his way back among the team's top six forwards.

Grabner is a large reason the Isles have been disappointing this season as secondary scoring was one of their biggest issues.

Matt Duchene

After the 2010-11 season, I said I wish the Islanders had drafted Matt Duchene instead of John Tavares with the No. 1 overall pick. I could not regret those statements any more now, especially with the season Duchene just had.

He has constantly been out with injuries and struggled when he has been on the ice. He won't lose his job, but he may not be the first-line center going into next season.

Chris Stewart

Chris Stewart, once a top-flight goal-scorer with the Colorado Avalanche, has been a major disappointment with the St. Louis Blues.

That the Blues have had such a successful season has overshadowed the mediocre season Stewart has had. With only 15 goals through 76 games, he may not be a top-six forward for St. Louis next season.

Jeff Carter

Not only has Jeff Carter been a major disappointment this season, he has been a major disappointment for two teams.

Both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings were hoping that Carter could regain the form that saw him score 30 goals a season for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Carter has not only struggled on the ice but has struggled to stay on the ice, sitting out with injuries several times this season. Carter doesn't figure to be a top-three forward next season. He'll most likely be a top-six forward with the Kings.

James Reimer

Once seen as the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs, James Reimer has been bad this season, to put it mildly.

He started the season pretty solid but suffered a concussion the first month and, quite frankly, has not been the same player since. Unless he regains his pre-concussion form, he will be a marginal backup goalie somewhere.