What the Top 10 NHL Free Agents Can Expect to Be Paid This Summer

June is a unique time of year in the National Hockey League.

While one team celebrates a Stanley Cup victory and a season that ended in success, 29 other teams are left to figure out what went wrong.

A bad bounce, an ill-timed injury or two(or more), under performing stars or locker room drama—any of these variables can derail a season that always begins with promise.

The Stanley Cup Finals typically wrap up in the first week of June, and the scramble begins for pre-draft trades for expiring and bad contracts.

Teams will jockey with one another to move up in the draft, trade a bad contract or try to acquire anything for a pending free agent soon to walk.

While some teams will continue to scramble to resign their own free agents—desperate to keep them on the roster—the call of dollar signs on the open market are too much to resist.

While there is no Peyton Manning, Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder or LeBron James in this year's crop of free agency, there is certainly a wealth of talent available to the highest bidder.

Here are some projections for what the top 10 upcoming free agents can expect.

*Estimates based on 2012 salaries and player performance in 2011-12 season

P.A. Parenteau

How about a breakout season heading into some contract negotiations?

P.A. Parenteau made a respectable $1.25 million last year, but his 67 points put him right behind rising Islander stars John Tavares and Matt Moulson.

The 29-year old French-Canadien caught the eye of the NHL with his silky hands and set-up skills, and would be an asset to any roster.

That being said, the Islanders are keen on keeping their young stars together and grow them into a contender in the Eastern Conference.

Potential teams: NY Islanders, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo

Potential deal: five years/$21-25 million

Ray Whitney

This year, Ray Whitney has rediscovered his youth in Phoenix.

Posting 77 points in his 19th year in the league, the incumbent Coyote forward is showing he has plenty of tread left on his tires. Phoenix's play this year—led by Whitney, linemate Radim Vrbata and new goalie Mike Smith—earned them a Pacific Division crown and the third seed in the playoffs this year.

While the market for 39-year-old players is typically limited, look for Phoenix to sign him to another deal for one, maybe two years tops.

Whitney seemed to really flourish and enjoy Arizona this year, and the Coyotes would be well served to reward him.

Potential teams: Phoenix

Potential deal: two years/$5-7 million

Alexander Semin

Alexander Semin is the "other" significant Alexander in Washington.

A disappointing first half of the season left Semin the subject of trade rumors right up to the deadline. Washington held on to their moody, quasi-star winger, and he responded by coming to life (somewhat) and helping the Caps sneak into the playoffs the last week of the season.

When he's good, Semin has the skill to be a top-five winger in the league.

When he's off, Semin is invisible, as he doesn't grind or hit, but does have great hands and a crazy good shot.

This offseason, Semin's $6.7 million salary in 2012 makes his price tag interesting.

However, teams will clamor for the Russian's services, hoping he can regain the form that saw him at a point-per-game pace. He's only 28, but durability issues have him play more than 76 games once in six years.

Potential teams: Washington, NY Rangers, Detroit, Los Angeles, Anaheim

Potential deal: five years/$30-38million

Nicklas Lidstrom

The ageless Red Wing blueliner has been doing the year-to-year thing since hitting 39 years old.

That was THREE years ago!

While Lidstrom's production has dipped this year, the Wings' captain is still one of Detroit's most valuable players.

By the time the 2012-13 season closes, Lidstrom will be a sprightly 43. Chris Chelios hung around til he was 47, but hardly had the impact in his last few years that Lidstrom has had of late.

Detroit GM Ken Holland will certainly not be pushing his smooth skating, Swede D-man out the door, but will be looking for a commitment from Lids before free agency begins.

Holland will need to know for sure, because his pockets get a little deeper if the seven-time Norris trophy winner skates off into the sunset.

Potential teams: Detroit, anyone else? yeah right.

Potential deal: Nick goes year to year, and maybe we get a depreciation discount here. one year/$5 million

Olli Jokinen

Who doesn't need a bald, 33-year-old center from Finland, who can win a ton of faceoffs, and get on the score sheet regularly?

Let it also be said that Olli grows a fierce mustache.

It's not really fair to call Olli Jokinen a journeyman player. The guy will get his 300th goal and 700th point next year, but what jersey will he be wearing?

Calgary was Olli's sixth team in 13 years of NHL service.

While he still seems to be producing at a consistent level, Calgary GM Jay Feaster will have to decide if he wants to keep the big Fin or use some of his cap space to go with younger players.

While their is no substitute for veteran leadership, the Flames will need to get back to the playoffs and already have two aging stars in Jarome Iginla and keeper Mikka Kiprusoff.

Potential teams: Calgary, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Montreal

Potentail deal: four years/$10-15 million

Martin Brodeur

With several big teams needing goalies, could we really see the NHL wins king taking his talents anywhere other than New Jersey?

If Marty didn't like playing there, let's face it, he could have left a long time ago.

Letting his contract expire will allow him to drive his price up a little with the Devils, but I would be shocked to see him in any other sweater next fall.

That being said, a desperate team could bring a dump truck of cash to Marty's back door and lure him away. Brodeur's late season play have shown that he's still better than more than half of the keepers in the league and can still steal a game here and there.

Potential teams: New Jersey, Toronto, Tampa Bay

Potential deal: two years/$6-8 million

Ryan Suter

Shea Weber's tag-team partner in Nashville, Ryan Suter might actually be the preferred choice of some NHL teams.

While Nashville is negotiating on two fronts, they could potentially lose both of their franchise defensemen.

Suter doesn't have the nasty streak of Weber that some NHL team's covet, but is every bit as productive offensively. He doesn't have the imposing size of his pal Weber, but is a great skater, and is excellent at getting the puck from opponents.

Suter's price tag might be more friendly to the teams that get priced out of the Weber sweepstakes, but he will still command a hefty sticker price.

Potential teams: Everyone who doesn't go after Weber first. Nashville would be the favorite.

Potential deal: six years/$40-45 million

Zach Parise

The Minnesota native is potentially the offensive gem of the free-agent market.

Parise is a couple years removed from sniffing 100 points, and finished with a solid 69 this year after bouncing back from an injury in 2010-11.

The Devils' captain has been mum about resigning with the Devils and it's expected he will negotiate more readily with the Devils, and others, when his deal expires July 1.

Parise had a strong second half of the season and was crucial in helping Patrick Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk rediscover their scoring touch this year. He's a nifty skater with a quick release, and despite being only 5'11'', doesn't mind going to the net.

Parise's offensive numbers are considerably more impressive considering he has posted his stats playing for a traditionally defense-first team in New Jersey.

Ownership issues in New Jersey could sabotage the Devils' position as front-runners to resign him.

Potential teams: New Jersey, Minnesota, Detroit

Potential deal: six years/$40-45 million

Cory Schneider

The Vancouver backup will be looking to stretch his legs and get off the pine in the Pacific northwest.

The talented 26 year old has been the apprentice of all-world Roberto Luongo for the entirety of his career, with many Canuck fans actually favoring the understudy.

While Schneider benefits from playing in front of a great Vancouver team, his stats should fetch a big RFA (restricted free agent) contract Vancouver will be very unlikely to match.

With several franchises in dire need of a number one backstop, Schneider will most certainly be on the move.

Potential teams: Tampa Bay, Toronto, Washington, Chicago

Potential deal: five years/$30-35 million

Shea Weber

Largely considered to be the grand prize in this summer's free-agent scramble, Weber leaving Nashville seems inconceivable.

The Predator's push to the Stanley Cup this year may be the variable that keeps him in the Music City, or the frustration that drives him away.

The Nashville front office seemed hell-bent on getting a Cup contender on the ice to convince their captain, and his defensive partner Ryan Suter, they were building for now.

All loyalty aside, there's still a reason that free agents let their contracts expire: money.

Weber knows his value to Nashville, and knows how that value can translate to a team that may seek his services more desperately than the Preds.

At the end of the day, I think Weber stays put as Nashville empties the piggy bank to keep him.

Potential teams: Everyone. No, really, everyone. Nashville has the inside edge, but they'll be bidding high.

Potential deal: seven years/$49-60 million

Follow Rob Kirk on Twitter @theRobKirk