2012 NHL Free Agents: Nashville Predators and Playoff Teams with Most Work to Do

Now is certainly not the time for teams in the NHL playoffs to concern themselves with free agents, salary caps or any other summertime matters. That can all wait while they chase after the Stanley Cup.

But, once that final horn sounds, it'll be high time for every contender to turn its attention toward building its roster for another deep postseason run. According to CapGeek.com, 14 of the league's 30 teams will have at least $20 million in cap space with which to fiddle about on the open market. Of those 14, six are still skating, with these three sporting the most financial flexibility for the upcoming offseason.

Nashville Predators

Being more than $32 million under the cap is hardly cause for celebration in the Music City. Predators GM David Poile will likely lose all three of his trade-deadline acquisitions (Hal Gill, Andrei Kostisyn and Paul Gaustad), but must concern himself, first and foremost, with star defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. He'll have some leverage over Weber, a restricted free agent, but can do little more than keep his fingers crossed that Suter will find the team's offer to his liking.

Poile's biggest ally may well be head coach Barry Trotz, who could convince Weber and Suter to stay by guiding the Preds deep into the playoffs and proving that the team is prepared to contend now and into the future. Otherwise, Poile's gambles figure to blow up in his face, leaving Nashville with little more than a scrap heap and a full-scale rebuild ahead.

Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes are due to wipe a slew of fat contracts off the books this summer ($29.4 million worth, to be more exact), though none will give the organization more pause than that of Shane Doan. The future Hall of Famer and 16-year veteran of the franchise is set to hit free agency at the age of 35, leaving Phoenix with a difficult decision to make:

Do they shell out big bucks to keep Doan, the face of the team for the better part of two decades, or do they let him walk, in pursuit of that ever-elusive Stanley Cup?

This is of course assuming that Phoenix doesn't go all the way this year.

GM Don Maloney won't be too keen to fill up all (or even most) of the Coyotes' cap space, considering the team's ongoing financial woes. That may force Maloney to bid Doan farewell...and leave every fringe contender clamoring for a veteran of his stellar repute.

St. Louis Blues

The summer of 2012 will go a long way toward determining whether the Blues' sensational season was a one-time deal or if there's something truly special brewing at the Scottrade Center. Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott are still under contract for a mere $4.35 million combined.

And it's not as though the Blues will be losing that many high-priced stars to begin with. Barrett Jackman ($3.625 million), Jason Arnott ($2.875 million) and Jamie Langenbrunner ($2.75 million) are the most expensive departures, though there should be plenty of room amidst the $28.47 million in cap cash to at least make a pass at each of those three as the team sees fit.

If not, St. Louis should have no qualms showing the money to big names like Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Alexander Semin.

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