NHL Free Agency: 5 Players Who Deserve a Huge Pay Raise

As the playoffs end and the free-agency period begins on July 1, there are many players looking forward to cashing in and earning a massive pay raise.

Both unrestricted and restricted free agents who improved this season will be looking for more money, and with the ridiculous contract extensions given during the regular season, these guys looking for big money will probably find it.

Let's look at five players ready for a big raise.

Cory Schneider, G, Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have to decide whether to keep Roberto Luongo or have young goaltender Cory Schneider take over the starting job and trade Luongo.

According to TSN, Luongo will submit a list of teams he will waive his no-movement clause to go to, so it appears that Schneider will be the guy for Vancouver.

That's the right choice because Schneider was 20-8 in the regular season and won big games against the Boston Bruins (on the road) and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Schneider was 1-2 in the playoffs this year but had a .940 save percentage and a 1.91 GAA. Expect Schneider to get $4 million per season in his next contract, and he deserves it.

Tuukka Rask, G, Boston Bruins

Young Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask could be the starter in net next season whether the team trades Tim Thomas in the offseason or not.

He's a very talented player who has already led the Bruins on a playoff run during the 2010 season, and was 11-8-3 this season.

Expect Rask to make much more than his 2011-12 $1.25 million salary next year.

Ryan Suter, D, Predators

Ryan Suter is one of the NHL's best defenseman and is rock solid in his own zone because of his physical play and good defensive positioning. He's also a factor offensively with his ability to be effective on the power play.

As the only big-time defenseman on the unrestricted free-agent market, Suter is going to get close to $8 million per season on his new contract this summer—a big step up from his 2011-12 salary of $3.5 million.

Jakub Voracek, RW, Flyers

Jakub Voracek was acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers in the Jeff Carter trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets over the summer and had 49 points this season for the Flyers.

He's a very talented young forward with his ability to score goals in big moments and also give the team a lot of speed.

His seven points in six playoff games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round will help him make a lot of money this summer as a restricted free agent.

Michael Del Zotto, D, Rangers

After a disappointing sophomore season, New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto bounced back in a big way this season to rank fifth on the team in scoring with 41 points.

Del Zotto is a smooth-skating defenseman with strong playmaking skills and is steadily improving his defensive abilities.

He's a key part of the Rangers future and will make at least $2.5 million or more per year in his next contract as a restricted free agent this summer.