NHL Free Agent & Trade Rumors: One Player Each Team Needs to Dump This Offseason

The NHL season is almost over with the Stanley Cup fInal slowly approaching. With the current CBA set to expire, teams will most certainly look to make some moves this offseason when it comes dumping players.

Some players will be cut for salary reasons, others will be a victim of their own underperformance and others will be released due to a blend of multiple factors.

With that in mind, here is one player that each team needs to dump this offseason. This can include opting not the re-sign a UFA, RFA or trading an underperforming player out of town.

Anaheim Ducks: Dan Ellis

The Anaheim Ducks have no reason to keep Ellis with Jonas Hiller as the team's top goaltender. The Ducks also signed goaltender Viktor Fasth to a one-year $1 million dollar deal, so that could indicate that Ellis will not be back in Anaheim next season.

Boston Bruins: Brian Rolston

Brian Rolston was a decent trade deadline acquisition for the Bruins, but he isn't in the long term plans of the team. By not retaining Rolston and dumping his contract, the Bruins will have the flexibility to retain their major free agents. The move will also give them some cap space to spend in the upcoming season.

Buffalo Sabres: Brad Boyes

The Sabres will likely avoid re-signing Boyes due to the fact he makes $4 million per season.

With the Sabres looking to add some more offense this summer, dumping Boyes' contract would allow them some flexibility when it comes to signing free agents or making a trade.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jaroslav Spacek

The Hurricanes could be in a big position to make a run at Ryan Suter or Zach Parise this summer. In order to accomplish this, the Hurricanes need to free up as much potential cap space as they can. 

If the Hurricanes attempt to pursue Suter, there is a good chance they will not resign Spacek because of his age and cap hit.

Calgary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen had a solid bounce-back season and likely will test the free-agent market for a huge pay day. The Flames won't mind dumping his salary considering they are looking to retool and avoid a rebuild.

The Flames may make some moves this summer but it may all revolve around what happens with Jarome Iginla.

Chicago Blackhawks: Cristobal Huet

The former starting netminder for the Blackhawks is finally a free agent and the Hawks will finally dump his contract.

Although he hasn't counted against the salary cap the past few years, the Blackhawks have still paid him a lot of money.

Huet is now 36 years old and will hit the market, but will there be a team out there that's willing to sign him?

Colorado Avalanche: Matt Hunwick

Matt Hunwick is a puck-moving depth defenseman who makes a minimal amount. He was acquired in a trade with Boston and was a decent defenseman, but the Avalanche have other areas where they could improve their team so this small saving could be applied to a much bigger deal down the line.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Nash

The Blue Jackets need to move on past the Rick Nash trade saga so dealing him this offseason would be best for all involved. It is clear that Nash wants to move on and that Scott Howson will try to accommodate that request.

Even though trading a franchise player in Nash sounds daunting, the potential return would be beneficially in retooling the depth of the Blue Jackets.

Dallas Stars: Radek Dvorak

Dvorak was once a talented mid-level player but has now regressed to a 20-point player with limited minutes. Dvorak is making $1.5 million and 21 points a season is not a great return for the Stars. For that reason, Dvorak will not be back in Dallas next season.

Detroit Red Wings: Brad Stuart

There were rumors at the trade deadline that Stuart would be traded due to the fact it appears he will not be back in Detroit next season.

However, that rumor ultimately was just nonsense. But the fact still remains that Stuart likely will not be a Red Wing next season. With all of Detroit's cap space, signing a suitable replacement should not be an issue.

Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Smyth

Ryan Smyth is getting older and was a veteran who Tom Renney relied on heavily. However, with Renney out as head coach and Brent Sutter in, it appears the makeup of the team could change. Sutter owns the Red Deer Rebels and is obviously very familiar with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

If Sutter applies a system in which the younger players like RNH, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall receive top ice-time, Smyth may take a cut in salary to play a larger role on another team in the NHL.

Florida Panthers: Wojtek Wolski

Wojtek Wolski was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers and didn't have much of an impact. He is a restricted free agent, and in order to retain his services the Panthers would have to sign him to a qualifying offer.

Wolski will likely hit free agency and search for a team willing to take a chance on him.

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner has had a solid postseason to this point for the Los Angeles Kings, but there is likely one major reason why he won't be re-signed this offseason.

This reason is Zach Parise.

The Kings will likely push hard for Parise and dumping Penner gives the Kings the cap flexibility to push very diligently for Parise.

Minnesota Wild: Erik Christensen

Erik Christensen is another New York Ranger castoff that will be looking for work again this offseason.

Christensen is a shootout specialist who has offensive creativity but is very inconsistent. The Wild traded a mid-level prospect for him, so the loss will not be too great when they dump him this offseason.

Montreal Canadiens: Scott Gomez

Scott Gomez has been horrendous the past few years and the Canadiens could buy him out or amnesty his contract if such a clause included in a new CBA. The bottom line remains that Gomez needs to get out of Montreal.

Nashville Predators: Alexander Radulov

Alexander Radulov returned to the NHL amongst controversy and he will leave the Predators amongst controversy.

Radulov returned to the NHL in order to fulfill the last year of his ELC. However, he created controversy when he missed curfew during the playoffs and was suspended by the team for two games.

There is absolutely no reason why anyone should expect Radulov to return to Nashville.

New Jersey Devils: Petr Sykora

Petr Sykora was signed after a tryout for the Devils during the offseason. He had a decent season but was recently a healthy scratch in the playoffs. He is getting older and his skills are no longer what they once were, so Sykora is a player the Devils will have no problem letting go this offseason. 

New York Islanders: Rick DiPietro

If the NHL adds an amnesty buyout with the upcoming CBA, getting rid of the often-injured Rick DiPietro would be a wise and widely expected move. The Islanders want to be a contending playoff team, but until they are rid of DiPietro, they will be on the hook for his salary. 

New York Rangers: Brandon Dubinsky

Brandon Dubinsky has fallen down the depth chart for the Rangers. He makes $4.2 million dollars and is paid primarily for his defense and penalty-killing specialties. The Rangers have tons of young players who have either stepped in to a prominent role or will do so next season.

Dealing Dubinsky gives the Rangers cap space to sign free agents and relief to retain free agents of their own.

Ottawa Senators: Zenon Konopka

Zenon Konopka was a big face-off taker for the Ottawa Senators against the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.

He is making minimal money and there are a ton of teams that would be willing to pay a decent amount for a grinder and face-off specialist considering how important face-offs are in the playoffs.

No matter how you look at it, Konopka is a player who will will not be back next season.

Philadelphia Flyers: Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr was decent in his return to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, but the odds are that he will dump Jagr on the free-agent market. He made $3.3 million this season, but age and injury obviously caught up to Jagr as the season went on.

Jagr can still play in the NHL but he needs to find a team where he can play a limited third-line role in addition to the power play.

Phoenix Coyotes: Michal Rozsival

Michal Rozsival was acquired in a deal for Wojtek Wolski last season. Rozsival is an average and overpaid defenseman who Phoenix would love to dump on the market this July.

With an additional $5 million in cap space, the Coyotes may be able to keep top players like Ray Whitney. Rozsival will find work in the NHL but at a much lower salary.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Steve Sullivan

The Penguins are very close to the cap ceiling and that is because they have 18 players signed through next season. 2013 is going to be an interesting summer for the Penguins, so freeing up cap space now will be key.

Sullivan is a UFA but made $1.5 million last season, and that is money the Penguins would like to save if they can. The Penguins have a solid farm system, so if they can round out their bottom six with some younger and cheaper players, 2013 won't be so daunting.

St. Louis Blues: Chris Stewart

Chris Stewart made $3.25 million last season and contributed 30 points. This is not enough of a contribution from Stewart considering how much he is paid. He is now a free agent so it won't be a hard decision to dump Stewart on the market this summer.

San Jose Sharks: Dominic Moore

Dominic Moore was a mid-season pickup for the Sharks, but he didn't perform as well as some of the other players San Jose added. The Sharks have a ton of high paid players but finding takers for them would not be so easy.

Opting to not re-sign Moore would make tons of sense for San Jose considering their depth at center.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Dwayne Roloson

Dwyane Roloson had a magical run for the Lightning during the 2011 playoffs but came back down to earth this season. With Tampa looking to acquire a goaltender to make them a legitimate contender, allowing Roloson to hit free agency or even retire would be best for both him and the franchise.

Tampa has the scoring talent but needs stability in net to become a top contender once again.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Jonas Gustavsson

The Toronto Maple Leafs need some veteran goaltending to become a playoff team once again. James Reimer and Gustavsson are the current tandem, but letting Gustavsson would go would make sense.

The Monster got lit up down the stretch of the season and with a number of top goaltenders on the market, letting Gustavsson walk would make sense.

Vancouver Canucks: Mason Raymond

The Canucks tried to trade Mason Raymond at the deadline but were unsuccessful in doing so. Raymond is a player the Canucks will let test the free-agent waters and as a result they will likely not re-sign him.

Raymond's point production has declined over the past few seasons, so this is a logical move for the cap-crunched Canucks.

Washington Capitals: Alex Semin

Alex Semin is hitting the free-agent market and the Capitals are going to free up significant cap space in doing so. Semin's point production has dropped over the past few seasons and 54 points is not enough production from a player who makes $6.7 million dollars a season. 

The Capitals will have a new coach next season, so it will be interesting to see if they add players according to the new coach's style or if they return to their run-and-gun offensive ways.

Winnipeg Jets: Chris Mason

Ondrej Pavelec has taken over the starter's role in Winnipeg and he is a goaltender who shows a lot of promise. Mason is a free agent and letting him go and promoting a goaltender from the farm system would be a wise developmental move.

Winnipeg has a good chance of making the playoff next season and spending money in other areas like scoring and defense makes tons of sense considering they have Pavelec in net.