NHL Free Agents 2012: Predicting the Biggest Contracts for This Summer's Class

The Stanley Cup Final starts on Wednesday featuring the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, but that leaves out 28 other teams that are already thinking about "Free Agent Watch 2012."

To make matters even more interesting, this year's top free agent is contending for the Stanley Cup. There are many top free agents in this summer's class who will cash in, but who will hit the jackpot?

This slideshow will take a look at some of the players both UFAs and RFAs who will get a major payday this summer.

Alex Semin

Alex Semin is a player who used to be a dynamic performer for the Washington Capitals. He was a solid offensive contributor who hit the 80-point-plateau. However, Semin has slipped and finished with 54 points in two consecutive seasons.

Semin, despite his offensive shortcomings, will have a big buyer this offseason, but who is it?

Anticipated Contract: Four Years, $28 million, (cap hit of $7.0 million)

I fully expect Semin to defect to the KHL for a massive payday because of a new policy instituted by the KHL. 

(Courtesy of NBC Sports) 

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Slava Malamud reports that the KHL announced that “returning Russian NHL players” won’t count against the league’s salary cap.

Malamud reveals that KHL teams will only be allowed to sign one player according to that new standard, but it opens the door for deeper-pocketed clubs to shoot for a big name. Strangely, national team coaches would need to deem a player “worthy” of being excluded from salary cap consideration first, though.

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No one in the NHL is going to match what Alex Semin has made over the past few seasons, so with this new KHL policy, it will be very easy for Semin to return to the KHL.

Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner was subject to ridicule for his underperforming numbers during the regular season, but this postseason, he has played some solid hockey. In 14 games, Penner has scored three goals and has assisted on seven others for 10 points.

Penner has also played physical hockey and has finally looked like the player he was during his heyday in Edmonton. With Los Angeles expected to pursue top free agents like Zach Parise, it's likely that Penner will hit the open market.

Anticipated Contract: Two Years, $9.0 million, (cap hit of $4.5 million)

Penner had a subpar season, but with the market being slim, there will be a few teams that may look to see if Penner can fit their system. Penner proved he could be a 50 to 60-point player, so there will be at least one team looking to reward Penner for his playoff efforts.

Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney, aptly nicknamed the Wizard, had a magical season. Whitney defied logic and age when he,at age 40, scored 24 goals and assisted on 53 others for a grand total of 77 points. That was good enough for 12th overall in total points for the 2011-12 regular season.

Whitney has been a solid player for the Coyotes, but you have to think that he is going to get a big pay day to be a veteran secondary scorer.

Anticipated Contract: Three Years, $12 million, (cap hit of $4.0 million)

Whitney is a veteran leader with Stanley Cup experience. At age 40, he proved that he can be one of the NHL's top scorers and that his body can withstand 82 games plus playoffs. For these reasons and many others, Whitney will get a hefty raise and new contract to bring him to retirement.

Whitney in many ways is like Mark Rechi in terms of longevity and veteran leadership so their will be no trouble finding a suitor for "the Wizard."

Dennis Wideman

Dennis Wideman is an offensive defenseman who will attract a lot of attention this summer. He was an All-Star this season for the Capitals and had another productive season.

Wideman, on average, scores 40 to 50 points a season. He's a power-play threat and a player worth adding for a team that needs offensive defenseman.

Wideman is a minus player, but in the right system, he could become a tougher defender without sacrificing tons of offense.

Anticipated Contract: Five Years, $25 million (cap hit of $5.0 million)

Wideman is primed to get a decent contract. He has had solid consecutive offensive seasons and there is a chance he could receive a similar contract that James Wisniewski got last offseason.

Wideman has been more consistent than Wisniewski, so receiving $5.0 millon a year would not be out of the question.

Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen, for a brief period during the 2000s, was one of the top centers in the NHL. Jokinen had stretches where he produced between 65-90 points a season. Jokinen had a great rebound this season for the Flames after returning to Calgary after brief stint in New York.

Jokinen had a season worthy of a new contract, and odds are he will join a team where he can play a solid secondary role.

Anticipated Contract: Four Years, $16 million, (cap hit of $4.0 million)

Jokinen recorded 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points. He made $3.0 million this season for the Flames, and odds are a few teams would pay Jokinen an extra million a year to provide some solid secondary scoring.

For a team looking to bolster their offense, paying $4.0 million for 50-55 points and power-play help would be a solid investment .

Shea Weber

Anticipated Contract: One Year, $7.5 million (cap hit of $7.5 million)

Shea Weber likely may opt to sign a one-year deal to bring him to unrestricted free agency next offseason. He is one of the league's top defenders and if he ever hit the open market, odds are he could become an $8.0 million dollar player.

Weber is talented and likely will give the Predators another year to see what they can do in terms of playoff success.

Shane Doan

Shane Doan has been a member of the Phoenix Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets his entire career. This year, he finally was able to engage in a lengthy playoff run, and you could tell that it was a great experience for him.

Doan's loyalty to Phoenix is clearly evident, but with the franchise's future still not secure, could he be wowed by an offer from another team?

Anticipated Contract: Three Years, $17 million, (cap hit of $5.66 million)

If Doan decided not to return to Phoenix for whatever reason, a team like the New York Rangers would push hard for him. Doan is a physically and edgy winger who is hard on the puck and can produce offensively.

Doan would really fit well inside John Tortorella's system so this raise could be very enticing in order to finally leave Phoenix. On the other hand, it's fair to say that Phoenix could also reward Doan financially for taking the team to the Western Conference final. Either way, Doan should get a bump up from the $4.5 million he is currently making.

Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene has been up and down with the Colorado Avalanche. After a solid rookie season in which Duchene recorded 55 points, he followed up with 67 and then 22 points in an injury-shortened 2011-12 campaign.

Duchene has the skill set and potential to be a dynamic center so the Avalanche will likely lock him up until just before he hits unrestricted free agency. At that point, they can buy out some UFA years and sign him at a solid rate for both parties.

Anticipated Contract: Five Years, $20 million (cap hit of $4.0 million)

A contract worth $4.0 million a season is a nice raise for the young center considering he is coming off a down year. Signing Duchene to age 26 is a smart move and common practice team's take in order to properly structure a third contract with young players down the line.

Duchene has the potential to be a 70 to 80-point player, so $4.0 would be quite the bargain for that level of production.

Mike Green

Anticipated Contract: One Year, $5.2 million (cap hit of $5.2 million)

Mike Green, like Shea Weber, is one year away from unrestricted free agency.

The Capitals could also trade his rights if they decide to make some major adjustments this offseason, but odds are Green hits his big payday in the 2013 free-agency period.

Ryan Suter

Josh Cooper of the Tennessean spoke with Ryan Suter about his future when it comes to his plans this summer and the impending UFA had this to say.

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“Wherever I sign I want to be there for the rest of my career, and that affects my family, my wife, my kid (and) if we have more kids,” Suter said. “Everything plays into it.”

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Suter is the top defenseman of this year's free-agent market, and the best way to break down how much he could make is to take a look at Duncan Keith in terms of length.

Keith signed a 13-year deal to become a Blackhawks' main stay on their blue line. When Keith signed the deal, he was fresh of a four-year deal, and he signed a sizable extension as an RFA.

Suter, on the other hand, is already making $3.5 million and is ahead of where Keith was financially when his initial contract expired. 

With Suter wanting a team where he can sign long term and get paid in the process, how much will he get?

Anticipated Contract: 10 years, $60 million, (cap hit of $6.0 million)

Suter is a player who will get paid as a by-product of a slim market. In actuality, Suter likely would command $5.0-$5.5 million a season, but there could be a team like the Detroit Red Wings that will overpay to lock him up as a replacement for Nicklas Lidstrom.

Matt Carle

Matt Carle is the second-best defenseman on the free-agent market, and for that reason, he will still get paid as a quality defenseman. Carle is good for at least 35-40 points of offense, and he's solid in his own zone as a defensive player.

Carle lacks the name recognition because, until this season, Chris Pronger was the No. 1 man in Philadelphia. Carle averaged 23:01 of ice time throughout the season and is a defenseman who can play in all situations.

Anticipated Contract: Five Years, $22 million, (cap hit of $4.4 million)

Carle performed admirably in the absence of Chris Pronger this season for the Philadelphia Flyers. Carle is 28 years old and a solid top-pairing defenseman.

Odds are the Flyers attempt to retain him, but if they are unable to or decide not to, there will be a long list of teams lining up to talk to Carle on July 1st.

Carey Price

Anticipated Contract: Five Years, $ 25 million (cap hit of $5.0 million)

Carey Price is the future in net for the Montreal Canadiens. He's 24 years old, so signing a five-year deal would buy out two UFA years. Therefore, Price getting $5.0 million a year is a generous offer considering Price has no claim to fame. 

Price is a solid goaltender who silenced his critics for the most part, so retaining Price and adding some top-end players could really turn the Canadiens' franchise around.

Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg was a huge part of the Southwest Division champion Florida Panthers this season. Versteeg was a solid contributor who scored 54 points, 23 goals and 31 assists for the Panthers in the 2011-12 campaign.

There's no reason why the Panthers will fail to re-sign the RFA, but how much will Versteeg rake in this offseason?

Anticipated Contract: Four Years, $16 million (cap hit of $4.0 million)

Versteeg is an important cog in the Panthers' core of young talent. Versteeg may play a larger role for the team next season if paired with dynamic playmaker Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers have tons of promise within their ranks, and that's why Dave Talon will have no problem rewarding Versteeg this offseason.

Evander Kane

Evander Kane is a young player who had a great inaugural season for the Winnipeg Jets. Kane recorded 57 points in the third year of his contract with the organization and has an expiring entry-level contract.

Kane is a player the Jets rely on for offense, and he's a player they would like to keep long term.

Anticipated Contract: Four Years, $12 million (cap hit of $3.0 million)

Kane is a talented player who the Jets would like to see step up his game. Kane is signing his second contract, so even though his cap hit drops, he would go from making $900,000 a season to $3 million a season.

It may sound like a sizable raise, but the Jets are short on talented forwards, so establishing a good relationship with Kane early will benefit them at the negotiation tables down the line when Kane is a more developed player.

Cory Schneider

This is going to be one of the most interesting scenarios this offseason. The Canucks clearly want to keep Schneider to be their No. 1 goaltender, but will they find a suitor for Roberto Luongo quick enough so adequate cap space is opened to re-sign Schneider to a contract he has earned?

A team like the Tampa Bay Lighting, who have no interest in Luongo, could elect to sign Schneider to an unmatchable offer sheet if Luongo is still a Canuck on July 1st. 

Either way, what can Schneider expect to be offered?

Anticipated Contract: Five Years, $20 million (cap hit of $4.0 million)

Schneider has the potential to be one of the Western Conference's best young goaltenders, but he needs to earn some stripes before earning the mega bucks.

A five-year deal that pays Schneider $4.0 million a season is a generous offer. Schneider could definitely get that from an offer sheet from a team that's one goaltender away from turning around their fortunes.

Zach Parise

Zach Parise is the top prize of this year's market. He's a speedy forward who can hit, score, kill penalties, play the power play, and most of all, he's a leader. Parise is a solid player all around, and he will generate tons of interest.

He made $6.0 million in 2011-12, and he's going to get a massive contract this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the Stanley Cup Final pans out for New Jersey and if it affects whether or not Parise will return.

So how much will Parise make this summer?

Anticipated Contract: Seven Years, $50 million (approximate cap hit of $7.14 million)

Parise will sign his contract under the current CBA, so expect a team like the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs or Minnesota Wild to sign him to an extended contract with a diluted cap hit.

It's expected that Parise would command $7.5 to $8.0 million given the barrenness of this year's market, but a $50 million deal over seven years makes the cap hit about only $7.14 million a season.

Look at Brad Richards' contract structure, add a few dollars and that's what Zach Parise will rake in on a yearly basis.

This is a ballpark estimate —give or take a few years more or less plus a few million— but Parise will likely make most of his money upfront with a cap hit around $7.0 million a season.

P.A. Parenteau

P.A. Parenteau scored 18 goals and assisted on 49 others for a total of 67 points this season. Parenteau's breakout season led to interest for his services at the trade deadline.

Parenteau was not merely a by product of playing alongside John Tavares as the playmaking winger spent time with multiple linemates.

Anticipated Contract: Four Year, $20 million (cap hit of $5.0 million)

Someone is going to overpay for Parenteau in a similar fashion to how the Buffalo Sabres overpaid for Ville Leino last season.

Mikhail Grabovski raked in a $5.5 million-per-year contract despite never scoring 30 goals or hitting the 60-point plateau, so expect the Parenteau camp to use Grabovski's contract as leverage when negotiating with teams.

Brad Stuart

Brad Stuart appears to be on the move because of family reasons, so though his market may be limited in terms of potential suitors, he still should get a decent contract because of his top-four abilities.

Stuart is a solid top-four defenseman who would bolster the depth of a team he signs with. He was a solid trade deadline acquisition for the Detroit Red Wings back in 2008 that led to a Stanley Cup championship.

Stuart is also a top penalty killer which makes him more of an asset on the open market.

Anticipated Contract: Four Years, $16 million, (cap hit of $4.0 million)