NHL Free Agency: The Worst-Case Offseason Losses for Every Team

There's at least one important free agent that most NHL teams cannot afford to lose this summer, or the consequences could be severe.

Whether it's a starting goalie, a No. 1 center, an elite defenseman or an important depth guy, each team has one guy who cannot be lost to free agency.

Let's look at who that player(s) is on every team.

Anaheim Ducks: Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne may retire since he's 41 years old and has accomplished just about everything he would have hoped for as an NHL player.

However, he is still a good offensive player and the Anaheim Ducks don't have another player to put in his role to score 50-70 points.

Boston Bruins: Tuukka Rask

Since Tim Thomas is leaving the team for at least one season, the challenge of re-signing Tuukka Rask is now far more crucial.

The Bruins cannot allow Rask to leave the team when he's going to be the starting goalie next year. Losing Rask would make the Bruins go from Stanley Cup contenders to a team that would have to fight hard just to get into the playoffs.

Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Ennis

Tyler Ennis is a restricted free agent and needs to be re-signed because he's a future top-line player for the Buffalo Sabres.

Calgary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen is so important to the Calgary Flames offense because the team doesn't have great depth at the center position.

Replacing his scoring would be difficult for the Flames to do in the offseason if they lose Jokinen.

Carolina Hurricanes: Bryan Allen

Even though several contending teams may look to sign Bryan Allen in the summer, the Hurricanes cannot afford to let their veteran defenseman to leave in free agency.

Carolina needs more physical defensemen like Allen who can make life difficult for the opposing team's top forwards.

Chicago Blackhawks: Brendan Morrison

The Blackhawks don't have anyone that has to be re-signed in free agency, but Brendan Morrison would be a quality veteran that should play a role on the team's roster next season.

Colorado Avalanche: Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene

Almost all the players on the Colorado Avalanche are free agents this summer, but the two players they cannot lose are young stars Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene. Both are restricted free agents.

Columbus Blue Jackets: No One

There is no player on the Columbus Blue Jackets that has to be kept. There's no one whose departure would have a significant impact on the team.

They need to add a number of players to improve the roster for next season, especially at the goaltender position.

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn

The Dallas Stars cannot afford to lose Jamie Benn this summer because he is an underrated young player with superstar ability.

He's a restricted free agent and must be signed to a long-term deal. He's a franchise-type player.

Detroit Red Wings: Kyle Quincey

Kyle Quincey is important to the Detroit Red Wings this summer because the team cannot afford to lose much more talent and depth on defense with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and the likelihood that Brad Stuart leaves in free agency.

Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Smyth

Ryan Smyth is so important to the Edmonton Oilers because he provides great leadership and gives the team a reliable defensive presence, which is something not many other players on the roster can provide.

He's an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Florida Panthers: Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg really proved that he could be a legitimate top-line player this season with a fantastic offensive display for the Florida Panthers.

There's no excuse for the team not to re-sign him since he's a restricted free agent.

Los Angeles Kings: Dwight King

Upcoming free agents such as Dustin Penner would be replaceable for the Los Angeles Kings, but losing young players like Dwight King who can provide goal scoring from the bottom two lines need to be kept. Depth is important to the Kings.

Minnesota Wild: Josh Harding

Josh Harding is arguably the top unrestricted free-agent goaltender in the offseason, and this will make re-signing him a difficult challenge for the Minnesota Wild.

With starting netminder Niklas Backstrom not being able to stay healthy consistently over the last few seasons, Harding's presence on the team has become very important to the Wild.

Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price and P.K. Subban

Whenever you have to re-sign a franchise goaltender and a No. 1 defenseman in one summer, there's a lot of pressure on the front office to complete both signings.

If the Montreal Canadiens lost either Carey Price or P.K. Subban in free agency, the team will be in the lottery at next season's draft. Both guys are vitally important to the team's future success.

Losing these two restricted free agents would be catastrophic for the Canadiens.

Nashville Predators: Shea Weber and Ryan Suter

Superstar defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter must be re-signed to long-term contracts this summer for the Nashville Predators or they will go from a Stanley Cup contender to a team that will likely miss the playoffs.

Losing two No. 1-caliber defenseman would be a major blow to the team's future. Losing both these players in free agency would set the franchise back many years.

New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise

Zach Parise is the elite offensive player on the free-agent market that every team will want. He's an all-around offensive player who is still young. The New Jersey Devils have to re-sign him if they want any chance to return to the Stanley Cup Final next season.

Veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur is 40 years and an unrestricted free agent, but his strong performance in the playoffs may persuade him to play another year.

New York Islanders: P.A. Parenteau

P.A. Parenteau would be a loss for the New York Islanders in free agency—no question about it—but he's certainly not irreplaceable.

The Islanders really need to focus on bringing a No. 1 defenseman to the team this summer.

New York Rangers: Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Prust

The New York Rangers need to keep guys like Brandon Prust who fit the team's style of play and can provide veteran leadership. I would expect him to be re-signed this summer, and I foresee young defenseman Michael Del Zotto to re-sign as well.

He's a young star who is only going to improve as his career unfolds. The Rangers have an opportunity over the next few summers to lock up a very good, young defensive corps for many years.

Ottawa Senators: Erik Karlsson

Losing whom many people believe is the best offensive defenseman in the NHL in Erik Karlsson would be a major setback in the development of the Ottawa Senators.

He led all defensemen in points this season and will reach superstar status next year.

Philadelphia Flyers: Jakub Voracek and Jaromir Jagr

Defensemen Matt Carle and Pavel Kubina will be important free agents to consider re-signing for the Philadelphia Flyers, but forwards Jakub Voracek and Jaromir Jagr must be the top priorities.

Voracek is a fantastic young player, and Jagr looked quite comfortable and was productive in his return to the NHL this year.

Phoenix Coyotes: Shane Doan and Ray Whitney

Losing top scorers and veteran leaders such as captain Shane Doan and winger Ray Whitney would be extremely difficult for the Phoenix Coyotes to replace this summer when they have a small budget to work with.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal

Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal won't be unrestricted free agents until next summer, but determining their futures this offseason would be ideal for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Signing both these offensive stars to new contracts would help make the team top contenders for the Stanley Cup for several more years.

San Jose Sharks: Tommy Wingels

Tommy Wingels is a young restricted free agent who must be kept since he is one of the few promising young players on the San Jose Sharks roster.

The Sharks need to add some talented young players to build for the future because Logan Couture is the team's only young star.

It might be time to trade Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau and start a mini-rebuild in San Jose.

St. Louis Blues: 5 Key Forwards

The St. Louis Blues will have some important decisions to make this summer regarding their group of forwards.

Veterans Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner are free agents, and losing their leadership would hurt. Young stars T.J. Oshie and Chris Stewart are restricted free agents and have impressive offensive abilities that will only get better. David Perron is also a restricted free agent and has a lot of promise.

Losing any of these players would hurt the Blues going forward, but luckily for them, they have the salary-cap space needed to re-sign all of them.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Keith Aulie

The Tampa Bay Lightning have no important free agents that they must re-sign this summer, but keeping young defenseman Keith Aulie, who is a restricted free agent, would be a nice idea.

What the Lightning really need to do is use their first-round picks to trade for a top goaltender this summer.

Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Players

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have any franchise-caliber free agents to keep this summer but it would be too early to give up on young players such as forwards Nikolai Kulemin and Matt Frattin, defenseman Cody Franson and goaltender Ben Scrivens.

The Leafs' major moves this offseason, if they make any at all, will probably be in the trade market.

Vancouver Canucks: Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider has superstar potential and clearly should be the starting goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks next season.

Re-signing him to a long-term contract and trading Roberto Luongo's massive contract would be an ideal scenario for the Canucks.

Keeping Mason Raymond as a top-nine forward would also be a smart move for the Canucks, but he is replaceable if they decide to let him go.

Washington Capitals: Mike Green and John Carlson

The Washington Capitals have several important defensemen whose contracts will expire on July 1. Young stars and restricted free agents Mike Green and John Carlson must be kept since they are still improving and are talented offensively.

Veteran Dennis Wideman is an unrestricted free agent, and probably won't be kept since he's a defensive liability.

Losing any one of these defensemen would hurt the Capitals, but keeping Green and Carlson should be a priority.

Winnipeg Jets: Evander Kane

Evander Kane finally showed the Winnipeg Jets this season that he can be a superstar-caliber player in the near future.

They must re-sign him as a restricted free agent this summer since he's so important to their goal-scoring needs.