NHL Free Agents 2012: Players Whose Teams Need to Get Them Under Contract ASAP

Alexander Semin's decision to leave the Washington Capitals and test the NHL free-agent market serves as a warning to every team in the league. Sign your key players now, or be stuck playing against them next season.

Semin tallied 84 points two seasons ago, just one year after producing 79. But his output fell down to 54 points in each of the last two seasons. Now he is unhappy with his role on the team and wants to leave.

Washington's left winger isn't the only big-name free agent this summer. Many NHL teams face the possibility of losing at least one key piece on the open market.

Here is a list of players that teams can't afford to see walk away for greener—flowing with money—pastures.

Dennis Wideman, D, Washington Capitals

Not every unsigned Washington Capitals player wants out.

Unrestricted free agent Dennis Wideman told Katie Carrera of the Washington Post that he would "love to be back" in the nation's capital.

The team better lock him up quickly before he changes his mind like the many local politicians do there on a daily basis. Carrera writes that Wideman would be one of the most sought-after blue-liners if he hits the open market.

Wideman leads all free-agent defensemen in total points (46), along with Nashville Predator Ryan Suter. He ranks second in both assists (35) and goals (11) among that same group.

NBC's Mike Halford writes that keeping Wideman will be tough for Washington from a financial standpoint. He just finished a four-year, $15.75 million contract and will likely make more with his next deal. A thin class of free-agent defensemen only increases the All-Star's leverage. It also leaves limited replacement options for the team if he leaves.

Wideman is worth the price for any team, but he is especially valuable to the Capitals. Washington implemented a new, defensive-minded style that paid immediate dividends in the playoffs. Wideman played a key role in that culture shift.

Ryan Suter, D, Nashville Predators

Both of Nashville's cornerstone defensemen are flight risks this summer.

Ryan Suter will become an unrestricted free agent if he is still unsigned on July 1. Shea Weber will become a restricted free agent on the same date.

Sportsnet's Ryan Porth lists Suter as the best free agent available this summer. He writes that if he and Webber played in a bigger market, the tandem would be battling each other for All-Star bids and Norris Trophy nominations.

Suter tallied a career-high 46 points this season. He and Dennis Wideman lead all free-agent defensemen in that category. Suter also ranks first in assists (39) and fourth in goals (seven) in that group. Porth expects him to double his salary of $3.5 million with a new deal this summer.

Weber already earned $7.5 million this past season. That, too, will increase. The Predators have more than $38 million in cap space available. Signing both stars will be difficult, but it can be done.

Actually, it must be done.

This team was built around Pekka Rinne and its dominant pair of defensemen. The mix resulted in a solid regular season and a deep playoff run.

Division rival Detroit is already licking its chops at the prospect of landing Suter. The retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom gives the Red Wings plenty of motivation and ability to sign a star blue-liner.

Nashville plays in one of hockey's deepest divisions. It needs to retain the services of its core players to remain competitive. Seeing Suter line up on the other side of the ice in red and white would be devastating. Not receiving any compensation for the loss would only add insult to injury.

Zach Parise, LW, New Jersey Devils

The Eastern Conference champions can't afford to lose their captain.

Zach Parise (31 goals, 38 assists) is the heartbeat of the New Jersey Devils offense. Unfortunately, he will likely be ripped out after he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The Devils have more than $28 million in cap space to work with this summer. Parise earned $6 million in 2011-'12. This is the last year that players can sign front-loaded deals.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post details the type of contract Parise will likely command on the open market. He expects it to be similar to the one given to Brad Richards by the New York Rangers across the Hudson River.

He also doubts that Devil ownership will be cutting him a similar $10 million check as a signing bonus, much less dedicating nearly half of the team's cap space to him.

New Jersey fans will recall the 15-year, $100 million contract Ilya Kovalchuk signed the Devils two summers ago as the "Biggest Free Agent Ever." Sportnet's Ryan Porth calls Ryan Suter the defensive equivalent. He tabs Parise as the next best thing.

The Devils need to re-enact the summer of 2010 if they want to return to the finals in 2013.

Martin Brodeur, G, New Jersey Devils

Martin Brodeur wants to return to New Jersey. Everyone expects him to.

The Devils better make it happen.

Losing a rising star like Zach Parise is one thing. Losing a legend is quite another. Nothing would be more devastating to the organization and fan base than to see Brodeur suit up for another team.

All 19 years of his Hall-of-Fame career were played in a Devils jersey. He won three Stanley Cups with New Jersey. Falling just short of a fourth doesn't at all tarnish his legacy as the greatest goalie of all time.

His official site lists 25 NHL records to his name, including most wins all time (656) and most shutouts in both the regular season (119) and postseason (24).

Listing Brodeur here is likely making much ado about nothing. Seeing him in a new jersey instead of New Jersey would be a gigantic upset.

Brodeur did, however, give the Devils a deadline. July 1 is when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. He wants a new contract before that happens, telling ESPN's Katie Strang:

"

I don't see myself at all [playing for another team]. But again, I think circumstances are out of my hands. You never know, I guess. I don't want to. It definitely would have to be something really weird that I'm going to do that.

The Devils is what I am, what I believe in and this is where I want to be.

"

A Devil is what New Jersey needs him to be.

Shane Doan, RW, Phoenix Coyotes

No player means more to his franchise than Shane Doan does to the Phoenix Coyotes.

This may not be true on the stat sheet. Doan's 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) this year were his lowest total since the 2001-'02 season.

No, Doan's impact is much greater than that.

He is their captain and has been with the team since 1995, spending one season in Winnipeg before the Jets trekked south to Phoenix.

As Mark Brown of Bleacher Report notes, "[Doan] is regarded as the heart and soul of the franchise and Tippett identifies the native of Halkrik, Alberta as 'the best captain in the NHL.'"

Doan's future in Phoenix is likely tied directly to the team's. Ownership of the Coyotes is still not settled. General manager Don Maloney is currently operating under the parameters of league ownership.

The circumstances present an odd situation for the franchise. A team fresh off a deep playoff run could easily end up in a new city by next season.

If the Coyotes stay, Doan likely will too. If they leave town, however, the unrestricted free agent will obviously have no choice but to do the same. His ties to the organization may sever as well.

Maloney remains committed to preventing that from happening. According to Vince Marotta for Arizona Sports, Maloney said:

"

Once we have our ownership settled, we'll immediately go after Shane and make sure we do everything we can to keep him a Coyote for the rest of his career. That's a goal of mine.

"

Matt Carle, D, Philadelphia Flyers

Jaromir Jagr is Philadelphia's headliner free agent this summer. Matt Carle deserves that attention.

Jagr boasts an illustrious 18-year career. He proved he can still play at the ripe age of 40 by contributing 54 points (35 goals) in his return to the NHL.

Carle's career isn't half that long or accomplished, but he did average 37.5 points over his last three seasons in Philadelphia.

At age 27, however, he enters his prime as one of the best available defenseman not named Ryan Suter.

Sean Gentille reports for the Sporting News that Chris Pronger's career may be over after being diagnosed with severe post-concussion syndrome on Dec. 15, 2011. If he really is done, retaining Carle as a key defenseman becomes even more vital.

Philadelphia can't sign Carle until the salary cap is officially raised to about $70 million. That doesn't happen until July 1, the same day Carle officially becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Tuukka Rask, G, Boston Bruins

Tim Thomas is taking a break from hockey for at least one year. Signing Tuukka Rask is crucial for the Boston Bruins.

Rask is now in line to start between the pipes for Boston. He is also in line to be a restricted free agent on July 1. Losing him could instantly take the team out of contention. He may even be an upgrade from Thomas.

Rask has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons. That doesn't take away from his performance when healthy. He outperformed Thomas before the ailments.

Matthew Fairburn for NESN explains why the Finnish netminder is "talented and seasoned enough to start for the vast majority of NHL teams":

"

This is Rask's team now. And he has the opportunity and ability to go from a backup one season to an elite, No. 1 goalie the next. The Bruins will have a strong defensive unit again next season, especially if Dougie Hamilton cracks the roster, and Anton Khudobin, who was recently signed to a one-way deal, will be able to spell Rask to keep him fresh. The situation is as close to ideal as Rask could ask for.

"

Losing two "elite" goalies in one offseason would leave a huge, literal hole in net for Boston. The Bruins can't let that happen.

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars have a future superstar on their team in Jamie Benn. Letting him fall away this early in his career would be detrimental.

Benn is only a restricted free agent, but that doesn't lessen the urgency of this situation.

Check out this endorsement from Brandon Worley on defendingbigd.com:

"

Jamie Benn, the acknowledged cornerstone of the Dallas Stars franchise and the player who has been picked to lead the team forward under this new regime, has played three seasons in the NHL and has shown tremendous growth and improvement in each season.

It was Benn's second season where it became clear that a special talent had come to Dallas, as he showed the ability to dominate the ice and entire games for weeks at a time and when injuries hit the team, coach Marc Crawford leaned heavily on his star winger.

"

Losing the acknowledged franchise cornerstone could crumble what the Stars are trying to build in Big D.

P.K. Subban and Carey Price, D/G, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens need to sign both P.K. Subban and Carey Price to avoid drafting out of the lottery next season.

Both will be restricted free agents on July 1. Both are vital to the team's future.

Subban proved his worth in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs when he shut down Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin over two rounds.

Montreal clearly made a mistake by sticking with Price over Jaroslav Halak. He still shows great potential, however, and plays well enough to command as much as $6 million per year this summer, according to the Ottowa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. His right to arbitration only makes the situation more difficult for new Habs general manager Marc Bergevin to navigate.

He made a great first move shortly after his hiring by declaring that the signing of this valuable duo is his top priority.

Erik Karlsson, D, Ottowa Senators

Erik Karlsson led all defensemen in points with 78 this season. The restricted free agent possesses superstar potential.

Bruce Garrioch breaks down Karlsson's more-than-simple situation for Slam Sports. It is muddied by the expiring collective bargaining agreement and the expectation that Karlsson will "shoot for the moon" during his negotiations. He wants to contribute at both ends of the ice and promises not to be a one-hit wonder.

Karlsson told Garrioch:

"

My main priority has always been to be more of an all-around player. I want to play in situations where the game is on the line and I want to be able to play both defensively and offensively. My defensive game is something I need to improve on to be an elite player and it’s something I’m going to have to keep working on in every game and every day.

"

Losing Karlsson would be a major setback for the developing Ottawa Senators.

Evander Kane, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Evander Kane led his team in scoring (30) and finished second on the team with 57 points. The Winnipeg Jets can't replace that production if the restricted free agent flies off.

If he stays, Kane becomes a focal point of the team's development. He was the fourth overall pick in 2009 and is finally showing flashes of superstar potential.

Check out this endorsement from Adam Martini on Yahoo!:

"

Big and bold, you can see the 21-year-old Kane coming into his own. A former first-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, he has all the skills to be a star: fluid skates, good hands, a feel for the moment.

In other words, when Kane plays well, the team plays well. By producing, he leads by example, makes players around him better. In many ways, Kane is the team's identity—young, full of potential, very likeable. All those qualities make him special. But what's in box score makes him most valuable.

"

Building teams must keep their best pieces to ensure a strong future.

Kyle Quincey, D, Detroit Red Wings

Kyle Quincey won't make a huge splash if he hits the open market as a restricted free agent this summer. The impact will, however, be felt back in Detroit if he leaves.

Nicklas Lidstrom's retirement means that the Red Wings cannot afford to lose much more talent and depth on defense. Brad Stuart's likely departure as a free agent makes matters even worse on the back line.

Quincey made 101 hits and blocked 94 shots during time with both the Avalanche and the Red Wings last season. He doesn't light up the stat sheet, but he is a shutdown defender.

Garrett Kolodziej provides a great breakdown of Quincey's role in Detroit for detroitsports360.com.

Teemu Selanne, RW, Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks can't stop unrestricted free agent Teemu Selanne from retiring. If he decides to keep playing, however, they better not lose him to the open market.

Even at age 41, Selanne still produced at least 48 points in each of the last four seasons. He tallied 66 this year and led the team in scoring.

The Ducks can't replace that output.

Olli Jokinen, C, Calgary Flames

Olli Jokinen is already considered one of the best centers available this summer.

He racked up 61 points in 82 games with Calgary last season. He remains a top-line middleman. That alone is reason enough for the Flames to make sure they keep the unrestricted free agent.

The fact that the team doesn't have much depth at his position makes this an even more urgent situation.