2013 NHL Free Agency: Which Aging Stars Will Be Overpaid This Offseason?

There are still more than two full rounds to go before the 2013 Stanley Cup will be handed out. But the NHL waits for no team. While the battle is still being waged for this year's championship, plans are being made for the 2013-14 season and beyond.

Free agency will begin shortly after the Stanley Cup is raised, and big-money contracts will be handed out to a number of veteran free agents by teams that want to raise their status and fight for the Stanley Cup in the future.

However, the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached by the NHL and the Players Association in January limits each team to paying no more than $64.3 million in salary. That's a reduction from the $70.2 million (prorated) teams had to spend this season.

While teams may be less likely to spend big money in all areas of player procurement, veteran free agents will still get their share of free-agent money.

Aging veterans tend to be hit-or-miss when they get big contracts. Here's an early look at several aging free agents who will likely be overpaid next season.

All salary figures courtesy of CapGeek.com.

Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils

Patrik Elias has been a fixture for the New Jersey Devils since his first appearance in 1995-96.

General manager Lou Lamoriello has always been able to count on Elias, 37, for consistent production and two-way play.

Elias should have an opportunity to capitalize on one more big-money contract. Perhaps he may not reach the heights that allowed him to sign a seven-year, $42 million deal prior to the 2006-07 season, but he will still get paid.

Elias saw former teammate Zach Parise leave New Jersey and sign with the Minnesota Wild last year, and the Devils did not make the playoffs.

Even if he wants to remain loyal to the Devils, they are still going to have to come up with the cash to keep him on hand.

Elias scored 36 points in 48 games last year. He may be able to approach that figure, but he was at nearly a point-per-game production level in 2011-12. It seems unlikely he will reach that level again.

Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jarome Iginla, 35, is finishing up his second consecutive contract that paid him $7 million per year.

The longtime Calgary Flames captain was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline, and he will have an opportunity to play for the Eastern Conference championship.

Iginla has been noted for his strength, goal scoring and consistency throughout his career. It seems likely that he will want a deal that pays him $7 million once again.

However, it also seems likely that Iginla may start to slow down. He has scored 40 or more goals just once since the the start of the 2008-09 season, and he was held to 14 goals this season with the Flames and Penguins.

Iginla is having a solid playoff run with 12 points in 11 games. However, he is no longer in the prime of his career and will almost certainly slow down in upcoming seasons.

Mark Streit, New York Islanders

Mark Streit had a standout season for the resurgent New York Islanders.

Streit, 35, was quite reliable on the blue line as the Islanders returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.

Streit scored six goals and 21 assists for the Islanders year as he finished a five-year, $20.5 million contract.

Streit was in demand at the trade deadline and probably would have been dealt if the Islanders weren't in the middle of their own playoff run. The Swiss native should be able to capitalize on his position in the offseason.

However, the Swiss native is a good, but not great player. He may struggle if a team is depending on him to be a lockdown defenseman. He was minus-27 in 2011-12 and minus-14 this season.

Sergei Gonchar, Ottawa Senators

Sergei Gonchar could decided to hang up his skates and retire or return to his native Russia to conclude his playing days, but the chances are that he will be able to command one more NHL contract.

Gonchar, 39, is an offensive defenseman who can move the puck, play the point on the power play and handle all situations without any sense of panic.

However, he's no longer the flashy, game-changing player he was during the prime of his career. Some teams may see him as a role player who can improve the team's power play, which may allow him to sign another big-money contract.

Gonchar had three goals and 24 assists this year and had a 37-point season in 2011-12. His resume looks good and so do his highlights, but he's no longer a difference-maker.

Gonchar finished a three-year, $16.5 million contract in 2013.

Brenden Morrow, Pittsburgh Penguins

Brenden Morrow was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins shortly before the trade deadline.

Morrow, 34, was a hardworking two-way winger who had been with the Dallas Stars since the start of his career in 1999-00. Morrow has twice been a 30-plus goal scorer, but he scored 12 goals in 2013 after being limited to 11 in 2011-12.

Morrow is finishing a six-year, $24.6 million contract. While he may have a hard time getting the same amount of money this time around, he is still a valued commodity in the NHL. If Morrow can pick up his playoff production just a tad, he should be able to sign another multi-year deal.

While he is a hard worker, his offensive production is waning. His next employer will see him as overpaid by the time his next contract is up.

Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins

On the positive side, Matt Cooke is an energy player who can turn things around for his team when things grow a bit stale.

Cooke, 34, seemed to work hard to turn his reputation around after basically ending Marc Savard's career with a blindside hit and also leaving his mark as a reckless player in several other incidents.

Many thought he was rehabilitated after the 2011-12 season when he had 19 goals, 19 assists and just 44 penalty minutes. However, he was careless with his skate blade when he cut Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson. The 2011-12 Norris Trophy winner suffered a partially torn Achilles.

Cooke had eight goals and 13 assists this year and is coming to the end of a three-year, $5.4 million deals. He will likely get paid a similar amount or more this time around, but he will struggle to earn his money.

Andy McDonald, St. Louis Blues

Andy McDonald is a smart, clever player who often puts himself in the right position to make big plays.

McDonald, 35, earned $4.2 million in 2013 (prorated) as he concluded a four-year, $18.8 million contract.

McDonald had seven goals and 14 assists in 37 games last season. Staying healthy and remaining in the lineup is a big issue for McDonald. He played in 25 games in 2011-12 and 58 games in 2010-11.

McDonald depends on his agility and quickness to make key plays. It seems likely that he will start to slow down in that area as he progresses in his next contract. He may also be more vulnerable to injuries if he is on the receiving end of big hits from bigger players.

Pascal Dupuis, Pittsburgh Penguins

No player may be in a better position to capitalize off a brilliant season than Pascal Dupuis of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dupuis, 34, was solid in the regular season with 20 goals and 18 assists. He also led the NHL with a plus-31 rating. It's been much of the same thing in the postseason, as Dupuis has scored an NHL-high seven goals and also has three assists.

Dupuis is a bargain, earning $1.5 million this season as he finishes up a two-year, $3 million deal.

If the Penguins can go on to the Stanley Cup Finals and come away with the championship, Dupuis has a chance to garner a huge payday.

It's one thing to become a dominant scorer when playing with the explosive Penguins; it's much more difficult to do the same thing on a team that does not have the star power of Pittsburgh.

Opponents must concentrate on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Jarome Iginla and Kris Letang. They aren't ignoring Dupuis, but he is not getting the attention he would if he were on nearly any other team.

If Dupuis signs a huge deal with any team other than the Pens, he will have a hard time coming close to this season's level of production.

Dupuis is not a fading star, but he will quickly become one if he leaves Pittsburgh.