Players with the Most to Lose at the 2014 Olympic Hockey Tournament

The 2014 Olympic hockey tournament is well underway, and for some NHL players, there is a lot to be lost over the next week. 

While many players can focus on playing good hockey and bringing a medal home to their country, other players need to have great showings as they move toward free agency in the summer of 2014. 

A good showing in Sochi could lead to added interest from teams that need some help down the stretch to meet their needs, leading to these teams picking up the player. That could mean a chance at a Stanley Cup this year.

In other instances, poor play at the Olympics could seal certain players' fate with their respective teams, meaning those players' time with them will likely run out in the coming months.

Additionally, players may not garner the interest from a contending team that they are hoping for in some instances.

In no particular order, here are the players who have the most to lose in Sochi.

All stats are from nhl.com unless otherwise noted.

Jaroslav Halak, G, Slovakia

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The St. Louis Blues are one of the front-runners to win the Stanley Cup in 2014. Jaroslav Halak has played a large part in that success. He's got 24 wins this season and a solid .915 save percentage that isn't stellar, but is better than many.

Despite having played some of his best hockey in the NHL playoffs while with the Montreal Canadiens, he has not parlayed that into success in St. Louis. The Blues have not been able to overcome the Los Angeles Kings in the past couple of seasons.

Not all of this should fall on Halak, but goalies always seem to get too much credit for wins and too much of the blame in losses.

Slovakia is not a particularly strong team, but did finish fourth at the Vancouver Olympics. If Halak is not a difference-maker for what seems to be an overmatched squad this time around, some of the doubts about his being an elite goaltender could follow him into the rest of the NHL season. 

Jonas Hiller, G, Switzerland

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The Anaheim Ducks' Jonas Hiller is due to get a new contract this summer. One complicating factor is that the Ducks might have the deepest group of goaltenders in the NHL, organizationally.

Hiller should play the most important games for Switzerland. The Swiss could be one of those upset teams that plays well enough defensively, led by Hiller, to beat one or more of the elite teams.

Hiller has had a strong .917 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average for the dominant Ducks. 

But none of this has been enough to secure a new contract for Hiller, who may or may not be offered an extension by the Ducks. Therefore, Hiller is showcasing his talents not only for the Ducks, but for the rest of the NHL.

On the world's biggest stage for his sport, the Olympic Games, Hiller cannot afford to have a subpar performance or the 32-year-old may not have nearly the number of choices that he would like to have if he moves on.

Brooks Orpik, D, United States

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Defenceman Brooks Orpik has had a solid, if unspectacular year in Pittsburgh with the Penguins. With 12 points and a plus-four rating, Orpik has put up his typical numbers as he stares at an offseason as a potential free agent.

The 33-year-old is part of a strong group of defencemen in Pittsburgh, with many of them set to be in Steeltown for many years to come.

It will be challenging for Orpik to shine in Sochi given the star-studded players around him, but he does need to play well enough to raise his NHL profile if possible. 

The Olympic returnee is likely going to be signing his final contract this summer, and his Sochi performance could be a contributing factor in how lucrative that contract will be.

Ales Hemsky, F, Czech Republic

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Right wing Ales Hemsky is one of the more talented players on the Edmonton Oilers roster. Not only that, he will sacrifice his body to make the play, and he'll play in the "dirty" areas despite not being a physically imposing player.

The Czech Republic has a curious mix of players in Sochi, with a number of veterans on the team and some potential impact players like Jiri Hudler watching the competition from afar.

Hemsky has the kind of all-world talent that he could play on any top line in the NHL and not look out of place. He's got 24 points with the Oilers this year, despite playing with some lumbering linemates for much of the season.

As a pending free agent, the 30-year-old Hemsky could be playing to secure his last NHL contract. If he's able to showcase his considerable talents at the Olympics, he may catch the eye of a general manager who is willing to give Hemsky a chance to shine.

A poor showing in Sochi could cost Hemsky a shot at joining a contender in both the the short term and for the next few seasons.

Paul Stastny, C, United States

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The Colorado Avalanche have been the biggest surprise in the 2013-14 NHL season. Paul Stastny has had a good year in Colorado in logging over 18 minutes per game, contributing 41 points and serving as a leader for a young team.

Stastny had a good start to the Sochi tournament by scoring two goals against his father's homeland Slovakia in a 7-1 rout.

The Avalanche should have the cap space to re-sign the potential UFA this summer, but nothing is written in stone. Stastny should be entering his prime years, and talented, two-way centres with good leadership qualities don't fall out of the sky every day.

If Stastny has a great tournament in Russia, he could make the Avs think long and hard about him, especially with the Colorado club playing some of its best hockey in years.

If Stastny struggles at the Olympics, he may seal his fate in Colorado, and he could leave other teams wondering if he can be an elite NHL centre as he enters his 30s.

Andrei Markov, D, Russia

Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens know what they have in Andrei Markov. While the veteran Russian defender may not get the fanfare of his teammate P.K. Subban, he logs over 25 minutes per game and has scored 31 points with the Habs so far this season. He can make life very difficult for opposing forwards.

The Canadiens have both Subban and Markov with expiring contracts, so there are some big decisions to make. Subban is due for a huge increase, and the 35-year-old Markov could be a hot commodity not only in North America, but for KHL teams as well.

Markov could be signing his final contract this summer, so a lot is riding on his play in Sochi. He'll be playing a lot of tough minutes with countryman Slava Voynov. If he plays the kind of tough, skilled hockey of which he's capable, he could be signing a big contract. 

If he falters under the pressure in Russia, the question of age and the ability to play in the biggest games might scare some potential suitors away.

Henrik Tallinder, D, Sweden

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Henrik Tallinder has been a good soldier with the Buffalo Sabres. The 35-year-old rearguard can play in all game situations. He's chipped in with seven points this season and has played just over 19 minutes per game.

Tallinder is a shutdown blueliner who could provide vital depth to a contending team. The pending UFA won't get top minutes in Sochi, but he'll play an important role for one of the top teams.

Arguably, Sweden has the best defence at the 2014 Olympics, so it might be easy for Tallinder to be overlooked. At the same time, he'll look that much better given the talent that will surround him. If he doesn't play well for Team Sweden, he may not get the chance to take his game to a contender.

It would be a great opportunity for him to leave Buffalo for a team on course to make some noise in the 2014 NHL playoffs. After that, he could be in line for a lucrative contract as his career winds down.

Ryan Callahan, F, United States

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

The New York Rangers and Ryan Callahan do not appear to be near to inking a new deal. The Blueshirts captain has not had a great offensive year, but he offers a lot of leadership and heart.

The right wing has 24 points this season, and his advanced stats indicate he could offer a team some hard-nosed minutes.

Callahan is not a flashy player, but he's the type of player who could be the difference for the United States in Sochi. The Rochester, N.Y. native is 28 years old, and this should be the biggest contract of his career.

If he fails to impress with his play for the United States, there is the real possibility that his stock will not rise and possibly even drop precipitously.

Ryan Miller, G, United States

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The Buffalo Sabres are in the midst of one of their worst seasons ever. Despite the gloom, Ryan Miller has actually had an exceptional season. His .923 save percentage, given the Sabres' lack of an NHL-quality defence, has been stunning.

It looks like some contending teams, including the St. Louis Blues, are interested in the netminder. Miller's numbers could be off the charts with a strong team like the Blues.

But Miller may be hard-pressed to get quality minutes in Sochi. Jonathan Quick is arguably one of the top three or four goalies in the world, so unseating him in a short tournament could be very difficult.

Because Miller has not been great over the past three years, outside of this excellent 2013-14 season, there are legitimate questions about his ability to lead a team on a long playoff run to a potential Stanley Cup.

The Olympics tournament could be a make-it-or-break-it time for the talented Miller.

Thomas Vanek, LW, Austria

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The New York Islanders and Thomas Vanek seem unlikely to continue as partners. The Austrian star has turned down a $50 million contract and should be heading elsewhere after the Olympics. Vanek has 40 points in 44 games with the underachieving Islanders.

Vanek is not playing on a strong Olympic squad and has already been critical of the team's goaltending following a blowout loss to Finland.

Vanek would do well to focus on his own game and show NHL teams what he can do on the international stage. He will be challenged to demonstrate his best with the lack of elite talent on Team Austria, but he'll have to fight through that.

He needs to show his skills and determination in Sochi.

It won't be the only factor for teams looking to add Vanek to their squad, but a poor Olympics could mean the difference between having his pick of where to go versus a handful of teams chasing him. He's a great talent who could propel a top team to a Stanley Cup.