One Player on Every NHL Team Likely to Be Replaced After 2014-15
There is inevitable roster turnover after every NHL season. Players leave, new ones replace them and the world continues to spin.
Is November too soon to start thinking about which players are destined to leave their teams after the 2014-15 season? Of course not. It's not like it's October.
It's not hard in some cases to spot the guy who will have to find a new home next season, as there are plenty of pending unrestricted free agents on teams that are facing a cap crunch or have younger, cheaper players waiting to take their spots.
There are other players, however, not in that situation who are a bit harder to identify, as they are under contract for a few years on teams with plenty of cap space.
This list will identify one player on each team who is most likely to be replaced after the season. Sift through it and say your preemptive goodbyes while you still can.
Statistics via NHL.com or Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. Contract info via CapGeek.com.
Anaheim Ducks: Dany Heatley, LW
1 of 30
Yeah, a guy on a one-year prove-it deal is never long for a team that gives him that contract.
Consider the two most likely scenarios for the 2014-15 season for Dany Heatley:
1. He's bad. Real bad. He scores 10 goals in 70 games. At five-on-five, he's around 45 percent in on-ice shot attempts. The playoffs arrive and the Ducks make Heatley a healthy scratch. Thanks for coming to Anaheim; all the best in your future endeavors.
2. He's good. Real good. He scores 25 goals in 70 games. At five-on-five, he's reborn and above 50 percent in on-ice shot attempts. The playoffs arrive and he continues to produce. At 34 years old next summer, the Ducks won't be able to afford Heatley.
Anaheim is very likely just a pit stop.
Arizona Coyotes: Martin Erat, LW
2 of 30
Martin Erat is 33 years old and in the final year of a contract with the Coyotes. He has three goals in 10 games and probably doesn't fit into the long-term plan of the Coyotes, who could be in the mix for a top-two draft pick this season.
So whether it's at this year's trade deadline or during the offseason when his contract expires, Erat's very likely to find himself a new home. The Coyotes have other unrestricted free agents coming up this summer, including Antoine Vermette and Zbynek Michalek, and Erat is probably the third-most important in that group.
Youngster Max Domi failed to make the team this year, but he could take Erat's spot next season.
Boston Bruins: Adam McQuaid, D
3 of 30
The 2015-16 Boston Bruins have nearly $57 million in payroll for a season that will likely have a salary cap around $75 million.
That figure doesn't include new contracts for pending restricted free agents Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Reilly Smith and UFA Carl Soderberg. The Bruins will have a lot of difficult decisions to make this summer, and Adam McQuaid may be the odd man out the way Johnny Boychuk was before this season.
The Bruins will likely have a top four on defense of Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg, Hamilton and Krug and likely not enough money for McQuaid, who could be paid handsomely if he reaches the free-agent market. At 28 and a solid defender, McQuaid could receive between $4 million and $5 million on the open market.
That will likely be too rich for general manager Peter Chiarelli.
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Buffalo Sabres: Chris Stewart, RW
4 of 30
Imagine the life of Chris Stewart on this date, one year ago.
He was happy, productive, part of a Stanley Cup-contending team in St. Louis. He had 18 goals in 48 games in 2013 and was ready to contend for a title in 2013-14.
Then he was traded to Buffalo, Hockey Siberia, at last year's deadline and hadn't scored a goal as a Sabre until Sunday.
Now 27 years old, Stewart is one season away from becoming a free agent, a chance to escape what will surely be a long, rough rebuild ahead in Buffalo. Maybe the Sabres throw a massive amount of money at Stewart during the season to entice him to stay long term, but Stewart has to be dying to go literally anywhere else to play hockey in 2015-16.
Calgary Flames: Curtis Glencross, LW
5 of 30
The 31-year-old Curtis Glencross has been something of a bargain for the Calgary Flames in recent seasons.
When healthy, Glencross is usually good for 20 goals. In his past four seasons, he had 24 in 2010-11, 26 in 2011-12, 15 in 40 games in 2013 and 12 in 38 games during an injury-riddled 2013-14 campaign. His cap hit of $2.55 million comes off the books this summer, so he could look to get more money (and more team success) elsewhere.
He's off to a slow start with one goal in 12 games, but if he can just come close to a 20-goal season, he could command a nice contract this summer, one that the Flames may not be able to match. And even if they did, the thought of a first trip to the playoffs since 2009 with a better team may be the overriding factor for Glencross.
Carolina Hurricanes: Eric Staal, C
6 of 30
First off, how about that photo? It's always nice to see a Canadian presenting himself to the majesty that is the American flag.
But with a contract that carries a cap hit of $8.25 million through next season on a team that's going nowhere, this could be the final season in Carolina for Eric Staal.
The 30-year-old has seen his numbers decline in recent years—since scoring 33 goals in 2010-11, he has slipped to 24 and 21 in his past two 82-game seasons. Now that he's on the other side of 30 and the Hurricanes are headed toward a rebuild, getting something of value next summer for Staal could be in the cards.
With a massive cap hit (and salary of $9.25 million this season and $9.5 million next season), it may be hard to work out a deal this season. But with the cap rising next season, this upcoming offseason could be the time to part ways with Staal.
Chicago Blackhawks: Kris Versteeg, RW
7 of 30
The Chicago Blackhawks already have $66 million allotted toward the 2015-16 roster with restricted free agents Marcus Kruger and Brandon Saad due hefty raises and defenseman Johnny Oduya, a UFA, also staring down a pay increase.
If the cap for next season is $75 million and these players command salaries approaching $9 million, the Blackhawks will have to clear room somehow.
A cost-cutting move could be trading Kris Versteeg, who carries a $2.2 million cap hit through next season. He had just 10 goals in 69 games last season and even with the Florida Panthers picking up half the tab on Versteeg's deal, he seems a strong candidate to get dumped before 2015-16.
Yeah, Brad Richards on a one-year deal is a guarantee to be gone after this season, but we're trying to avoid the obvious choices if at all possible.
Colorado Avalanche: Danny Briere, RW
8 of 30
OK, so maybe some of these will be really, really obvious.
Danny Briere was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens during the offseason and already has been healthy scratched by coach Patrick Roy. Briere is 37 years old and will be a free agent after the season, making this the most sure thing of anyone on this list.
(Cue the Briere re-signing news in three...two...one...)
Jan Hejda is 36 and a candidate to walk after the season, but the Avs defense is so bad they may want to keep him for at least another season.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Nick Foligno, LW
9 of 30
The 27-year-old Nick Foligno may be an under-the-radar pending UFA who will land a bigger payday than most think.
Most players who reach free agency in these times are in their 30s, while Foligno will be 27 when the puck drops on next season. He usually finishes with between 15 and 20 goals and has a reputation—not necessarily a good one—for going to the net to score dirty goals, the type of goals that are at a premium in the postseason.
He has three goals in his past 11 playoff games, and with the way this season is going for Columbus, he may not get another crack at the postseason.
But if Foligno has a career year, something along the lines of 20 goals and 50 points, teams will come running to sign him, and it may be hard for the Blue Jackets to match.
Dallas Stars: Erik Cole, LW
10 of 30
Yeah, another easy one, but it's not like I picked Sergei Gonchar.
Erik Cole is 35 years old, and his $4.5 million cap hit comes off the books this offseason. With re-signing Jason Spezza—probably somewhere along the lines of $7 million per season—the top priority of general manager Jim Nill, Cole and his diminishing numbers don't stand a chance.
Cole was a healthy scratch to start the season, so he's clearly not a favorite of head coach Lindy Ruff. Cole can still skate, and his three goals in nine games show he can still play, but the Stars will probably spend money elsewhere.
Detroit Red Wings: Jonas Gustavsson, G
11 of 30
When Jonas Gustavsson arrived in Toronto before the 2009-10 season, the Swedish import was expected to be a No. 1 goaltender who would solve the Leafs' goaltending issues.
That, of course, did not happen, and Gustavsson is in his second season backing up Jimmy Howard in Detroit. Injuries to Howard allowed Gustavsson to make 27 appearances last season, and now that he is on the verge of free agency, Gustavsson could be gone after the season.
The Red Wings have Petr Mrazek in their system, a 22-year-old goaltender who has played well in the AHL and in brief stints with the Red Wings. He will be cheaper than Gustavsson and probably just as effective.
Plus, with the free-agent goaltender crop looking weak, Gustavsson could be a hot commodity if he has a solid 2014-15 season.
Edmonton Oilers: Nail Yakupov
12 of 30
Let's speculate.
It's not that the Oilers should trade Nail Yakupov, but here's a guess at a scenario that will result in him going elsewhere.
Yakupov will be an RFA after the season. With two goals and four points in 11 games, he won't command a big contract unless things really turn around for him, but with another underwhelming season potentially in the offing, the Oilers may look to improve their defense or acquire a No. 2 center by trading the former No. 1 overall pick.
The Oilers already have Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, David Perron, Teddy Purcell and Benoit Pouliot as viable top-six wingers along with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the middle. If the Oilers can turn Yakupov into a top-four defenseman or second-line center, it's something they should consider.
Yakupov is averaging less than 14 minutes per game, so he's clearly an expendable piece on a talented team.
Florida Panthers: Brian Campbell, D
13 of 30
Brian Campbell is an elite, top-pairing, puck-moving defenseman who is having some of his best years wasted on a team that's going nowhere at the moment.
At 36, Campbell won't be playing at a high level if and when the Florida Panthers get it turned around. He has one year at $7.1 million remaining on his deal after this season, making him a prime candidate for an offseason deal. Teams are always in the market for a top-pairing defenseman with playoff experience, but his cap hit may be too much to move this season.
Campbell has just three assists in nine games this season, so it would behoove the Panthers to move him before his skills diminish.
Los Angeles Kings: Justin Williams, RW
14 of 30
Justin Williams, Conn Smythe Trophy winner? A player deemed more valuable to a Stanley Cup run than Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty? How could the Kings replace him?
Glad you asked.
Williams is a free agent at the end of the season. The Kings have about $57 million committed to players for next season. Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, two players who have a great chance to finish top-20 in scoring this season, will be RFAs and can expect raises. Defenseman Alec Martinez is a UFA who will also require a bigger cap hit to stick around, and it seems probable the Kings want him.
Center Jarrett Stoll is also a UFA, and if there's one big reason for the Kings' two Cups in three years, it's center depth.
If Pearson and Toffoli earn bigger roles, it may not make sense to re-sign a 33-year-old for what should be a hefty price. It's possible Williams takes less money to stay in Los Angeles, but even then the Kings may not be able to afford him.
It will be interesting to see what the Kings do with a possession dynamo and clutch player this summer.
Minnesota Wild: Kyle Brodziak, C
15 of 30
Kyle Brodziak, who scored 22 goals during the 2011-12 season and has been a regular with the Minnesota Wild since 2009, is likely being swept aside.
The 30-year-old has been a healthy scratch multiple times this season, as the Wild's young talent continues to push for playing time it rightfully deserves. With the likes of Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker and Justin Fontaine emerging, Brodziak has only played five games this season.
But Brodziak has two goals in those games and can still be an effective player. He will be great to have around throughout this season as the Wild have a chance to make a deep playoff run, but his future very likely lies elsewhere in 2015-16.
Montreal Canadiens: Rene Bourque, LW
16 of 30
Rene Bourque reminds me of that college football player who seems like he has been at the school for eight years. I always think this is the last year of Bourque's deal, then I check, and he always got one more year left. It's possible Bourque is tapping into NHL's central registry a la Ferris Bueller and tacking on an extra year to his deal every summer.
Alas, Bourque's contract runs through 2015-16 and comes with a relatively cheap cap hit of $3.33 million.
Then again, a guy who had nine goals last season and zero goals this season isn't really a bargain, is he?
The Montreal Canadiens can print money, set it on fire and print more money, so a buyout would make all the sense in the world for the 32-year-old. The only reason to hesitate is his eight goals in 17 postseason contests last spring.
It remains baffling that the Habs didn't use one of their amnesty buyouts on Bourque, so maybe they'll use a standard one this summer.
Nashville Predators: Mike Fisher, C
17 of 30
Center Mike Fisher will be 35 years old on July 1 and coming off a torn Achilles tendon, the type of injury that can destroy a career. With his contract expiring, it seems unlikely that he'll be back in Nashville next season.
The Predators have a glut of centers of similar caliber—Derek Roy, Mike Ribeiro and Olli Jokinen among them—which makes Fisher expendable. All three are on one-year deals, but if they continue to produce, they will be higher priorities for GM David Poile after the season.
Fisher has been a consistent 20-goal scorer for years, so if he looks good when he returns this season, this could change. But his injury likely means he will be employed elsewhere next season.
New Jersey Devils: Bryce Salvador, D
18 of 30
Bryce Salvador has looked every second of his 38 years of age this season, and in the final year of a contract and with the Devils possessing good young defenseman, this is very likely it for him.
Salvador has been a step slow on the penalty kill for the Devils this season, and it's a big reason why they are ranked 29th (68.8 percent) in that category.
The Devils have Damon Severson, Eric Gelinas, Jon Merrill and Adam Larsson waiting in the wings, although Gelinas and Larsson are RFAs who have been in and out of the lineup this season. But they will be cheaper, younger options for the Devils, the oldest team in the NHL.
Salvador has played well since coming to New Jersey in 2008, but his time is almost certainly drawing to a close.
New York Islanders: Lubomir Visnovsky, D
19 of 30
Lubomir Visnovsky is a pending UFA who will be 39 years old after the season. The Islanders have decisions to make about their defense, and Visnovsky seems like the odd man out.
Johnny Boychuk will also be a UFA defenseman, and the Islanders should throw everything they have into re-signing him. Nick Leddy will be an RFA, and he too will command an increase in pay. After mortgaging the future a bit to land Boychuk and Leddy before the season, GM Garth Snow will want to lock them in long term.
Perhaps the Islanders and Visnovsky come to terms on a cheap, one-year deal, but Visnovsky may be better served financially and playing-time-wise by going somewhere else next season.
New York Rangers: Marc Staal, D
20 of 30
This will be an interesting summer for the New York Rangers, who may lose one of their UFAs due to cap constraints.
Again, ballpark the salary cap at $75 million, and the Rangers have only have $46 million committed to 12 players. The big UFAs are defenseman Marc Staal and forward Martin St. Louis, who will each likely get around $6 million per season on new deals. Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin are RFAs whose combined cap hits should total around $8 million.
Mats Zuccarello will also be a UFA, but he's probably not going to cost more than $4 million.
Could the Rangers fill out a roster by spending $5 million or $6 million on six other players? Absolutely, so none of these players necessarily have to leave.
But if one does, it may be Staal. The Rangers already showed they would trade their captain at the deadline when Ryan Callahan didn't agree to a new deal last season, and while it would be much harder to part ways with a top-four defenseman, a deal could happen again.
Staal loves New York and isn't begging his way out of town, but if the Rangers wouldn't commit $4.5 million to Anton Stralman, maybe they won't commit $6 million to Staal.
Ottawa Senators: Marc Methot, D
21 of 30
The Ottawa Senators have seven defensemen under contract for next season and Marc Methot is not one of them.
Methot and the Senators have been negotiating a new long-term deal, but the sides have yet to find middle ground. If the notoriously frugal Senators decide to keep the wallet closed, they could roll with the group that has the team off to a respectable 5-3-2 start this season.
Methot has yet to see the ice this season as he recovers from a back injury. The 29-year-old played nearly 22 minutes per game last season and is a big part of the team's back end, but will the two sides come to terms?
Only time will tell.
Philadelphia Flyers: Vinny Lecavalier, C
22 of 30
There were reports, such as this one from The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi, that the Flyers tried to trade Vinny Lecavalier and his $4.5 million cap hit through 2018 before this season, so maybe they will be more successful in the upcoming offseason.
Lecavalier's game is in steep decline, making it difficult to move him. The 34-year-old is already dealing with an injury this season, a problem that's only likely to become more frequent as he ages.
If the Flyers can't deal him and they need cap space, a team as financially stable as Philly can buy out the remaining years on the contract. With the Flyers needing to spend money on defense next summer, it's of the utmost importance to get this once-great player off the roster immediately.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Christian Ehrhoff, D
23 of 30
After he was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres, Christian Ehrhoff took a one-year, $4 million show-me deal from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 32-year-old isn't off to a great start with his new team, posting zero goals and four assists in 10 games. Ehrhoff is below 50 percent in raw Fenwick and hasn't looked like the offensive threat he has been in the past.
The Penguins will likely look to get Paul Martin locked up first and have just seven forwards under contract for 2015-16. If Ehrhoff struggles, the Penguins likely won't want him back. If Ehrhoff plays well, he may price himself out of Pittsburgh.
This could very well be a one-and-done season for Ehrhoff in Pittsburgh, especially with the Penguins having good young defensemen who could be ready for bigger roles next season.
San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton, C
24 of 30
Here's what I think happens.
The San Jose Sharks have another good regular season. They make the playoffs. They lose in the first or second round. Everyone blames Joe Thornton despite management's big offseason move being the signing of John Scott.
After resisting a trade this past offseason, Thornton finally decides that he'll happily take his services elsewhere next season.
Thornton accepts a trade to Toronto and takes the Leafs to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lose to Tyler Bozak and the San Jose Sharks.
OK, I don't know about that last part, but I think Thornton will reach his breaking point and accept a deal this summer.
St. Louis Blues: Barret Jackman, D
25 of 30
Barret Jackman is 33 years old, carries a cap hit of about $3.1 million and plays just 16 minutes a night. This is very likely the final season for Jackman in St. Louis.
Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Kevin Shattenkirk and Carl Gunnarsson are signed for next season. It would make sense for the Blues to go with that group as their top four on defense and look for younger and/or cheaper options for their bottom pairing.
Jackman is a poor possession defenseman relative to his teammates, so the Blues likely won't be in a hurry to re-sign him, especially with fellow UFA D-man Jordan Leopold putting up much better five-on-five numbers.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Eric Brewer, D
26 of 30
The 35-year-old Eric Brewer was a healthy scratch earlier this year and likely would have found himself watching from the press box more often if not for an injury to Victor Hedman.
Brewer is in the final year of his deal, and the Lightning have better options on the back end, especially in their top four. Hedman, Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison and Matt Carle are all signed through next season, as is Radko Gudas.
This is probably the surest thing of anyone on this list. This will be Brewer's swan song in Tampa.
Toronto Maple Leafs: James Reimer, G
27 of 30
James Reimer is under contract for one more year at a reasonable $2.3 million and could very likely be a No. 1 starter elsewhere. Looking at the Leafs' cap situation for 2015-16, getting something for Reimer this summer would serve the team well.
The Leafs have $53.5 million committed to 14 players for next season. Jonathan Bernier, the goaltender the team so desperately wants as its No. 1, is due a new contract. Nazem Kadri is also an RFA in need of a new contract. Cody Franson will be a UFA who could get a deal with an annual average value of around $5 million.
If the Leafs retain all those players, and they should, they're probably close to $65 million with only nine forwards under contract. Dealing Reimer for cheap forwards or picks could free necessary cap space to sign forwards like Mike Santorelli, David Booth and Daniel Winnik, who joined the team on inexpensive one-year deals for 2014-15.
If Reimer plays well, dealing him while his value is at its highest would behoove Toronto.
Vancouver Canucks: Alex Burrows, LW
28 of 30
You can take the Sedins away from Alex Burrows, but you can't take the production away from Alex Burrows—except that you can if you take away the Sedins.
That's a real saying. Look it up.
Playing regularly with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Burrows averaged nearly 30 goals per season from 2008 to 2012. His production declined the past two years despite playing mostly with the Sedins, netting 18 goals in 96 games.
This season, playing with Nick Bonino and Chris Higgins as his regular linemates, Burrows has two goals in 11 games. His production is OK, but at $4.5 million per season, he's not producing the way he did when he earned that contract.
With $54 million committed to just 13 players next season, the Canucks could use some cap relief. At 33 years old and signed through 2016-17, Burrows could find himself playing elsewhere next season.
Washington Capitals: Mike Green, D
29 of 30
Mike Green is off to a great start in a contract year, posting three goals and nine points in 11 games as a top-four defenseman with the Washington Capitals. He's Fenwick'ing the heck out of teams this season, siting at 63.4 percent.
But can the Capitals afford to re-sign him if he continues to put up Norris Trophy-type numbers?
The Capitals hitched their wagon to Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen and have John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Dmitry Orlov signed for next season. They already have $20 million invested in those five players and would have to spend close to $7 million to retain Green if he has a big season.
With Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov due new deals as RFAs and with only nine forwards under contract for next season, the Capitals may want to spend that money to bolster the forward group.
It's no slam dunk Green leaves, but he may price himself out of the nation's capital.
Winnipeg Jets: Evander Kane, LW
30 of 30
This will be the offseason Evander Kane gets out of Winnipeg. I can feel it.
Maybe this will be the second or third straight offseason I feel it, but I'm tell you, I feel it.
The Jets will miss the playoffs. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will have to make a big move. They have a nice forward group even if Kane is dealt. If there's one area the Jets need help, it's on the back end. If the Jets can turn Kane into a top-four defenseman at a similar point in his career, why not do it?
If your answer has something to do with Kane being an elite power forward with 30-goal potential, yeah, sure, that makes sense. I'm still gambling on some perceived personality issue galvanizing a trade.
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