2015 NHL Free Agents Whose Stock Is Sinking in the Playoffs

The 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs have seen several pending NHL free agents boost their value with strong performances. There are also some whose stock could be adversely affected by poor postseason play.

While regular-season performance is the main factor in determining a new contract for a restricted or unrestricted free agent, postseason play is also crucial. A poor effort in the playoffs can hurt a free agent's value, even if they have solid regular-season numbers.

Here's a look at 10 NHL free agents whose stock could decline because of poor playoff performance. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section.

10. Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens

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Free-agent status: Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk is a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights. He's completing an entry-level deal worth an annual cap hit of $3.225 million in base salary and bonuses. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: Galchenyuk enjoyed a 20-goal, 46-point performance during the regular season. In 11 playoff games, the 21-year-old has only four points.

Analysis: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reports Galchenyuk is feeling the pressure to raise his playoff game, especially after posting career-high numbers this season. Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has played hardball before with a young star coming off an entry-level contract. He could do the same this summer with Galchenyuk. 

9. Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings

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Free-agent status: Detroit Red Wings right wing Gustav Nyquist is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He's completing a two-year contract worth an annual cap hit of $950,000. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: Nyquist's 27 goals and 54 points placed him fourth among Red Wings scorers during the regular season. In seven playoff games, however, he tallied only two points.

Analysis: With star forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg growing older, the Wings must retain younger scorers like the 25-year-old Nyquist. He'll likely get a contract extension with the Wings, perhaps a four-year deal worth $16 million. His low postseason output, however, could prevent him from receiving a more lucrative contract.

8. Michael Frolik, Winnipeg Jets

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Free-agent status: Winnipeg Jets right wing Michael Frolik is an unrestricted free agent. He's finishing a one-year, $3.3 million contract.

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 82 games, Frolik finished sixth among Jets scorers with 19 goals and 42 points. He was held scoreless in four playoff games.

Analysis: Frolik was unproductive as the Jets were swept from the opening round by the Anaheim Ducks. ESPN.com's Craig Custance reports the Jets still hope to re-sign Frolik. His playoff performance could hurt his chances of landing a significant raise from the Jets or elsewhere via free agency.

7. Cody Franson, Nashville Predators

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Free-agent status: Nashville Predators defenseman Cody Franson is an unrestricted free agent. He is completing a one-year contract worth $3.3 million. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 78 games split between the Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs, Franson tallied 36 points with a plus/minus of minus-seven. In five playoff games, he had two assists with a plus/minus of plus-one.

Analysis: The Tennessean's Adam Vingan reports Predators general manager David Poile admitted Franson wasn't a perfect fit. The lack of depth in the free-agent market could ensure the 27-year-old blueliner gets a four-year deal with another club worth over $4 million annually. Still, a better playoff performance would have significantly boosted his free-agent stock.  

6. Daniel Winnik, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Free-agent status: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Daniel Winnik is an unrestricted free agent. He's completing a one-year contract worth $1.3 million.

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 79 games split between the Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnik tallied 34 points. The 30-year-old forward was held scoreless in five playoff games. 

Analysis: A solid performance as a checking-line forward with the Leafs motivated the Penguins to acquire Winnik before the trade deadline. However, he was ineffective for Pittsburgh in its opening-round elimination by the New York Rangers. That could hamper his efforts to land a lengthy new deal via the free-agent market.

5. Zbynek Michalek, St. Louis Blues

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Free-agent status: St. Louis Blues defenseman Zbynek Michalek is an unrestricted free agent. He's completing a five-year contract worth an annual cap hit of $4 million. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 68 games split between the Blues and the Arizona Coyotes, Michalek collected 12 points with a plus/minus of minus-three. He was held scoreless in six playoff games with a plus/minus of minus-two. 

Analysis: Michalek did little to bolster the Blues defense during their opening-round elimination by the Minnesota Wild. A defensive specialist, the 32-year-old rearguard only had four blocked shots and two takeaways, which are not the kind of numbers he needed to bolster his free-agent value this summer.

4. Curtis Glencross, Washington Capitals

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Free-agent status: Washington Capitals left wing Curtis Glencross is an unrestricted free agent. He is completing a four-year contract worth an annual salary-cap hit of $2.55 million. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 71 games split between the Capitals and Calgary Flames, Glencross had 13 goals and 35 points. In nine playoff games, the gritty 32-year-old winger managed only one goal. 

Analysis: Since joining the Capitals, Glencross' performance has done more harm than good to his free-agent stock. He was a healthy scratch in three games during the Capitals' opening-round series against the New York Islanders. Glencross also hasn't been much of a physical factor in this postseason.  

3. Chris Stewart, Minnesota Wild

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Free-agent status: Minnesota Wild right wing Chris Stewart is an unrestricted free agent. He's completing a two-year contract worth an annual cap hit of $4.15 million. 

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 81 games split between the Wild and the Buffalo Sabres, Stewart scored 14 goals and 36 points. During the playoffs, he had two assists in eight games.

Analysis: Inconsistency has dogged Stewart throughout his career, and this season was no exception. While he collected 11 points in 20 regular-season games following his trade to the Wild, his last goal came on March 21. Stewart's sputtering offense, especially in the playoffs, hurts his chances of netting a lucrative new deal.

2. Martin St. Louis, New York Rangers

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Free-agent status: New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis is an unrestricted free agent. He's completing a four-year contract worth an annual salary-cap hit of $5.625 million.

Regular-season and playoff performance: With 21 goals and 52 points in 74 games, St. Louis was fourth among Rangers scorers during the regular season. In 10 playoff games, he has only three assists.

Analysis: Age is catching up with the 39-year-old St. Louis. He told the New York Post's Larry Brooks he hopes to play next season and retire a Ranger. Given their limited cap space and his declining production, St. Louis will have to accept a one-year, bonus-laden deal with a low base salary (perhaps $2 million) to remain with the Blueshirts.

1. Antoine Vermette, Chicago Blackhawks

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Free-agent status: Chicago Blackhawks center Antoine Vermette is an unrestricted free agent. He's finishing a five-year contract worth an annual salary-cap hit of $3.75 million.

Regular-season and playoff performance: In 82 games split between the Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, Vermette tallied 13 goals and 38 points. In seven playoff games, the 32-year-old has two points. He was also a healthy scratch for two games in the opening-round series against Nashville.

Analysis: Prior to Vermette's acquisition by the Blackhawks before the March trade deadline, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported Vermette was the biggest chip in the market. However, his struggles since joining the 'Hawks could send his free-agent value tumbling. An expensive, long-term deal seems out of the question now.

Players' stats (as of May 9) via NHL.com. All salary information via NHLNumbers.com.