Which Key Players in 2015 NHL Conference Finals Will Be Salary-Cap Casualties?

One of the blessings and/or curses of the salary-cap system, depending on perspective, is that it's awfully difficult for a strong team to stay strong. Franchises that collect good players and win lots of games generally end up having to pay those players exorbitant amounts of money to stick around, and the trouble with a cap system is that there are only so many dollars available to each club.

Therefore, teams must sacrifice.

All four of the clubs still alive in the NHL playoffs have to do this to some extent. But the pressures are particularly strong for New York and Chicago—teams that have already had to either stand idly by as key support players signed elsewhere or faced a situation that forced them to proactively move expensive skaters. 

Which playoff contributors might find themselves facing the ax of financial necessity this summer? Read on for a list of possible candidates. 

Bryan Bickell, Chicago Blackhawks

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

The Case to Sell: Bryan Bickell is a forward with a $4 million cap hit who hasn't hit the 30-point mark in four seasons. Chicago is looking at a salary-cap apocalypse this summer, as I noted for Oilers Nation. 

The Case to Hold: Bickell stands 6'4" and weighs 223 pounds. He brings size and a physical dimension to a team that isn't particularly big and isn't particularly rough. He has enough offence to play with skill guys and has had some very impressive postseason runs.

Probable Outcome: Trade. The Blackhawks don't have the cap space to pay a fringe third-liner top-six money. They just don't. 

Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: Cam Lewis of NHL Numbers notes that Andrei Vasilevskiy's presence may mean that Ben Bishop is expendable. Lewis also points out that the incumbent has a hefty cap hit (just shy of $6.0 million). We might also note that Bishop's upcoming extension is for just two years, so his trade value is likely never to be higher than at present. 

The Case to Hold: Vasilevskiy has all of 16 regular-season games under his belt. The Lightning are a Stanley Cup contender right now, and Bishop is a big part of that. The team's salary-cap emergency is still in the future. 

Probable Outcome: Hold. It's a big risk to trade Bishop, and there isn't a need for it right now.

Dan Boyle, New York Rangers

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: The Rangers have a pile of offensive defencemen, particularly with this spring's addition of Keith Yandle. Dan Boyle turns 39 this summer and has one year left on his deal; he's not a long-term fit. At $4.5 million, he's expensive, and his production dropped off significantly this season. Moving him might allow the team to keep its restricted free agents. 

The Case to Hold: At his best, Boyle is the most lethal right-shooting offensive defenceman the Rangers have (though Kevin Klein outscored him this year). 

Probable Outcome: Trade. The Rangers could use the cap relief, and Boyle's a luxury at this point. There's always a premium on right-shooting defencemen, and somebody will be willing to give him a shot.

Matt Carle, Tampa Bay Lightning

Scott Audette/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: Matt Carle has a long-term cap hit at $5.5 million per season, and the 30-year-old has seen his role reduced in the playoffs. He's one of five Lightning defencemen signed for big money and a long term, and the team might replace Carle more cheaply with one of several up-and-comers.  

The Case to Hold: Tampa Bay is getting close to trouble, but the real problems won't begin for a few years. So there's no immediate pressure on the team to make a move. Carle may be a bit of a luxury item, but he's one that helps Tampa in the here and now. 

Probable Outcome: Tossup. The Lightning don't want to get caught in a bind and will see some very serious players (Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Ben Bishop) hit unrestricted free agency over the next few years. They'll also be facing some tough RFA negotiations in that span. However, that's not a problem for 2015-16. An additional wrinkle is that Carle is one of several defenders the team could move.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

Harry How/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: Corey Crawford has a massive long-term contract with a $6 million cap hit. Scott Darling and Antti Raanta both looked capable this year, and for a team with major salary-cap issues, the temptation to roll the dice on a pair of cheap goalies who performed as that pair did must be extreme. In one deal, the 'Hawks could clear more than $5 million off their books, even once Crawford's replacement is considered.

The Case to Hold: Chicago gave Crawford that long-term contract because he's seen as a key member of the core, a true No. 1 goalie who was excellent in backstopping the team to the Stanley Cup in 2013. 

Probable Outcome: Hold. There's a strong argument to be made that the team should deal Crawford, but there was a strong argument not to sign him to that long-term contract, too. It seems probable that general manager Stan Bowman will remain loyal to his starter.

Carl Hagelin, New York Rangers

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: Carl Hagelin is one of New York's restricted free agents, and with his bridge deal complete, he's about to get more expensive and have additional leverage each year. He's a depth forward, and at 26, Hagelin is not likely to evolve significantly as a player. 

The Case to Hold: He's a brilliant two-way threat and a regular part of the penalty kill. He's exceptionally fast. Hagelin's also an underrated scorer, matching Joe Pavelski and Zach Parise in even-strength points-per-hour over the last few years, per HockeyAnalysis.com.  

Probable Outcome: Trade. Of the Rangers' restricted free agents, Hagelin seems the most likely to be caught in the numbers game. He's not as valuable as Derek Stepan, and he's older and likely pricier than J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast.

Kevin Klein, New York Rangers

Jared Silber/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: With a $2.9 million cap hit, Kevin Klein is expensive for a guy who spends most of his time on the team's third pairing. 

The Case to Hold: Klein is a stable, right-shooting veteran. He's a stay-at-home safety valve for Keith Yandle and can double up with Marc Staal on a shutdown pairing. He's coming off a career offensive season and has been a nice fit with the Rangers.

Probable Outcome: Hold. Klein is probably more than a true third-pairing type, a No. 4 or No. 5 who can provide valuable minutes as needed. If the Rangers move the older Boyle, they'll need the 30-year-old Klein as a stabilizing influence.

Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

The Case to Sell: Brent Seabrook is about to enter the final year of his current contract, which has a cap hit of $5.8 million. It's going to be difficult for Chicago to find the money to re-sign him, and a trade now would allow the team to not only clear his contract off the books, but also recoup some assets rather than risk losing him for nothing.

The Case to Hold: Seabrook is a key piece of the team, a big, complete right-shooting defender who will be incredibly difficult to replace. He was the club's No. 2 defenceman during the regular season.

Probable Outcome: Hold. Seabrook is one of those players the team should try hard to find room for. He's too important to lose, and at age 30, Seabrook still has many good years left.

Patrick Sharp, Chicago Blackhawks

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

The Case to Sell: Patrick Sharp is 33 years old, and while he's still a valuable forward, he has a hefty $5.9 million cap hit and is coming off a disappointing regular season. Additionally, rumours of his causing discord inside the locker room reached such a volume that he opted to issue a public denial to the Associated Press (via Fox Sports). Old, expensive, struggling and dogged by rumour, Sharp may be a luxury the 'Hawks can't afford. 

The Case to Hold: Sharp is a single season removed from a 34-goal campaign and a trip to the Olympics with Team Canada. He's been a solid producer over both the regular season and playoffs for a full decade.

Probable Outcome: Trade. Sharp has enough value to deal, enough of a cap hit to be a major relief, and the Blackhawks are in a very difficult position.

James Wisniewski, Anaheim Ducks

Debora Robinson/Getty Images

The Case to Sell: James Wisniewski has a $5.5 million cap hit and hasn't dressed for a playoff game despite being a major trade-deadline addition. 

The Case to Hold: The Ducks don't have that many right-shooting regulars; just Sami Vatanen, though Simon Despres and pending free agent Francois Beauchemin both play the right side. Wisniewski is a competent two-way defenceman and a valuable power-play piece, plus he just arrived. 

Probable Outcome: Tossup. It's going to be hard to trade a player the team just acquired. It's going to be equally hard to hang on to a player coach Bruce Boudreau currently ranks No. 7 on his defensive depth chart. 

Statistics courtesy of Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. Salary-cap info via NHL Numbers. 

Jonathan Willis covers the NHL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for more of his work.