NHL Trade Deadline: Marc Savard and the Top 10 Hardest Contracts To Trade

As we near the NHL's Trade Deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke and the Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray have already got the ball rolling by trading Francois Beauchemin for Joffrey Lupul. Two players whom are somewhat overpaid, but Lupul has been signed for one more year.

With that said, there are some much worse contracts out there that you could see moved, but a lot more that you will not see moved.

This slideshow will attempt to breakdown the NHL's 10 Most Difficult contracts to trade. Players like Marc Savard are included, among others.

10. Shawn Horcoff, EDM

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 25: Shawn Horcoff #10 of the Edmonton Oilers skates after the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 25, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Oilers defeated the Coyotes 4-3. (Photo by Chris

In 33 games this season, Horcoff, who plays with some pretty talented linemates, has a measly seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points.

As I don't watch Edmonton, I'm using dailyfaceoff.com's team lineups as a source, which has him playing with Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky.

With talent such as that playing on your wings, you should really be at least near 25 points by now.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit of $5.5 million until 2016

9. Sheldon Souray, EDM

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SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 16: Torrey Mitchell #17 and Jody Shelley #45 of the San Jose Sharks try to get the puck from Sheldon Souray #44 of the Edmonton Oilers during their game at HP Pavilion on January 16, 2010 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Sh

Having not played a game this season in the NHL, and with talk around the NHL that Souray is one of the least mobile defenceman right now, it makes it hard for the Oilers to trade him.

Souray has an absolute cannon from the point and is probably one of the best powerplay defenders available now, but with serious questions regarding his defensive game and his ugly contract, it will likely be an ugly contract for ugly contract type of deal that will see him dealt.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit: $5.4 million until 2013

8. Thomas Vanek, BUF

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UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 15: Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders makes the stop on Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres at the Nassau Coliseum on January 15, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Sabres 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Ben

Thomas Vanek was once a 43 goal scorer in the NHL. In the seasons since, he has only eclipsed the 40 goal mark once since that season.

In that 43 goal year, he also tallied a career high 41 assists and finished with a career high +47 rating.

It was with good reason the Edmonton Oilers offered him the farm, the cows and the milk when he became a restricted free agent. Buffalo, in order to keep him, had to match the offer, and they obviously did.

He's seen a resurgence in his game this season with 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 52 games.

I'm sure teams will line up for him, but at his price tag and term, he may scare off some suitors.

Contract Details

Cap Hit of $7.134 million until 2014

7. Vincent LeCavalier, TB

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 25: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets ready for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Pete Times Forum on January 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Justin K.

In 2006-07, Vinny LeCavalier had a year to remember, scoring a career high 52 goals and adding 56 assists for 108 points that season. In the year following, he put up 40 goals and 52 assists for 92 points. It was after that he signed an 11-year extension with the Lightning that would pay him over $7.727 million a season on average.

Since those two remarkable seasons, Vinny has had a career to forget. Since that career year, he's been what I like to call a minus pig, having not finished the year with a positive rating. He is also a -111 for his career, not a good calling card

It may be the team he was playing on; who knows? But one thing is for certain, Vinny isn't playing like the player he used to be.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit of $7.727 million until 2021

6. Chris Drury, NYR

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 11: Chris Drury #23 of the New York Rangers skates against Yannick Weber #68 of the Montreal Canadiens on January 11, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Montreal defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty I

Drury has been a pretty consistent NHL'er over the course of his career, scoring at least 20 goals in nine of his 12 years in the league. He began his career scoring at least 20 goals in five straight seasons with the Avalanche and Flames, respectively.

The Buffalo Sabres traded Steve Reinprecht and Rhett Warrener to the Calgary Flames for Chris Drury and Steve Begin, and after that, Drury exploded for 30 and 37 goals with the Sabres. When he scored the career high 37 goals in his contract year, he signed a long-term contract with the New York Rangers and hasn't really produced numbers like that since.

His first few years were solid but not spectacular, but the last few seasons have been awful ,and he has seen his role decreased with the club. Now injured for six weeks, I doubt very much any team will come knocking for his services, nor will the Rangers have any luck in shopping him at the deadline.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit of $7.05 million till 2012-13

5. New Jersey Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Elias, Brian Rolston

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 26: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the New Jersey Devils is stopped by Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings in a game on January 26, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings defeated the Devils 3-1. (Photo by Claus An

You may ask, "Why isn't he higher?", but in the end, I truly believe his contract just looks terrible based on the situation he has to deal with in New Jersey.

The fact of the matter is for his talent level and production, a cap hit of $6.67 million per year isn't that taxing on a club who wants a perennial 40 goal scorer. It's just the fact that they need to resign Parise and have that rock of a contract limiting their ability right now.

Not only that, but they also have the bad contracts of Elias and Rolston holding them down. Good luck moving those old guys anytime soon. Elias has a good chance of being moved; however, Rolston has been put on waivers and cleared, and apparently, nobody wants him for right now.

But it's his defensive game, and most notably, his 15-year-term that scares people away from going after this guy. I've never liked players signing those long-term deals like that because a lot happens in 15 years. Teams have their ups, but they also have their downs.

Maybe this is just the down years right now for the Devils? I really doubt it though.

Contract Details

Cap Hit of $6.67 million until 2026 for Kovalchuk

Cap Hit of $6.00 million until 2013 for Elias

Cap Hit of $5.0 million until 2012 for Rolston

4. Brian Campbell, CHI

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Brian Campbell #51 of the Chicago Black Hawks turns with the puck in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Anderse

Campbell is a solid 40-point defenceman in this league, but he is probably the most overpaid defenseman right now in the NHL. He has a pretty nasty cap hit for the amount of production he gives, and the term makes it even harder to swallow.

Campbell's a great fit on any team. He plays the power play and he can penalty kill. He's a great puck mover, but $7.14 million for a No. 3 defenceman on Chicago behind Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook doesn't make much sense financially for the club.

Is he worth more than Nicklas Lidstrom? Nope!

Do they want to trade him? Probably.

What can they get for him? Nothing close to what he's worth in my opinion, due to that bloated contract.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit of $7.14 million until 2017

3. Scott Gomez, MTL

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MONTREAL, CANADA - FEBRUARY 5: Scott Gomez #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his second period goal during the NHL game against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre on February 5, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Ge

Fans in Montreal are really beginning to hate Scott Gomez now. His price tag and real lack of production hurts Habs fans plenty, but what huts them more is that he is ruining the legacy of the number 11 in Montreal.

Held by former Captain Saku Koivu, and after receiving a long standing ovation in his return, you would hazard to believe to player in his right mind would switch their number to 11 after he left. But Gomez did and really didn't do himself any favors.

After getting benched in the final period against the Bruins, Gomez finished the game with a horrid minus-four rating, and, along with linemates Andrei Kostitsyn and Lars Eller, they became the excuse in a fight filled affair.

Gomez has literally been invisible this season. On pace for around 40 points and a minus-20 rating, Gomez is vastly overpaid for what he provides.

Does he need a change of scenery? Certainly.

Will He Get It? Very unlikely.

Contract Details:

Cap Hit of $7.357 million until 2015

2. Marc Savard, BOS

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SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 27: Stephen Weiss #9 of the Florida Panthers and Marc Savard #91 of the Boston Bruins skate for control of the puck on December 27, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Bruins defeated the Panthers 3-2 in a shoot

Probably the best set-up man in hockey, behind only Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby when he's healthy, Savard has really struggled lately staying out of the way of other players.

Plagued by concussions the last couple of seasons, it seems only a matter of time before the concussion counter reaches zero, and that will be it for Savard's career.

Right now Savard is out for the season, and a return to the NHL is still a question mark.

Even then, his cap hit isn't so bad, but his length of contract is until 2017 after he signed a seven-year extension.

Having that kind of term for an injury risk like that doesn't make much sense for a team to go after.

Contract Details:

Cap hit of $4.007 million until 2018

1. Rick DiPietro, NYI

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 02: Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders strips off his mask before mixing it up with Brent Johnson #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on February 2, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Penguins shut

Rick DiPietro is the winner of this distinction. Another long-term contract for a perennial injury risk. What makes his contract worse is that he hasn't really proved anything yet in his career and was a number one overall selection.

Couple that with a fondness for knee injuries, and it makes his contract nearly impossible to move.

Goaltending is a major position of need in the NHL, and some teams may take a chance on him, but DiPietro has a long way to go before he proves to anyone he's a legitimate, healthy, consistent, number one goalie in the NHL.

He's had two good years since he debuted in the NHL and has started 60 plus games only three times. Since those three straight 60+ start seasons, he's only started 38 games in the last three seasons.

Maybe in a year or two, he gets healthy and leads the Islanders to a playoff appearance, but for now, he's the NHL most difficult contract to move.

Contract Details:

Cap hit of $4.5 million until 2023.