NHL Free Agents: Ilya Bryzgalov and 10 Players Who'll Get Big Raises Next Year
NHL free agency is a very exciting time in the season.
It's a time for fans to take a look at their teams and see if they will add new pieces to the puzzle in hopes that it will be enough to get them over the next hump.
It's also incredibly exciting for the players, especially those players who have really earned new contracts.
Since the NHL has a contract system in place that doesn't allow rookies to get the insanely large contracts that the NFL players get, the big pay raise must be earned.
Here are 10 players that have earned a big pay raise for next season.
Ilya Bryzgalov
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Bryzgalov is easily the biggest name on the free-agent market as far as goalies are concerned.
Bryzgalov makes a pretty good salary already—he made $4.5 million this season.
In a league environment that overpays a ton of players that get signed on the first day of free agency, I think it is safe to say that Bryzgalov could see close to $6 million a year with whatever team nabs him, especially if he signs on day one.
All the indecision surrounding what is going to happen with the Coyotes can't be good incentive for him to stay, and he has already said that he doesn't want to play in Winnipeg if the Coyotes do move back to Winnipeg.
In the end, Bryzgalov is a legit No. 1 goalie that a lot of teams would love to have. He will have a big payday coming.
Steven Stamkos
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Stamkos is at the end of his entry-level contract and absolutely exploded onto the scene this past season.
Stamkos scored 45 goals, most of them in the first half of the season, and tallied 91 points, showing that he can be one of the elite snipers in the NHL.
He is also producing when it matters, in the playoffs.
Stamkos currently makes $875,000, but you can count on a long-term, big-money deal coming his way this offseason from the Lightning.
It is possible that somebody could try to poach him through the restricted free agency channels, giving him a contract too big for the Lightning to match.
Either way, this guy is going to be seeing a lot of green.
Corey Crawford
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After Marty Turco proved to not be the solution to replace Antti Niemi, Corey Crawford came around and really helped the Blackhawks get back to the things that got them to the finals last year.
Crawford gave them stability and a goalie that could make the big saves.
He won 33 games and had a very solid 2.30 goals against average and .917 save percentage.
Without him, the Blackhawks might have missed the playoffs in their title defense season.
Currently, Crawford makes $850,000, but if the Blackhawks want to keep him, he'll probably be fetching somewhere in the $2 million to $3 million a year range.
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Shea Weber
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Shea Weber is an absolutely special type of defenseman.
Not only is he a workhorse that can log 25 minutes of ice time or more every single game, he can also rack up points for your team.
Weber scored 16 goals for the Predators this season, which is a huge number for a defenseman.
He goes up against the best players on the opposing team every single night and shuts them down every single night.
He plays the game with a nasty edge and is on the ice in every single situation.
Weber currently makes $4.5 million and is a restricted free agent, but he is due to become one of the highest-paid defensemen in the game because he is one of the best defensemen in the game.
Count on somebody, probably the Predators, coming in with a long-term, big-time-money contract that will lock him up for several years down the road.
David Jones
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Not a very well-known player outside of Colorado, David Jones quietly had a fantastic year.
In his first season without some kind of a major injury that ended his season, Jones tied for the team lead in goals with 27.
His speed is good, but not as good as it was before his big knee injury, and he is still a big body.
He has a history with injury now, and that might not get him the huge payday, but this season definitely earned him quite a hefty raise from the $850,000 he made this year.
I can see him getting close to $2.5 million for the next couple of seasons.
Jonathan Ericsson
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Jonathan Ericsson is a large human being.
6'5" and 205 pounds, the image of Ericsson must be a seriously frightening thing as he gets closer and closer to you in the corner.
Ericsson currently makes $1.25 million and will be due for a serious pay raise.
Tell me what team wouldn't want a guy of his size and skill level that has been mentored for the past few seasons by Nicklas Lidstrom, one of the best blueliners to ever play the game of hockey.
The Red Wings have been really good at developing young talent and then locking it up for a long time, and I don't think that Ericsson is going to be any different.
$4 million probably isn't out of the question for this guy, possibly more.
Drew Doughty
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Doughty is another fantastic young talent out of the Western Conference.
At 21 years of age, Doughty looks as if he could be a cornerstone for the Kings franchise for a long time coming.
Doughty is another solid defensive player in his own zone that can also log power-play time and help out with some goals.
Any time a defenseman is able to add more than 10 goals to your team for a season—Doughty had 11—that's a big contribution.
He is only making $875,000 this season but will be due for a big pay raise to keep him around to help keep the Kings on the right path.
Kyle Okposo
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Okposo is a very talented player for a team that is still in the process of rebuilding.
Okposo missed most of this season, however, and that might end up taking down a bit of his value.
Nonetheless, he will be making substantially more than the $765,000 he was making the past couple of seasons and should be very eager to get back out and help the Islanders claw their way back to relevance.
Ryan Callahan
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Ryan Callahan had his best year as a New York Ranger this past season.
In only 60 games, he still posted career number for goals (23) and points (48).
Rangers fans love this kid, and many seem to believe that he is probably going to be the next captain of the team once Chris Drury retires or is traded.
With Callahan becoming a very valuable piece of the Rangers' puzzle, it makes sense that he would see a pay bump from the $2.4 million that he is making this year.
If the Rangers do see him as the next captain of the team, then they will pay him that way, and he could be seeing anywhere up to $4 million to $5 million in his next deal.
Nice work if you can get it.
Devin Setoguchi
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Devin Setoguchi is an incredibly talented player that doesn't get a lot of recognition because he plays behind such huge names in San Jose.
Despite that, Setoguchi has proven to be one of the most valuable players on the Sharks and could command a serious pay raise for teams looking to snag a very skill and gritty player.
Setoguchi currently makes $1.8 million and is a restricted free agent.
San Jose, however, is very strapped for cash when it comes to the salary cap and probably won't be able to match any type of big offer that would come his way without having to deal some of its other names away.
Setoguchi is primed for a big pay raise and possibly a place on somebody's top two lines.
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