Players To Watch In Final Contract Year: Part 1

The offseason is winding down, and it’s time to really start looking ahead to this season. There are a lot of names that are entering this season with one year left on their deals. Contract years can make for a huge payday if the player has a good season. Here is a look at some of the players who will be looking for a good sized pay check after next season.

Anaheim: Jonas Hiller will be a free agent this season. Hiller has spent his entire career in Anaheim, but with Viktor Fasth emerging in net for the Ducks, what is going to happen?

Boston: Jarome Iginla is only 36 years old. Only… Anyway, Iginla signed a one year deal, and is very capable of playing good hockey still. From what I’ve heard, Iginla is already enjoying himself in Boston, so he might not even hit the open market at the end of the season.

Buffalo: Oh Buffalo. Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek are still on your pay roll, but for how long? Both are free agents, and both have been shopped around without any luck of finding a team that is willing to take on the cap hits, the risk of them walking, and they would have to give up a lot in return for Vanek or Miller. Either way, neither of them will be donning a Sabres uniform next season.

Calgary: Mike Cammalleri was traded to Calgary during the 2011-2012 season from Montreal. Calgary has been attempting to trade him, but no one wants to bring him and his $6 million cap hit in. Do you blame them? Cammaleri will probably hit free agency next season, and will probably finish out his contract in Calgary.

Chicago: Corey Crawford‘s cap hit right now? $2.6 million, and you can bet everything you own, that he’s going to cash in this season. The Blackhawks won’t let him hit free agency, so I would be on the look out for an extension sometime this season that will be appropriate to the level of play Crawford exhibits this season.

Colorado: Paul Stastny has spent his entire career in Colorado, but his contract is up this season, and the Aves have some depth at center. This could be on of the bigger names that ends up in a new home before the end of the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Avalanche resigned him. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with Statsny.

Columbus: Marian Gaborik came over in a trade from New York, after stumbling this last season. He found his way in Columbus, and now neither side is in much of a hurry to get him resigned. This season will be a big test for Gaborik, and his play this season will decide the size of the contract he receives.We can only hope it isn’t as outrageous as Nathan Horton‘s contract.

Dallas: Ray Whitney is 41 years old now, and I would be shocked if he were to return after this season.

Detroit: Daniel Alfredsson came to Detroit in pursuit of a Stanley Cup this season. He signed a one year deal with Detroit, going all in for what may be his final season in the NHL. If Alfredsson has interest in returning after the season, I’m sure Detroit would be happy to bring him back at the appropriate price.

Edmonton: Ales Hemsky will be a free agent after this season, and there were rumors swirling around about him being traded this offseason. Hemsky may find another home this year if the Oilers are unable to keep up in the new Western Conference. If the Oilers can stay in the race, he might get himself another nice sized contract.

Minnesota: Next season couldn’t come faster for the Wild. Dany Heatley and his outrageous $7.5 million cap hit will finally be off the books in Minnesota. It’s no mystery why Heatley is still in a Wild uniform. No one wants to take on a, once superstar caliber player, now semi-mediocre overpaid player. With Heatley gone, the Wild can move on to bigger and better things.

Montreal: Brian Gionta is entering his final season. He’s 34 years old, and his game is starting to decline. He’s spent four seasons in Montreal now, and he’s going to more than likely finish out his contract in the Habs uniform. What happens after that I’m unsure. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit the market, but he may be willing to take a reasonable pay-cut to stay in Montreal.