As the regular season comes to a close the teams that won’t be punching their ticket to the postseason will start looking ahead to next year. There is sure to be a certain amount of time spent lamenting the decisions, injuries and other variables that ruined the 2012-13 season. However, proactive general managers will take a long look at their rosters, watch hours of prospect film for this summer, peruse the upcoming free agency period and break out the calculator to wrestle the salary cap.
The free agency sweepstakes this summer will be bolstered by some NHL teams that will be given a buyout amnesty for one contract on their roster. The free agent pool is decidedly un-sexy with Mike Ribeiro and Pascal Dupuis the biggest names of the lot. There might be some bigger and better names once teams void out some contracts with their amnesty clause. Until those names become available, here are five names that will be moving this summer.
5. Martin St. Louis, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
One of the greatest stories in NHL history will more than likely be playing his final seasons outside of Tampa Bay. He’ll be 38 this June with two years remaining on his $5.6 million per year contract. That number might be hard for a few teams to swallow, but St. Louis is still one of the most productive players in the NHL. S. Louis currently sits tied for second with teammate Steven Stamkos, three points behind Sidney Crosby. Tampa will look to get younger and more cost effective this summer. Moving St. Louis accomplishes both of those goals.
4. Johan Franzen, RW, Detroit Red Wings
It might be as much wishful thinking as a viable possibility, but regardless of whether Detroit makes the playoffs or not, changes need to be made. Franzen has a cap-friendly long term contract and has All-Star caliber skills. His lack of motivation and indifferent play at times practically scream “change of scenery”. Detroit would probably look to move him to a team in the Western Conference so that “The Mule” doesn’t haunt them in their newly re-aligned Eastern Conference.
3. Patrick Marleau, C/LW, San Jose Sharks
Had I suggested that the Sharks move Patrick Marleau at the beginning of this season, you would have called me a person who displays characteristics similar to a crazy person. Or just a crazy person. Anyways, there was no one in the NHL who sprinted out of the gates like Patrick Marleau, scoring two goals in each of his first four games. After scoring another in his fifth game, Marleau has found the net only eight more times in the next 38 games. He’ll be 34 in September and is carrying one year left on his contract with a $6.9 million salary. Not exactly cap friendly for a trade, but the Sharks have been using the same Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, and Dan Boyle formula for the last six years resulting in zero Stanley Cups. Time for some house cleaning in San Jose.
2. Ryan Miller, G, Buffalo Sabres
It will be a sad day in Buffalo when the Sabres finally part ways with the “Pride of America” Ryan Miller, but his best days are clearly behind him. Miller will benefit from a change in scenery that could extend his career. Jhonas Enroth has outplayed Miller in every statistical category this season and Miller will be entering the final year of his contract. Miller is still only 32 and probably has some good years left in the tank.
1.Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver Canucks
We have been waiting for the trade to send Luongo from Vancouver for almost a year and a half. The main sticking point in a deal seems to be Luongo’s contract. Vancouver could get an amnesty on his deal or look to move him and get a return. He still has value at age 34 and though his deal may suck (his words, but I agree), there are plenty of teams that need goaltending. Luongo showed flashes of greatness this season, but the Canucks were firmly behind Cory Schneider, and rightly so. Schneider is the future in the Canucks goal, while Luongo’s future will be in another city.