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10. Jody Shelley, Flyers
With the Flyers acquiring the rights to ex-Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and the team in tight to the cap, a veteran enforcer such as Shelley (who has two years left at a cap hit of $1.1 million) could be sacrificed.
9. Nikolai Khabibulin, Oilers
Khabibulin hasn’t been a total washout since he signed a four-year, $15-million deal in 2009. But he’s won just 17 games since then and is a 38-year-old whose best days clearly are behind him.
8. Jason Blake, Ducks
The 37-year-old Blake had 16 goals for Anaheim this season. Is that worth $4 million in 2011-12, the final year of the five-year deal he signed with Toronto back in 2007? No, it isn’t. The Ducks have cap concerns as well, meaning it’s time for Blake to move on.
7. Cam Barker, Wild
Although he’s only 25, Barker never has panned out as someone drafted third overall, as he was in 2004. Moreover, he’s scheduled to have a cap hit of nearly $3.1 million next season. The Wild need cap room, so he may go.
6. Rostislav Olesz, Panthers
Yes, Olesz missed 38 games last season due to injuries and only scored six goals and 17 points. But he’s only reached the 14-goal plateau mark twice in his six-year NHL career. With three years and about $9.4 million left on his contract, he’s earning too much to be that unproductive.
5. Brian Rolston, Devils
The 38-year-old Rolston looked to be out of gas early last season; he was waived twice by the Devils before coming on stronger at the end and finishing with 14 goals and 34 points in 65 games. Still, that’s not enough to justify the $5 million he’s due to earn in 2011-12.
4. Mike Commodore, Blue Jackets
Once a folk hero in Columbus, Commodore fell out of favor with team coaches and management last season and was waived and shipped to the American League in January for the rest of the season. He has two years with a $3.75 million cap hit left on his deal and you can’t imagine the Jackets owners will want to keep paying him to play in the minors.
3. J-P Dumont, Predators
Dumont has spent the past five seasons with the Preds, but was a healthy scratch on numerous occasions down the stretch and in the playoffs for them this season. He has one year and $4 million left on his contract, far too much to pay him to sit in the press box.
2. Sheldon Souray, Oilers
Souray, who turns 35 next month, has been worn down by his physical style of play and injuries, but he has one more season (with a $4.5 million salary) left to go on his contract. Oilers brass wouldn’t be spiteful enough to make him play in the AHL for two straight years, would they?
1. Chris Drury, Rangers
He’s had a stellar decade-plus in the NHL, but Drury’s massive cap hit - $7.05 million for one more season - has him square in the sights of a Rangers team that needs to pare down costs wherever possible. His career isn’t over, but at that price tag, it’s almost certainly over in Manhattan.
The Hockey News: THN.com Top 10: THN.com Top 10: NHL buyout candidates
With the Flyers acquiring the rights to ex-Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and the team in tight to the cap, a veteran enforcer such as Shelley (who has two years left at a cap hit of $1.1 million) could be sacrificed.
9. Nikolai Khabibulin, Oilers
Khabibulin hasn’t been a total washout since he signed a four-year, $15-million deal in 2009. But he’s won just 17 games since then and is a 38-year-old whose best days clearly are behind him.
8. Jason Blake, Ducks
The 37-year-old Blake had 16 goals for Anaheim this season. Is that worth $4 million in 2011-12, the final year of the five-year deal he signed with Toronto back in 2007? No, it isn’t. The Ducks have cap concerns as well, meaning it’s time for Blake to move on.
7. Cam Barker, Wild
Although he’s only 25, Barker never has panned out as someone drafted third overall, as he was in 2004. Moreover, he’s scheduled to have a cap hit of nearly $3.1 million next season. The Wild need cap room, so he may go.
6. Rostislav Olesz, Panthers
Yes, Olesz missed 38 games last season due to injuries and only scored six goals and 17 points. But he’s only reached the 14-goal plateau mark twice in his six-year NHL career. With three years and about $9.4 million left on his contract, he’s earning too much to be that unproductive.
5. Brian Rolston, Devils
The 38-year-old Rolston looked to be out of gas early last season; he was waived twice by the Devils before coming on stronger at the end and finishing with 14 goals and 34 points in 65 games. Still, that’s not enough to justify the $5 million he’s due to earn in 2011-12.
4. Mike Commodore, Blue Jackets
Once a folk hero in Columbus, Commodore fell out of favor with team coaches and management last season and was waived and shipped to the American League in January for the rest of the season. He has two years with a $3.75 million cap hit left on his deal and you can’t imagine the Jackets owners will want to keep paying him to play in the minors.
3. J-P Dumont, Predators
Dumont has spent the past five seasons with the Preds, but was a healthy scratch on numerous occasions down the stretch and in the playoffs for them this season. He has one year and $4 million left on his contract, far too much to pay him to sit in the press box.
2. Sheldon Souray, Oilers
Souray, who turns 35 next month, has been worn down by his physical style of play and injuries, but he has one more season (with a $4.5 million salary) left to go on his contract. Oilers brass wouldn’t be spiteful enough to make him play in the AHL for two straight years, would they?
1. Chris Drury, Rangers
He’s had a stellar decade-plus in the NHL, but Drury’s massive cap hit - $7.05 million for one more season - has him square in the sights of a Rangers team that needs to pare down costs wherever possible. His career isn’t over, but at that price tag, it’s almost certainly over in Manhattan.
The Hockey News: THN.com Top 10: THN.com Top 10: NHL buyout candidates
