Every NHL Team's Most Expendable Player Heading Into 2015
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Whether it is due to poor performance, being underused or needing time to sit out for a while, there is a player on every team who is expendable. This may mean a simple benching, or it may mean a trade, waivers or not re-signing. We've all said it about our favorite team, or least favorite player: It's time for him to go. Here are 30 such players who should not be where they are playing at this point in the 2014-15 season.
30. Rene Bourque, Anaheim Ducks
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30. Rene Bourque, Anaheim Ducks
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Rene Bourque was acquired from the Ducks in a trade for Bryan Allen who went to Montreal. Many say Anaheim got the better end of that deal, and given Allen's being a healthy scratch, this is true. However, Bourque's level of play has not changed. He is still streaky, not as productive as he needs to be and is currently a minus-10. It's safe to say the team would do well without him in the lineup.
29. Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes
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29. Antoine Vermette, Arizona Coyotes
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Antoine Vermette has registered 10 goals and 15 assists, which is not a bad number. He is, however, a minus-7, and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Already trade rumors about him are flying; he's in his mid-30s, and is reputed to be a versatile center who could fit well with teams such as the Blackhawks and the Canadiens, both of which are good fits. He could be traded now while his value is still high.
28. Gregory Campbell, Boston Bruins
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28. Gregory Campbell, Boston Bruins
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Gregory Campbell is simply not a productive player. He has the toughness required of Bruins' players, but his numbers are dismal. This season, in 31 games, he has only five points. He has averaged 65 penalty minutes per year, and though that is Boston's level of play, this season they need more than just fighters. They need players who can produce. Campbell is not fitting that bill.
27. Chris Stewart, Buffalo Sabres
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27. Chris Stewart, Buffalo Sabres
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Chris Stewart is a struggling player on a struggling team. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and with a minus-14 in 36 games (only five goals and five assists), he won't be picked up by many teams. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he's picked up his game and is likely being shopped by the team. Though he was only traded to Buffalo last season, he is rumored to be a possible pickup for Ottawa.
26. Brandon Bollig, Calgary Flames
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26. Brandon Bollig, Calgary Flames
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Brandon Bollig is not a goal scorer, but he is a detriment to the team at this point. With 40 penalty minutes in 31 games and only two assists to speak of, he is more a benefit to the team when he is benched than when on the ice. He is signed for $ 1.25 million per year until 2016-17, but being a healthy scratch isn't doing him much good. Without him on the ice, the team performs well, which speaks to his expendability.
25. Brad Malone, Carolina Hurricanes
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25. Brad Malone, Carolina Hurricanes
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Brad Malone remains without a point this season, having played 26 games with the Canes. With a minus-12, he is clearly a detriment. While there were no high expectations of him to score, he was brought to Carolina for his physical play and enforcer energy. However, Carolina is not in need of an enforcer right now; the struggling team needs productive players. Malone, appearing more on the penalty sheet than scoreboard, is just slowing them down.
24. Bryan Bickell, Chicago Blackhawks
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24. Bryan Bickell, Chicago Blackhawks
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Bryan Bickell is on a team that is doing exceptionally well. He is a minus-2 with five goals and eight assists, but with a strong team like the Blackhawks, he has to play up to the level of his teammates. Bickell is a prime example of how sitting out for a few games might help him improve his game. He is expendable in that sense, not necessarily in trade value. Perhaps sitting in the press box for 2-3 games would help him see the light.
23. Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche
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23. Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche
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Ryan O'Reilly is a name being heard quite a bit in conjunction with trade rumors. With a $ 6 million contract next season (and a little over $ 5 million this season), he is not attractive to many teams that are touching the cap ceiling already. There is bad blood between Avalanche management and O'Reilly over his contract talks, so it doesn't look like he'll be staying long. Why not trade him now for some attractive prospects or top picks?
22. Jared Boll, Columbus Blue Jackets
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22. Jared Boll, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Jared Boll has no goals, two assists and is a minus-9 on the season thus far. When beginning this season, in an interview, he stated that he was planning to make his role more than just that of enforcer. It does not seem to be working out, though, and with 34 games already played, changing now might be difficult. He is definitely not helping a team that is on fire right now, and they might just want to see what they could get in a trade for him.
21. Ales Hemsky, Dallas Stars
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21. Ales Hemsky, Dallas Stars
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Ales Hemsky is in the first of a three-year deal that sees him earning $ 4 million per year. He is not living up to that contract. Thus far on the season, he is a disappointment to the fans and the team, sitting at minus-12 with only 11 points. He is capable of more, which is why he was awarded the contract he signed. On a struggling team, it wouldn't be bad to have a struggling player like Hemsky sit out.
20. Jakub Kindl, Detroit Red Wings
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20. Jakub Kindl, Detroit Red Wings
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Jakub Kindl has only played 28 games out of 37 so far, and though he is currently on the short-term injury list (sprained elbow) he has not been played consistently by coach Mike Babcock. He is a strong player and should not be benched. A strong defenseman, he averages 15 minutes a game and could add a lot if he were played. He should be freed to go to another team where he can make a difference, but he is signed until 2017-18.
19. Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers
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19. Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers
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Given the deep hole Edmonton is in, every player is expendable at this point. Nail Yakupov stands out as he was the No. 1 draft pick in 2012, going first and deemed "elite". However, playing on a team which continues to struggle yearly, Yakupov is not hitting his stride. He should be dealt to a team where he can flourish, with veteran players who can mentor his game and bring him up to speed. Pittsburgh or Chicago would be good fits.
18. Erik Gudbranson, Florida Panthers
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18. Erik Gudbranson, Florida Panthers
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Erik Gudbranson is consistent; he's racked up more penalty minutes than points both this season and last. In past seasons he has finished with a double-digit minus. He is at plus-1 now, but at $ 2.5 million a year for the next two seasons, is he doing much for Florida, which is streaky at best? The Panthers aren't doing badly this year, but is he helping? I consider him expendable given his record and performance this, and other seasons.
17. Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings
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17. Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings
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Mike Richards is another player whose name is being connected to trade rumors. He has only four goals for the team and is at minus-7. The Kings are the reigning Cup champions and cannot be saddled with players who aren't performing. Add to that his $ 5.75 million cap hit through 2019-20, and the Kings might have to bench him or look to trade him while there is a market. He's capable of more. He just isn't showing it this season.
16. Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild
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16. Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild
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Thomas Vanek came to Minnesota from a partial season with the Canadiens, where he didn't live up to his reputation. Now he is still not up to speed. Formerly a 40-plus-goal scorer, he now has only six goals in 34 games. He is experiencing legal troubles, so perhaps he is distracted. But he was brought aboard to score goals, and Minnesota desperately needs productive players. He may not have trade value, perhaps he should sit for awhile.
15. David Desharnais, Montreal Canadiens
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15. David Desharnais, Montreal Canadiens
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David Desharnais has been a problem for the Canadiens; the coach has an affinity for playing him in the top or second line, but he is inconsistent and largely unproductive. The problem with Desharnais is his contract; recently extended for four years, he is making $ 3.5 million per season until 2016-17. He is expendable but not very marketable; he would have to be traded with a top pick or player in order to make it worth another team's money.
14. Victor Bartley, Nashville Predators
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14. Victor Bartley, Nashville Predators
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Victor Bartley is another player whose expendability comes from his being underused. While he is a peripheral player, not making a strong impression, he has been played only 10 games this season so far and has only five assists. He is a plus-6, though, so perhaps if the coach played him more he would impress. Nashville is doing well this season; Bartley should either be played or traded to a team that could use his talent.
13. Michael Ryder, New Jersey Devils
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13. Michael Ryder, New Jersey Devils
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Michael Ryder has had better seasons. His last goal was scored on Nov. 6, where he scored twice. He has made no secret of the fact that he's unhappy to have been a healthy scratch when the coach sits him, or that he's seeing less time on ice than his norm. He remains at four goals and 10 assists, and with his contract ending this season, perhaps his expendability could be explored before he becomes a free agent.
12. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
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12. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
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Anders Lee could easily be a second liner. Instead, he is playing on the third line and not seeing the type of action he deserves. He is a dynamic player, with eight goals and three assists, but he's underused. The Islanders are doing exceptionally well this season; perhaps they could spare Lee to a team where he would be properly used to the best of his abilities instead of being relegated to a line that doesn't see him producing as well.
11. Tanner Glass, New York Rangers
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11. Tanner Glass, New York Rangers
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Tanner Glass has no goals, one assist and is at minus-12 in the 29 games he's played with the Rangers this season. In a recent interview he admitted that he has to try to focus away from the dismal numbers. However, when a player hurts more than helps his team, perhaps it's time for the coach to scratch him from the lineup and try something else. If the Rangers are going to make playoffs, they need to make changes. Glass isn't helping.
10. Colin Greening, Ottawa Senators
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10. Colin Greening, Ottawa Senators
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Colin Greening has been a disappointment this season. With only one goal in the 16 games he has played, the 28-year-old center is not consistent and could be facing some confidence issues. The only way to stop this downslide from his previous showings is to play him more or send him down to the AHL where he can experience more ice time and develop his game. It may be that the latter is the better choice.
9. Zac Rinaldo, Philadelphia Flyers
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9. Zac Rinaldo, Philadelphia Flyers
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Zac Rinaldo is a fighter whose dirty tactics certainly don't help a team trying to score points instead of resume the reputation of "Broad Street Bullies". Rinaldo is a minus-9, no goals, one assist. Last season alone he recorded 153 penalty minutes. With an average of eight minutes on ice, he is clearly not serious about playing the game to win and should either be traded away or benched. The Flyers need goals, not fighters.
8. Beau Bennett, Pittsburgh Penguins
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8. Beau Bennett, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Beau Bennett has played only seven games, and has one goal, two assists. He's not producing and has had a couple of injuries this season, as well as coming down with the mumps that infected many NHL players. It must be noted, however, that the Penguins continue to lead their division with and without him. Clearly he is not as effective as he could be if a team is doing that well without him. He should be traded in order to develop his game.
7. John Scott, San Jose Sharks
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7. John Scott, San Jose Sharks
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John Scott is a repeat offender when it comes to illegal hits. He has been suspended twice already this season and has only registered eight points with the team. San Jose is in need of players, not fighters, and Scott does not add much to a team barely in a playoff spot. It wouldn't hurt to sit him for a few games just to let him know his style of play is not only detrimental to the team, but it is not in his own best interest either.
6. Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues
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6. Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues
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Patrik Berglund is not living up to the potential he holds. While he may yet get to the 32 points he recorded last season with the Blues, he is only at 11 points now and his time on ice is inconsistent. There are trade rumors with his name attached to them, and this could mean the team sees him as expendable too.
5. J.T. Brown, Tampa Bay Lightning
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5. J.T. Brown, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Brown averages only eight minutes on ice so far this season, and in 27 games he has scored only one goal and three assists. Signed until 2016-17 at a cap hit of $ 950,000, he would be a good pickup for a team in need of a player who was already being called up to the NHL at age 20. Again this season, Tampa is doing extremely well. Brown is wasted on a team that is relying on experienced players and he should be somewhere he'd get experience.
4. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
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4. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
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He may be their captain, but Toronto is relying less on Phaneuf than they used to, a sure sign he is expendable. He has only two goals this season and is slow, doesn't defend properly and can be responsible for many goals scored against this inconsistent team. Phaneuf is in a definite decline - as is his team - and he is sporting a bad attitude as well. Captain or not, a liability is, and should be, expendable. Phaneuf is no benefit to the Leafs.
3. Tom Sestito, Vancouver Canucks
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3. Tom Sestito, Vancouver Canucks
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Tom Sestito has zero goals this season. He has only played three games and has been sent down to the AHL once already for conditioning. Last season was no better for him; he finished at minus-14 with 213 penalty minutes. Add that to his average of six minutes on ice in the games he's played, and he is not doing anything good by being on the roster. He should be sent down to play in the minors or traded to a team that can use him properly.
2. Michael Latta, Washington Capitals
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2. Michael Latta, Washington Capitals
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Latta has no goals and only four assists in the 28 games he has played with the Capitals. He has 39 penalty minutes, and with the Capitals lower in the standings than they would like, he is not adding to any successes they are experiencing. He has excelled in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, with 34 points in 52 games last season. Perhaps it's time to let him go and send him back down to develop for another year.
1. Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets
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1. Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets
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It isn't that Evander Kane isn't producing. He has a respectable 15 points and is a plus-3. But Kane is a controversial personality in the hockey world due to his off-ice actions. Numerous times he has posted photos of himself on social media, posing with bricks of money in Las Vegas. He makes headlines of the wrong sort. His attitude needs serious adjustment, and no matter how good he is, he's expendable if he hurts his team's reputation.
Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter@LissaRantSports. “Like” her onFacebookand/or add her to your network onGoogle.
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