The heat we have been enjoying this summer is a welcome break from the otherwise frosty spring we endured.
The heat some players will feel next season might not be as pleasant.
| 1. Dany Heatley, Minnesota Wild |
A two-time 50-goal scorer with the Ottawa Senators, Heatley managed just 26 goals last season with the San Jose Sharks, playing on a line with one of the best passers in the league, Joe Thornton. There is no Joe Thornton on the Wild. Heatley is just 30-years old, but when you see him moving around the ice, you'd think he's 40 which really makes one wonder about his conditioning. He managed just three goals (no power play goals; no game-winners) and nine points in 18 playoff games as the Sharks once again failed to make it to the Stanley Cup final.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 80 | 26 | 38 | 64 | $7.5 million |
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| 2. Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres |
After being named the NHL's rookie of the year the season before, Myers was hit hard by the sophomore jinx. The 6-foot-8, 222-pounder actually had a decent second half after a horrible start, but overall he failed to progress. With the Sabres spending money and adding to their talent base, they hope he will kick it into gear and become the impact player he was in his first NHL season.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 80 | 10 | 27 | 37 | $1.3 million |
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| 3. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks |
Like Myers, Keith won a major league award, the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman, the year before but then slumped. He slipped from 14 goals to seven; 69 points to 45 and plus-21 to minus-1. Keith was a huge reason why the Blackhawks won the Cup in 2009-10 and, along with the fact they traded away a lot of key depth players, was a reason why they failed to repeat.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 82 | 7 | 38 | 45 | $$5.5 million |
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| 4. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings |
Like Myers and Keith, Doughty took a step back after being anointed a future Norris Trophy winner. The smooth-skating defenceman who had 16 goals and 59 points in his sophomore season, slipped to 11 goals and 40 points last year. This kid has a massive upside, but cannot afford to take another step back.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 76 | 11 | 29 | 40 | $3.475 million |
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| 5. Dustin Penner, Los Angeles Kings |
Penner has become the poster child for skilled forwards who underachieve. Upon being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound winger managed just two goals and six points in 19 regular season games and only one goal and two points in six playoff games. The Kings made no attempt to hide their disappointment in his play and have challenged him to come back next season in better shape. Nobody questions Penner's skill, but his desire is not always evident.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 81 | 23 | 22 | 45 | $4.25 million |
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| 6. Scott Gomez, Montreal Canadiens |
Gomez takes a beating for not producing at a level that justifies his $8 million (last season) salary. And the criticism is justified. Seriously, seven goals in 80 games? What's that all about? Gomez gives it a decent effort nightly, but 38 points in 80 games just isn't cutting it. Montreal would love to dump his salary.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 80 | 7 | 31 | 38 | $7.36 million |
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| 7. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils |
After going to great lengths to sign the unrestricted free agent, which included being fined by the NHL and the loss of a first-round draft pick, the Devils were rewarded with 31 goals and just 60 points in 80 games. Not to mention he was minus-26. You'd have to think they had greater numbers in mind when they gave him that lifetime contract. With two 52-goal seasons on his resume, the Devils need Kovalchuk to find his offence immediately.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 81 | 31 | 29 | 60 | $6.67 million |
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| 8. Sergei Gonchar, Ottawa Senators |
The Senators thought they were adding a key piece of the puzzle when they signed Gonchar to give their power play a boost. Instead the veteran defenceman had a miserable season scoring just seven goals and 27 points in 67 games and was minus-15. Age is catching up with Gonchar, but that doesn't completely explain his lack of offence.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 67 | 7 | 20 | 27 | $5.5 million |
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| 9. Mike Komisarek, Toronto Maple Leafs |
Since joining the Maple Leafs two years ago, Komisarek's game has slipped immeasurably. The seventh overall pick in 2001 played less than 14 minutes a game and displayed none of the pugnacity, testosterone or truculence that GM Brian Burke thought he was getting when he signed the former Montreal Canadien.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Salary cap hit | | 75 | 1 | 9 | 10 | $4.5 million |
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| 10. Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets |
The NHL's top rookie in 2008-09, Mason's game has slipped since. He is still just a kid at 23-years old, but his goals-against average has been over 3.00 the past two years. He had 10 shutouts as a rookie and has eight in the two years since.
| 2010-11 numbers | | Games Played | Record | Goals Against Average | Save Percentage | Salary cap hit | | 54 | 24-21-7 | 3.03 | .901 | $905,000 |
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