The key with these five names is that they have all shown promise over the past year. A case could be made that each of them could have earned more money this summer. But they did not and their smaller cap hits make them more valuable in leagues with scoring setups that suit them.

What does this mean?

While there have been some instances of bottom-six talent earning big contracts recently, there are still tons of players that sign the very affordable contracts that cap league owners are looking for. It may simply be a case of bottom-six talent being more prone to unusual raises in the future than they have been in the past.

In the end, during the free agency period players are simply looking to earn as much money as they can. With many of the league's top stars already signed to long-term contracts, the lower tiers are left to fight for the remaining dollars. Under the right conditions a player can earn a lot of cash.

In fantasy hockey, this could mean that your cap bargain players will become more risky in the coming years. It could lead to you having to scramble more during the summer months to find replacements. If you do your homework ahead of time you may be able to get yourself out of trouble before it arrives.

Finding cap bargain alternatives

The easiest way to replace a departing player on your squad is to have the solution in-house already. In many keeper formats teams have prospect lists and farm teams that can be used to hold on to prospects and young NHL players. Generally there are age or career GP restrictions that determine a player's eligibility for the farm and/or prospect rosters. Use these rules to your advantage.

Unless the prospect is so good that he cannot be kept down, keep him on the farm team for as long as possible. Find a more immediate veteran on the waiver wire or try to acquire one for scraps in a trade. This will improve your team's depth by allowing you to hold on to more NHL-ready players which gives you options when your hand is forced and you have to make a move.

Most importantly, stay involved in your quest to discover new talent. If your league has been around for a few years, then most likely Radko Gudas and Antoine Roussel were on your league's waiver wire at one point. If you can be the one that lands such a gem it can go a long way towards turning a good squad into a contender. Even if you hit a single instead of a home run, it can at least get you out of a mess if one of your depth players becomes overpaid and loses his cap-league appeal.

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