Bernier's cap situation may be helped out by the recent coaching change in Leaf-land. While Randy Carlyle liked to play both James Reimer and Bernier equally (Reimer has played in 44 per cent of the games in the last 1.5 seasons under Carlyle), new coach Peter Horachek may have a different policy, although it is too early to tell. Bernier's numbers don't look that great this year (a 16-10-3 record with a 2.73 GAA and .916 save percentage), but there's not a lot of other options for the Leafs. They won't run with Reimer as the number one (as proven by the fact of trading for Bernier), and a weak free agent class for goalies (after Antti Niemi, there's no other number one goalies). So Bernier, who has a cap hit of $2.9 million, will start to get paid like a number one goalie.

6. Torey Krug

It's hard to imagine that both Krug and Dougie Hamilton (more on him later) are making a combined $2.9 million, but that's what happens when the Bruins get hit with almost $5 million in cap penalties thanks to bonus-laden deals last season. With that $5 million not in effect in 2015-16, Krug should be one of the beneficiaries. Right now, Krug leads the Bruins in power-play points, and is on pace for 38 points. His $1.4 million salary should double.

5. Marcus Johansson

Once Mike Green and Joel Ward come off the books (both are unrestricted free agents this summer), that will give the Capitals at least $10 million to sign some of their RFAs, and Johansson will be one of their priorities. Johansson makes $2 million a year now, but is fourth on the team in goals and points, and third in power-play points. He also plays on the top power play line with Alexander Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom, so having that kind of chemistry with the top studs on a team can really do wonders for a player (right Tyler Bozak?).

4. Dougie Hamilton

Much like fellow blueliner Krug, Hamilton signed a modest one-year deal last season as the Bruins were in cap hell. Things probably won't be much better for next season, unless there's a major trade. But last year, Hamilton signed a one-year deal for $1.494 million cap hit. This season, he not only picked up the slack when Zdeno Chara missed 19 games due to an injury, he's been the Bruins best defencemen on many nights when the captain returned. He leads the Bruins in power play time per game, and is third for power-play points and fourth in overall points.

3. Gustav Nyquist

This one is a tough one to call. On one hand, I could see Detroit wanting to sign Nyquist to a two-year bridge deal for a low cap hit. On the flip side, signing him longer-term at a bit more money may make more sense now than to wait two years and have his value skyrocket even more (a la P.K. Subban). But for now, Nyquist is one of the best owns in cap leagues because he makes $950,000. He's second on the Red Wings in goals, third in points and tops in power-play points.

2. Vladimir Tarasenko

The Blues leading point-getter sure picked a good season to break through with his contract coming up for renewal. With a cap hit of $1.75 million, Tarasenko is going to get paid this summer, and then some. The Tank is a special player, so I can't see him signing a small bridge deal like P.K. Subban. Maybe something like Ryan Johansen in Columbus (who will have a cap hit of $4 million for the next three years, but in that third year he's making $6 million), but he's going be at least doubling his salary.

1. Braden Holtby

If you were to rank goalies based on cap hits, Holtby would be near the bottom of the list. But if you were to rank goalies on success this season, Holtby would be near the top. He's quietly putting up a solid season, and has just a $1.85 million cap hit. He's top 10 in wins, shutouts, and saves, and of goalies that have started at least 20 games, sixth in save percentage and eighth in goals against average. With other number one goalies signing big contract recently (Marc-Andre Fleury at $5.75 million, Ben Bishop at $5.95 and Sergei Bobrovsky getting $7.425 million), $5 million is not out of the question for Holtby.