This week we are going to go through each team in the Western Conference and see which player on each roster has the most value per their contract and which player has the least.

Some of the factors I’ve taken into account are the salary cap hit, length of contract (good or bad), age, current production and the team roster.

Anaheim Ducks

Best value – Mason McTavish (two years remaining at $925k AAV)

McTavish has had a decent rookie season with the Ducks with 11 goals and 19 assists in 53 games so far. He buys the Ducks the option to front-end load the impending contracts for Zegras and Terry for two seasons. McTavish playing only nine games last season and having his entry-level contract slide to this season, highlights the importance of that decision by the Ducks.

Least value – John Klingberg (last year of a $7 million contract)

Klingberg was signed to a one year deal as an unrestricted free agent before this season. He's played 45 games with 20 points and is a minus 26. He more than likely will be dealt by the trade deadline. If the Ducks can get value from dealing him this year, it might justify the $7 million salary a little bit.

Arizona Coyotes

Best value – Jakub Chychrun (two years remaining at $4.6 million AAV)

Chychrun was a healthy scratch for trade reasons on Saturday night, so something might happen before this is published as the rumors swirl. He's had an excellent 36 games this season where he has put up 28 points. The Coyotes had better get a great return for Chychrun as he is just 24-years old with control for two more seasons at well below market value. 

Least value – Zack Kassian (one year remaining at $3.2 million)

Kassian is the obvious choice here as he has just one goal in 36 games while being minus 13. The most disturbing stat for him is his 30 hits after putting up 154 last season in 58 games. Is this what happens when a player is expecting a buy-out but doesn't get it? 

Calgary Flames

Best value – Rasmus Andersson (three years remaining at $4.55 million AAV)

Andersson is 26-years old and has 34 points in 51 games this season. He's the power play quarterback on the first unit and is a top-two defender at just $4.55 million. It's hard to think he wouldn't command north of $7 million AAV now.

Least value – Jacob Markstrom (three years remaining at $6 million AAV)

Last season, Markstrom might have been considered one of the better value contracts on the roster. What a difference, one season makes as he has struggled in 35 games with a record of 14-13-6 and a save percentage of 89.2 and a GSAA of negative 12.55. He is now 33-years old and he will need to bounce back at some point this year if the Flames have any hopes in the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks

Best value – Taylor Raddysh (one year remaining at $758k)

This roster is bereft of many value contracts going forward, so Raddysh is perhaps the best value with one more season at just above the league minimum. The 24-year-old  has 14 goals and 24 points in 51 games in his second season in the NHL.

Least value – Seth Jones (six years remaining at $9.5 million AAV)

Notwithstanding the fact that Jones will be 34-years old when his contract ends, the Blackhawks likely won't be a competitive team in the first two or three seasons of his remaining years. In 119 games as a Blackhawk, Jones has 75 points but is minus 61. It will be interesting to see who the Blackhawks re-build with over $38 million in cap space beginning next season after Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have their contracts expire. 

Colorado Avalanche

Best value – Alexandar Georgiev (two years remaining at $3.4 million AAV)

Georgiev has become the number one goalie in Colorado this season and in 36 games has a record of 21-12-5, a save percentage of 91.8 and a GSAA of 14.04.

Least value – Josh Manson (three years remaining at $4.5 million AAV)

To be fair, Manson has been injured for most of the season and has only played 21 games. The downside is that in those 21 games, he's only averaged 16:57 per game, which is hardly the ice time you want to pay a defender the salary he is earning.

Dallas Stars

Best value – Wyatt Johnston (two years remaining at $925k AAV)

With 13 goals and 10 assists in 54 games, Johnston has established himself on this roster as a 19-year-old rookie this season. With two years remaining on his entry-level contract, it allows the Stars more flexibility until Jamie Benn's $9.5 million AAV comes off the books in two years.

Least value – Tyler Seguin (four years remaining at $9.875 million AAV)

Normally I would have both Seguin and Benn listed here, but Benn is having an impressive season so far and has two years remaining as opposed to four for Seguin. Seguin is on pace for about 53 points which is comparable to his prior two seasons. He's a valuable member of the Stars, just not close to $10 million AAV valuable.

Edmonton Oilers

Best value – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (six years remaining at $5.12 million AAV)

Having Connor McDavid in your lineup could be considered the best value at any price, but I'm going with Nugent-Hopkins who is having a career-year at the age of 29. After 54 games he has 24 goals (career-high is 28) and 63 points (career-high is 69). Even if he's only productive in four of his next six seasons, his cap hit is still a good deal.

Least value – Jack Campbell (four years remaining at $5 million AAV)

A month ago, this pick was a slam dunk. Since then Campbell has been on a bit of a roll and perhaps taken back his role as the number one goalie over Stuart Skinner. In 27 games, he has a record of 17-8-1 with a save percentage of 89.0 and a GSAA of negative 12.44. The concern with Campbell is that he is 31-years-old and doesn't have an extensive track record to vouch for four more seasons of improved play.

Los Angeles Kings

Best value – Sean Durzi (one year remaining at $1.7 million AAV)

Not many players who are producing are underpaid on the Kings. I think Durzi might be the only player on the roster who would probably demand a significant pay raise based on his play rather than his potential. In 51 games he has 26 points and averages 20 minutes per game. He does have some defensive issues, so his place here could be questioned.

Least value – Drew Doughty (four years remaining at $11 million AAV)

Doughty has been in his slot for a few years now and while it's great to see him healthy and being able to play 53 games this season, it's also a reminder that he is 33-years-old with four years remaining on his contract. He's averaging over 26 minutes per game and has 35 points so far, so he's still one of the best players in LA. It's just impossible to justify his contract.

Minnesota Wild

Best value – Joel Eriksson Ek (six years remaining at $5.25 million AAV)

Eriksson Ek has never had more than 50 points in his first six seasons in the NHL. After 52 games he has 20 goals and 24 assists, so barring injury, he should be able to reach that plateau this season. As a probable finalist for the Selke Award, he's a bargain at the age of 26.

Least value – Jordan Greenway (two years remaining at $3 million AAV)

Greenway has had a forgettable season with just two goals and four assists in 35 games to go along with 63 hits. He has been rumored to be traded before the trade deadline.

Nashville Predators

Best value – Juuse Saros (two years remaining at $5 million AAV)

When he signed his four-year contract before the 2021-22 season, I'm sure I thought it was a mistake to give a goalie who hadn't played more than 40 games in a season before that kind of money. Here we are a season and a half later and I think it's one of the biggest bargains out there. This year he has played 39 games with a record of 20-14-6 and a save percentage of 91.9 and a GSAA of 16.82. If he gets above 20, this would be his third season in a row to get above that mark for goals saved above average.

Least value – Ryan Johansen (two years remaining at $8 million AAV)

Johansen is still only 30-years of age, but has just 11 goals and 15 assists in 50 games so far this season. He's excellent in the face-off circle with a 59.0 winning percentage but without production, that is a lot of money spent on just one area of excellence.

San Jose Sharks

Best value – Matt Benning (three years remaining at $1.25 million AAV)

Benning had never been in a role in the top four or five defensemen on a team until this season in San Jose. When he signed for four years, I thought it was a peculiar deal for the Sharks as Benning struggled on a very good team in Nashville as the sixth or seventh defenseman. This year he has 21 points in 52 games with 78 hits and 86 blocked shots and has averaged 19:26 per game after never having a season above 17:04.

Least value – Marc-Eduoard Vlasic (three years remaining at $7 million AAV)

Even though Vlasic has been somewhat better this season than last, he is 35-years-old with three years remaining on his contract. When one thinks about a $7 million AAV defenseman it isn't Vlasic.

Seattle Kraken

Best value – Adam Larsson (two years remaining at $4 million AAV)

The 30-year-old Larsson is having a career-year with the Kraken and in 53 games has 24 points, is plus 31, has 147 hits and 109 blocked shots, while averaging 24:10 per game. While he was maligned in Edmonton, he sure has found a home in Seattle.

Least value – Jaden Schwartz (three years remaining at $5.5 million AAV)

The injury-plagued Schwartz has managed 44 games this season with 12 goals and 13 assists. He has now played 81 games with the Kraken and has 20 goals and 28 assists, with a minus 23. The 30-year-old is one of only a few Kraken who probably aren't earning their salary this season. 

St. Louis Blues

Best value – Pavel Buchnevich (two years remaining at $5.8 million AAV)

I was tempted to include Robert Thomas or Robert Thomas here, but both have identical eight year deals at $8.125 million AAV that kick in next season.

Buchnevich has now played 112 games with the Blues and has 117 points, so has proven he can put up a point per game. It will be interesting to see how he fares without Vladimir Tarasenko in St. Louis.

Least value – Jordan Binnington (four years remaining at $6 million AAV)

After his meteoric rise in 2018-19, Binnington was average for two seasons and has been below average this year and last. In 40 games this season he has a record of 19-18-5 with a save percentage of 89.0 and a GSAA of negative 18.15.

Vancouver Canucks

Best value – Quinn Hughes (four years remaining at $7.875 million AAV)

There are not many value contracts on the Canucks. Some might consider the inclusion of Hughes to be a stretch, but I think he would be around $9 million AAV after his play this season and last. He has 50 points in 49 games with 25 of those on the power play.

Least value – Oliver Ekman-Larsson (four years remaining at $8.25 million AAV)

Ekman-Larsson is one of six or seven Canucks who could be on this list. His contract just happens to be the worst for what he is bringing to the rink on a nightly basis. This year he has 22 points in 52 games, but is a minus 20, while averaging 20:32 per night. His ice time is the lowest he has had in the league since his rookie season in 2010-11. Salary-wise it gets even worse as he makes $10.5 million this year and next. He also has a full no-movement clause until the end of his deal.

Vegas Golden Knights

Best value – Logan Thompson (two years remaining at $767K AAV)

Thompson is out on a week-to-week basis right now. Prior to being injured, he had played in 36 games as a rookie with a record of 20-13-5 and a save percentage of 91.4 and a GSAA of 8.65. He has two more seasons at just above the league minimum.

Least value – Zach Whitecloud (five years remaining at $2.75 million AAV)

Whitecloud has missed a few games with injury and has only played 33 games this season. He's only 26-years-old, so being 31 at the end of his contract is not that concerning, it's taking a bit of a step back from last season that gets my attention. Last season he had a bit of a breakout with eight goals, 11 assists, a plus 21, 98 hits and 115 blocked shots in 59 games while averaging 18:48 per game. He was rewarded with a six-year contract.

This season he has averaged 16:48 per game in the 33 games he's played with one goal and six assists, 53 hits and 59 blocked shots. He's become the sixth defenseman on this roster and ideally a club shouldn't be paying that much for that role.

Winnipeg Jets

Best value – Josh Morrissey (five years remaining at $6.25 million AAV)

If I had Morrissey here last year, I would have been met with some rightful disagreement. The 27-year-old Morrissey is now severely underpaid after putting up 11 goals and 44 assists in his first 53 games this season. He also has added 66 hits and 77 blocked shots.

Least value – Nate Schmidt (two years remaining at $5.95 million AAV)

Schmidt has five goals and six assists in 44 games this season while averaging 19:22 per game. This is similar to his forgettable season in 2020-21 with Vancouver where he had 15 points in 54 games. He's been traded for a 3rd round pick twice in the past two seasons, but I'm not sure he would fetch that now. His cap space would certainly come in handy if the Jets wish to re-sign Pierre-Luc Dubois. But then again this team's window appears to be closing at the end of the 2023-24 season with Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Connor Hellebuyck all scheduled to be UFA then.

I have to give credit to teams like the Seattle Kraken, Minnesota Wild or the Colorado Avalanche where it is difficult to choose more than one or two contracts and see that there might be significant issues moving forward. To the opposite end of the spectrum, there are teams like the Vancouver Canucks and the St. Louis Blues who have a number of contracts with definite or potential issues.

Thank you very much for reading and if you have any comments, please leave them below or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15