Silly season is right around the corner.

With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some teams will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.

Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes: Scott Darling

Darling made it quite clear this season he isn't cut out to be a No. 1. Under Tom Dundon, the team will be looking to make a splash, and that includes a new goalie tandem.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Brandon Dubinsky

This season, Dubinsky saw a 25-point drop, a consequence of scoring half the goals he did in 2017. He was also reported to be dealing with a personal issue that could be career-ending; a buyout might be best for all parties.

New Jersey Devils: Travis Zajac

Zajac is currently the longest-serving Devils player, but his production has taken a drastic hit and $5.75 million is a lot of money to put up for fewer than 15 goals a season.

New York Islanders: Casey Cizikas

Andrew Ladd would make sense here, but he gets a lot of his money in signing bonuses, which doesn't make a buyout very feasible. As for Cizikas, who hasn't hit double-digit goals his entire career, buying him out saves nearly $2.5 million.

New York Rangers: Marc Staal

Staal is not the No. 2 defenseman he once was. With just eight points this year, his offensive numbers aren't there. The Rangers are already vowing to make changes to their core, and he could be the next to go.

Philadelphia Flyers: Andrew MacDonald

The near-$4 million in cap space the Flyers would open up in buying out MacDonald is a better asset off the ice than he has been on it. The Flyers have ample defensive prospects in their system more deserving of a spot in the lineup.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Carl Hagelin

Once part of the infamous HBK line, Hagelin has never been as successful again as he was during the Penguins' 2016 playoff run. With 30 goals over the last three years and a $4-million cap hit, the Penguins could better use that money.

Washington Capitals: Brooks Orpik

In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Orpik scored his first goal in 220 games, that about says it all. Given his high cap hit and the fact the Capitals will be looking to lock up John Carlson at season's end, a buyout could be in the cards.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: Adam McQuaid

McQuaid has served as a healthy scratch this year, playing just 38 games (mostly due to injury) while averaging the least amount of ice time among Bruins defensemen who have played at least 15 games.

Buffalo Sabres: Zach Bogosian

Bogosian has no business making over $5 million per season. The Sabres need a drastic upgrade to their defense corps, so what better way than by losing Bogosian and adding projected No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin?

Detroit Red Wings: Darren Helm

The Red Wings have a number of names that could appear on this list, but Helm is probably the one least likely to rebound in his production. The club could also afford to get a little younger.

Florida Panthers: Jamie McGinn

The Panthers' forward contingent is still chock-full of young talent and with more in the system likely to challenge for roster spots, the team is going to need to make room. The extra $2.33 million doesn't hurt.

Montreal Canadiens: Karl Alzner

Alzner's deal has been flawed since it was signed. He's a bottom-pairing defenseman being paid way out of that pay range. Buying him out will help the Canadiens better address their defense corps.

Ottawa Senators: Marian Gaborik

Whether due to injury or a drop in play, Gaborik's production has not been there for the past four seasons. Of course, saving over $3 million is just the kind of move Eugene Melnyk wants his team to make.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan Girardi

The Lightning need to shed some salary with four pending RFAs, and Girardi would see the team shed salary without losing an overly valuable asset.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt Martin

The fact is that Martin isn't getting playing time and is taking up $2.5 million in salary. Though buying him out won't save the Maple Leafs a ton of cash, at this point, it's better for both parties to take different directions.

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Ilya Kovalchuk is California dreamin'.

The former Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner visited with the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and will meet with the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Both destinations seem like good fits for Kovalchuk. Each team is competitive and could use added scoring punch off the left wing.

Kovalchuk is 35 years old and five years removed from the NHL. But he scored 31 goals and added 32 assists in 53 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL this past season.

J.P. Barry, Kovalchuk's agent, reportedly intends to get a multi-year deal for his client.

Kovalchuk is free to negotiate and agree to terms on a contract anytime, but can't officially sign with a club until July 1.

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Barry Trotz coached the Capitals to a Stanley Cup title this season while not knowing if he'd be back behind the Washington bench next year, as his current contract expires July 1.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future with the club, Trotz is soaking up the moment and enjoying the "buzz" that comes along with being NHL champs: "I’m not in any state to talk," Trotz said Saturday, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "I always talked about having really good clarity and calm and all that.

"I don’t have a lot of clarity right now. That’s self-inflicted."

Part of that self-infliction came Saturday afternoon at the Washington Nationals-San Francisco Giants game in D.C., where the entire Capitals team was on hand for an afternoon full of beers and good times.

Related: Capitals GM on Trotz's expiring contract: 'If he wants to be back, he'll be back'

Washington's general manager Brain MacLellan made it known earlier this week that if Trotz wishes to return to the organization the two sides would get a deal done.

Trotz has been at the helm in D.C. since 2014, amassing a regular-season record of 205-89-34 and a postseason record of 36-27.

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The San Jose Sharks are nearing a buyout of the final year of defenseman Paul Martin's contract, a source told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.

Martin is under contract for one more season with the Sharks at a cap hit of $4.85 million, but if he's bought out, San Jose will save roughly $2.8 million in cap space for the 2018-19 campaign.

The veteran rearguard spent the last three seasons with the Sharks, registering seven goals and 41 assists in 173 regular-season games. However, he only suited up in 14 contests this past year due to poor play and injury issues. He also skated in 18 AHL games after being waived by the club in January.

Teams can officially begin buying out contracts on Friday.

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Stanley Cup celebrations will continue throughout the offseason for members of the Washington Capitals, but for the team's general manager Brian MacLellan, he'll get back to work almost immediately.

The first order of business for MacLellan is quite obvious: get on the phone with John Carlson's agent and try to work out a contract extension.

Carlson is coming off a career year in which he led all NHL defensemen with 68 points, and added 20 more in 24 postseason games. Behind John Tavares, he's the best pending free agent set to hit the open market on July 1.

As a premier right-handed shooting defenseman who's still only 28 years old, there will undoubtedly be a long list of teams willing to pay Carlson handsomely into his mid-30s. A seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $8 million seems realistic.

It may seem unfathomable that MacLellan could actually re-sign Carlson, given the team's cap crunch, but if the following steps are taken, it could be done with just enough money leftover to ice a roster capable of winning another Stanley Cup in 2019.

Buy out Brooks Orpik

Orpik was a rock on the Caps' blue line during the postseason, but he needs to go in order to keep Carlson in Washington. He'll be 38 years old next season and is entering the final year of a contract with a $5.5-million cap hit. Trading him isn't a real option, as it's unlikely any team would be willing to take on that salary. Here's how the buyout would work, according to Cap Friendly.

As you can see, a buyout would save the Capitals $3 million in cap room for the coming season.

Bridge deal Tom Wilson

Wilson is the team's second-biggest pending free agent behind Carlson. Luckily for the Caps, he's a restricted free agent, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, they won't be battling with other teams to sign him.

Locking Wilson up to a long-term extension would be ideal, but that usually means overpaying in the short term for security and a bargain down the line. Unfortunately for MacLellan, this is a luxury he cannot afford.

The Caps need to sign Wilson to a bridge deal. At least three years would be ideal for the team, but two years would be better for the player since he can become a UFA afterward.

Wilson made $2 million per year on his last deal, and after setting career highs with 14 goals and 35 points, he'll be in for a nice raise. A realistic result is a two- or three-year contract at around $4 million per.

Choose one: Kempny, Beagle, Smith-Pelly

The Capitals will have to let key members of their supporting cast walk in free agency. Both Michal Kempny and Jay Beagle are UFAs, while Devante Smith-Pelly is an RFA.

Acquired at the deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks, Kempny played admirably alongside Carlson in Washington's top four despite being used sparingly in the Windy City. He only made $900,000 last year, but as a 27-year-old UFA coming off the best stretch of hockey of his career, it may take close to $3 million to retain him.

A premier face-off man and penalty killer, Beagle is one of the game's best fourth-line centers. He earned $1.75 million last year, and with the cap going up, he could also make $3 million in free agency.

Smith-Pelly scored as many goals in the postseason (seven) as he did in the regular season. He earned $1.3 million last season, so if his camp and the Caps can't agree on a 2018-19 salary, an arbitrator would step in, and he could potentially earn up to $2 million.

Given that Chandler Stephenson is capable of playing center, letting the 32-year-old Beagle walk is the most logical decision to make. Choosing between Smith-Pelly and Kempny is tough, but top-four D-men are more difficult to find than fourth-liners, making the former expendable. And since he's an RFA, the Caps could trade his rights.

Fill remaining spots with cheap contracts

With the aforementioned moves, here's a look at a projected 2018-19 lineup (bolded cap hits are projections):

Forwards:

With Beagle and Smith-Pelly out the door, Boyd and Walker will have to flank Stephenson on the fourth line. Bau-Hansen, or another player in the Caps' system, will be in line to be the club's 13th forward.

Forward contracts: $44.863 million

Defense:

Bowey played in 51 games this past season but rarely got in the lineup after Kempny was acquired at the deadline. The 23-year-old former second-round pick should be ready to play a full 82 games this year.

Defense contracts: $25.95 million (including Orpik's buyout hit)

Goalies:

Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is an RFA and having a backup goalie of his caliber is a luxury the Caps can't afford. Trading him for draft picks or prospects seems like the most logical solution.

With Grubauer traded, Samsonov, who just signed his entry-level deal in May, will fill the backup goaltending duties. He's a 2015 first-rounder with loads of potential.

Goalie contracts: $7.025 million

With nearly the same team coming back, the Capitals are able to ice a roster at a total salary of $77.8 million. Last season's maximum salary cap was $75 million, but next season's is expected to be between $78-$82 million. If it is on the low end of that projection, they would just fit under it. The number will be decided later this month.

Losing tough, gritty players in Beagle, Smith-Pelly, and Orpik is hard, but this is still a team that could compete for another Stanley Cup.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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