The NHL’s upcoming season could be the last for several notable players now facing the end of their long, successful careers. Here’s a look at 10 stars possibly facing their last hurrah in the NHL in 2009-10.

By most standards the six-time Norris winner had a strong performance last season (49 points in 82 games, a plus-minus of plus-22, 10 points in 12 playoff games) but at times Lidstrom, who turned 40 in April, appeared a half-stride slower as he and his teammates struggled through an injury-ravaged first half. His performance improved in the second half as the Wings got healthier but prior to his re-signing with the Wings this spring there was speculation he was mulling retirement. While Lidstrom will probably continue to rank among the league’s top blueliners this coming season it is possible this one could be his last.

He’s the greatest American-born scorer (557 goals, 1,349 points) in NHL history but Modano’s game has been in decline over the past five seasons. Injuries limited him to only 59 games and 30 points last season, his lowest total since netting 29 points in 30 games in the lockout shortened ’94-95 campaign. Having played his entire career with the Stars, first in Minnesota and then in Dallas, he was expected to retire this summer but opted instead for a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Now reduced to third-line duty, Modano’s a shadow of the scorer he once was.

“The Finnish Flash” ended months of offseason speculation by recently signing another one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Despite being hampered by injuries the past two seasons Selanne was still capable of posting up good numbers, as evident by his 27 goals and 48 points in only 54 games with the Ducks in 2009-10. Still, Selanne turned 40 this summer and his insistence on only playing for Anaheim certainly limits the possibility of another season beyond 2010-11, especially if the Ducks opt not to sign him next summer. His performance in the upcoming season could determine if it will be his last.

Although no longer the reliable 70-plus point performer he was earlier in his career the 42-year-old Recchi netted 43 points with the Boston Bruins last season, the 20th time in his 21 NHL seasons he’s reached or exceeded that level. The Bruins thought so highly of his two-way skills, experience and leadership they re-signed him to a one-year contract this summer. At some point however age will catch up to him, and if that doesn’t bring about retirement the realities of playing in the salary cap world could force retirement upon him following the upcoming season.

A gifted but also maddeningly inconsistent scorer, Kovalev is only two years removed from his second-best season for points (84) but 2009-10 -- his first season with the Ottawa Senators -- was one best left forgotten. Kovalev managed only 18 goals and 49 points in 77 games and was plagued by nagging injuries. Kovalev has a history of rebounding from sub-par performances so one shouldn’t write him off just yet, but he will turn 38 in February, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer and it’s possible time may be catching up with him.

Despite playing only 56 games in 2009-10, Hejduk potted 23 goals and 44 points, marking the tenth time he’d scored 20 or more goals and 44 or more points in his career. Still, there are concerns knee and back injuries are starting to rob Hejduk of the scoring form which won him the Richard trophy as the league’s top goal scorer in 2003 and there were whispers following the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round elimination from the 2010 playoffs he might consider retirement. Hejduk, who’ll be 35 next February, confirmed he’ll be back with the Avs for 2010-11 but he’s an unrestricted free agent next summer. Another injury-shortened season could see retirement loom larger.

Although the Pittsburgh Penguins hinted this summer they were considering bringing back Guerin for another season, the fact he still remains unsigned speaks volumes about concerns over the decline in his play. While Guerin scored over 20 goals and 40 points last season (reaching those marks for the 14th time in his 18 seasons) it was apparent last season he was slowing down. Guerin turns 40 in November and while he’ll probably play with the Penguins or another NHL team this coming season it could also become his final one.

It’s believed the New York Islanders intend to bring Weight back for one more season as their captain. If so, it’ll definitely be the last hurrah. Weight turns 40 in January and has been hampered by serious injuries in recent years, most notably to his left shoulder, which required season-ending surgery after he struggled through 36 games in 2009-10. If he’s made a full recovery he could have enough left for perhaps one final season if the Islanders sign him as rumored. If not, Weight could be facing retirement this fall.

Once one of the best shutdown defensemen in the NHL, Foote has been slowing down in recent years as time and playing 18 hard-hitting seasons have extracted a physical toll. The Colorado Avalanche re-signed the 39-year-old Foote to a one-year contract, hoping his experience and leadership will continue to benefit a young, blossoming roster. He’s no longer capable of average over 20 minutes per game so he will probably see a diminishing role with the Avs this season, which in all likelihood could be his last as an NHL player.

Critics of the NY Islanders chuckled last year when the club inked Roloson -- then turning 40 -- to a two-year contract, yet he surprised them with a 23-18-7 record, a 3.00 goals-against and a .907 save percentage; decent numbers on a rebuilding Isles team. Roloson, however, could see less playing time this season if Rick DiPietro is finally healthy. Roloson turns 41 in October and is well past his strong numbers in the first half of the last decade. Barring an unexpected return to that earlier form this is probably going to be Roloson’s final NHL season.