50 Predictions for the NHL Trade Deadline

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The NHL trade deadline is Monday, February 27, and there has been lots of excitement and nervous energy as fans eagerly await to see how their favorite team will approach the deadline.

While some trades are expected to happen, like Rick Nash leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets, there could be some shocking and unexpected deals borne out of panic as teams chase a playoff berth.

Let's look at 50 predictions for the NHL trading deadline.

Jeff Carter Will Not Be Traded to an East Team

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There aren't too many teams in the Eastern Conference, except maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs, who would be willing to take on Jeff Carter's 10-year contract that comes with a $5.3 million salary cap hit.

I think if Carter's traded, it will be to a contender in the Western Conference.

Bryan Allen Will Be Traded

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Carolina's Bryan Allen is one of the best veteran defensemen available right now and he would add some quality depth to a contender for the playoffs.

Ales Hemsky Will Be Traded to a Contender

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It doesn't make sense for the Edmonton Oilers to re-sign Ales Hemsky to a new contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, so they will decide to trade him.

Travis Moen Will Be Traded to a Contender

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Travis Moen is a good veteran forward who can add some offense and toughness to a playoff contender for the final weeks of the season.

The Canadiens should capitalize on his value at the deadline.

Evgeni Nabokov Will Not Be Traded

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Evgeni Nabokov has played well for the New York Islanders in goal this season. I expect the team to re-sign him to a long-term deal this summer.

Paul Gaustad Will Be Re-Signed Instead of Traded

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The Buffalo Sabres cannot afford to lose the leadership and toughness that veteran forward Paul Gaustad gives them, which is why they will re-sign him before the deadline.

Mike Knuble Will Be Traded to Boston

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Mike Knuble has played in Boston before, and with the Bruins needing another veteran forward, he would be a fine addition to the defending Stanley Cup champs.

Philly Will Not Trade James Van Riemsdyk

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James Van Riemsdyk is a quality young forward who has a bright future ahead of him, and the Philadelphia Flyers would be foolish to trade him so early in his career.

Mikhail Grabovski Will Be Re-Signed by Toronto

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Mikhail Grabovski is one of the Toronto Maple Leafs' best players, and he will not be traded before the deadline.

The team will instead re-sign him to a multi-year deal.

Ray Whitney Will Be Traded to Boston

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The Phoenix Coyotes are better off capitalizing on veteran forward Ray Whitney's trade value by dealing him rather than trying to re-sign him in the summer.

A contender will likely overpay to acquire him.

The Bruins Will Not Trade Tuukka Rask

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Even though acquiring Rick Nash would be great for Boston, parting with young goaltender and future starter Tuukka Rask is something the Bruins wisely won't do.

Rangers Won't Trade Prospect Chris Kreider

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Boston College Eagles star forward Chris Kreider is one of the New York Rangers' top prospects. They will not trade him in a package for a superstar player like Rick Nash.

Rangers Will Not Make a Move at the Deadline

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There's no reason to disturb the chemistry of the Eastern Conference's best team by making a trade, which is why New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather will not change his roster in a significant way at the deadline.

The Sabres Will Become Sellers

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The Buffalo Sabres will fall out of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. As a result, they will trade assets like forward Derek Roy.

Rick Nash Will Be Traded to the L.A. Kings

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The Los Angeles Kings need to drastically improve their offense if they want to make the playoffs. Acquiring Rick Nash is the solution to their problems.

Tuomo Ruutu Will Not Be Traded

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The Carolina Hurricanes would be smart to re-sign forward Tuomo Ruutu in order to build a playoff-caliber roster again, which means trading him is not an option.

Luke Schenn Will Not Be Traded

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The Toronto Maple Leafs would have to receive an offer they couldn't refuse in order to trade young defenseman Luke Schenn before the deadline.

Boston Will Not Trade Top Prospect Dougie Hamilton

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Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli won't trade top prospect Dougie Hamilton, who projects to be an elite defenseman at the NHL level in the near future.

Pittsburgh Will Not Make a Major Move

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With the possibility of Sidney Crosby returning for the playoffs, plus the fact that Evgeni Malkin and James Neal are dominating offensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins won't make a major trade before the deadline.

New Jersey Will Make a Small Move

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The New Jersey Devils have climbed to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with some great play of late, and they will make a minor trade to bolster their roster for the playoffs.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Marek Zidlicky would be a good fit in New Jersey.

The Flyers Won't Make Another Trade

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The Philadelphia Flyers won't make any more trades after acquiring defenseman Nicklas Grossman from the Dallas Stars and Pavel Kubina from the Tampa Bay Lightning this week.

Ottawa Won't Make a Significant Trade

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The Ottawa Senators have played well to get themselves into the playoff race, and after trading for Kyle Turris this season, they won't make another significant move before the deadline.

Montreal Will Be Sellers

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With veteran forwards such as Andrei Kostitsyn and Travis Moen able to give contending teams some more scoring as the playoffs near, the Montreal Canadiens will become sellers and capitalize on these players' value in the market.

Toronto Won't Make a Major Move

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Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke doesn't like to get involved at the trading deadline because the asking price for players is too high, which is a very smart strategy.

I don't expect him to change this season.

Florida Won't Make Any Moves Before the Deadline

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The Florida Panthers have a slim lead in the Southeast Division and will likely battle for a playoff spot with the roster they have now, rather than making a significant change.

Winnipeg Jets Will Be Buyers

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With the struggles of the Toronto Maple Leafs right now, especially in net, the Winnipeg Jets will make a trade to help them edge past Toronto for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Jets have the assets to acquire a quality player at the deadline.

Washington Will Make a Major Move

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Missing the playoffs would be a disaster for the Washington Capitals, which means they need to and will make a major trade for a forward to help their offense.

Alexander Semin and Mike Green could be players that Washington uses to improve the club via trade.

St. Louis Blues Will Not Make Any Moves

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The St. Louis Blues will not make any significant trades to bolster their team before the playoffs, and with two quality goaltenders in Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott, not making any moves isn't a bad thing for the franchise.

Nashville Will Add a Forward Before the Deadline

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The Nashville Predators made a smart move to improve their defensive depth by acquiring Hal Gill from the Montreal Canadiens, but they need to bolster their offense by making a move for a top-six forward at the deadline.

Chicago Will Not Acquire a Goaltender

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The Chicago Blackhawks will rely on Corey Crawford to get them deep into the playoffs and will not trade for a veteran goaltender before the deadline.

Crawford's win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night was a massive confidence booster for him.

Vancouver Won't Trade Cory Schneider or Cody Hodgson

This year, rookie forward Cody Hodgson has given the Vancouver Canucks the scoring they lacked from their bottom two lines in the playoffs last season.

The team won't trade him or young goaltender Cory Schneider before the deadline.

Calgary Won't Be Buyers or Sellers

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The Calgary Flames made a big trade earlier in the season by acquiring Mike Cammalleri from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Rene Bourque.

With the team playing well of late, I don't expect them to make any more moves before the deadline.

Colorado Is Done Making Moves

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After being involved in a number of trades on Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche will not make any more moves as sellers since the team still has a chance to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

Minnesota Won't Make a Major Acquisition

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The Minnesota Wild are still fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and will not become sellers before the trade deadline.

They may make a small move, but bringing in a major star won't happen in Minnesota.

Sheldon Souray Will Be Traded

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The Dallas Stars will be sellers at the trade deadline, and veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray will be coveted by contending teams looking to add some defensive depth.

Boston Will Look to Acquire Michael Ryder

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Boston Bruins let winger Michael Ryder leave last summer in free agency, but with the injuries to Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton, Boston could really use Ryder's goal scoring right now. I think the Bruins will attempt to bring Ryder back to Boston before the deadline.

The Sharks Will Make a Major Move

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After acquiring Dominic Moore from the Tampa Bay Lightning this week, the San Jose Sharks will still look to acquire another quality forward. With Martin Havlat still injured and out of the lineup, the Sharks need another top six forward for the playoffs.

The Ducks Won't Be Sellers

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A recent surge up the standings by the Anaheim Ducks has put them back into the Western Conference playoff race, which has made them possible buyers instead of sellers as the trade deadline nears.

Nikolai Khabibulin Will Be Traded

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There aren't many goaltenders who might be available at the deadline this season, but Edmonton Oilers veteran Nikolai Khabibulin could be one netminder that contending teams will covet as either a starter or a backup.

Alexander Semin Will Be Traded

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The Washington Capitals would be smart to dangle forward Alexander Semin at the trade deadline because he has not played well this season and may benefit from a change of scenery. The Capitals need to improve their team, and with an expiring contract, Semin has a lot of value to contending teams willing to acquire him as a rental.

Sometimes you have to give to receive.

Dustin Penner Will Not Be Traded

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Even though Dustin Penner has been a disaster for the Los Angeles Kings since they acquired him last season from the Edmonton Oilers, with the team struggling to score, I cannot see the Kings trading him before the deadline.

Jack Johnson Will Be Traded

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If the Los Angeles Kings want to acquire a star forward such as Jeff Carter or Rick Nash, then they will have to trade young star defenseman Jack Johnson. It'll be a tough decision, but it's a necessary one to improve the offense.

Columbus Will Trade Samuel Pahlsson

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Samuel Pahlsson is a good player who brings some size to the Blue Jackets lineup. Columbus will trade him at the deadline to a contending team looking to acquire some more depth at center. The Blue Jackets could probably get a draft pick for Pahlsson.

Ryan Miller Won't Be Traded

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I'm not sold on the idea that the Buffalo Sabres won't trade Ryan Miller in the near future, but I think they would rather deal him at the draft than the deadline, since more teams could potentially be interested at that point.

Ryan Suter and Shea Weber Won't Be Dealt

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The Nashville Predators will take their chances that free-agent defensemen Shea Weber (restricted) and Ryan Suter (unrestricted) will sign with the team long-term in the summer and that they won't walk and leave the team empty-handed on defense.

Shane Doan Won't Be Traded

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The Phoenix Coyotes may trade forward Ray Whitney if they fall out of the playoff race, but captain Shane Doan is very loyal to the team and I don't expect him to be traded this season.

Jeff Carter Will Be Dealt to San Jose

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The San Jose Sharks are reportedly interested in Rick Nash, but since the Blue Jackets can get a better offer for their captain from another team, the Sharks will turn to his Columbus teammate Jeff Carter for some offensive help at the deadline.

Filip Kuba Won't Be Traded

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The Ottawa Senators will be in the playoffs this season and thus cannot afford to be trading veteran players like defenseman Filip Kuba away, even if teams are interested in acquiring him. 

Dwayne Roloson Won't Be Traded

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson is not having the same season he did last year when he carried his team to a playoff berth and eventually one game from the Stanley Cup Final.

At 42 years old, I doubt a contender will be asking Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman if Roloson is available.

Other Than Rick Nash and Jeff Carter, No Superstars Will Be Moved

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Out of the 14 teams that aren't in a playoff spot right now in both conferences, 12 of them are just eight points or fewer out of a playoff spot. With so few teams completely out of the playoff race, I expect very few stars to be dealt.

Nothing irritates fans more than seeing your team become sellers and trading stars when making the playoffs is a real possibility.