NHL Trade Speculation: One Player from Each Team That Isn't Going Anywhere
By (Correspondent) on July 2, 2012
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With the opening of the NHL's 2012 unrestricted free-agency signing period, the summer circus is underway. Floods of trade rumors will be filling the air: some accurate, some possible, others unlikely and some that are completely and utterly nonsensical.
Some players, for whatever reason, are just not going to be moved this summer or anytime in the near future. Let's take a look at one such player from each team.
Anaheim Ducks
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Jonas Hiller is locked into a contract for another three seasons at $4.5 million per year.
He's less likely to go than some of the franchise's core players. Bobby Ryan is a popular trade rumors target, and both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are entering the final years of their contracts.
Boston Bruins
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The team captain Zdeno Chara has a no-movement clause in his contract, which has another six years left on it.
Ten Bruins have no-trade or no-movement clauses. The best players without one are Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic.
Buffalo Sabres
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Christian Ehrhoff has a no-movement clause and a modified no-trade clause in his contract that does not expire until 2021.
Ehrhoff is also set to be paid $8 million this season, which would prevent potential trades.
Calgary Flames
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This would be the season to trade Jarome Iginla; he has one year left on his contract.
However, the Flames' recent signing of Dennis Wideman indicates the Flames are in no position to rebuild just yet.
Carolina Hurricanes
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With the trading for Eric Staal's brother Jordan, it appears the Hurricanes are looking to be a contender yet again.
So there is no reason to believe the team captain, who has another four seasons left on his contract, is going anywhere.
Chicago Blackhawks
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The face of the franchise, Jonathan Toews is very unlikely to go anywhere.
Colorado Avalanche
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Matt Duchene's new contract will have him as a restricted free agent in 2014. Expect Colorado to be holding onto their new young star for quite a while. He has superstar potential and could be captain material.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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There's no telling what GM Scott Howson will do next after trading for and getting rid of Jeff Carter over the past season, plus reportedly turning down a trade offer, including the New York Islanders' entire 2012 draft, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
But if there's one guy who is likely to stay in Columbus, it could be moderately-tenured R.J. Umberger. He's played four seasons with the team, has five years left on his contract and may be the next Blue Jackets captain if Rick Nash is traded.
He's currently an alternate captain.
Dallas Stars
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The Stars' Jamie Benn is, simply enough, not a player you should let go of. The 22-year-old Benn is a highly productive power forward who is a restricted free agent this summer.
His point totals rise each season; he totaled 63 this past year.
Detroit Red Wings
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With Nicklas Lidstrom retired, the next captain of the Detroit Red Wings seems to be Henrik Zetterberg.
In addition to this strong tie to the organization, Zetterberg is under contract until 2021.
Edmonton Oilers
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If the Oilers had any intentions of not making Nail Yakupov an essential part of the franchise's future, the first pick in the 2012 NHL draft would have been traded.
Yakupov, in addition to the other two first overall draft picks in the organization (Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins), will be the face of Edmonton hockey for years to come.
Florida Panthers
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It's hard to see Stephen Weiss wearing another team's uniform. Even though Weiss is entering the final year of his contract, he is likely an untouchable asset for the playoff-contending Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings
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The Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings have several players signed long-term and should not be expected to make many moves this offseason.
Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick are all signed for at least four more seasons.
Quick, possibly the best goalie in the NHL, is the least likely to go anywhere. His new contract extension has him locked in through 2023.
Minnesota Wild
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Captaincy, the longest contract in the organization, no-movement clause, youth, production...the Wild have no reason to trade Mikko Koivu.
Montreal Canadiens
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The Canadiens have several players signed with no-movement clauses, but it is unlikely they would move 50-point scorer Tomas Plekanec and his $5 million cap hit. Plekanec is signed through 2016.
Nashville Predators
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The Predators have assured their future in net by giving Pekka Rinne a contract averaging $7 million per season until 2019.
He is the only Nashville player signed beyond 2015. Do not expect the Vezina Trophy nominee to go anywhere.
New Jersey Devils
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Even if Ilya Kovalchuk's deal was ten years shorter, the forward who is signed until 2025 is likely the only player with a predictable long-term history in New Jersey.
Seventeen of their players are set to be free agents either this summer or next summer.
New York Islanders
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Both of the New York Islanders' past two first overall draft picks are set to stay on the island for a long term.
John Tavares will stay because he's the future of the franchise. Rick DiPietro will stay because nobody would ever want to trade for him.
New York Rangers
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Brad Richards signed his long-term contract last summer and has a no-movement clause. The Rangers also have no reason to move him.
Ottawa Senators
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If there is one player on Ottawa's roster who the team would be most wise not to trade, it would be young James Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.
The team recognized this and inked the 22-year-old to a contract lasting through 2019.
For other reasons, captain Daniel Alfredsson is extremely unlikely to be traded.
Philadelphia Flyers
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Reviewing GM Paul Holmgren's moves in the last year or so, he has traded the team's captain and leading goalscorer, signed a goalie to a nine-year contract, signed a veteran who had not played in the NHL for three years, signed a lower-line role player from a rival team and signed a young former second-overall draft pick to an extension, then subsequently traded that player.
The only person in the Flyers organization who is safe from a trade might be franchise founder Ed Snider.
Seriously, though, after moving Sergei Bobrovsky and James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers do not have any likely trade assets.
Of the 19 players Philadelphia has under contract, 10 joined the team between May 2011 and today. The other nine are Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, Jody Shelley, Kimmo Timonen, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn and Andrej Meszaros.
The Flyers have enough money to get what they need through free agency. Do not expect any trades involving a roster player.
Phoenix Coyotes
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Not many players are safe from a trade in a financially unstable franchise such as the Phoenix Coyotes.
With that said, taking a peek at who has a no-movement clause might be the best indicator. Radim Vrbata fits that category. The Coyotes have plenty of reasons to keep Vrbata, who scored 35 goals last season and only has a $3 million cap hit.
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Do you really expect either of these two (Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby) to ever play for another NHL team?
San Jose Sharks
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Joe Thornton is the highest-paid San Jose player, has a no-movement clause in his contract and is the captain of the team.
Expect him to stay there.
St. Louis Blues
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Three Blues players have no-movement clauses in their contracts. Captain David Backes' goes into effect this upcoming season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
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The 32-year-old captain Vincent Lecavalier has a no-movement clause and a $7.7 million cap hit. None of that is likely to result in a player being traded.
Toronto Maple Leafs
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If the Maple Leafs look to make additional trades after acquiring James van Riemsdyk, franchise cornerstones Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul are unlikely to be included.
Vancouver Canucks
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The Canucks might be moving Roberto Luongo this summer, but other notable members of the Canucks like Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler are unlikely to go.
There is no reason to break up the core in Vancouver right now; the team finished first in the regular season standings the past two seasons.
Washington Capitals
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It is safe to say Alex Ovechkin will not be going anywhere, but it should be noted that the team's captain has a very limited no-trade clause.
It does not go into effect until July 1, 2014 and allows Ovechkin to be traded to one of 20 teams.
Winnipeg Jets
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Ondrej Pavelec was the subject of trade rumors, but now that Winnipeg re-signed their goalie, he should not be going anywhere.
All salary and contract info courtesy of CapGeek.com
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