NHL Trades: Players Who Will Be Coveted During the 2013 Season

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The NHL opened up for business this weekend with a huge bang, but that won't stop teams from trying to bolster their rosters by coveting players like Jarome Iginla, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.

Many of 2013's big-name free agents like Joffrey Lupul and Alexander Edler have already signed new long-term-deals, so expect teams to pounce when certain players are available this season.

The market for players is getting smaller each day as teams proceed to lock up their free agents. Although the season is young, here are some players that teams will covet during the 2013 season.

Valtteri Filppula

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$3,000,000	2013

Valtteri Filppula is a left wing for the Detroit Red Wings who had a breakout 66-point season in 2011-12, and that potential should entice prospective teams.

If his production increases, he could be in for a big raise, and the Wings would likely deal him while his value is at its highest.

Filppula had been a forward who chipped in around 35 points per year in a bottom-six role, but once he was given more ice time, he embraced the role and developed into a top-six scoring forward.

Roberto Luongo

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$5,333,333	2022

Roberto Luongo has indicated that he doesn't want to remain in Vancouver past this season, and that means he is going to be on the move sooner rather than later.

There are many teams, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, that want to improve their goaltending, so Luongo will be highly coveted at the trade deadline.

 

Mark Streit

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$4,100,000	2013

Mark Streit is a veteran defenseman who is a UFA after the current season, and he is a defender that could be coveted if he is made available. The 35-year-old captain of the New York Islanders is still an effective puck-moving offensive defenseman and he is a great asset on the power play.

The veteran defender has a lot of good game left in him, and the Isles could consider dealing him for a younger player that will be more valuable to them in the future.

Corey Perry

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$5,325,000	2013

Corey Perry is one of the Anaheim Ducks' top snipers, and a player slated to hit free agency in July. For that reason and many others, teams will covet him all year long.

The young sniper is a talented forward, but it is unlikely that Anaheim will want to trade him, because the team is already trying to lock up Perry for the foreseeable future.

If the talks break down, expect teams to be hot after the prized sniper.

Ales Hemsky

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$5,000,000	2014

Ales Hemsky was signed to a new contract recently, but he is the forward that is most likely to be traded by the Edmonton Oilers if they want to upgrade their defense this year.

The Oilers' often-injured sniper is making a $5 million cap charge per year, but with the new salary-sharing rules, teams should be willing to take on half of his cap hit because of his ability to score when healthy.

Stephen Weiss

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$3,100,000	2013

Stephen Weiss is a center with the Florida Panthers who has been a consistent producer over the past few seasons, and if Jonathan Huberdeau continues to emerge as a top-end talent, he could become trade bait.

Weiss is an upcoming UFA, and the Panthers could trade this No. 2 center for a nice return near the deadline.

Ryan Getzlaf

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$5,325,000	2013

Ryan Getzlaf is the other big-name UFA from the Anaheim Ducks slated to hit the market in July, and he is a very important part of the current team.

However, the Ducks are also trying to lock Getzlaf up for the foreseeable future along with his teammate Corey Perry, and that would indicate the team's unwillingness to trade their franchise center.

Nonetheless, if the Ducks are floundering near the deadline, and talks break down regarding a contract extension, teams would have no problem increasing their offers for the Ducks' top pivot.

Jarome Iginla

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$7,000,000	2013

Jarome Iginla is a veteran scoring forward who is going to be highly coveted throughout the year. Iginla has the talent and experience that makes him the quintessential "final piece" that every Stanley Cup contender longs for.

Iginla is a forward with a ton of skill, and teams would do just about anything to add him to their roster.

Ryane Clowe

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$3,625,000	2013

Ryane Clowe is a rugged scoring forward who plays for the San Jose Sharks, and he is a gritty player that would be a nice complement to any team's top six.

Clowe is 30 years old, and he is a player that will be coveted at the trade deadline because of his all-around skills. He can hit, score goals and play physical, and if he isn't acquired at the deadline someone will go after him in free agency.

Devin Setoguchi

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Cap Hit	UFA Year
$3,000,000	2014

Devin Setoguchi isn't a free agent until 2014, but he is a player that could be coveted this year because of his scoring ability.

Setoguchi is a speedy forward with a scoring touch, and with many 2013 UFAs locked up, teams could look to the 2014 market to try and "poach" forwards now.

The decreasing cap could put the Minnesota Wild in a bind, and dealing his $3 million cap hit would have the potential to help them, and a team looking to add a low-risk scorer.