NHL Rumors: Hottest Trade Talk Regarding Cam Fowler, Dennis Wideman and More

While the 2015-16 NHL regular season is still young, trade talk is seemingly beginning to heat up now that teams have a better idea of where they stand with regard to their current rosters.

There is plenty of time for teams that started slow to turn things around, but making a trade could be the catalyst they need in order to get moving in the right direction. Even though big deals aren't usually consummated this early in the year, the current landscape of the league could lead to some fairly high-profile players changing locales.

As the 2015-16 campaign continues to take shape, here is a rundown of the top players rumored to be on the trading block across the NHL.

Cam Fowler

There have been plenty of surprises to this point in the season thus far, but none measure up to the Anaheim Ducks and their shocking struggles through 11 games.

After reaching the Western Conference Final last season, the Ducks are currently the Western Conference's worst team, and they haven't shown any signs of snapping out of their current funk.

Bottom-feeding teams are always the subject of trade rumors, and the Ducks are no exception. The subject of the rumors is somewhat surprising, though, as supremely talented defenseman Cam Fowler's name is making the rounds.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Ducks general manager Bob Murray is listening to offers for Fowler, but he is unlikely to move him unless he receives a huge offer from an Eastern Conference team.

Murray's rumored stinginess is understandable considering Fowler's potential and favorable contract. Per NHLNumbers.com, the 23-year-old blueliner carries an extremely reasonable cap hit of $4 million per year through the 2017-18 season.

After registering 36 points and a career-best plus-15 rating in 2013-14, Fowler followed that up last season with 34 points and a plus-four. In addition to that, he enjoyed a remarkable playoff run with 10 points in 16 games and a plus-five rating.

It isn't often that young rearguards show that type of poise in high-pressure situations, but Fowler has already proved he is capable of handling the big stage.

Even though he is off to a slow start this season with two points and a minus-seven rating, that is an indictment of the overall team more so than him as an individual.

Teams will likely line up to take a crack at acquiring Fowler, and the Ducks probably could pick up a great package of assets in return, but there are a lot of bigger issues on the team right now than Fowler.

Anaheim's desire to make an impact move is understandable considering its start, but parting ways with one of its most promising youngsters isn't the way to go.

Dennis Wideman

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman is coming off his most productive NHL season, but with the Flames scuffling near the bottom of the Western Conference, his future with the team is far from certain.

Wideman posted career highs with 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points last season as part of perhaps the most potent offensive blue line in the NHL. The 2015-16 campaign hasn't been nearly as kind to him, though, as he has registered just six assists in 12 games to go along with a minus-eight rating.

Calgary has a lot of money tied up in defensemen this season and beyond, as Wideman, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano all carry a cap hit of at least $4 million. Wideman's cap hit of $5.25 million through 2016-17 is the second highest among that group, according to NHLNumbers.com.

With Wideman potentially looking like the odd man out among Calgary's defensemen in the near future, Bob McKenzie reported on TSN's Insider Trading that the Flames "have some interest in possibly moving him" and that there is league-wide interest in acquiring the veteran, per Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald.

The interest is understandable considering the fact that Wideman was one of the best offensive defensemen in thew NHL last year, and he has a booming shot that could be beneficial to any power play.

While Wideman is unsure of where he stands, he insists he isn't letting them impact the way to prepares and plays, according to Odland:

"

I haven't heard anything from my side. But, obviously, I'd have to OK (a trade). It's part of the game. My name has been in trade rumors plenty of times. But, you know, when you’re not winning and things aren't going well, the rumors always start to go around...you just go and continue to play.

"

Although Wideman can be a huge asset when he's locked in, shopping him around makes sense from the Flames' perspective. They already have a ton of talent and depth on defense, plus Wideman is starting to get up there in age at 32.

Calgary could use some help either up front or in goal, and if it receives an offer that would land upgrades in either of those areas, it is certainly worth considering.

Roman Polak

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

Defenseman Roman Polak's tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been anything but ideal, and with the Leafs likely stuck in the NHL's basement for the foreseeable future, an eventual trade seems to be imminent.

According to TheFourthPeriod.com, McKenzie reported on TSN's Insider Trading that the 29-year-old blueliner is very much available on the trade market.

The Czech veteran is in the final year of his contract and counts for a cap hit of $2.75 million, per NHLNumbers.com. That makes him a rental candidate, but it is unclear if any team will be interested in bringing him in considering his recent struggles.

Polak posted just nine points and a minus-22 rating last season, and things haven't gotten much better in 2015-16, with one point and a minus-two rating through nine games.

While Polak had some success in the past as a defensive-minded rearguard for the St. Louis Blues, his stock has certainly tumbled in recent seasons.

He has the ability to be an asset as a bottom-pairing defenseman due to his stout frame (6'0", 236 lbs), physicality and experience, so he may become a more viable option as the trade deadline gets closer.

Even if the Leafs do manage to move Polak, however, the likelihood of anything greater than a late-round pick coming back the other way is extremely low.

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