25 NHLers Who Could Still be Dealt this Offseason

Trades happen every year and can happen at any time.

The trade deadline, the draft, training camp, and nearly any other day that doesn't fall between the beginning of March and the end of the Stanley Cup Finals (or Christmas Day) all begin with the possibility of players being shipped off to a contender or a lost cause.

With a particularly weak free agent class whose biggest star only seems interested in collecting frequent flier points, the trade winds could start blowing strong again after a bit of a down period.

Here are 25 names to keep an eye on...

Jarome Iginla: Calgary Flames

Status: Three years left at $7 million cap hit
Salary: $7,000,000 (2010)
2009: 32 goals, 37 assists, 82 games
Likelihood of a Trade: None

Iginla will remain a Calgary Flame. While he’s their most valuable trade chip, he’s also (obviously) their most valuable on-ice commodity. If Calgary dealt him, any structure they had up front would disappear.

Tomas Vokoun: Florida Panthers

Status: One year left at $5.7 million cap hit
Salary: $6,300,000 (2010)
2009: 23-28-11 .925 sv percentage, 2.55 GAA
Likelihood of Trade: None

If the Panthers were to trade Vokoun it leaves a big hole in net that wouldn’t do them much good. Jacob Markstrom won’t be taking the Panthers to the Finals any time soon, and it’d be unfair to expect Scott Clemmensen to do what the crafty 33-year-old has done for the Panthers in his career.

If the deal is good enough, it’ll be made, but right now Vokoun stays.

Bobby Ryan: Anaheim Ducks

Status: Unsigned RFA
Salary: $765,000 (2009)
2009: 35 goals, 29 assists, 81 games
Likelihood of a Trade: None

Ryan isn’t going anywhere. In other news, here’s how he felt about the Toronto trade rumors:

“If I were traded, I know there’s places I’d like to go and places I wouldn’t like to go. That’s something that is still out of my hands. But if someone e-mails me another Toronto article, I’m going to lose it.”

Michael Nylander: Washington Capitals

Status: One year left at a $4.875 cap hit
Salary: $3,000,000 (2010)
2008: 9 goals, 24 assists, 72 games
Likelihood: None

As if anyone would take Michael Nylander. He’ll continue to be put on (and probably pass through) waivers for Washington, as he hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2008/09 season. Who knows, maybe the Caps get lucky, but it’s an awful big cap hit, so the relief would have to come from a team that needed to reach the floor, although the Caps can’t be picky in what they get in return.

Brian Campbell: Chicago Blackhawks

Status: Six years left at a $7.14 million cap hit
Salary: $7,140,000 (2010)
2009: 7 goals, 38 assists, 68 games
Likelihood of a Trade: Low

Campbell is a guy that Chicago would like to get off the books, but when he makes more than Brian Rafalski and gets out-produced by him, that makes it difficult. Are suitors out there? Sure there are, they just may not come along until there's fewer than four years left.

Who knows though? We've been surprised before.

Stephen Weiss: Florida Panthers

Status: Three years left at $3.1 million cap hit
Salary: $3,200,000
2009: 28 goals, 32 assists, 80 games
Likelihood of Trade: Low

Like Vokoun, the Panthers need Weiss. He’s their best offensive player, he’s affordable, and if you lose him you lose any depth you had down the middle. Unless the Panthers can recoup those assets through the same deal, Weiss isn’t going anywhere.

They’ll need someone to help turn the team around.

Wade Redden: New York Rangers

Status: Four years left at $6.5 million cap hit
Salary: $6,500,000 (2010)
2009: 2 goals, 12 assists, 75 games
Likelihood of a Trade: Low

Wade Redden is probably the hardest contract to move in the NHL. While so much is made about Campbell and Huet in Chicago and Souray’s injury derailments in Edmonton, Redden has done everything except live up to his $6.5 million a year. It’s an awfully big expectation attached to that paycheck, and since he has yet to come anywhere close to meeting it, it’s doubtful anyone else would saddle-up and haul it off.

Michael Ryder: Boston Bruins

Status: One year left at a $4 million cap hit
Salary: $4,000,000 (2010)
2009: 18 goals, 15 assists, 82 games
Likelihood: Low

If this were the 2009 off-season there would be a chance, but right now Ryder looks like a hard sell with such little production for a big price tag.

This may be another case of a team near the salary floor helping out the Bruins if a little incentive is thrown into the package, although there may still be a 25-goal season trapped in those hands.

Jeff Finger:Toronto Maple Leafs

Status: Two years left at a $3.5 million cap hit
Salary: $3,500,000
2009: 2 goals, 8 assists, 39 games
Likelihood: Low

It seems that all of Leafs’ nation wants Jeff Finger moved because of the money he makes. Is it a lot? Yes. But if the Leafs didn’t have a glut of defenders, Finger would have gotten a better rap…or at least more playing time.

That’s the biggest problem though: If Finger doesn’t play, the Leafs can’t showcase him to the league, which doesn't really create many interested parties.

Tim Connolly: Buffalo Sabres

Status: One year left at a $4.5 million cap hit
Salary: $4,500,000 (2010)
2009: 17 goals, 48 assists, 73 games
Likelihood: Low

There might be a little something behind this as way back in May Darcy Regier wasn’t exactly punctuating the idea that Connolly would be back:

“Oh, I don’t know,” Regier sad. “Right now, he’s under contract, so I do expect him to be here.”-Buffalo News, Jerry Sullivan (On Connolly’s return)

To teams looking for a first-line centre: you may want to inquire.

Sergei Samsonov: Carolina Hurricanes

Sergei Samsonov-Carolina Hurricanes
Status: One year left at a $2.533 million cap hit
Salary: $2,800,000 (2010)
2009: 14 goals, 15 assists, 72 games
Likelihood of a trade: Low

It was whispered at the end of the season about Carolina looking to get younger up front, and the 31-year-old pending free agent doesn’t exactly fit the bill. It’s a decision that the ‘Canes are making; one which they’ll have until the next Trade Deadline to do so.

Samsonov has also been a tough sell historically, so don't hold your breath.

Nikita Filatov: Columbus Blue Jackets

Status: Two years left on Entry-level contract
Salary: $875,000 (2010)
2009: 2 goals, 0 assists, 13 games
Likelihood of a Trade: Low

While Columbus is meeting with Filatov to make sure his training has been going well, the Jackets have also been linked to Kevin Bieksa of the Vancouver Canucks. It seems silly to assume Filatov is trade bait, because why would Columbus want to make sure he’s training to their liking?

It would make more sense if we had heard a Vancouver rep was going over with Columbus, but we haven't, so it doesn't look imminent.

Cristobal Huet: Chicago Blackhawks

Status: Two years left at a $5.625 million cap hit
Salary: $5,625,000 (2010)
2009: 26-14-4, .895 sv percentage, 2.50 GAA
Likelihood of a Trade: Medium-Low

Huet may be more movable than his teammate Campbell, if only because his contract runs out sooner than the defenseman's.

And, while anyone can find a puck-moving blueliner, teams always run into goalie trouble.

Even if the 'Hawks didn't have to contend with these two enormous contracts though, they've still got plenty to deal with in terms of balancing salaries.

Tim Thomas: Boston Bruins

Status: Four years left at a $5 million cap hit
Salary: $6,000,000 (2010)
2009: 17-18-8, .915 sv percentage, 2.56 GAA
Likelihood of a Trade: Medium-Low

At least right now the likelihood is on the lower side because it’s hard to tell whether people are still on board because of the hip surgery or not. Some say it won’t hinder a deal, others say that Thomas will need to prove that he is, in fact, healthy.

Either way there will be suitors out there for Thomas…someone always needs goalie help.

Josh Harding: Minnesota Wild

Status: Unsigned Restricted Free Agent
Salary: $1,100,000 (2009)
2009: 9-12-0, .905 sv percentage, 3.05 GAA
Likelihood of a Trade: Medium-Low

While Josh Harding is still a very attractive prospective starter with tons of seasoning at age 26, the trick is finding a team at this time of year. Minny may be saddled with him for a little longer, and it’s unclear what exactly they could get back for him.

They do have the advantage though: For a team looking to push an incumbent, Harding is the cheap way to go at a fifth of what Thomas or Huet would cost.

Jason Spezza: Ottawa Senators

Status: Five years left at a $7 million cap hit
Salary: $8,000,000 (2010)
2009: 23 goals, 34 assists, 60 games
Likelihood: Medium-Low

While a trade could benefit both parties, talks have quieted down and it’s not like Spezza would sit out if he wasn’t moved. He also hasn’t ostracized himself from Ottawa (Like Dany Heatley did), so if a deal didn’t happen it wouldn’t be the end of the world. If he gets traded though, the Sens need major offensive pieces in return.

Eric Brewer: St. Louis Blues

Status: One year left at a $4.25 million cap hit
Salary: $4,500,000 (2010)
2009: 8 goals, 7 assists, 59 games
Likelihood: Medium-Low

When Sheldon Souray’s name was getting tossed around as a candidate to go to St. Louis and help the power play, Eric Brewer’s name was suggested as going back the other way to his former team. With guys like Pietrangelo and Strachan wanting time as well on the blueline, the numbers game is going to hurt someone, and the Blues may try to find a home for the oft-injured defender.

Tomas Kaberle: Toronto Maple Leafs

Status: One year left at a $4.25 million cap hit
Salary: $4,250,000 (2010)
2009: 7 goals, 42 assists, 82 games
Likelihood: Medium

Brian Burke is playing this situation perfectly: Whenever the speculation got too hot on Kaberle, he diffused it to the point where it’s now just a periodic murmur. He also established that he’d be just as happy keeping “the player” as he would be trading him, while denying that there’s any rush to make a deal.

The Leafs would be better off with their only puck-mover on the roster (Whether Lebda could fill that role is still up in the air), but the opportunity for the “right deal” is there for the rest of the summer.

Patrick Sharp: Chicago Blackhawks

Status: Two years left at a $3.9 million cap hit
Salary: $4,100,000 (2010)
2009: 25 goals, 41 assists, 82 games
Likelihood: Medium

With Chicago still looking for cap relief (unless Antti Niemi will sign for peanuts), Sharp becomes a prime candidate.

He's been a big performer during his time in the Windy City and could immediately offer a team top-six help up front with a consistent 25-30 goal presence.

For production like that, the cap hit is pretty savvy, and it won't cost much consider Chicago can't take on ANY salary.

Kevin Bieksa: Vancouver Canucks

Status: One year left at a $3.75 million cap hit
Salary: $3,500,000 (2010)
2009: 3 goals, 19 assists, 55 games
Likelihood: Medium

In a recent interview, Mike Gillis said he’s “not sure how all of this evolved (the trade rumors) into Kevin being the one to go.” Gillis has identified his team wants defensive depth, and Bieksa is a piece of that. His contract does offer some relief to the cash-strapped Canucks though, but Gillis knows he has time if he wants to make a deal. There’s no doubt something has to give though, with the Canucks carrying a bunch of heavy contracts on the back end.

Brent Burns: Minnesota Wild

Status: Two years left at a $3.55 million cap hit
Salary: $3,800,000 (2010)
2009: 3 goals, 17 assists, 47 games
Likelihood of a Trade: Medium

Chuck Fletcher is still looking for help down the middle but the signing of Matt Cullen alleviates the immediate need. If there is a trade on the horizon though, the offensively inclined former-forward is an attractive bargaining chip in any prospective deal.

Sheldon Souray: Edmonton Oilers

Status: Two years left at $5.4 million cap hit
Salary: $4,500,000 (2010)
2009: 4 goals, 9 assist, 37 games
Likelihood of Trade: Medium

The one thing holding back a move of Souray right now is interest. He cleared waivers with no nibbles, so it may just be a “we want to see him healthy before we trade for him” attitude around the league. No doubt he’s one of the best defensemen available via trade or free agency, he just has to stay on the ice.

Marc Savard: Boston Bruins

Status: Seven years left at a $4 million cap hit
Salary: $7,000,000 (2010)
2009: 10 goals, 23 assists, 41 games
Likelihood of a Trade: Medium-High

Speculation of Savard being dealt out of Boston took off around the draft when it was reported that the two sides were meeting to discuss potential destinations. There are teams still inquiring, with the Dan Boyle trade two years ago being mentioned as a template (When Boyle was forced to waive his no-trade).

Bruins training camp could be on interesting place once this situation sorts itself out.

Wayne Simmonds: Los Angeles Kings

Status One year left on entry-level contract
Salary: $525,000
2009: 16 goals, 24 assists, 78 games
Likelihood of a Trade: High

While Simmonds isn’t going to be a guy who goes in and changes a team’s fortunes right away, he can have a great impact over a longer period of time.

The reason why the likelihood of him moving is high? Because any deal involving a big-name talent coming back the other way will most likely see him become the centerpiece of it.

And if LA can't land Kovalchuk, then there's only one other way to acquire players.

Simon Gagne: Philadelphia Flyers

Status: One year left at a $5.25 million cap hit
Salary: $5,250,000 (2010)
2009: 17 goals, 23 assists, 58 games
Likelihood: High

Simon’s is a tricky case. If Kovalchuk goes to the Kings, then the likelihood of this deal drops off a bit, because there may not be another suitor (New Jersey wouldn’t happen). If the Devils land Kovalchuk, then Gagne could go straight to the Kings.

Gagne had yet to waive his NTC and at this rate, Kovalchuk may eventually have to settle for a training camp invite—which the Flyers could actually afford.

If the first scenario happens and Kovie goes to LA, cap trouble (Being $2.5 million over is considered trouble right?) will force Philly to find another suitor, again begging the question of: Why do they want to pay Andrej Meszaros $4 million?