NHL Trade Talk: 10 Teams That Could Give Daniel Alfredsson a Shot at the Cup

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It's not news that Daniel Alfredsson's name has been among much trade speculation. Given that fact, instead of debating whether or not he'll be traded, let's look at possible destinations for the Swedish forward.

With his no-trade clause, it's almost certain that he'll only okay a deal to a Stanley Cup contender. Another critical factor is Alfie's $4.875 million cap hit.

In most circumstances, several pieces will have to be moved to facilitate a trade, as many of these teams are devoid of cap space.

Here are 10 teams that could give Alfredsson a shot at finally getting his name engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup.

Los Angeles Kings

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The Los Angeles Kings came into this season with expectations through the roof and have proven with their acquisition of Mike Richards that they're not afraid to go after available players.

The Kings have just under $400,000 in cap space, so they'd likely look to move Dustin Penner's salary in a separate trade, if they can.

This would put them right around where they need to be to take on Alfredsson's contract.

From Alfie's prospective, the Kings would be an interesting landing spot given the large market and their chances of winning the Cup. 

Detroit Red Wings

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The Detroit Red Wings are known for stockpiling Swedish players onto their roster, so why not add another one? 

From Alfredsson's perspective, he'd love to play for a team comprised of several of his fellow countrymen.

The Red Wings are one of the few possible landing spots for Alfie that wouldn't need to dump salary to acquire him.

Currently, the Red Wings rest at $4.9 million under the cap.

The Red Wings are typically a bit on the conservative side when it comes to the deadline, but if they can work out a deal that's good for them, they definitely need to pull the trigger.

Chicago Blackhawks

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A team that's never been afraid of shaking things up is the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Surely, Alfredsson would love to play for the Hawks, as they are among the league's top contenders, but the question becomes—do they really need him?

Chicago, unlike most previous seasons, actually have the cap space to acquire Alfredsson.

Whether they go after him or not will largely depend on where they're at closer to the trade deadline. 

Boston Bruins

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The Boston Bruins have picked up their play after suffering from a bit of a Stanley Cup hangover and have resolidified themselves as contenders.

The Bruins would only need to clear about $1.8 million in cap space to acquire the Swedish forward.

He would certainly be well received in the Bruins locker room.

Joining the defending Stanley Cup champions would be an ideal situation for Alfredsson.

After all, if you can't beat them, join them.

Washington Capitals

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It has been a tumultuous season thus far for the Washington Capitals.

It appears that they still haven't found the right mix to win a Stanley Cup and need to keep tweaking the roster.

What better way to shake things up than by acquiring a proven scorer and leader?

Alfredsson's presence in their locker room may be exactly what the Caps need.

The Caps have no cap space to speak of, so a few other roster players would have to be moved out, but it may be necessary for them to succeed in the playoffs. 

Vancouver Canucks

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The Vancouver Canucks have been a disappointment so far this season.

The David Booth deal has yet to pay off and now has them at the cap max.

Given that they've already made a big move and have no cap space to work with makes an Alfredsson deal unlikely.

However, imagine Alfie playing alongside the Sedin twins. That all Swede line would be nearly impossible to defend. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown that they are contenders this year.

Wouldn't it be something to see Alfredsson in Toronto blue playing for the other Ontario team?

Like a lot of contenders, the Leafs have no cap room to work with.

Surely, they would love to dump Mike Komisarek and his $4.5 million cap hit. 

Would the Sens actually consider trading Alfredsson to the hated Leafs, and would Alfredsson waive his no-trade clause to go to the Leafs?

Minnesota Wild

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The Minnesota Wild are one of the most interesting teams of the season.

No one expected them to be near the top of the Western Conference.

As of now, they appear to be the winners of the two blockbuster deals they made with the San Jose Sharks.

The Wild still have $8 million-plus in cap space. How long can the Wild keep up their current pace?

The Wild will have to prove they are legitimate contenders for Alfredsson to waive his no-trade clause.

San Jose Sharks

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Speaking of those Sharks, they are not far behind the Wild in the standings. 

Like the Caps, they have been a perennial contender that cannot quite get over the hump and make it to the Stanley Cup finals.

The Sharks have approximately $1.8 million in cap space, so they'd need to move some contracts to acquire Alfredsson.

San Jose would have to be one of Alfredsson's top destinations to get traded to.

Buffalo Sabres

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The Buffalo Sabres have had an up-and-down season thus far.

They've looked like a different team from game to game.

They'll be contenders through the season, but it appears something is still missing.

If they acquired Alfredsson, they could address two areas of concern—scoring and leadership.

The Sabres have no cap space but will likely try to move some of their expiring contracts.