With many teams having played about 20 games in the 2011-12 NHL season, they now have a clear view of what they need to make a push for the playoffs.
Some teams have surprisingly started off well and may be looking to add some pieces for a deep playoff run, such as the Minnesota Wild.
While struggling teams people thought who would be contenders, like the Columbus Blue Jackets, may be sellers in the coming months.
Let's look at one trade that would help each NHL team. Which trade should your team make?
Anaheim Ducks: Stephen Weiss
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The Anaheim Ducks need to get some quality offensive play from more than their first line, and Stephen Weiss is a quality center who can help the second or third lines.
Playing with the Florida Panthers thus far, he has scored seven goals with 11 assists. It would not break the bank to get Weiss, and he could be a huge addition to the Ducks who currently sit in last place in the Pacific division.
The Ducks are also last in the NHL in goals per game.
Boston Bruins: Rick Nash
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Rick Nash is a goal-scoring power forward who would fit perfectly in Boston and would thrive on a team with real Stanley Cup hopes and in a town where fans love physical players.
The Bruins could get Nash with an offensive player and a goalie, such as backup Tuukka Rask or prospect Anton Khudobin.
Buffalo Sabres: Trade Brad Boyes
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The Buffalo Sabres should really think about getting rid of Brad Boyes, who has just two goals and six assists this season.
The Sabres need a center, but since they are so far up against the salary cap, they don't have a lot to work with.
Dumping Boyes' salary would help with that.
Calgary Flames: Trade Jarome Iginla
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The Calgary Flames need to trade Jarome Iginla as soon as possible because sooner or later, he is going to regress, and his value will decrease significantly.
The Flames need to rebuild for the future because they will not win in the playoffs anytime soon.
Let Iginla go to a contender and receive a nice package of young talent. In that scenario, everyone wins.
Carolina Hurricanes: Tomas Kaberle for Prospects
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The Tomas Kaberle signing was a terrible idea for the Carolina Hurricanes, and now, they are realizing that.
He is not the player he used to be offensively, and his defensive skills are certainly suspect. Getting rid of this contract and acquiring some young talent, preferably on offense, would be a great idea for the Hurricanes.
Chicago Blackhawks: Rene Bourque
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Rene Bourque is a quality offensive player making a cap friendly $3.33 million for the next four seasons. Bourque's stats would improve playing on a very talented Chicago Blackhawks roster.
Dave Bolland and his $3.375 contract could be a piece that the Blackhawks give up for Bourque.
Colorado Avalanche: Cory Schneider
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Semyon Varlamov is not the answer in goal for the Colorado Avalanche, and they need a dependable young goaltender to lead a promising and talented young roster.
Schneider is ready to be a full-time goaltender, and the Avalanche have the young talent needed to make this deal happen.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Nash for Roberto Luongo
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In a Rick Nash for Roberto Luongo deal, there would have to be other players involved due to salary cap purposes, but this trade works for both teams.
Nash would be the power forward goal scorer that the Canucks desperately need, and Luongo would be a great goalie with the Blue Jackets, especially in a city where the pressure will not be as high.
Steve Mason has run out of chances to prove himself, and thus, Columbus needs to make a bold move for a goalie.
Dallas Stars: Trade Brenden Morrow
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Brenden Morrow is 32 years old and has just three goals and five assists this season.
WIth the Stars slipping a bit in the standings after their hot start to the year, trading Morrow to a contender and getting young talent to make a real run next year would be a smart idea.
Detroit Red Wings: Trade Jiri Hudler
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Jiri Hudler has just eight points this season, and five of them have come at home. He has not become the talented player Detroit thought he would be, and the time has come to move him.
Acquiring some defensive depth would be the way to go for the Red Wings.
Edmonton Oilers: Ales Hemsky for Rene Bourque (and Other Parts)
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Ales Hemsky has just one goal and four assists this season and should be traded from Edmonton. The Oilers could deal him with others players/picks involved in a deal for Calgary's Rene Bourque, who is a better player and has a smaller salary than Hemsky. Bourque is also younger.
Florida Panthers: Acquire Francois Beauchemin
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The Florida Panthers need another quality defenseman, and the Anaheim Ducks need offense. Francois Beauchemin could go from Anaheim to Florida in a deal involving a player like Kris Versteeg, who is a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Los Angeles Kings: Johnny Boychuck
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The Bruins have enough defensive depth to give up Johnny Boychuk, who is an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The Los Angeles Kings need another reliable defenseman on their push for the playoffs, and Boychuk is a physical presence who is very good offensively with his booming shot from the point.
Minnesota Wild: Zach Bogosian
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The Minnesota Wild made some bold trades in the summer and now find themselves tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the best record in the NHL right now.
They still need some defensive depth, and if the Winnipeg Jets are willing to trade young defenseman Zach Bogosian, then the Wild should try to acquire him.
The third overall pick in the 2008 draft has not turned out to be a star yet, but he has great potential. The Wild have a lot of salary cap space, so acquiring him should not be too difficult.
Montreal Canadiens: Trade Scott Gomez
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Do I even have to explain this one?
Not only is Scott Gomez making an insane amount of money the next few seasons, but he does not produce enough on the ice.
The Canadiens need to get rid of him at all costs.
Nashville Predators: Trade Ryan Suter
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After signing goaltender Pekka Rinne to a massive seven-year contract earlier this season, the Nashville Predators now have to sign defensive stars Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to new contracts next summer.
Weber is the better player and must be kept at all costs. Ryan Suter should be traded for offensive talent that Nashville desperately needs.
New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider
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New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur is a free agent after this season, and there is a decent chance he leaves the Devils.
Either way, they need a goalie for the future, and Vancouver Canucks backup Cory Schneider is probably the best way to go.
New York Islanders: Trade Evgeni Nabokov for Defense
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Evgeni Nabokov is a good goaltender and has a lot of playoff experience. The New York Islanders have to trade him to a desperate contender near the trading deadline for some defense.
The team has a lot of young offensive talent, but they are hurting on the blueline.
New York Rangers: Stephen Weiss
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The New York Rangers are 17th in the NHL in goals per game, and Stephen Weiss would be a relatively cheap yet effective addition at center.
He has 11 points this season on a bad Florida Panthers team, and would really help the depth of the Rangers offense.
Ottawa Senators: Young Defense for Sergei Gonchar
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Sergei Gonchar is a good veteran player, but his $5.5 million salary is not worth it to an Ottawa Senators team that needs some younger talent.
The Senators are last in the NHL in goals against, allowing 67 thus far this season. They need to get younger and more talented on the blueline.
Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Hartnell for Defense
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Scott Hartnell brings certain skills to the Philadelphia Flyers, but his $4.2 million salary is a bit much for him.
With Chris Pronger's injury history, the Flyers could certainly use another defenseman to add to their depth.
Hartnell does have 17 points this season, but the Flyers are No. 1 in the NHL in scoring, but are in the bottom 10 in the league in goals allowed.
They have enough offense to survive without him.
Phoenix Coyotes: Trade Kyle Turris
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Kyle Turris clearly does not want to be in Phoenix, and the Coyotes might as well trade him because one contender is certainly going to be foolish enough to panic at the deadline and overpay for the young forward.
The Coyotes are rebuilding their team, and they could get some established young talent in return for Turris.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Cory Sarich
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Cory Sarich would be a cheap addition for the Pittsburgh Penguins to bolster their defensive depth, and Sarich won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, so he brings more experience to Pittsburgh.
Sarich does well in his own end and won't be a liability defensively.
San Jose Sharks: Trade Michael Handzus
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Michael Handzus has not played well for the San Jose Sharks this season, and with the team having several young forwards, the team should trade Handzus for some younger offensive talent.
Five points for a 34-year-old player is not good enough on a team whose championship window is closing.
St. Louis Blues: Trade Andy McDonald
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Andy McDonald is a good player, but the St. Louis Blues need a lot more pieces to make a deep playoff run, so trading him while his value is high would be a smart idea for the Blues.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Zach Bogosian
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have allowed 58 goals this season, which is eighth worst in the NHL, and it is clear they need more defensive help.
Zach Bogosian would be a bold move for the Lightning, but they need more talent on the blueline if they are to return to the Eastern Conference Finals this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Parise
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The Toronto Maple Leafs should make a bold move for New Jersey Devils superstar Zach Parise, who is a free agent next summer.
Parise would take the Leafs offense to another level and would give them another star winger along with Phil Kessel.
The Devils will try everything possible to re-sign Parise, but I cannot see them being a real Stanley Cup threat in the next few seasons.
The Leafs have enough prospects and NHL talent to acquire Parise in a midseason trade.
Vancouver Canucks: Acquire Size
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When the Vancouver Canucks got David Booth from the Florida Panthers in a good trade early in the season, they failed to acquire what they need at forward, and that is size.
The Canucks are a soft team on offense and need someone who opponents will fear. If Roberto Luongo continues to struggle, then trading him for an elite power forward would be a smart idea, especially when backup netminder Cory Schneider is capable of leading the team.
Washington Capitals: Trade Jeff Halpern
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Jeff Halpern is a good player, but the Washington Capitals have some young forwards in their organization who should get a shot to prove themselves at the NHL level and could take Halpern's roster spot.
The Capitals really do not need a ton more right now; they are playing well.
Winnipeg Jets: Trade Nikolai Antropov
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Nikolai Antropov is being paid $4.062 million and is one of the highest earners on the team, but he does not always play like a top player.
The Winnipeg Jets are the sixth worst team in hockey in goals against and need more defensive-minded players.
A desperate contender may think about making a move for Antropov.
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