NHL Trade Scenarios: The Most Serious Buyer for Every Big Player on the Market

The NHL trading deadline is a little over a month away, and the action is probably going to heat up soon regarding trades.

Teams now have a good idea of what their chances of making the playoffs are, and they will soon decide to be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

A lot of this year's big trade names involve players who are free agents at the end of the season, so we'll see what teams want to give up for a player who could likely end up being nothing more than a rental.

Let's look at the most serious buyer for each big player on the market.

Zach Parise: Minnesota Wild

Zach Parise wants to win a Stanley Cup and he won't do that anytime soon with the New Jersey Devils, so I fully expect the team to trade him rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be a player for him, but they are already so close to the salary cap.

The Minnesota Wild are a really interesting team and it will be fun to watch them at the deadline. They are an up-and-coming team that will be good for many years in the near future, and have salary cap space in the summer to sign Parise to a long-term deal.

Parise's Dad used to be a captain on the old Minnesota North Stars franchise.

Teemu Selanne: Winnipeg Jets

The Anaheim Ducks likely aren't going to make the playoffs this season, and at 40 years old Teemu Selanne isn't a player that fits into their long-term plans.

Selanne is still a very capable offensive player and he still has a lot of drive at this point of his career.

The Winnipeg Jets are a really interesting destination for Selanne because the fans love him there from his time with the former Jets franchise.

The Jets are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings and would be wise to acquire Selanne for a playoff run.

Shea Weber and Ryan Suter: Philadelphia Flyers

I'm not saying the Philadelphia Flyers should trade for both Nashville Predators defensemen, but they have to acquire one of them to make another trip to the Stanley Cup Final this season.

The loss of Chris Pronger has really hurt the Flyers, and without a goaltender that they can consistently depend on, acquiring another top defenseman has to be a priority for the Flyers.

They have cap room to take on a decent sized contract for this year, but they will need to move some contracts to keep Suter or Weber beyond this season.

Philly might as well go after one of these players because their team is in win-now mode, and even as a rental, Weber or Suter would be worth it.

Nashville needs offensive talent, which is exactly what the Flyers have a lot of, making the team a perfect trade match.

Bobby Ryan: New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and if they have an opportunity to acquire a power forward who can score goals they should jump on it.

The price to acquire Anaheim Ducks star Bobby Ryan will be high, but the Ducks are having a poor season and may look to cash in on their young star's value.

He's a proven 30-goal scorer that can add toughness and offense to any team.

It's no secret the Rangers need more depth at left wing, and with salary cap space next year, the team won't have trouble taking on Ryan's $5.1 million salary cap hit.

Ales Hemsky: Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a veteran team that could use one more offensive talent like Ales Hemsky for another run at a Stanley Cup championship.

Hemsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so the Red Wings won't have to make a future commitment to the Edmonton Oilers star, who has battled injuries for much of his career.

To be fair to Hemsky, he has never played with top-tier NHL talent in Edmonton, and with the elite playmakers that Detroit has, his production could really skyrocket.

Players who get traded really get energized playing with better players and when they know they're on a team with a chance at the Cup.

Jarome Iginla and Alexander Semin Swap?

Two of the biggest names on the trade market this season are Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals, and the two teams have reportedly talked about trading the two stars with other players involved.

Via CSNWashington:

"

The latest comes from a story on Hockey Buzz that says the Capitals and Calgary Flames have had discussions about a deal that would bring right wing Jarome Iginla to Washington, along with defenseman Chris Butler and a prospect.

In exchange the Flames would receive Semin and goaltender Braden Holtby, along with draft picks.

"

This can't be considered a serious rumor yet, but it is an interesting scenario that could work for both teams. The Capitals need someone they can depend on each night, and Semin isn't giving them that. Iginla's drive to win his first Stanley Cup is higher than any other player's in the league.

He would bring incredible passion and intensity to the ice every night for a Capitals team that needs a boost in many ways.

For Calgary, they would get a goal-scoring forward in Semin who could let go in the summer when he becomes a free agent, thus creating cap room. They would also get some young players in this deal.

Roberto Luongo: Columbus Blue Jackets

Would the Vancouver Canucks trade Roberto Luongo when he's been playing better recently than he was at the beginning of the season? Maybe, maybe not, but the team would be wise to eventually move his burdensome contract.

The Canucks have two capable NHL goalies in backup Cory Schneider and top prospect Eddie Lack who can fill in for Luongo and won't cost as much.

A team like the Blue Jackets desperately needs an elite goaltender and they have two forwards, Rick Nash and Jeff Carter, who would really help the Canucks.

Especially Nash since he is the power forward that Vancouver really needs.

Tim Gleason: Philadelphia Flyers

If the Philadelphia Flyers cannot acquire or choose not to acquire Shea Weber or Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators, expect them to make a run at defenseman Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gleason is a really good d-mam who is reliable in his own end and is not a liability offensively. He would add some toughness and veteran poise to a Flyers defensive corps that has been decimated by injuries this season.

Chris Stewart: Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens really need a power forward to have a shot at making the playoffs this season, given their many injuries.

St. Louis Blues forward Chris Stewart is a player who can score goals and add some toughness to the Canadiens lineup.

He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so the Canadiens would not be tied to him long term if they do not wish to make him part of their future plans.

Eric Staal: Toronto Maple Leafs

Don't expect the Eric Staal and Toronto Maple Leafs rumors to die any time soon, especially since the Carolina Hurricanes have continued to struggle mightily this season.

Staal is the franchise center that could really make the Maple Leafs a perennial playoff contender, and with a more talented roster in Toronto than he has in Carolina, his production could skyrocket.

His salary cap hit is over $8 million, which is pretty massive, but Staal is an elite player who is still young and has the potential to get better.

He's a top-10 center in the NHL and has already won a Stanley Cup. Staal to Toronto likely would depend on the asking price, and if Leafs general manager Brian Burke is willing to match it or come close.