NHL Trade Rumors: Teams That Must Be Sellers

There aren't too many teams in the NHL right now who are completely out of the playoff race, which is the reason no one is selling yet. Thus, no major trades have been made.

Teams will not risk angering their players and fans by becoming sellers in the trading market when the playoffs are still in reach because that sends the wrong message.

However, there are a few teams that will need to play exceptionally and have the teams in front of them really struggle if they want to make the playoffs.

These are the teams that need to be sellers at the deadline, so let's look at who they are.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are last in the Eastern Conference, and making the playoffs is an unattainable goal for them this season.

Carolina has one of the more coveted forwards available at the deadline in Tuomo Ruutu, who is a physical player who can score. Ruutu can be a top-six forward for a contending team looking to add some depth on offense.

The Hurricanes need some more top prospects, and they could certainly acquire one in a deal involving Ruutu. They also have some quality defensemen that contending teams would love to acquire, such as Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason.

Expect the Hurricanes to take advantage of the weak market by trading some of their veterans for young talent and draft picks.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the NHL and would be smart to find a team to take Jeff Carter and his lengthy contract that has a $5.3 million cap hit per season.

Carter and teammate Rick Nash, the captain of the Blue Jackets, could be the two most talented forwards on the trading block.

Nash has a $7.8 million cap hit, which is a lot for teams to take on, but he is an elite player who would dominate in a better hockey market with a more talented supporting cast.

The Blue Jackets can draft a stud forward when they earn a top three draft pick in the spring, so trading either Carter or Nash isn't a bad idea.

Columbus needs to find a franchise goaltender, and using Nash or Carter to get one is the best option for the club going forward.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers will become sellers to address their need for a top-tier defenseman. They have the second-worst record in the Western Conference and have two forwards that contending teams will want at the deadline—Ryan Smyth and Ales Hemsky.

Hemsky is an upcoming free agent, and Edmonton would be foolish to let him leave in the summer and get nothing in return. A team that needs scoring for a deep playoff run like the Detroit Red Wings might be interested in acquiring Hemsky.

Smyth is a loyal Oilers player and came back to the team just to play there, but to win a Stanley Cup he needs to move.

Will he do that? I'm not sure, but a team with a shot to win the Stanley Cup like the New York Rangers would be a great fit for him.

The Oilers have a lot of great young offensive talent with forwards Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall, so using some of their veteran forwards like Smyth and Hemsky to address their defensive woes is a smart idea.

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