NHL Trade Deadline: 5 Teams That Should Trade Their No. 1 Pick for Help Now

With the trade deadline only a couple weeks away, teams around the NHL are starting to realize what they will need to acquire if they want to have any hopes of making a run at Lord Stanley's Cup this season.

Whether their biggest need lies in net or on the blue line, without a fix to the problem, certain teams can kiss their playoff chances goodbye.

Fixing that problem can be a lot more difficult than planned, though, as finding a trade suitable for both teams can be a challenge for anyone.

For a team that is willing to give up some of their star players to a contender, they will ask for something in return, possibly involving players or talented prospects.

The other option for team's to consider is giving away a coveted draft pick in an upcoming entry draft. The better the player being asked for, the higher the draft pick will have to be in return, making the decision tough for any team.

However, any team that feels that a certain player is the missing puzzle piece that could help them raise the cup, will undoubtedly do whatever it takes to acquire that player.

And for these five teams, giving away their first-round pick may be their best option.

1. Los Angeles Kings

It is no secret that the Los Angeles Kings have struggled to score this season.

The Kings currently are ranked dead last in the NHL in goals per game (2.06) and struggled under the defensive strategies of coach Terry Murray.

Murray has since been fired after a slow start, but it is clear the Kings still need an upgrade in the scoring department if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.

One of the main reasons L.A. remains in the Western Conference playoff race is because of the Vezina-like season from goaltender Johnathan Quick.

Quick ranks third in the league in goals against average (1.90) as well as save percentage (.934).

However, Quick can't do it all on his own and the Kings will most likely look for a goal-scorer before the trade deadline.

According to HockeyBuzz.com, the Kings have a lot of interest in Columbus Blue Jackets center Jeff Carter.

Carter, who was traded in the offseason by the Philadelphia Flyers, has turned out to be a bust in Columbus and the Jackets' front office is looking to wash their hands of the whole mess.

The Jackets traded their first-round pick in last year's draft, as well as Jakub Voracek in return for Carter and are looking for the same in return.

A first-round pick and a prospect may bring a proven 40-goal scorer to a team in desperate need of some scoring.

A trade for Carter would also bring a reunion with former Flyer Mike Richards. The two were drafted in the same year in 2003 and became great friends during their time in Philly.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Currently, the Tampa Bay Lightning sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Eight points out of the eighth and final playoff spot, the Lightning are running out of time to decide if they plan on being buyers or sellers during the trade deadline.

If they still believe that they can make the playoffs then they will have to make a major upgrade in net.

After an impressive first year in Tampa where he helped lead the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals, veteran Dwayne Roloson's age is finally catching up to him this season.

This season, the 42-year-old has struggled, compiling a 7-11-2 record with a 3.62 goals against average and a .881 save percentage.

Backup Mathieu Garon has received more starts because of this and has done well, but he is not the long-term answer for the Lightning in net.

Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, there are not a lot of options when it comes to upgrades by way of a trade.

Two of the most talked about goaltenders that could be on the market this season are Vancouver's Cory Schneider and Los Angeles' Johnathan Bernier.

According to The Hockey News, both players could be available, but in able to acquire them, they will have to give up something big in return.

If the Lightning have any hopes of making back-to-back playoff appearances, they may have to give up a draft pick to do so.

3. Ottawa Senators

Last season, the Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliot was struggling, compiling a 13-19-8 with a goals against average of 3.19.

With the season lost, the Senators looked for a change in net and swapped Elliot for Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson.

Anderson was also struggling last year and the Sens hoped that a change of scenery would do the 30-year-old some good.

Fast forward to today and Elliot is having a career year for the St. Louis Blues, leading the league in goals against average (1.63) and is second in save percentage (.939).

Anderson, however, has been back and forth this season, but has helped keep the Senators in the playoff hunt as the team currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

The third-round pick in 2001 has recently fallen on hard times though, losing his last eight starts and causing some concern for the Sens' future playoff chase.

Ottawa is in need of a major upgrade in net and could look to Bernier and Schneider as well.

As Bernier and Schneider will most likely be the most sought after goalies this February, the Senators will have to give something big, quite possibly a first-round pick.

If the Senators don't want to spend that much for a goaltender, Minnesota's Josh Harding or New York Islanders' goalie Evgeni Nabakov could be another option.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

With the current struggles of goalie Corey Crawford, many believed that the Chicago Blackhawks would be in the market for a goaltender before the deadline.

However, according to The Hockey News, general manager Stan Bowman has no interest of trading for a goaltender because he believes that Crawford will soon hit his stride, perfect timing to finish the rest of the season.

One area that could help Crawford improve is his defense in front, which Bowman will look to bolster with the addition of a top-four blue-liner via a trade.

Some notable defensemen on the market this year include Anaheim's Lubomir Visnovsky, Carolina's Jaroslav Spacek, Montreal's Hal Gill and Tampa Bay's Pavel Kubina.

Spacek, Gill, and Kubina are not worth a first-round pick in return, but Visnovsky could be a different story as he is most likely the most popular free agent defenseman on the market.

Visnovsky is coming off a career year in 2010-2011 where he put up a career-high 68-points and 50 assists for only the second time in his career.

The 35-year-old is having a down year this season as the Ducks have struggled, but a change of scenery could do him well.

Since he may be the most coveted defenseman on the market, a team may have to pony up prospects or draft picks to bolster their blue line.

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Another team that is desperate for help on the blue line this season is the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers were dealt an incredible blow when defenseman Chris Pronger suffered a concussion back in November.

Philadelphia was unsure how long the 17-year veteran would be out of the lineup, but it was recently announced that he would miss the rest of the season because of severe post-concussion syndrome.

Ever since Pronger went down, the Flyers were involved in plenty of trade rumors that have involved such players as Nashville's Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, as well as the Toronto Maple Leaf's Luke Schenn.

However, it seems that those options may no longer be available and the Flyers may have to look elsewhere for a short-term option.

There is also the possibility that the short-term solution may become a long-term one if Pronger is forced to retire.

If this were to happen, the Flyers would be forced to trade for a top-four defenseman that could be around for years to come.

In able to do so, Philly will have to trade some of their talented prospects or quite possibly a first-round pick.

Until they have more information on Pronger's status, it is unknown who is on the Flyers' list of possible targets.