NHL Trade Talk 2012: 5 Trades We Would Love to Have Seen

In the next 48 hours, the landscape of the NHL could be altered forever. Teams could make deals that could change the face of their franchise for years to come. Big names could be coming and going at a feverish pace, making pretenders into contenders and vice versa.

Of course, we all know that none of this will actually happen, but it sure is fun to speculate and prognosticate. We've all heard that Rick Nash will be getting his mail forwarded to a new zip code, but what else is out there? What else would be fun to see?

Clearly the teams in the top half of each conference will be the buyers, but the sellers are often disguised by their conference standing and/or their desire to get out from underneath a terrible contract.

Columbus is obviously a seller as this years trade deadline nears. They have already moved Jeff Carter to Los Angeles for Jack Johnson and a No. 1 pick in either 2012 or 2013. So who else would we love to see moved?

Rick Nash to Toronto

Let's face it, hockey is more fun when Canadian teams are relevant. More specifically, Original Six teams.

With Montreal and Carey Price cleaning up the basement of the Eastern Conference, Toronto would be carrying the hope of a nation. No offense, Ottawa.

Besides, when was the last time Toronto was viable in the playoffs? Better yet, when was the last time Toronto was IN the playoffs?

Brian Burke needs to do this not for his team, but for his (adopted) country!

Ilya Bryzgalov to Anyone.......anyone?

Can somebody get Jeff Carter's agent on the phone? Some negotiating sorcery may be required to get out from underneath the pile of years and money the Flyers desperately poured into Bryzzie's pocket.

While I don't think anyone believes Bryzgalov is as bad as he has been at times for the Flyers, Philly will run out of patience sooner rather than later. Lest we forget, this is the city that booed Santa Claus.

Bryzgalov would be better off pretty much anywhere. Goalies are a notoriously weird breed anyway, and Bryzgalov is no exception.

In a rabid, title hungry city, Flyer fans will regurgitate their cheese steaks if they hear another story about "the universe" or "tiger poaching," instead of why he lets in four goals a night.

Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin to Detroit for Brad Stuart and Jiri Hudler

It would have been interested to see Ryan being moved. His contract is reasonable for another couple of years.

It looks like Stuart will be staying close to his family in CA.

Hudler has been somewhat of an enigma for the Wings, but has discovered his scoring touch this year.

In return, Detroit gets Ryan, who has underperformed so far this year, and Beauchemin, a defenseman similar to Stuart in style.

It looks pretty certain that Ryan and Stuart aren't being moved. Bruce Boudreau has Anaheim creeping back into the playoff picture, so it's certainly unlikely they will be selling any important parts.

Jarome Iginla to the Rangers

Lanny McDonald's mustache may be the only thing more popular in Calgary, so it would require a king's ransom to get Iginla to NYC.

The Rangers really need to add some scoring to the roster. Columbus appears to be asking for too much for Rick Nash, so Glen Sather might look back towards his old stomping grounds in Alberta to scratch that itch.

Flames GM Jay Feaster has all but extinguished the Iginla trade rumors previously in December, but does he protest too much? Calgary is currently three points out of the playoffs with a game in hand, but don't appear ready to sell.

Dustin Brown to PHI, NYR, NJD or BOS

It's hard to imagine trading your captain away while you're trying to make a push towards the playoffs. However, the Los Angeles Kings are apparently entertaining offers for the struggling winger.

Brown responded with a hat trick and four-point game against the Blackhawks Sunday. Dustin Brown would have plenty of suitors if he is legitimately on the block.

Brown plays a physical game which seems to be consistent with more Eastern Conference teams. Integrating him into the lineups of the Flyers, Rangers, Bruins or Devils would be absolutely seamless.

He adds a physical spark to the lineup, and has shown he can put the puck in the net as ably as he can finish a check.