NHL Free Agency 2012: 10 Potential FAs Teams Will Attempt to Trade at the Draft

The hockey world prepares itself for the best part of the year in the coming weeks. The NHL playoffs are universally regarded as the most intense, exciting and difficult road to it's respective championship. The hard work of an 82 game season creates a winning formula and momentum as each playoff team fights forward to their ultimate prize.

Once the Stanley Cup is lifted, a different type of season begins in the front offices across the league as dry-erase and magnet boards replace the lineup charts and practice routines. While rosters are thinned out with expiring contracts, strategies are put together as the NHL Entry Draft arrives just two weeks removed from the Cup Finals. Teams will look to fill their roster with young, unproven talent to address team needs both immediately and for the future.

Another aspect of the draft is the player trade market that opens up around draft time. With minimal player movement at the trade deadline earlier this year, it is prior to, during and after the draft that the big moves occur. While trading a player with an expiring contract can seem insane, it gives that team exclusive negotiating rights to negotiate with said player before their contract expires. The most trivial of details can make all the difference in landing the stay at home defenseman or swift skating sniper that 29 other teams covet.

Here's a sampling of 10 potential free agents, likely to be on the move.

Paul Gaustad

Paul Gaustad is a name that was mentioned in almost every trade around the deadline. With an expiring contract, and an employer that may need some cap space, Gaustad may have a new address this summer as well. The gritty checking forward has helped add some toughness and energy to his new team, but may become expendable once the season ends.

The Predators will need all the extra cash they can get to try and keep their defensemen in Music City, and Gaustad might be moved again to lighten the Preds pockets.

Jarret Stoll

Hey, remember when Jarret Stoll was a almost a point per game player in Edmonton? Neither did anyone else, except maybe his employer, the LA Kings.

Between Stoll and Dustin Penner, the Kings spent $7.65 million on the pair in 2011-12. This equates to $637,000 per goal for each of the underachievers.

Both Stoll and Penner are UFA's this summer, and won't command nearly the cabbage that they negotiated for when they came to Los Angeles

Stoll in particular does have some value and could command a decent draft pick in a trade. He's an ace in the faceoff circle, and is still a serviceable two-way center under the age of 30.

Plus, as an added bonus, Stoll has been linked to models and starlets such as Rachel Hunter, Katie Cassidy and Megan Fox. This is certainly a trait that no dollar amount can be affixed to, and sets a fine example for the younger sparkys on LA's roster.

Dennis Wideman

Dennis Wideman has made quite the recovery from a career previously defined by this epic shootout attempt while a member of the St. Louis Blues. The current Washington Capital could find himself on the block before his contract runs out as the Caps will most certainly be looking to retool their under-performing roster this summer.

The Caps are more likely to throw money at defenseman Mike Green before he hits free agency. Wideman was a $4-million cap hit this year for the Caps, and  had numbers near his career-highs. He could fetch some value for Washington, who probably wouldn't be looking to re-sign him at his current price.

Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen has had a resurgent year as a Calgary Flame. Though he's probably already peaked production-wise, the 33-year-old Finn has put up his best offensive season in about five years. Coincidence that he's also playing for a contract? Probably not.

The Flames held on to the notion that they would not sell their commodities this year, and ended up missing the playoffs. They have a roster full of aging players who still possess good bits of value to contenders, should the Flames try to rebuild. Consider Jokinen one of those commodities who could be dealt before his current deal expires.

Ryan Suter

Nashville has quite the pickle. Both captain Shea Weber and his tag-team partner Ryan Suter are up for free agency this year. The Preds have said publicly that the plan is to keep both, but it may not be possible given the price tag that each could command from outside suitors.

It's been my opinion since midseason that the Preds keep one and trade the other, to at least get some value back if they can't keep both.

Suter and Weber are arguably the best active tandem in the NHL, and a strong playoff run by the Music City gang could warrant a home town discount to keep the band together.

P.A. Parenteau

P.A. Parenteau has been a nice surprise for the Islanders this year. The third year winger established career-numbers in assists, points, PIM and time-on-ice, and has put himself in line to collect a pretty sweet contract when his contract expires. The Isles are building something special on Long island with a lot of young talent on offense, and have locked up steady goaltending with Nabokov for the next couple years.

If they can't get a deal done with Pierre Alexandre, they might try to shop him for some draft picks or more young talent. He's a shifty playmaker who toiled in the AHL for eight years before finding his groove last year. He seems to be at (or near) his peak now, and could help a number of clubs.

Jiri Hudler

Detroit's second-line winger has put together a solid year as he plays for another payday. Though he is far from my favorite Red Wing, even I have to admit that his production has exceeded my expectations. He is not the type of player that I like to watch, but he is effective.

Hudler took off for the KHL the last time contract negotiations came up, but this time he at least has another substantial statistical season to point to. I still think the Wings would be best served by parting ways with Jiri. There may be such a thing as too much "Euroflash" on one roster, and I think that the Wings, and specifically Hudler, often play a little too cute for their own good.

Brad Boyes

Brad Boyes was acquired by the Sabres on a deadline deal from St. Louis and has failed to be the player he was with the Blues or Bruins.

Once categorized as a sniper, Boyes has hit the net only 11 times in 85 games with Buffalo. At 29, Boyes still has plenty of time left to right his sinking career, and a change of scenery certainly seems like the remedy.

He cost the Sabres $4 million this year and was worth about 1/16th of that. Trading him at the end of that contract will be a lot easier than at the beginning. In the right situation, Boyes could certainly return to form and help another club.

Zach Parise

Zach Parise will undoubtedly be the jewel of this year's free agent class. The Preds' dynamic duo of Weber/Suter will charge some serious dough for their services, but Parise, who is still reaching his peak, will be looking for a pile of change, and a contender to join.

The Devils have to know this, and it was surprising that they didn't try to move him before the deadline earlier this year. They still may try to keep him in Jersey, but could get some equity in return if they shopped him at the draft.

Alexander Semin

Alexander Semin seems to be second in line, behind Alex Ovechkin, as scapegoat for the Capitals' horribly-mediocre season. Perhaps it's the $6.7 million he made this year, or his significant decline in offensive production. At any rate, Semin seems like a long shot to return to the Caps, so why not trade him for something?

The Russian sniper is still technically on the upswing of his young career, and could help out a ton of clubs. The Caps would be wise to deal Semin while he still has some appeal to other teams. He's superbly talented, but seems to have overstayed his welcome in DC.

There's a few names on this list that could definitely help a number of clubs reach the next level, and cost very little to acquire. There's also the large specter of Rick Nash looming in the Columbus area.

Nash was the big fish that was supposed to move prior to the deadline, but stayed put. The Columbus captain could spark a flurry of action if he finally gets dealt. The offseason action could be fantastic, but first, bring on the playoffs!

Follow Rob Kirk on Twitter @theRobKirk