NHL Trade Scenarios: One Player Each Team Would Love to Deal This Offseason

The NHL draft isn't that deep this year and neither is the free agent class this summer, so the best way for teams to improve in the offseason is through trades. 

There could be a lot of trades this year, with a number of big-time players entering the final year of their contracts.

Let's look at one player each team would love to deal this summer.

Anaheim Ducks: No One

The Anaheim Ducks don't have anyone they need to really trade this summer. They are lacking forward depth, so someone like Andrew Cogliano, who scored just 26 points in 82 games, doesn't really need to be moved.

The Ducks also have no long-term deals that are hurting their salary cap flexibility in the future.

Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas

This may be surprising to Bruins fans, but the team must trade Tim Thomas in the summer to an organization desperate for a goalie.

Why? Thomas is going to be 38 next year, and he'll never have any more value than he will now. His no-movement clause also expires after this season.

Tuukka Rask is ready for the starting job and deserves to be the No. 1 goalie next season.

Buffalo Sabres: Ville Leino

Ville Leino played better toward the end of the season but his contract has five more years on it at a salary that he won't live up to.

It's time for the Sabres to get rid of this contract.

Calgary Flames: Jay Bouwmeester

The Calgary Flames need to rebuild and Jay Bouwmeester has never made the playoffs in his career. With that said, it's time for the two sides to move on.

However, Bouwmeester's massive $6.68 million salary cap hit isn't going to be easy to move.

Carolina Hurricanes: Tuomo Ruutu

I know the Carolina Hurricanes just signed Tuomo Ruutu to a four-year deal a few months ago, but they grossly overpaid.

He's not worth close to $4.75 million per season. The Hurricanes need to realize their mistake and send him to a team looking to reach the cap floor.

Chicago Blackhawks: Niklas Hjalmarsson

The Chicago Blackhawks defense struggled at numerous times this season and the team would be smart to find some upgrades on the blueline this summer. One person who might go is Niklas Hjalmarsson, who is signed for two more seasons at a $3.5 million cap hit.

Colorado Avalanche: No One

The Colorado Avalanche have an unusual number of free agents to sign this season. Almost all their forwards are either unrestricted or restricted free agents, with Matt Duchene being the most important of them all.

The Avalanche need to re-sign guys, not trade them.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Nash

The Columbus Blue Jackets are expected to trade Rick Nash at the draft since they failed to do so before the trade deadline.

Nash and the team clearly need to move in different directions and the Blue Jackets are in another rebuild mode, which Nash shouldn't be a part of after eight seasons with the team.

Dallas Stars: No One

The Dallas Stars are going to have a lot of salary cap room in the summer and need to use it to get the team to the next level, and that's the playoffs. Losing a key player via trade won't help the franchise at all.

Detroit Red Wings: Jonathan Ericsson

Jonathan Ericsson has been a disappointment for the Detroit Red Wings this season and isn't worth the $3.25 million cap hit he has for two more years.

However, I can't see the Red Wings trading a defenseman this summer unless they get one in return or sign one in free agency.

Edmonton Oilers: Ales Hemsky

The Edmonton Oilers really overpaid for Ales Hemsky this season by re-signing him to a two-year, $10 million contract.

The deal however, doesn't have a no-trade clause. The Oilers should trade him for a top-four defenseman.

Florida Panthers: Ed Jovanovski

Ed Jovanovski is a good veteran defenseman but he's not worth close to $4.25 million per season. The Panthers would be better off spending that kind of money in free agency, and will attract better players this summer because they have become a legitimate contender in the east.

Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Bernier

Jonathan Bernier is a good young backup goaltender, but he and starter Jonathan Quick are going to be free agents after next season. The Kings will have to give Quick a ton of money, so there's no point in keeping Bernier around and having to give him a lot of money too.

As a quality young goalie, Bernier could fetch the Kings a very nice return.

Minnesota Wild: No One

The MInnesota Wild don't have any terrible contracts to get rid of, and should actually be buyers in the free agent market this summer for top players such as Zach Parise.

Montreal Canadiens: Tomas Kaberle

The Carolina Hurricanes gave Tomas Kaberle a ridiculous contract in free agency last summer and found the Montreal Canadiens to foolishly take it off their hands.

This is a contract Montreal needs to get rid of quickly, but it won't be easy to do. It will be easier to trade this contract than Scott Gomez's monster deal, though.

Nashville Predators: No One

The Nashville Predators shouldn't let any contributing players leave the team, since they must prove to free agent defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter that the franchise is able to compete for a championship long term.

The Predators also don't have any terrible deals they need to get rid of.

New Jersey Devils: Marek Zidlicky

Marek Zidlicky is not a defenseman that is worth $4 million per season, and with the New Jersey Devils needing a ton of money to re-sign Zach Parise, they need to trade Zidlicky in the offseason.

New York Islanders: No One

The New York Islanders need to trade for players, not the other way around. Since it's unlikely that no top-tier free agent defenseman will sign with them in the summer, the Islanders need to trade one of their young forwards and acquire a blueliner under contract for a few more seasons.

New York Rangers: Brandon Dubinsky

Brandon Dubinsky is a good player, but he's coming off a disappointing season and isn't the player the Rangers thought he was when he signed a very nice contract after last year.

If the Rangers can trade him and upgrade at forward with someone like Rick Nash, it's a deal worth making for Glen Sather.

Ottawa Senators: Craig Anderson

With good goalie depth throughout the organization and Ben Bishop ready to be a full-time starter in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators should trade Craig Anderson to a team desperate for a goaltender. 

Philadelphia Flyers: James Van Rimesdyk

Injury issues have slowed James Van Riemsdyk's development as a top forward but he's still very young and has a ton of potential.

The Flyers would be better off getting a quality defenseman in return for JVR rather than waiting for him to become a top line forward.

Phoenix Coyotes: No One

The Phoenix Coyotes need to not trade anyone and instead focus on keeping players. Since they have a limited budget that prevents them from making a big splash in free agency, the Coyotes can't afford to trade away key contributors.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Paul Martin

The Pittsburgh Penguins don't have to trade Paul Martin, but he has been a disappointment this season, especially offensively. The team could certainly find a way to use his $5 million cap hit in a better way.

San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton

If the San Jose Sharks don't make it to the Western Conference Finals and be competitive, meaning not losing in four or five games, then it's time to trade Joe Thornton and rebuild the team with younger talent.

St. Louis Blues: No One

The St. Louis Blues have no one they desperately need to trade, and with a ton of salary cap space in the summer, they should be among the biggest buyers in free agency.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Vincent Lecavalier

Injuries have really hurt Vincent Lecavalier's ability to produce this season for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and with the star center past his prime, it's time to move the captain.

However, his $7.27 million salary cap hit won't be easy to move.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Luke Schenn

Luke Schenn is a good young player but he struggled mightily for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and would be helped by a change of scenery. The expectations of him in Toronto were way too high. As a young defenseman with potential, he could net the Leafs a pretty good return.

Vancouver Canucks: Roberto Luongo

The Vancouver Canucks must trade Roberto Luongo in the summer if he fails in the playoffs this season. With backup goalie Cory Schneider proving he can be a reliable No. 1 goaltender, Luongo and his enormous contract could be moved in the offseason.

Washington Capitals: Roman Hamrlik

Roman Hamrlik is not someone the Washington Capitals need to keep for next season given his age and the limited contribution he makes defensively. They should find a younger blueliner to replace him.

Winnipeg Jets: Zach Bogosian

Zach Bogosian hasn't been able to live up to the hype as a high draft pick, and hasn't developed to where he should be yet.

The Winnipeg Jets would be smart to cash in on his potential and find a reliable defenseman to replace him in the offseason.