NHL Trade Scenarios and Free Agency: Best-Case Offseason Deal for Every Team

During the offseason, teams love to rebuild, re-tool and improve their rosters so they can be more competitive for the upcoming season. However, the market of available players, the salary cap and a team's budget and internal cap have an impact on what deals a team makes or does not make.

If you are the general manager of "Team X," what is the best-case offseason deal you can make for your team? Even if you are just a fan or an armchair GM, read on to find out.

This slideshow will take a look at teams who could re-sign players, trade for players or sign a marquee free agent this July.

Anaheim Ducks: Find a Suitor for Justin Schultz's Rights

The Anaheim Ducks could stay quite this offseason because they are focused on retaining their key free agents who are up for renewal in 2013.

They have a few players up for renewal this summer, but one of the best moves they could make is finding a good return in exchange for dealing Justin Schultz's rights.

It appears that Schultz will not sign with the Ducks, so getting any return in a deal involving their top defensive prospect would be optimal.

Boston Bruins: Trade Tim Thomas and Open Up Space for Rick Nash

Tim Thomas is taking the 2012-13 season off, but he will still carry a $5 million cap charge for the Boston Bruins. The Bruins would be wise to deal Thomas to a team that is struggling to reach the new rumored cap floor.

By dealing Thomas and his cap hit, the Bruins would free up some extra cap room to potentially pursue Zach Parise or a player like Rick Nash via a trade. Freeing up Thomas has to be a priority for the Bruins as the offseason slowly approaches.

Buffalo Sabres: Trade for Ryan Getzlaf

The best deal the Buffalo Sabres could make would be adding a top center like Ryan Getzlaf. The Sabres lack talent and substantive depth in that position, so adding an All-Star like Getzlaf would be a great move.

Getzlaf is set to become a free agent next summer, and he is also coming off a down year. Anaheim likely would prefer to keep Getzlaf, but for the right price, there is a good chance Bob Murray would trade him.

This is just a trade scenario at this point, but it will be interesting to see what happens at the deadline later this season.

Calgary Flames: Deal Jarome Iginla for a Solid Return

Jarome Iginla is the captain of the Calgary Flames and has been a solid warrior throughout his tenure in Calgary. He is getting older, and the Flames could probably stock up their roster and farm system by dealing Iginla.

Despite his age, Iginla is one of the league's more tenured and consistent power forwards. Iginla is hard on the puck and can still put up 60-70-points a year.

Dealing Iginla would be tough, but in a fair trade, Calgary could acquire two roster players, a quality draft pick and some prospects.

Carolina Hurricanes: Trade for Jordan Staal

The best move the Carolina Hurricanes could make this offseason would be signing Zach Parise, but the best trade they could make would involve Jordan Staal.

Staal may not be on the market, but he will be a free agent in 2013, and he indicated that Carolina would be an ideal destination if he were to be traded.

Adding J.Staal to the Hurricanes would pair him up with his brother Eric, and it would solidify the Hurricanes top-six. Having Jordan Staal, Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen and Chad LaRose all in Carolina's top-six would make it a big threat offensively.

Chicago Blackhawks: Offer Sheet Cory Schneider

The Chicago Blackhawks have 22 players signed through this season and just a little over $8.0 million in cap space. Goaltending was an issue for the Blackhawks this season, and Corey Crawford wasn't as brilliant as he was during the 2010-11 playoffs.

Cory Schneider is a restricted free agent, and Vancouver has a precarious cap situation. It has 10 free agents and just over $15 million to spend to re-sign or replace those free agents. 

If a team like the Blackhawks invested a majority of their cap space in trying to sign Schneider long-term, it would give them a shot, and adding a top young goaltender at the very least would limit what their rival could do this summer in free agency.

The Chicago Blackhawks were a victim of an offer sheet when they had to match an offer on Nicklas Hjalmarsson issued by the San Jose Sharks. That extra money spent was contributing factor in not being able to keep Antti Niemi, so don't think the Blackhawks wouldn't offer sheet Cory Schneider.

Colorado Avalanche: Retain Major Free Agents

The Colorado Avalanche are a franchise with tons of young talent. The team only has nine players signed through this season, so the best move the team can make is retaining key players like Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, Steve Downey and assorted other young talent.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Deal Rick Nash for Fair Return and Move Forward

Scott Howson wanted an absurd return for Rick Nash at the trade deadline, and no team was willing to give into his demands. Howson then revealed that Nash requested the trade and put himself in a corner for a starting asking price come the offseason.

Rick Nash wants to leave; Columbus wants a return for its franchise player. The fair asking price for Nash this offseason starts with two roster players, a draft pick and a prospect or two.

Anything more than that, and Howson looks like he is trying use Nash to rebuild all the mistakes he has made as general manager of the Blue Jackets.

Dallas Stars: Lock Up Jamie Benn Long-Term

The Dallas Stars have a few free agents to re-sign this offseason, but the biggest one is Jamie Benn. Benn took the league by storm this season when he won the accuracy contest at the 2012 All-Star Game and emerged as a developing player.

Benn is a sharpshooter with pinpoint accuracy, and that was evident when Benn scored 26 goals and assisted on 37 others for 63 points in 71 games.

The Stars would be wise to lock up Benn and their other free agents this offseason and save some cap space for the rich and plentiful free-agent market of 2013.

Detroit Red Wings: Sign Ryan Suter and Pursue Zach Parise

Nicklas Lidstrom retired, and with that, ended a two-decade long career with the Detroit Red Wings. In addition, his retirement created a hole that will be impossible to fill on the Red Wings blueline. When you consider that Brad Stuart is likely leaving town, the 'Wings will need some top-notch defensive help.

Enter Ryan Suter.

Suter is a player who is going to get a massive pay day from his current base salary of $3.5 million a year. With all of the cap space the 'Wings have, they could persuade Suter and possibly Zach Parise to join their ranks.

The end of the Lidstrom era in Detroit may have started, but this summer, the franchise can head in a new direction with Suter and, potentially, Parise.

Edmonton Oilers: Trade 'Nail Yakupov'

The Edmonton Oilers have a top prize in their possession currently. They unofficially have Nail Yakupov because any team other than the Oilers would draft him first in the 2012 NHL draft. However, the Oilers already have a solid group of forwards in their top six and could stand to upgrade their back end.

Yakupov would help the Oilers, but they would be better served packaging the No.1 overall pick for another first-round pick and some assets. It is conceivable to see the Oilers trade for another early to mid-range draft pick, a defensive prospect and still draft a defenseman in the first round.

The Oilers have tons of options and could still decide to draft Yakupov, but what good would their explosive top six be without a formidably defense corp?

Florida Panthers: Sign Olli Jokinen

The Florida Panthers returned to the playoffs this year and almost upset the New Jersey Devils in the first round. They have a good set of forwards and some prospects who will threaten to make the team next year, so they could stand to add a player like Olli Jokinen.

Jokinen posted his best career numbers with the Panthers in the 2000s and was a top offensive threat. The Panthers now have a more established cast, so re-acquiring Jokinen would be a solid move for the Panthers.

Jokinen had a solid 61-point year for Calgary, so adding him to the fold would only increase Florida's offensive depth.

Los Angeles Kings: Sign Zach Parise

If you thought the Los Angeles Kings were dangerous now, can you imagine them next season with Zach Parise? Parise is going to be the toast of town for the NHL's free-agent pool, and after missing out on Brad Richards and Ilya Kovalchuk, the Kings will push harder than ever to sign Parise.

Parise is an elite offensive player that would turn the Kings into one of the deepest offensive teams in the NHL.

Los Angeles is in perfect position against Parise's New Jersey Devils currently in the Stanley Cup Final, and it would be an interesting situation if LA beat New Jersey and then Parise hopped ship.

Minnesota Wild: Sign Zach Parise

Just as stated in the previous slide, New Jersey forward Zach Parise is the top free agent this summer. Minnesota would love to add the hometown kid to its roster because he is an offensive threat and all-world player.

It is the best move the Wild could make because they would drastically improve their roster by adding Parise.

Montreal Canadiens: Get Rid of Scott Gomez

Scott Gomez has been horrendous the past few years, and the Canadiens could buy him out or amnesty his contract if such a clause included in a new CBA. The bottom line remains that Gomez needs to get out of Montreal.

The Canadiens may also be able to find a taker for Gomez if a team is struggling to reach the cap floor. Gomez may be horrendously overpaid, but in a new environment, he might be able to start over and get his game going.

Nashville Predators: Keep Ryan Suter and Shea Weber

The best-case scenario would involve the Nashville Predators retaining both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. This scenario is also highly unlikely, according to Darren Dreger. In one of TSN's Insider Mailbags, Dreger had this to say in regards to Nashville's defense situation.

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If Ryan Suter stays in Nashville, it's conceivable Shea Weber may be made available. The Rangers, like most teams, would pay a premium to acquire Weber. New York will also show considerable interest in Justin Schultz, who is a hot commodity coming out of college.

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It sounds like Nashville could be forced to make a choice between the two because the cap constraint would limit the ability to upgrade its forward core. It would be ideal to keep both, but it doesn't appear to be very practical.

New Jersey Devils: Keep Zach Parise

The main focus of the New Jersey Devils this summer is keeping Zach Parise. If Parise departs from Newark, it could completely change the future and complexion of the franchise.

With Marty Brodeur nearing retirement, financial problems facing the Devils and tons of players up for renewal in 2013, keeping the captain is a must for New Jersey.

New York Islanders: Keep P.A. Parenteau

P.A. Parenteau was one of the New York Islanders' best players this past season. It isn't keeping Parenteau that is the most important thing at stake; what is important is keeping the Islanders' forward core in tact. John Tavares, Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau are three cornerstone forwards currently for the Islanders.

If the Islanders can hold onto this forward and add to the team piece by piece, in a few years, once the prospect develops, they can be a playoff franchise.

New York Rangers: Sign Zach Parise

If Zach Parise hits free agency, NHL Insider Darren Dreger feels the Rangers are one team that will definitely have Parise on their radar.

Parise is a American speedy winger with a goal scorer's touch. Those three characteristics rank high on John Tortorella's checklist.

He likes having American players because often, he has experience in being their coach on the international level. If Tortorella has coached a player, he has an idea on how that player will fit in his system.

This advantage combined with Parise's skill set makes him valuable to the Rangers. Adding Parise to the fold would really enhance the Blueshirts' offensive firepower.  

Ottawa Senators: Lock Up Erik Karlsson Long-Term and Retain Key Players

The Ottawa Senators took the New York Rangers to a Game 7 series in the first round of the playoffs. With only 15 players signed through next season, the best moves the Senators can make start with extending Erik Karlsson long-term.

After that, the Senators would be wise to keep role player and faceoff specialist Zenon Konopka. The Senators may lose Daniel Alfredsson is he decides to retire, and if that happens, acquiring a top-notch right wing would be a wise move.

Philadelphia Flyers: Solidify Defense Corps

Matt Carle, if he hits free agency, would be one of the best defensemen on the free-agent market, and for that reason, he will get paid as a quality defenseman. Carle is good for at least 35-40 points of offense, and he's solid in his own zone as a defensive player.

Chris Pronger was the No. 1 man in Philadelphia, but now Carle, has emerged as one of the team's best defenders. Carle averaged 23:01 of ice time throughout the season and is a defenseman who can play in all situations.

Retaining Carle would be smart, but if he decides to change teams, the Flyers could decide to pursue free agent Ryan Suter. Either way, the Flyers will likely solidify their defense corps this offseason.

Phoenix Coyotes: Hold onto Ray Whitney and Shane Doan

The Phoenix Coyotes had a lot of success during the regular season, and as a result, they made the Western Conference final. A big reason the Coyotes were successful was because of their veteran leadership.

Ray Whitney and Shane Doan are two veteran leaders who did a lot for this team. If the Coyotes can hold onto their veterans and make a trade or two, they could come back better than ever and threaten for the Western Conference title and potentially the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Sign Ray Whitney

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have some contract decisions to make with Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal next summer, but if they want to go for another playoff run with this current group, adding a prolific veteran scorer in Ray Whitney would be a solid move.

The Penguins would add another offensive threat and would also add a power-play playmaker. Whitney could be added to replace Steve Sullivan as a secondary threat, and it would really be a solid low-risk move for the Penguins.

St.Louis Blues: Sign Zach Parise

Zach Parise is appearing multiple times in this slideshow, and that is the case because he is one of the best options for a lot of teams who need additional scoring.

The St. Louis Blues have the goaltending and the defense to be successful, but they need a little more firepower to be successful in the playoffs.

Parise is a player who would thrive in Ken Hitchcock's two-way system because he is a hard-working player who can play in all situations. 

San Jose Sharks: Trade for Rick Nash

Rick Nash is a player who the San Jose Sharks will show some interest in. Nash is a sizable power forward who could add some size to the Sharks lineup. The Sharks were interested in Nash at the trade deadline but didn't want to pay a high fortune for him.

Now that the list of teams is likely smaller with names like Zach Parise on the free-agent market, a team like the Sharks would benefit from adding a player like Rick Nash.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Offer Sheet Cory Schneider

The Tampa Bay Lightning need a legitimate goaltender to become a playoff contender once again. Up front, the Lightning have one of the league's top forward cores that includes Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St.Louis.

If the Lightning used their cap space to offer Schneider a sizable offer sheet, they may be able to out-bid the Canucks, especially if Mike Gillis fails to find a trading partner for Roberto Luongo.

Goaltending is an area the Lightning will address this offseason, but Schneider is probably their best option.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Trade Up for Nail Yakupov

The Edmonton Oilers need defensemen. The Toronto Maple Leafs need a game-breaking forward. The Oilers have the No.1 overall draft pick, and the Maple Leafs hold the No.5 pick.

It is conceivable that the Leafs could package their No. 5 pick and a defenseman like Jake Gardnier for Edmonton's No.1 pick. At No. 5 on the draft board, the Oilers could still pick up either Ryan Murray or Mathew Dumba.

This is a trade that Brian Burke would love to make because it would give him a game-breaking forward. Burke would likely make this trade as opposed to dealing for a No.1 center because in 2013, he will attempt to sign Ryan Getzlaf.

Vancouver Canucks: Trade Roberto Luongo Before July

The Vancouver Canucks' best-case scenario would see them dealing Roberto Luongo before the free-agency period starts, so they will have no problem locking up future starting netminder Cory Schneider.

The Canucks have 10 free agents and just over $15 million in cap space. Moving Luongo's salary would really make things a lot more flexible for the Mike Gillis come July 1.

Washington Capitals: Trade Mike Green

Mike Green was a top defenseman for the Washington Capitals, and the team could head in a new direction with a new head coach next season. Green has been injury-prone and hasn't played like the offensive dynamo he once was.

Trading Green's rights to a team in need of an offensive defenseman could net the Capitals a solid return.

Winnipeg Jets: Lock Up Evander Kane and Sign Tier Two Free Agents

The Winnipeg Jets had a solid resurgence this year and almost won a playoff spot. Unfortunately, the Jets fell short down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs. The best course of action the Jets can take is locking up Evander Kane and signing some smaller-name players.

Players like David Jones, Jiri Hudler, Kristian Huselius, Paul Gaustad, Sammy Pahlsson and assorted others would be lower-cost additions to the Winnipeg Jets' lineup.

The Jets have a solid group of players, but could stand to upgrade in a few areas. Adding gradually could really improve the Jets' lineup over time.