NHL Trade Rumors: Odds That Top Players Get Moved This Summer

As the postseason draws to a close, the NHL hot stove is beginning to simmer. The NHL Draft and free agency loom on the horizon, but some of the best players changing teams this summer will be guys traded in the coming weeks.

In the calm before the offseason storm, the league's general managers are looking to retool their finances and revamp their rosters. With the right trade, their teams can be poised in 2013 to do what the Los Angeles Kings just did and make a run at the Stanley Cup.

Teams trying to make a big-name acquisition have more resources to work with now than at any other time during the year.

Here are eight difference-making players who could be getting a change of scenery in the near future.

Alexander Radulov

Alexander Radulov was stateside for just nine regular-season games this year, but his playoff stint with the Predators was enough to wear out his welcome in Nashville.

The wayward Russian winger is still young at 25, but he was out of Nashville playing for Salavat Yulaev in the KHL since 2008. Upon his return, Radulov scored 13 points across 17 games, including playoffs. But he also drew the ire of coach Barry Trotz by staying out drinking with teammate Andrei Kotsitsyn the night before Game 2 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

For his transgressions, Radulov earned himself a one-game suspension from his team. According to Brian Stubits at CBS Sports, GM David Poile are looking to cut ties with Radulov this offseason, making this latest bump in the road the last in his turbulent relationship with the Predators.

Radulov will be a restricted free agent this summer, and Poile and the Predators are willing to trade his rights. But Stubits points out that since it is not a given that Radulov would sign with the team that trades for him, the Predators' prospective haul would likely be meager.

That said, Poile would surely prefer something to nothing. Radulov may not play for whatever team he is traded to, but the trade itself is nearly a certainty.

Jordan Staal

Unlike Radulov, Jordan Staal could bring in a more substantial windfall for the Pittsburgh Penguins if they find the right trading partner.

It is not a matter of Staal being a superior player to Radulov, though he is certainly a more well-known commodity after six NHL seasons. The difference for the Penguins could be a family connection.

According to ESPN's Pierre Lebrun, the Carolina Hurricanes could be willing to invest more than the average team would in Staal. Though he has just one year left on his current contract, Jordan would have an incentive to re-sign with Carolina in order to play with his brother, Eric.

The one hitch to Staal's move south is that Pittsburgh still would like him to be a part of the team going forward. But as he looks for a bigger role and Crosby negotiates a long-term extension with the Penguins, it appears Staal will likely be the odd man out in Pittsburgh.

If that is the case, a Staal family reunion likely looms next fall.

Sergei Gonchar

Sergei Gonchar is not the same player who made five All-Star teams earlier in his career, but he proved this season that he can make a difference with his veteran savvy.

Even at the ripe old age of 38, the defenseman notched 32 assists this season and bothered the New York Rangers forwards in the playoffs to help Ottawa push its opening-round series to seven games.

With that sort of play, it might seem strange that the Senators would try to move Gonchar with just one year left on his contract. However, Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen points out that the Senators would rather trade Gonchar than be stuck with the $5.5 million cap hit for his final year. His play just does not substantiate that sort of payout.

So with that in mind, how would Ottawa be able to find a trade partner? Look no further than Hockeytown. Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News explains that the Red Wings' recent trade of Brad Stuart, coupled with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom, leaves the team with a couple of holes on the blue line.

"We'll be active," GM Ken Holland said. "We've lost two quality defensemen."

Though Holland reportedly wasn't interested in any trade talks he had at the GM meetings, that was before Stuart left and some more cap space opened up. If he is willing to take on some salary, perhaps Gonchar will be the guy in Detroit.

Jonathan Bernier

While Jonathan Bernier is not one of the league's star goalies right now, he is attracting some starstruck suitors.

Every team with a question mark between the pipes goes out looking for the next hotshot young goaltender. The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline reports that the Blue Jackets are looking to add three goalies to their organization this offseason, including a new starter. Bernier, who was once a first-round pick but is now marooned behind Jonathan Quick on the Kings' depth chart, could fit that bill.

A more likely destination, however, would be Tampa Bay. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman stated to the Tampa Bay Times, "My preference is to go with a little bit of a younger guy that maybe has a little less experience and can step up and play well for us now."

It remains to be seen which team will tab Bernier as their guy for next season. But he is more valuable as a commodity to the Kings than he is as a backup watching from the bench.

Regardless of who the Kings' trade partner is, a deal for Bernier will get done.

Roberto Luongo

It was never in the plans for the Vancouver Canucks to move Roberto Luongo.

Once a perennial candidate for the Vezina Trophy, Luongo floundered in the playoffs just one too many times for his beleaguered organization. Against the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round, he was benched in favor of upstart Cody Schneider.

Now, Schneider is the goalie of the future in Vancouver, and Luongo is on his way out. The only problem is a monster contract. Luongo is slated to earn almost $48 million dollars over the next 10 seasons.

But for all the headaches associated with the mercurial goalie, there will always be a market for the Roberto Luongos of the world. As Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province notes, Luongo is the last big-name goalie up for trade following Tomas Voukon's transfer to the Penguins.

While we don't know yet where Luongo will be going, Gallagher brings up Chicago, Toronto or Tampa as possible destinations for the coveted netminder.  What we do know is that some team is about to get a significant upgrade between the pipes.

Tim Thomas

It would seem that now is not the ideal time to trade for Tim Thomas, seeing as he just announced (via Boston.com) that he would be taking the 2012-2013 season off.

But if that is a dealbreaker on a potential Thomas trade, Lebrun has heard otherwise. With his $5 million cap hit next season, Thomas could help some spendthrift team out there reach the new salary cap floor, which will be determined in the next collective bargaining agreement.

On top of that, whichever team trades for him would only inherit his cap hit, not the $3 million salary he is due. Since Thomas will not be playing, his new team would not have to pay him.

It will be impossible to know who will be in the market for Thomas' financial services until free agency has kicked into gear. Nonetheless, it is all but certain that some team will take the effectively-retired goalie off the Bruins' hands.

James van Riemsdyk

James van Riemsdyk is just the sort of skilled, young forward that a rebuilding team like the Columbus Blue Jackets would crave.

The 23-year-old has showed signs of promise in his three NHL seasons—with 24 points in 43 games this season. As he gets more playing time in the years to come, the hope is that van Riemsdyk will develop into a potent scorer as well as a capable two-way skater.

Columbus is interested in investing in van Riemsdyk's future, but his health is holding up the proceedings. According to Aaron Gretz of CBS Sports, van Riemsdyk needs surgery to repair a torn labrum, but he is currently in a holding pattern.

There have been rumblings that van Riemsdyk is putting off his surgery to prevent a potential trade. However, the reasoning behind the delay is immaterial according to Sarah Baicker of CBS Sports; until he is healthy, there can be no trade.

But considering who the Flyers are rumored to be targeting, nothing can be considered certain about a van Riemsdyk deal.

Rick Nash

Surely the Blue Jackets would have no problem sending Rick Nash to Philadelphia. That is, they would have no problem if the Flyers are the highest bidder.

However, if Brian Stubits from CBS Sports is correct, Nash could quash talks with the Flyers before they even get off the ground. The teams reported to be on the star forward's wish list are the Rangers, Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs and Kings. Unless Nash could be convinced to accept Philadelphia as a potential destinations, any trade talks between the Blue Jackets and Flyers will be moot.

That said, Stubits quotes Aaron Portzline as saying "The situation still has the feel of an amicable split between two sides that would rather avoid a public spat." Nash's price tag might have been a deal breaker for buyers at the trade deadline, but teams will be much more willing to part with a package of players and picks alike now that the offseason is upon us.

The Rick Nash Sweepstakes are now underway, though there is no timetable for its completion. But let the trade market run its course, and one of the league's finest players will be scoring in a different sweater next season.