NHL Trade Scenarios: The Top Pie-in-the-Sky Trade Target for Each Team

The NHL draft is a good time for teams to sign prospects who will have an impact in the future, but the trade period helps teams address immediate needs. Each team would love to acquire a top-notch goal scorer, a shutdown defenseman or a quality all-world goaltender.

With that in mind, here is each team's top pie-in-the-sky trade target. This list may contain some exceptions because there are teams with a tight salary cap who have desirable players they already want to retain.

Note:This list will also feature players more than once because it will primarily focus on players who are either on the market or will be on the market next season.

In an attempt to remain realistic, players will be listed if they are a rumored to be dealt, could be traded at next year's deadline or if they are set to becoming a free agent in 2013. Every team would love to acquire  Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or Henrik Lundqvist but that isn't realistic.

Anaheim Ducks: Jordan Staal

Jordan Staal could be on the market soon with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal set to receive a salary cap raise. The Ducks have Ryan Getzlaf as their No.1 center already, so adding a two-way player like Staal would bolster their center depth and team overall.

Boston Bruins: Rick Nash

Rick Nash is a player who could put the Boston Bruins over the top. He has size, skill, speed and the ability to be a game-changer. Nash would add to the overall strength of the Boston Bruins' offense and it would make the team a top contender in the East for years to come.

Buffalo Sabres: 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.

Calgary Flames: Ryan Getzlaf

The Calgary Flames have a franchise winger in Jarome Iginla but don't have a bona fide superstar center to play with him. Getzlaf would be a player who would bring that to the table. He is a player with size, strength and the skills of a top playmaker.

Iginla and Getzlaf would be a top tandem full of snarl and skill.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal

Jordan Staal may not be on the market currently, 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 Jordan Staal to the Hurricanes would pair him up with his brother, Eric, and it would solidify the Hurricanes' top six forwards. 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: Cory Schneider

The Chicago Blackhawks have a little over $8 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. 

Trading for Schneider's rights and locking him up long term would be a smart move for the Blackhawks.

Colorado Avalanche: Trade for Zach Parise's Rights and Sign Him

Zach Parise is a skilled and hardworking winger who would really help the Avalanche. The team currently has Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny at center and Gabriel Landeskog and Milan Hejduk on the wing.

Adding Parise would add skill and offensive depth and would give the Avs some talent to lure others to sign with them in the future.

Columbus Blue Jackets: A Rebuild Package

No one player will turn the Blue Jackets around, so a rebuild package of picks, prospects and current NHL players is something the team would love to acquire.

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 two prospects.

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.

Howson can be smart and fair, or he can get greedy and end up with egg on his face.

Dallas Stars: Shea Weber

The Stars have solid forwards in their current top six, but they need a defenseman. Shea Weber would be a great addition considering the Stars are losing their top shooting defenseman in Sheldon Souray.

Weber would bring a booming power-play shot, a shutdown presence and would make the Stars a team with a chance to contend.

Detroit Red Wings: Shea Weber

If the Red Wings can't sign Ryan Suter of Justin Schultz, Shea Weber will shoot to the top of their list.

Weber is a physical defenseman with a booming shot and an edgy presence. Weber might have to smooth things over with Henrik Zetterberg first, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Edmonton Oilers: Jake Gardiner and No. 5 Pick

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. A defenseman like Jake Gardiner and the No. 5 pick would give the Oilers a talented young defenseman and a chance to draft Ryan Murray, Morgan Rielly or Griffin Reinhart.

Florida Panthers: Jordan Staal

The Panthers will have Jonathan Huberdeau, a talented and sizable center, on the team soon, so adding a two-way center like Jordan Staal could be a solid move for Florida.

Staal could play a top role, a secondary role and could contribute on special teams for the Panthers. Staal is talented and is being forced to play in a limited role with the Penguins, so a move to a new team could really allow him to flourish.

Los Angeles Kings: Trade for Zach Parise's Rights

Zach Parise is set to become a top-end free agent who could sign immediately on July 1st. If you thought the Los Angeles Kings were dangerous now, can you imagine them next season with Zach Parise?

Parise is an elite offensive player who would turn the Kings into one of the deepest offensive teams in the NHL. If the Kings traded for his rights, they could get a jump in the action and could reassess their needs.

The Kings likely will add through free agency, so this is the only trade that would make sense long term.

Minnesota Wild: Rick Nash

The Wild would love to sign Zach Parise but if they couldn't sign him, Rick Nash would be a top talent to add. Nash would add top-end goal scoring, size and skill to a Minnesota team that is a few high-end pieces away from contending.

Montreal Canadiens: A Suitor for 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 is 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: Ryan Getzlaf

The Predators could use a sizable center with solid hands and a goal scoring acumen. Although Getzlaf is primarily a playmaker, he would add offensive depth to the Predators and would give the team a player who can set up their secondary wingers.

New Jersey Devils: None, Keep 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. The Devils will not look to make any trades because keeping Parise is a huge priority.

New York Islanders: Jordan Staal

The New York islanders could use a reliable second-line center until their top prospect forwards are fully developed. On a recent television broadcast of NHL Tonight, it was suggested that the Islanders would be one of the many teams interested in Jordan Staal if he hits the market.

Staal has the skills and talent, but would he want to play for the Islanders long term on Long Island?

New York Rangers: Rick Nash

Rick Nash would bring a lot to the table if he was traded to the Rangers. He is an older, more developed version of current rookie sensation Chris Kreider. Nash is a solid skater, possesses a great shot, has size and plays in the dirty areas of the ice.

Nash may have an albatross cap hit, but in New York, he would be surrounded with complementary players like Kreider, Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan.

Needless to say, adding Rick Nash would be huge for the Blueshirts, but the other names listed in the report are very interesting.

Ottawa Senators: Trade Up at the Draft

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.

The Senators may lose Daniel Alfredsson is he decides to retire, and if that happens, acquiring a top-notch right winger would be a wise move. A right winger like Nail Yakupov or Filip Forsberg could be acquired through the draft, so that would require the Senators trading up a ton.

Philadelphia Flyers: Shea Weber

Ryan Suter is a player the Flyers would love to sign but if he signs elsewhere, the team would have more options. Shea Weber may be the best player to replace Chris Pronger in the NHL today.

Weber has a mean streak, plays physical and has a booming shot. Weber would solidify the Flyers' defense and would make them a bona fide Cup contender for many years to come.

Phoenix Coyotes: Jordan Staal

On a broadcast of NHL Tonight earlier in the week, the panel interviewed Don Maloney on the phone. He addressed the state of the Coyotes and after the interview concluded, the panel talked about potential moves the team could make.

Jordan Staal was at the top of their list as a player who would fit right in with the Coyotes because he would be a top center who could build upon the team's young forward corps.

Pittsburgh Penguins: No One

The Pens are working out a contact extension with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and James Neal will be due for a cap raise soon and the team's cap could be tight. The team could consider dealing Staal and the trade could help to assess the Penguins' needs later into next season.

The team as constructed is very talented and should be a Stanley Cup contender next season.

St. Louis Blues: Rick Nash

The Blues could benefit from acquiring a goal scorer like Rick Nash. He has talent, skill and the size to make his impact in the dirty areas of the ice. A top goal scorer is the only thing that the Blues need to acquire in order to become a top contender with a chance for playoff success.

San Jose Sharks: Rick Nash

Rick Nash is a player who the San Jose Sharks will show some interest in. There is a connection with the Sharks and Rick Nash that may give them an inside edge. Joe Thornton and Nash are close buddies who teamed up for Team Canada, so there is some existent chemistry.

Nash is a sizable power forward who could add some size to the Sharks' lineup. 

Tampa Bay Lightning: Trade for Cory Schneider's Rights

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 corps that includes Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St.Louis.

Anders Lindback was acquired recently, but he is a year or two away from becoming a top starter. Lindback could also prove to be a solid backup, so trading for another goalie would be a wise move.

If the Lightning traded for Schneider, they could lock him up for the foreseeable future and then pit him against Lindback for the Lightning's starting job.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Trade Up at the Draft

The Edmonton Oilers would benefit from drafting a defenseman first overall, so should they be open to trading their pick? The Toronto Maple Leafs need a game-changing 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 Gardiner 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-changing 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: None

The Canucks are pretty hard-pressed up against the salary cap. The ideal move for general manager Mike Gillis would be trading Roberto Luongo away to free up some long-term cap space. The Canucks have won the Presidents' Trophy the past two seasons but have not won the Stanley Cup.

If the team ever decided to really shake up the roster, the Canucks would likely look to add a goal scorer like Rick Nash.

Washington Capitals: Shea Weber

It was proposed that the Capitals could trade Mike Green this summer. If that were to happen, it that would leave a void in the offensive defenseman department. Weber would fill in for Green and then some. Weber is arguably the best defenseman in the NHL, so adding him to the fold would be a dream for the Capitals.

Winnipeg Jets: Jordan Staal

The Winnipeg Jets need to add some talent to bolster their roster next season. Staal is a center who could hit the market and would help the Jets in many areas. Staal is a two-way forward who also kills penalties and plays the power play when needed.

The Jets aren't established enough yet to draw big-name free agents, so trading for Staal would be a solid step in the right direction.