Ideal Targets for the Top Stanley Cup Contenders at the 2015 Trade Deadline

This may seem insane given all the recent transactions, but the NHL's trade deadline is actually March 2. That's the last day for teams to sell off unrestricted free agents and add reinforcements for a Stanley Cup run, although few teams are waiting that long.

Jaromir Jagr, Jiri Tlusty, Evander Kane, Drew Stafford, Tyler Myers, Daniel Winnik and Andrej Sekera are some of the names that have already changed teams. The market is already running low on defensemen, and some teams are very likely done adding players, but it doesn't mean everyone is done.

For a more thorough list of potentially available players (some of whom have been traded already), click here.

Remember: If David Clarkson can be traded, anyone can be traded.

What follows is a list of the top Cup contenders (so if your favorite team isn't here, it's not that they aren't Cup contenders—they're just not "top" contenders) and some of their likely needs before the deadline. Click through and see if you agree—although you probably don't. That's why commenting exists.

All statistics via NHL.com. All salary information via Sportrac.

Anaheim Ducks

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Record: (38-17-7, 83 points, first place, Pacific)

Needs: Defense depth

Ideal targets: Marek Zidlicky, Tim Gleason

Analysis: After picking up Jiri Sekac from the Canadiens, general manager Bob Murray told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, "It’s gone from a third-round pick for a rental, someone you might have for three months; now it’s a second- or first-rounder and a prospect. I’m not doing that here. ... It’s not my cup of tea, this rental world.”

The Ducks don't need much, but maybe they can pick up a seventh defenseman for something other than an early-round draft pick.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Record: (37-20-5, 77 points, third place, Central)

Needs: Forwards and defense

Ideal targets: Jeff Petry, Chris Stewart, Antoine Vermette, Michael Ryder, Sam Gagner

Analysis: With Patrick Kane out until, at best, the start of the Western Conference Final, the Blackhawks have cap room and reasons to use it. Johnny Oduya is also dealing with an injury, so help on the back end is needed, too. The ideal additions for GM Stan Bowman are rentals, as the team will have cap issues entering next season, so it's just a matter of what he's willing to spend to improve the Blackhawks in Kane's absence.

Detroit Red Wings

Andy Devlin/Getty Images

Record: (34-15-11, 79 points, third place, Atlantic)

Needs: Defenseman, preferably right-handed

Ideal targets: Jeff Petry, Zbynek Michalek, Marek Zidlicky

Analysis: GM Ken Holland has been after a right-shooting defenseman seemingly forever (see: Matt Niskanen, Dan Boyle), and maybe now he'll get one on the trade market. Don't expect Holland to do anything big, like, say, trading a prospect and second-round pick for a center, like he did with David Legwand last year, but he will be snooping for back-end help.

Los Angeles Kings

Juan Ocampo/Getty Images

Record: (29-19-12, 70 points, third place, Pacific)

Needs: Nothing

Ideal targets: None

Analysis: The Kings made their move Wednesday, acquiring Andrej Sekera from the Hurricanes. They are just about out of cap space, and according to the Los Angeles Times' Helene Elliott, GM Dean Lombardi said he could be done dealing. The one thing that could change that is if the Kings could get someone to take Mike Richards off their hands. If not, these are probably the Kings for the rest of the season.

Montreal Canadiens

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Record: (40-16-5, 85 points, first place, Atlantic)

Needs: Top-six forward, top-four defenseman

Ideal targets: Zbynek Michalek, Chris Stewart, Joffrey Lupul, Keith Yandle, Michael Ryder

Analysis: This is a team that has used Dale Weise on its top line for about a month and sits atop the Eastern Conference. It's also played Sergei Gonchar close to 19 minutes per night.

The Canadiens could be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders with the proper upgrades, although GM Marc Bergevin, as evidenced by the Devante Smith-Pelly-Jiri Sekac trade, would prefer a hockey trade, not a rental. To improve the Canadiens further, though, that may not be possible.

Nashville Predators

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Record: (41-13-7, 89 points, first place, Central)

Needs: Scoring forwards

Ideal targets: Antoine Vermette

Analysis: To explain the preceding, the Predators already made their moves, acquiring Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli from the Maple Leafs last week. They could use a scoring winger or a top-six center, but GM David Poile appears to be done dealing. There's still time for him to see the light, though, and swing a deal for Antoine Vermette, but that's doubtful.

Minnesota Wild

Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images

Record: (31-22-7, 69 points, fifth place, Central)

Needs: Depth

Ideal targets: Steve Bernier, Andrej Meszaros, Tim Gleason

Analysis: By acquiring Sean Bergenheim from Florida earlier this week, the Wild addressed their depth issues at forward. Now we will see how they feel about adding a depth defenseman in case of injury. The Wild are the only team on this list that aren't currently in playoff position, but they are 14-3-2 in their past 19 games. They are healthy and surging and only need some insurance on the back end to be a complete team.

New York Islanders

Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press

Record: (40-20-2, 82 points, first place, Metro)

Needs: Defense depth

Ideal targets: Zbynek Michalek, Jeff Petry, Tim Gleason, Kimmo Timonen

Analysis: The Islanders are plenty deep at forward and are set to get Kyle Okposo back in two to three weeks from eye surgery, but they could use some blue-line help. Johnny Boychuk, Travis Hamonic and Nick Leddy are a strong top three, although an upgrade to the next group would be nice.

It's not a pressing issue, as the Islanders are allowing 28 shots per game, but if they are going for it in the final year of the Coliseum, they need to add a defenseman.

New York Rangers

Jared Silber/Getty Images

Record: (38-16-6, 82 points, second place, Metro)

Needs: Bottom-six forward, No. 6 defenseman

Ideal targets: Erik Condra, Erik Cole, Tim Gleason, Andrej Meszaros

Analysis: Depth forwards that have already been dealt include Daniel Winnik, Sean Bergenheim and Jiri Tlusty, so the the market is going dry fast. The Rangers could use a center, but potential options Antoine Vermette and Tyler Bozak could be too expensive either in cost to acquire or cost to pay.

John Moore and Matt Hunwick have rotated as the sixth defenseman with underwhelming results, so just about anyone can come in and take that job.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Record: (35-17-9, 79 points, third place, Metro)

Needs: Bottom-six forward

Ideal targets: Erik Condra, Patrick Dwyer, Steve Bernier

Analysis: The Penguins might be done after acquiring Daniel Winnik, but they could use something more in the bottom-six group for the right price. They are low on draft picks and cap space, so the Penguins of today may be the Penguins after the deadline.

St. Louis Blues

Gregg Forwerck/Getty Images

Record: (39-18-4, 82 points, second place, Central)

Needs: Depth defenseman

Ideal targets: Jeff Petry, Tim Gleason, Marek Zidlicky

Analysis: The Blues are very close to being a complete team, but they could better themselves and hurt the Blackhawks by adding a defenseman. Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester are a strong top three, but it gets dodgy after that. They should be active in the defense market between now and Monday.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Record: (37-19-6, 80 points, second place, Atlantic)

Needs: Depth defenseman

Ideal targets: Zbynek Michalek, Roman Polak, Jeff Petry

Analysis: The Lightning have four deep lines but some injury woes on defense that GM Steve Yzerman may want to fix. Radko Gudas' status for the rest of the season is up in the air following knee surgery, so if the Lightning want to replace his grit with rental grit, Michalek or Petry could be good additions. Polak has grit, but he also has one more year left on his deal.

Washington Capitals

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Record: (33-19-10, 76 points, fourth place, Metro)

Needs: A forward or two

Ideal targets: Antoine Vermette, Erik Cole, Curtis Glencross, Michael Ryder, Chris Stewart

Analysis: With the steep price for rentals thus far, the Capitals may not want to pay what it would take to land center Antoine Vermette, which would be a lot. They don't necessarily need another forward, but some more depth at a cheap price would be nice. If any of it comes at the cost of Mike Green, it's probably not worth it.