NHL Trade Deadline 2017: Breaking Down Latest League Buzz

With Wednesday's NHL trade deadline representing the final opportunity for teams to improve ahead of the playoffs, several notable names have entered the rumor mill.

Multiple big chips have already moved in the days leading up to the deadline, but with more teams falling out of contention and likely becoming sellers, additional assets figure to hit the trade market and get sold off to the highest bidder.

Ahead of the highly anticipated deadline, here is a rundown of some of the hottest rumors making the rounds across the NHL.

Kevin Shattenkirk

Although the St. Louis Blues currently occupy a playoff spot in the Western Conference, they may be set to part ways with their best offensive defenseman prior to the deadline.

Kevin Shattenkirk can become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, and with seemingly no progress being made with regard to an extension, St. Louis is forced with the decision to either trade him now or lose him for nothing.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Blues are considering dealing Shattenkirk, with top Eastern Conference contenders in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals standing out as potential landing spots.

Garrioch added there is a strong belief Shattenkirk, who grew up in New Rochelle, New York, wants to sign with the Rangers during the offseason regardless of what happens to him at the deadline.

Shattenkirk has struggled at times defensively this season with a minus-11 rating, but he is enjoying arguably his best offensive campaign to date with 11 goals and 42 points through 61 games.

The right-handed shooter has topped 40 points in a single season on five occasions, and he is among the most consistent point-producers from the blue line in the NHL.

Whichever team lands him will receive a significant boost and will become far more dangerous on the power play in particular.

Both the Pens and Caps already have quality defense corps in terms of producing offensively. Pittsburgh boasts Kris Letang and Justin Schultz, while Washington has Matt Niskanen and John Carlson.

The 28-year-old Shattenkirk is a former All-Star with tons of playoff experience, though, and he is the type of acquisition that can help put a team over the top.

Drew Stafford

Veteran winger Drew Stafford is struggling through his worst NHL season, but he could add some scoring punch at a cheap price if the Winnipeg Jets decide to trade him.

According to ESPN.com's Craig Custance, the 31-year-old American has received interest from teams searching for a rental.

With Stafford set to hit free agency during the offseason, Winnipeg would be wise to net an asset such as a draft pick rather than running the risk of losing him for nothing.

Stafford has just four goals and eight assists for 12 points this season, but he has appeared in only 39 games due to injury.

He netted 21 goals for the Jets last season, and the former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick has scored 15 or more goals in a single campaign on seven occasions.

His career high of 31 goals came in 62 games for the Sabres in 2010-11, and while a return to that level of production is highly unlikely, he could be a solid source of secondary scoring.

With 179 career goals to his credit, Stafford can provide some offensive punch for a price tag that shouldn't be exorbitant.

Riley Sheahan

The Detroit Red Wings are trending toward missing the playoffs for the first time since 1989-90, and that figures to result in them selling off some players prior to the deadline.

According to Sportsnet.ca, forward Riley Sheahan could be among those on the move.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs have shown interest in acquiring the 25-year-old.

Sheahan is coming off a pair of seasons that saw him score 13 and 14 goals respectively, but he has yet to light the lamp in 2016-17 through 58 games.

With just nine assists and a minus-19 rating to his credit, Sheahan is having a nightmarish year. Despite that, Kypreos reported that it may still take a first-round pick to land him in a trade.

That would likely be too steep of a price for the Leafs to pay, but the connection makes sense due to the fact that Toronto head coach Mike Babcock helped develop Sheahan during his time as Detroit's head coach.

The Maple Leafs are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, and a player like Sheahan would add some size (6'3", 226 lbs) and aggressiveness to their bottom six.

Babcock seemingly got the most out of Sheahan during their time together, so if the asking price becomes more reasonable, it could prove to be a fruitful marriage for both sides.