NHL Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Top Players and Teams Entering 2017 Deadline

The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and teams around the league have already shown the willingness to be aggressive for the playoff push.

While all deals must be completed before Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, quality players like Kevin Shattenkirk Martin Hanzal, Ben Bishop and Brian Boyle have already changed teams, via NHL.com. The final few hours before the deadline could see even more action with top contenders trying to keep up in the arms race.

The sellers know who they are at this point, which means the buyers just have to provide a good enough offer to complete a deal. Front offices will keep making calls until the final moments before the deadline, but here is the latest buzz surrounding players who could be on the move.

Radim Vrbata in High Demand

There are few players in the NHL as hot as Radim Vrbata at the moment.

The 35-year-old has points in nine straight games, including goals in the last four. With both a goal and assist in the last two contests, he now has 11 points in 12 February games, bringing his season total to 46.

With the Arizona Coyotes currently in last place in the Pacific Division and Hanzal already traded, it seems like only a matter of time before Vrbata is dealt to a contender. The big question is which team will be able to land the right wing.

Craig Custance of ESPN noted the Boston Bruins would be a good fit, but "as many as 10 teams" are involved in discussions for Vrbata with no clear favorite.

Vrbata has been in the league since 2001-02 and has had some impressive individual seasons, but his teams have generally not been great. He has played for six different franchises, but the furthest he has gone in the Stanley Cup playoffs was a trip to the conference finals in 2012 when the Coyotes lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

This deadline could give him a chance to play for a contender and possibly bring home a title. A young team like the Edmonton Oilers would probably be a good match, but just about every top squad could use a veteran of this ability.

Riley Sheahan to Toronto?

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The Detroit Red Wings aren't used to being sellers at the deadline, but this is where they are at with the worst record in the Atlantic Division.

Riley Sheahan could be the next notable player on the move thanks to growing interest around the league.

Ansar Khan of MLive.com reported the Toronto Maple Leafs were among the teams asking about the center, with the Calgary Flames also interested. Khan added the Red Wings are looking for a high draft pick but will not give him away for nothing.

Sheahan hasn't had his best season, totaling just nine assists and zero goals in 58 games. He is also minus-19 on the year. Still, he generally makes a positive impact on the ice and could see a lot more production with more talent around him.

Although Toronto's trade for Boyle takes away an immediate need at center, the team could always use more depth behind their young stars. Calgary also remains a reasonable destination as it tries to fight for a spot in the postseason.

Johnny Oduya Healthy and Out the Door?

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Losing Johnny Oduya to an ankle injury was devastating for a Dallas Stars squad hoping to stay relevant. His return after 15 games could at least give the team a chance to salvage some assets from the veteran.

The defenseman played Sunday for the first time since the end of January, providing a bit of an audition for teams considering a trade for the 35-year-old.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, there is "lots of talk" Oduya could be sent to the Chicago Blackhawks or the Montreal Canadiens. 

A trade to Chicago would especially be interesting considering he spent parts of four seasons with the Blackhawks, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015.

While some fans have been clamoring for a reunion with Patrick Sharp, Oduya could make even more sense to shore up the defense with a reliable player. As Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune argued, the Blackhawks "have tried for a season and a half to replace him as a top-four defenseman."

Chicago is currently in second place in the Central Division, but the squad is red-hot as of late and always dangerous in the postseason. If Oduya is healthy, this addition could once again put the team in the driver's seat going forward.