NHL Predictions: 10 Players That Could Be Traded This Year
The season has just begun and already there are players who may be on the trading block.
Teams are looking to put the right players together now in order to avoid falling behind too early.
While every player on this list may be secure for now, in a few months they may get a call telling them to pack up and resume their work in another city.
The following are ten players that could be putting on another sweater this year.
Cory Stillman
1 of 10
Cory Stillman has not been the same since being dealt from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Ottawa Senators midway through the 2007 season.
Once a perennial 20-goal scorer, Stillman has yet to eclipse that mark in South Florida. GM Dave Tallon will not be hesitant to pull the trigger on this left winger if he can get the right men to improve his team down the road.
Scott Hannan
2 of 10
Scott Hannan will remain on the Avalanche roster as long as the team picks up where it left off last year.
However, if Colorado, a young team that was inconsistent in the second half of the season, cannot emerge as a contender in the Northwest Division, Hannan, 31, is a great trading piece and management may jettison him for prospects or draft picks.
Doug Weight
3 of 10
Doug Weight, 39, is an old man on a young team.
His captaincy is vital to the success of the Islanders, who are looking to turn things around and make a push for a new arena.
The Isles may be more competitive than expected this year, but if they remain at the bottom of the East again Weight may be dealt.
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Ed Jovanovski
4 of 10
At 34, Ed Jovanovski, who was the first overall selection in 1994, is nearing the end of his career.
The large defensemen is still productive in his advanced age and could keep the Coyotes on track this season. However, if last year's efforts prove to be a fluke, the veteran defensemen will be highly sought after during the season.
Brad Richards
5 of 10
The cash-strapped Dallas Stars may try to dump Brad Richards, who has a $7.8 million cap hit this season.
Richards has been productive, and is a great player for the youth in Dallas' locker room to emulate, but the Stars look like they are a few years away from bringing the Stanley Cup Playoffs back to Texas and may want to deal him if they get the right deal.
Chris Clark
6 of 10
Far removed from his 30-goal, 54-point season with the Capitals in 2006, his former employer dealt him to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline last year.
Clark has put up single-digit totals in the goal column the last three seasons and the aging center may be unloaded later this season.
Alexei Kovalev
7 of 10
Last year Alexei Kovalev was unable to put up 20 goals for the first time since the 2006 season. At 37, there is some question how much longer he is going to play.
Ottawa is in transition and in need of defensive players after losing Anton Volchenkov during the offseason. They will be looking for defensive prospects and Kovalev may be a viable option.
Vaclav Prospal
8 of 10
Regardless of what he does, Vinny Prospal always seems overlooked by the NHL community.
With 20 goals and 58 points last year, Prospal provided much-needed offense for the Rangers. If New York continues to struggle, the veteran winger may find himself on the trading block once again.
Steve Staios
9 of 10
Only the Devils are spending more than the Calgary Flames this year, and little is expected of the veteran team that continues to bring back former players long after they have hit their stride.
Duping an expiring contract like Steve Staios will be a priority, unless this team catches everyone by surprise.
Tomas Kaberle
10 of 10
All summer rumors swirled around the possible departure of Tomas Kaberle from Toronto.
However, Kaberle remains and apparently is disgruntled. Look for GM Brian Burke to dump him as soon as he sees a deal he likes.
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