NHL Trade Rumors: Trade Needs for Every Single NHL Team
It's only December, but NHL trade rumors continue to dominate the landscape of the sport with the turn of the new year approaching.
How competitive both conferences are, especially the West, has really limited the amount of names that are said to be available and could be had. As the games pile up, the teams should spread out and then there should be a greater definition of the haves and the have-nots.
But until then, here are the trade needs for every team.
Anaheim Ducks
1 of 30
Anaheim could use a second-line center of the future, but the more immediate need is on the blueline, where they would take an upgrade over a Sheldon Brookbank or an Andreas Lilja.
Corvo could be made available as he was last year when Carolina fell out of contention and, supposedly, Rivet could be had.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Craig Rivet, Joe Corvo
Atlanta Thrashers
2 of 30
Atlanta doesn't have a lot of holes and would probably prefer to ride the young kids that brought it here rather than make a trade. But if they wanted to look outside the organization, Ryder could be a top-six forward, but a big cap hit.
Dvorak could bring veteran leadership and a much more affordable price tag.
Need
Forward depth, secondary scoring
Possible Options
Michael Ryder, Radek Dvorak
Boston Bruins
3 of 30
Boston is extremely thin on the blueline with the Hunwick trade, but the Bruins are so crunched under the salary cap that it will be hard for them to do anything. If a big contract can get moved, then possibly something could happen. Most likely, any kind of personnel moves will come from the inside and within the organization.
There were rumors that Boston was calling about Gudbranson, the Panthers' first-round pick that wasn't signed, but I'm not putting a lot of stock into that.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Mark Eaton, James Wisniewski, Erik Gudbranson
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Buffalo Sabres
4 of 30
Buffalo's offense has had about as much punch this season as Kool-Aid. Youngsters like Tyler Ennis, Luke Adam and Nathan Gerbe will be good for the Sabres, but right now they need a veteran who can score.
There's rumors Moulson could be available from the Islanders and that Miettinen is actively being shopped by Minnesota.
Need
Offensive Forward
Possible Options
Matt Moulson, Antti Miettinen
Calgary Flames
5 of 30
With their salary cap concerns and not a lot of depth to move, any Flames upgrades will probably come from within the organization or from guys already on the roster.
That means players like Hagman and Jokinen have to start stepping up and carrying the load that they were expected to when they were brought here.
Need
Forward with Offensive Upside
Possible Options
Olli Jokinen, Nik Hagman
Carolina Hurricanes
6 of 30
The Hurricanes won't want to tinker with their young forwards or their young defensemen. But the defense has been a problem and has been porous many nights, leaving Cam Ward on an island.
If Carolina decides to make another move, look for it to be a relatively inexpensive (in both prospects and cap hit) defensive defenseman to solidify the back end.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Wisniewski, Eaton, Rivet, Cam Barker
Chicago Blackhawks
7 of 30
Chicago would like to add some depth in the forwards, especially with Patrick Kane out. The penalty killing has lacked as well and could be a need heading forward.
But Chicago's lack of cap space plus the lack of true sellers out there right now could proclude any deal for the near future.
Need
Third Line Forward
Possible Options
Andrew Brunette, Miettinen
Columbus Blue Jackets
8 of 30
The Blue Jackets need a power play quarterback desperately to run things from the point. Campoli or Corvo have never been fantastic offensive defensemen but they'd be better options than what Columbus has right now, especially since the Jackets passed on Marc-Andre Bergeron.
Need
Offensive Defenseman
Possible Options
Corvo, Chris Campoli
Colorado Avalanche
9 of 30
The Avalanche have been awful on defense this year after being one of the better teams last year. The youth is a big reason why and a veteran presence would be a calming influence.
Offense has not been a problem all year for Colorado and I would be really surprised if that's addressed at all more than landing Tomas Fleischmann from Washington.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Barker, Rivet, Wisniewski
Dallas Stars
10 of 30
The tightly contested and packed Pacific Division, where the last-place team is only four points out of first, is hard to read.
Dallas is pretty set everywhere (assuming they don't move Brad Richards), so perhaps the only need would be a third-line center or a winger, which would mean someone like a Brunette or a Miettinen.
Need
Forward Depth
Possible Options
Miettinen, Brunette
Detroit Red Wings
11 of 30
Fisher is the extreme end of the spectrum, but Detroit is pretty set on the roster. The only hole would be where Mike Modano was before his injury, and that could very well be filled by someone in the organization.
If Detroit makes a depth move, it would only be for added depth at the very most and not something major.
Need
Depth or a Third Line Center
Possible Options
Mike Fisher
Edmonton Oilers
12 of 30
Steve Tambellini has said he's looking for grit but won't be pushing to make a deal. A defenseman might fit into that plan, should it come to that.
Staios was an Oiler before and Edmonton needs that kind of presence with a young team. Staios won't be leaving Calgary, but that's the kind of player Edmonton would be looking for.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Steve Staios
Florida Panthers
13 of 30
The Panthers leading scorer (Michael Frolik for those of you wondering) has 16 points in 27 games. Any offense the Panthers could get would help, although it's pretty clear Florida will be one of the few sellers.
If anything, Dale Tallon looks like he wants draft picks more than players right now for the few tradeable assets he has.
Need
Top-six Forward
Possible Options
Michael Ryder, Blake Wheeler
Los Angeles Kings
14 of 30
Marco Sturm is finally a King after the trade with Boston was completed, but it's hard to think that the Kings still won't be looking for another forward, perhaps a center.
The feeling is that the Kings still want Iginla and possibly might look at another forward.
Need
Top-six Forward
Possible Options
Jarome Iginla, Brad Richards
Minnesota Wild
15 of 30
Minnesota is looking for offensive talent and there's nothing particularly appealing coming down the Wild's pipeline. Brunette and Miettinen are available, but that probably won't bring them what they want in terms of a offensive player.
Although if P-M Bouchard can stay healthy, that could be a big boost.
Need
Top-six Forward
Possible Options
Wheeler
Montreal Canadiens
16 of 30
Montreal needs an offensive player that can help Plekanec and Company, especially with Scott Gomez out. Cole could be a good fit as a physical power forward and Langenbrunner could add a little punch, but that would mean waiving his no-trade clause.
There's also the case of Kovalev, who's checked out in Ottawa and is still loved in Montreal.
Need
Top-Six Winger
Possible Options
Erik Cole, Jamie Langenbrunner, Alexei Kovalev
Nashville Predators
17 of 30
Nashville has problems scoring goals, but won't spring for any big names. Langenbrunner is even a stretch at his price. Cole is a much more attractive option, should he be available, because of his price and his skill set that blends well into Nashville's system.
That's if Nashville even decides to make a move at all.
Need
Top-six Forward
Possible Options
Cole, Langenbrunner
New Jersey Devils
18 of 30
The Devils have a lot of issues, most of which are a lot of injuries and big problems scoring.
Getting Zach Parise back from injury would be a big help. Also, being able to make a move and get one of their older players to waive a no-trade clause and get some much needed cap relief to get some pieces back would be a bigger help.
Need
Forwards and Cap Space
Possible Options
trade of Brian Rolston, Jason Arnott, etc.
New York Islanders
19 of 30
The Islanders need a lot and are the only definite sellers right now. But an offensive player that can replace the injured Kyle Okposo would be a start.
Ryder could be had for very, very cheap and likes to score. It can't do much harm to a team who's lost 20 of 21.
Need
Forward
Possible Options
Cole, Ryder
New York Rangers
20 of 30
The Rangers will take any first-line center they can get for Marian Gaborik, although the Rangers are playing pretty well right now.
They're still intent on making a move for Richards should he become available, but Spezza could be another option should the Rangers want to go that route.
Need
First-Line Center
Possible Options
Jason Spezza, Richards
Ottawa Senators
21 of 30
The Senators need a transfusion to fix what's gone wrong in Ottawa; one player won't fix it. Offense is a major problem and those players would be just minor fixes.
There needs to be major changes before the Senators can really start to turn things around and start to head back in the right direction.
Need
Forward
Possible Options
Cole, Brunette, Miettinen
Philadelphia Flyers
22 of 30
The Flyers don't have a lot of holes and don't have a lot of cap flexibility. Any move made will be a depth move to help strengthen the offense or the defensemen.
The defensemen might be more of a focus, should the Flyers go that route, with Matt Walker's injury clouding things up.
Need
Depth
Possible Options
Marty Reasoner
Phoenix Coyotes
23 of 30
With the sale of the Coyotes still pending, any moves the Coyotes make will probably be minor and very similar to what they did at the deadline last year.
That being said, don't be surprised to see the Coyotes in on a forward or an offensive defenseman who will still fit into the defensive system the Coyotes love to use.
Need
Offensive Forward or Defenseman
Possible Options
Wheeler, Cole
Pittsburgh Penguins
24 of 30
Cole would be the perfect fit as a second liner to play with Evgeni Malkin. He's big, physical and has a touch around the net.
He'd give the Penguins more firepower and a more dependable option, especially on the second line and on the power play, allowing Max Talbot and Matt Cooke to fall back into checking roles.
Need
Second Line Winger
Possible Options
Cole
San Jose Sharks
25 of 30
The Sharks are believed to be targeting a defenseman. Those three are the top names that keep getting thrown around as possibilities to be traded, and any one could be heading to San Jose as a possible target.
The Sharks are expected to be willing to part with Nicholas Wallin or Kent Huskins to help make a deal.
Need
Defenseman
Possible Options
Rivet, Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin
St. Louis Blues
26 of 30
The Blues need healthy bodies to be able to put pucks, any pucks in the net right now. They're actively looking for forwards and any one of the forwards could fit the build as a forward who could score.
But what will the Blues be able and willing to give up in terms of their young defense corps to be able to make a move to land a forward?
Need
Top-Nine Forward
Possible Options
Cole, Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias, Kovalev, Ryder
Tampa Bay Lightning
27 of 30
The Bolts' goaltenders just won't cut it right now as is. Vokoun and Roloson are proven veteran stoppers who have a tendency to get very hot and carry teams.
Roloson has a lot more of a playoff pedigree than Vokoun, but either one would be a major upgrade over Mike Smith or Dan Ellis.
Need
Goaltending
Possible Options
Dwayne Roloson, Tomas Vokoun
Toronto Maple Leafs
28 of 30
The Leafs will take anyone who can score, but the biggest rumor all season has been that the Leafs want Richards. But there's nothing for the Leafs to offer in return and Richards won't fix all the problems in Toronto.
Frolov is now apparently available from the Rangers and is very cheap and has upside to produce—when he wants to, that is.
Need
First Line Center/Top-Six forward
Possible Options
Brad Richards, Alex Frolov
Vancouver Canucks
29 of 30
It's becoming more and more that Sami Salo could come back, and Kevin Bieksa could very well be on his way out.
If that's the case, then sending him to Ottawa for a cheap defenseman in Lee could make a lot of sense. Finding a forward to stabilize the constantly-in-flux fourth line could be an option as well.
Need
Defenseman/Bottom-Six Forward
Possible Options
Brian Lee
Washington Capitals
30 of 30
The Capitals have been linked to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, but those were shot down pretty quickly. The move that makes the most sense is for a bonified second-line center in Connolly, who's a distributor and a passer who doesn't have to shoot to be effective.
Of course, he has to be healthy to be effective, but that's a different story.
Need
Second Line Center
Possible Options
Tim Connolly
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