NHL Trade Rumors: Francois Beauchemin and 10 Defensemen Most Likely To Be Traded

Trade deadline time is approaching. Feb. 28 can’t come soon enough for some teams.

And some players.

It’s a tough time for NHL players. Am I going to get traded? Is my buddy over there going to get traded?

It’s a tough time for GMs too, in the salary cap age. Is a fair deal comparable skill levels or comparable salaries?  Tough decisions have to be made.

Here’s the top names that have been mentioned in trade buzz.

Francois Beauchemin

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TORONTO,CAN - DECEMBER 30: Francois Beauchemin #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches a loose puck off the stick off Kristian Huselius #20 of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a game on December 30, 2010 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by

Toronto has had their share of troubles over the last few seasons. Luckily for Brian Burke, the team has played well of late. That means better offers on the table for their players, Burke said.

The ink is all but dried on a Beauchemin trade…to what team, though, remains to be seen. There is an abundance of rumors regarding what team Beauchemin will be dealt to. The New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are all reportedly very interested in him.  

The Sharks of course have struggled defensively and could use the extra help. Beauchemin is reportedly one of two atop their hockey defenseman wish list.

10. Jim Vandermeer

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ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Jim Vandermeer #2 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on November 21, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Jim Vandermeer was just traded from Phoenix to Edmonton over the summer. There are rumblings of a pending Vandermeer trade.

The latest buzz has Vandermeer headed to the Rangers. Any move will have to wait until Vandermeer is healthy again though.He has an injured ankle at the moment.

9. Tomas Kaberle

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 08: Tomas Kaberle #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on December 8, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Penguins defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/

The Kaberle trade rumors have been around for awhile now. They probably will continue until he either gets traded or retires, whichever comes first.

Like Brian Burke said, there’s a lot of ridiculous offers when the team is on a downward spiral, but less legitimate offers when they’re on an upswing. Currently, the Sharks, Blue Jackets, and Bruins are reportedly interested in Kaberle. If the deal is right, he’ll be moved.

8. Ed Jovanovski

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 29: Ed Jovanovski #55 of the Phoenix Coyotes before the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Jobing.com Arena on December 29, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 6-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty

Coyotes GM Don Maloney has not been pleased with his team’s offensive performance this season. It will need to pick up for playoff contention. Maloney has hinted that if the current forwards can’t do the job, he’ll find someone else who can.

With that in mind, the Coyotes need some trade bait to lure a talented forward to Phoenix. Ed Jovanovski is prime bait. He’s performed well for the Coyotes so this could increase interest in him.

Plus, the Coyotes picked up Michal Rozsival in the Wolski trade. Interesting move considering they are supposedly seeking offensive talent. Perhaps Rozsival is meant to take Jovanovski’s place on the blueline?

7. Sheldon Souray

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EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 21: Sheldon Souray #44 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the St. Louis Blues during their NHL game on December 21, 2009 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Sheldon Souray requested a trade from the Oilers during the 2010 off-season. He ended up not getting claimed on waivers but loaned to the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

In the beginning of the 2010-11 season, there were a lot of rumors going around about Souray going to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for Mike Commodore. Wouldn’t it be perfect if the two NHLers unhappy with their clubs and now in the AHL could switch places?

The Oilers sure would like to make a trade for him. He’s $5.4 million a year sitting in the AHL. But that’s not a real great incentive for a team to pick him up. Not sure that it would happen for Commodore but if Columbus doesn’t pick up any other defenseman before the deadline they may make a deal for Souray.

6. Brent Seabrook

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ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 02: Brent Seabrook #7 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during warm-up prior to their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on January 2, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Blackhawks 2-1. (Photo by V

There have been an abundance of teams interested in Seabrook. But what would a move for him cost them?

 His salary this season is $3.5 million and he’s a pending RFA. That could clear up some cap space for the strapped defending Stanley Cup champions.

There were reportedly a lot of scouts at a recent Chicago game, prompting speculation that a low-key deal may be quietly in the works in Chicago, perhaps to Dallas or Atlanta.

5. Chris Phillips

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OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 22: Chris Phillips #4 of the Ottawa Senators throws the shoulder into Jarret Stoll #28 of the Los Angeles Kings during a game at Scotiabank Place on November 22, 2010 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Im

The Senators are looking to make a move. Phillips is a pending UFA, meaning there is significantly more interest in him than another Ottawa player. Phillips has a no-trade clause though so he would have final say on a potential trade.

He has told the Senators’ front office that he would like to finish his career in Ottawa. If Ottawa truly wants to unload him and there’s a taker out there, Phillips would probably take it (if it’s a good move that is). Who wants to stay where they’re unwanted? 

Plus, if a Stanley Cup defender is looking for Philips, it’s believed that he’ll accept it. Philips is supposedly the other d-man on the Sharks wish list. The Stars and Capitals may be interested as well.

4. Zbynek Michalek

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 20: Zbynek Michalek #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Phoenix Coyotes on December 20, 2010 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Zbynek Michalek is a Pittsburgh defenseman that might be on the trading block. He was one of Shero’s most expensive off-season moves and I’m not sure he’s produced in proportion to what his contract says he’s worth.

Shero is probably looking to unload his $4 million per year contract to free up cap space. So maybe they won’t have to sign another Mike Comrie type since they only have so much left.

3. Kevin Bieksa

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UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 11: Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Vancouver Canucks skates during an NHL game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on January 11, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Bieksa’s name has been amid trade rumors for awhile now. Recently though, he’s been performing well. That could cause one of two things: he's become indispensable or he's lured a better team to pay top price for him.

Vancouver is the top team in the league but they’ve been knocked out of the playoffs early by the Blackhawks a couple years in a row. And it's Einstein who said insanity is doing the same thing, expecting different results. Vancouver won't go farther in the playoffs, with the same players.

2. Alex Goligoski

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 08: Alex Goligoski #3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins takes a breather against the Minnesota Wild on January 8, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

There’s a lot of rumors going around as to who the trade-master Ray Shero is going to deal at this year’s trade deadline. He’s known for his ingenious moves at the deadline.

Most players have been included on that list of speculations but I think Goligoski might be the one to go. He’s a solid defenseman but not quite as indispensable as Pittsburgh blue liner mainstays Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang.

1. Mike Commodore

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EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 16: Mike Commodore #22 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 16, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

Unhappy in Columbus, Commodore recently requested a trade. He was then sent down to AHL to deal with his displeasure while a trade is in the works. He's no good to them if he doesn’t want to be there or if he’s down in the AHL.

The Blue Jackets are hurting defensively though so any move involving Commodore will have to bring another defenseman to Columbus. His $3.75 annual salary makes him a tough sell but The Hockey News reports that unnamed teams have been interested.