NHL Trade Rumors: 10 Players Who Could Be Changing Places

We're in the heart of the NHL season, and it's been a very exciting one. There have been some surprises and some disappointments so far in the season, and for that reason some people are a little trade crazy.

A lot of teams have some talented players on their rosters but are out of the playoff race and are looking to get younger and get rid of some contracts.

Having said that, I give you a list of 10 players who may be traded.

Sergei Gonchar

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NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 01: Sergei Gonchar #55 of the Ottawa Senators skates during an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 1, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

It's tough to win a Stanley Cup Final when you don't have at least one big physical defenseman who can play some offense as well. Gonchar is a veteran presence who can bring these aspects to a team as it fights for a playoff spot or prepares to play playoff hockey.

He has a pretty sizable contract, but there aren't that many years on it, and he will likely produce solid numbers for the next couple of seasons. He's tough and has a great IQ for the game.

Nikolay Zherdev

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Goalie Anders Lindback #39 of the Nashville Predators stops the puck on a tip in attempt by Nikolay Zherdev #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Wells Fargo Center on February

Nikolay Zherdev is a guy that no team has been able to figure out, yet he is worth the risk. If any coach can crack Zherdev's potential, he could be unlocking an incredible offensive weapon.

Zherdev is on a relatively cheap one-year contract, and although he only has 15 goals this season, he is a very talented offensive player.

He might be suffering on the Flyers due to the depth the team has because his minutes are a little bit down. If they can trade him, they may look to take back an older player who can help their playoff push even more in their quest to get back to the finals.

Alexei Kovalev

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OTTAWA, CANADA - FEBRUARY 02: Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings makes a stick save deflecting the puck up into the equipment of Alex Kovalev #27 of the Ottawa Senators in a game at Scotiabank Place on February 2, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Out with the old, in with the new. Ottawa is as good as done in terms of making a push for the playoffs, and that could spell goodbye out for the veteran Kovalev.

At the age of 37, the the right winger just doesn't fit into Ottawa's future. Their failures as a team this season will certainly result in a rebuilding period that Kovalev will need to be removed from.

Ottawa is going to look to move him, and teams that are in the playoffs will definitely be interested in acquiring a skilled player who has all the playoff experience in the world.

Brent Seabrook

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Brent Seabrook #7 of the Chicago Black Hawks waits for a faceoff in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen

How sad it is to win a Stanley Cup championship but not return those players the next season.

Well, last season the Blackhawks won the championship and had to make room to be able to re-sign their young core, and the more we watch Seabrook play this season, the more you have to wonder if he'll be wearing a Chicago jersey next season.

Seabrook is a great defensive player and a good offensive player as well. It appears that at this point Chicago won't be able to afford him next year. There are a number of teams in the league that can use the services of Brent. He's a tough player who does what it takes to win games.

Marian Gaborik

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 19: Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers dekes around Jonas Gustavsson #50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs to score against the Toronto Maple Leafs 10:55 of the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2011 in New York

The scorer has failed to score in his second season in New York, and for that reason the talented right winger is now available. Sources have said that the team is now listening to calls for Gaborik.

The team is upset that Marian has not been skating as hard as he can and that they just aren't getting production from the only guy who produced for them last season.

Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron have been waiting all year for Gaborik, but perhaps he's tired of New York and no longer wants to play for coach John Tortorella. He could definitely score if he gets his fire back, and maybe a trade will ignite that.

Alexander Semin

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WASHINGTON - JANUARY 08: Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals warms up before the game against the Florida Panthers at the Verizon Center on January 8, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals may look like they are a team sitting pretty in the playoffs, but they are having a disappointing season when they face reality. Teams expect them to be a one seed, and they are failing to live up to those expectations or come anywhere close.

Sources say that the team would be willing to trade Semin, who just signed a one-year extension with Washington, for a young defenseman. Semin can provide points, and he has proved to do it before with big season after big season. The guy can pass the puck and find the back of the net, and a lot of teams would be happy to have him.

Tim Connolly

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SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 17: Tim Connolly #19 of the Buffalo Sabres skates prior to the game against the Florida Panthers on December 17, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Sabres 6-2. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Gett

Tim Connolly is having somewhat of a disappointing season for the Sabres after having such a great season last year. Connolly is a guy who can pass the puck very well and has a knack for making plays.

His one problem has been that he is very injury prone and has trouble staying on the ice. Last season he was able to play 73 games, and this season he's played most of his team's games at 38.

He's been playing worse than he did last season, but his skills are still there. He can definitely help a team trying to make the playoffs or take the next step in trying to win a Stanley Cup.

Tomas Kaberle

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TORONTO, CAN - FEBRUARY 7: Tomas Kaberle #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers on February 7, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Thrashers 5-4. (Photo by Claus An

Tomas Kaberle is another big defensman that a lot of playoff teams have been linked to. Kaberle has a lot of experience, but he also has a no-trade clause. He's supposedly very high on staying in the Eastern Conference, and he has the power to do that.

He also is a very expensive player to trade for. The Leafs supposedly want a package of proven talent and prospects for Kaberle, which is something that a lot of playoff teams wouldn't be willing to give up.

Nik Antropov

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TORONTO, CAN - FEBRUARY 7: Nik Antropov #80 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 7, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Thrashers 5-4. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Im

The latest guy whose name is coming up in trade rumors is Thrashers center Nik Antropov. Antropov is 6'6" and weighs 240 pounds. He's a giant of the body who skates well and has a lot of skill.

Antropov had 67 points last season but has only 28 so far this season. He has been struggling a little bit, but some think that a change of scenery is what he needs, and the Thrashers are willing to trade him if it means they can upgrade defensively.

Erik Johnson

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ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 12: Erik Johnson #6 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on January 12, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

It would be crazy and might even be a mistake, but the St. Louis Blues are open to the idea of trading their young, talented defenseman Erik Johnson. Johnson is 22 and was the first overall pick of the 2006 NHL draft.

In his first three seasons in the league, Johnson has shown a lot of promise but has frustrated the Blues with his inconsistent play. He has a negative plus-minus on the ice, and the team can definitely get a lot for him via trade.

Johnson is a guy that will work hard to be better, and if any team can work with him and make him more comfortable on the ice, they could have themselves a top defenseman in the league. He has the total package as a player along with great size, and he'll be a steal if some team can get their hands on him.