NHL Trade Speculation: 10 Bold Deals Fans Would Love to See Get Done This Summer

There are only four NHL teams left competing this season. After the top two teams emerge from that battle, there will be the Stanley Cup Final. Once that is over, we get to one of my favorite parts of any sport: the offseason!

Hockey's offseason is one I liken to that of the NFL. More often than not, talented and not necessarily great players are given heavy contracts and ultimately do not earn their pay.

However, apart from free agency, the NHL offseason often brings about some interesting trades. Last year, the New York Rangers traded enforcer Aaron Voros to the Anaheim Ducks for underachieving defenseman Steve Eminger. This trade didn't work out for either team.

This time around, though, I'd like to discuss different trades. These are megadeals that probably won't happen, but if they do, they would rock the foundation of the NHL. Here are 10 of them.

No. 10: New York Rangers Trade Michael Del Zotto to Carolina for Jared Staal

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 20: Michael Del Zotto #4 of the New York Rangers controls the puck against the Philadelpia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2011 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty

This is a trade that has maybe a 10 percent chance of happening, but if it does, I and other Rangers fans might dance in happiness. The Blueshirts would trade underachieving defenseman Michael Del Zotto to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Jared Staal.

Del Zotto had a fine rookie campaign, scoring nine goals and notching 28 assists in 80 games. However, he did not fare so well in 2010-2011. He only scored two goals and had nine assists in 47 games in a season that included two trips to the minors. He may rebound, but Rangers fans (hockey's equivalent of Red Sox fans) are getting impatient.

Staal will be 21 next season and needs at least one, maybe two more years in the minors, but come on. How awesome would it be to see him on the same team as his big brother Marc? Plus, Matt Gilroy is better on defense than MDZ.

No. 9: Detroit Red Wings Trade Kris Draper to Boston for Tomas Kaberle

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 06: Tomas Kaberle #12 of the Boston Bruins passes the puck in the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 6, 2011 in Bost

The Tomas Kaberle experiment has failed in Boston. Since being traded from Toronto, he scored just one goal with eight assists and has virtually been a non-factor in the playoffs. Long story short, Kaberle needs to get his confidence back, and there is no better place he can do that than Detroit.

There, he would have two veteran defensemen in Nicklas Lidstrom (if he comes back) and Brian Rafalski. On top of that, he would be on a team that is well balanced and has good chemistry. Yet Detroit has some dead weight to unload as well, and thus a sign-and-trade should happen.

Send aging forward Kris Draper to Boston for Kaberle after agreeing to terms with the latter on a short-term deal, and this is a done deal.

No. 8: Sacramento Kings Send Jack Johnson to the Rangers for Vinny Prospal/MDZ

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 17: Vaclav Prospal #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after he scored a third period goal against the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff

Don't get me wrong. The Los Angeles Kings are a great young team with a bright future. Yet their youth is also their problem. They need a veteran presence who can also be a leader.

Enter Vinny Prospal. As much as I'd love to see him back with the Rangers next season, he has balky knees and will turn 37 next season. Still, he showed that he could still keep up with the young guns and was instrumental in helping the Rangers make the playoffs.

Still, the Rangers have a gaping hole on defense, and if they could trade Prospal, Michael Del Zotto and a package of prospects for defenseman Jack Johnson, that would be ideal for both teams. Plus it would spark debate between both groups of fans, and who doesn't want that?

No. 7: Buffalo Sabres Trade Derek Roy to Colorado for Paul Stastny

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: Paul Stastny #26 of the Colorado Avalanche awaits a face off during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on April 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Avalanche defeated the Coyotes 4-3 in an overtime shoot

Paul Stastny has been a great offensive presence on some underachieving Avalanche teams the past few seasons, but he costs a lot of money. With the Avalanche looking to shed payroll, they should trade him for another decent offensive player. A good choice would be Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres.

Roy underachieved last season and only played in 35 games, and Buffalo fans are running out of patience with him. That team needs someone who can score consistently and be a valuable presence in the locker room. Stastny makes slightly more money than Roy, so this deal makes sense.

No. 6: New York Islanders Trade Rick DiPietro to Anaheim for Jonas Hiller

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks and Team Lidstrom takes a break during their game against Team Staal in the 58th NHL All-Star Game at RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty

Before this trade even happens, the Islanders need to restructure Rick DiPietro's ridiculous contract. Then they trade him to the Ducks for Jonas Hiller and thus have a great goaltending tandem in him and Al Montoya.

This trade makes sense for so many reasons. First, RDP has worn out his welcome with the Islanders organization. On a similar note, Hiller is the odd man out now that Dan Ellis and Ray Emery have proven themselves as the top goalies in Anaheim.

Going to New York would give Hiller a fresh start with a franchise slowly getting ready to contend again. The Ducks can just cut DiPietro or duck him in the minors (no pun intended). Or they can take a chance on him, though I wouldn't recommend that.

No. 5: Columbus Blue Jackets Trade Steve Mason to Philadelphia for Sergei Bobrovsky

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Goalie Steve Mason #1 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during a break in the action against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 22, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Mason collect the loss as the Avalanche defeated the

The Flyers showed interest in Mason this past season, and Brian Boucher has proven to be the top dog in Philly time and time again. This trade needs to happen, and if it does, the Flyers will have given up Sergei Bobrovsky in exchange for the second half of a truly deadly goalie tandem.

No. 4: Nashville Predators Trade Shea Weber to Edmonton for Ryan Whitney

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 7: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators hits Chris Higgins #20 while battling for the puck in the corner during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May

As much as Shea Weber wants to remain with the Nashville Predators, the team won't be able to afford him. That being said, he needs to go elsewhere. Enter the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton is a very young team that is just plain horrible and needs a leader. By agreeing to a sign-and-trade with Weber, the Oilers will gain both youth and a leader. To seal the deal, they could send Ryan Whitney (sorry about being traded again, Ryan) to Nashville.

If this trade were to happen, Edmonton would greatly improve and perhaps play defense for once.

No. 3: New Jersey Devils Trade Zach Parise to Lightning for Simon Gagne

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils skates during an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadians at the Prudential Center on April 2, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

This is a case of two shooters potentially switching places. New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise only played in 13 games last season due to a knee injury, and Simon Gagne overall underachieved for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Given how both men's contracts are expiring after next season and the odds of them staying with their current teams are 50-50, the Devils and Lightning should execute this swap.

This deal works for Tampa Bay because in Parise, they will receive a top young forward that can be paired with hotshot Steve Stamkos. If this goes through, just imagine Tampa Bay's offense: Martin St. Louis, Steve Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Zach Parise. That's a team with a dangerous scoring squad.

On New Jersey's end, Gagne makes sense because he fills the veteran presence void left by Jamie Langenbrunner. Gagne can step up and be a leader on a team that's getting younger and younger, not to mention distracted by Ilya Kovalchuk's contract.

No. 2: New York Rangers Trade Marian Gaborik to Anaheim for Bobby Ryan

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 19: Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

After putting together a stellar first season in New York in 2009 (42 goals, 86 points total), the real Marian Gaborik showed his true colors last season. He was injured for much of the season and only had 48 points. I know it's only been a couple of seasons and last year could be considered a fluke, but is he really worth it?

Gaborik will be 30 next season, and he seemingly has the body of an aging veteran. It's time that the Rangers got younger and traded him for a younger, less injury-prone shooter.

A viable option in this case is Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan. The former Olympian has improved in each of his four NHL seasons, and given how he is from Cherry Hill, NJ, playing for the Rangers would be a sort of homecoming.

Regardless of if this trade happens or not, it's time for Gaborik to go. Which brings us to No. 1...

No. 1: New York Rangers Trade Marian Gaborik to Dallas for Brad Richards

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Brad Richards #91 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

This is a deal that all Rangers fans would love to see get done. In a sign-and-trade deal with the Dallas Stars, they will send Marian Gaborik to Texas and receive the biggest name on the market: Brad Richards.

Richards is the electrifying player that the Rangers need on their team. He won the Stanley Cup with head coach John Tortorella in 2004, so he obviously knows the system. More importantly, this is a veteran who can step up and be a leader on a young Rangers squad.

Regardless of if Richards comes to New York via trade or free agency, you can count on the Rangers to make a play for him. If that means parting with a top player like Marian Gaborik (OK by me), Brandon Dubinsky (heaven forbid) or Ryan Callahan (NO!!! NO NO NO!!!), I wouldn't put it past GM Glen Sather to shock the fans by pulling some unconventional strings to make it happen.

Once the offseason begins, fans should keep their eyes on this sweepstakes, as it could shape the league for next season.