NHL Trade Scenarios: One Player Each Team Wouldn't Mind Getting Rid Of

Every NHL team has at least one player who they would like to get rid of, whether it's because their salary outweighs their production, they don't get along with teammates or they care more about themselves than the goals of the team.

Many times, when trading these types of players, teams must accept far less value in return, but in the end, it's often worth it.

Let's look at one player each team wouldn't mind getting rid of this season.

All salary information was found at CapGeek.com.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report, and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.

Anaheim Ducks: George Parros

George Parros played in 78 games last season, and only tallied four points while accumulating 178 penalty minutes.

He has never even scored 10 points in a single season for his entire NHL career.

Boston Bruins: Andrew Ference

Andrew Ference isn’t a bad defenseman, but he is not going to shut anyone down, and he’s not offensively gifted.

He only contributed 15 points to the Bruins last season and at age 32 is not likely to improve on this total.

The Bruins should look to move him and his $2.25 million cap hit.

Buffalo Sabres: Ville Leino

I know the Buffalo Sabres just acquired Ville Leino as a free agent, but his contract is ridiculous, and he was clearly over overpaid.

Leino carries a cap hit of $4.5 million until the summer of 2017, which is way too much for an average to slightly above average forward.

Clagary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen is a good player and well respected, but he is not the same player he used to be.

He did score 52 points last season, but at age 32, his best years are clearly behind him.

His $3 million cap hit for the 2011-12 season is not too much for a contender to take on, and he’s a free agent next summer.

Carolina Hurricanes: Alexei Ponikarovsky

Alexei Ponikarovsky is not able to contribute wel offensively anymore and only tallied 15 points last season.

His spot on the roster would be better filled by a young player who can develop.

Chicago Blackhawks: Marian Hossa

Marian Hossa is a very good player, but his contract is ridiculous.

He has a $5.75 million cap hit through the 2020-21 season, and he’ll be just an average player at best by that time.

At 32 years of age, this contract could be a burden for the Blackhawks for years to come.

Colorado Avalanche: Chuck Kobasew

Chuck Kobasew is just an average player who brings toughness to a team and very little offensively.

His $1.25 million cap hit for the next two seasons could definitely be spent better.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Kristian Huselius

Kristian Huselius is 32 years old and only scored 14 goals with nine assists. Furthermore, he has a cap hit of $4.75 million. Yikes!

He is definitely someone the Blue Jackets should consider moving, but good luck to them.

Dallas Stars: Michael Ryder

Another player who recently signed this summer who was overpaid, Michael Ryder is way too inconsistent to be paid $3.5 million a season.

His great 2011 playoffs sure helped him get a nice contract, but he is a bit overrated.

Detroit Red Wings: Jiri Hudler

Jiri Hudler has a bad 2010-11 season with the Detroit Red Wings, and if he cannot get back to his old 45-60 point form, it may be time to replace him.

The 27 year old has talent, but only scored 10 goals with 27 assists last season.

Edmonton Oilers: Andy Sutton

Andy Sutton is 36 years old and clearly not part of the Edmonton Oilers future on defense, so trading him for a low draft pick or an average prospect would be a good idea.

His $2.125 million cap hit next season is way too much for an older guy who tallied just four points last season.

Florida Panthers: Brian Campbell or Ed Jovanovski

Both Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski are earning ridiculous salaries for the long term future, and neither is worth it.

Campbell is one of the highest paid defenseman in the NHL with a cap hit of $7.142 million through the 2015-16 season, and Jovanovski is earning $4.125 million per season through 2014-15, and he just signed that deal this summer.

These contracts must be moved because they are hurting the Panthers chances of building a playoff caliber squad.

Los Angeles Kings: Willie Mitchell

The Los Angeles Kings have some good young defenseman for the future, but Willie Mitchell is not one of them.

Mitchell is 34 years old and will have a cap hit of $3.5 million next season. He only chipped in 10 points for the Kings last season.

Minnesota Wild: Dany Heatley

I know the Minnesota Wild need offense and Dany Heatley is a solid scorer, but he is a selfish player who the young guys on the team shouldn’t learn from.

He is also terrible in the playoffs, and has a massive ego.

Trading Heatley to a contender who lacks scoring is a good idea.

Montreal Canadiens: Scott Gomez

This is a pretty easy choice for the Montreal Canadiens.

Scott Gomez is a good player but is not worth anything close to his $7.37 million cap hit he has through the 2013-14 season.

The Rangers were very lucky to hand his contract to the Canadiens, and now the Habs are hoping someone does the same for them.

Gomez does have a no trade clause however and can list three teams he won’t go to.

Nashville Predators: Shea Weber

Hear me out before you bash this choice.

Weber and the Predators did not have a smooth relationship this summer, and the two sides were unable to come to a long-term deal.

There’s no question Weber is upset that the Predators don’t value him enough, so he will likely play his last season in Nashville next year.

It would be wise for Nashville to get something for him before the situation turns ugly.

New Jersey Devils: Dainius Zubrus

Dainius Zubrus is an average player, and scored a nice 30 points last season, but at age 32 it’s time for him and his $3.4 million cap hit to find a new team.

The Devils would be better off finding a younger player for his role on the team.

New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov

Evgeni Nabokov will report to New York Islanders training camp, but there is no point in keeping him.

Nabokov is a good veteran goalie who has more value to a playoff contender with poor goaltending, and the Islanders would be wise to take of advantage of one of those type teams. 

New York Rangers: Sean Avery

Oh the New York Rangers, the league’s best team at giving out bad contracts.

Interestingly enough, the player they need to rid themselves of is because of behavior issues and not a bad contract.

Sean Avery is one of the most disliked players in the NHL, and his antics on and off the ice drive people nuts. Simply put, he needs to go.

Ottawa Senators: Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Alfredsson is a favorite amongst Senators fans but he is getting older and has little time left to win a Stanley Cup, and trading him to a contender may be best for his career moving forward.

At age 35, his time to win a title is getting smaller, and the Senators are a ways from contending for a title.

Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Hartnell

Scott Hartnell is not that great of an offensive player, and really only brings toughness to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Finding someone else to pay his $4.2 million cap hit for next season would be great for the Flyers.

Phoenix Coyotes: Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney is a veteran player who provides leadership to a young Phoenix Coyotes team, but at this stage of his career he should be playing on a contender.

Whitney’s $3 million cap hit is not worth it for the Coyotes.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Cooke

Matt Cooke is one of the most hated players in the NHL by the fans and players, and has devastated guys’ careers with vicious checks.

Getting rid of Cooke would be a nice PR move for the Penguins, and quite honestly, he’s not that good of a player.

He does have a modified no-trade clause however.

San Jose Sharks: Martin Havlat

Martin Havlat had a nice offensive season last year with 62 points, but he is not worth his $5 million cap hit through the 2015-16 season.

He's also not that great of a defensive forward.

The Sharks could find much better use of that money and possibly use it to find future replacements for Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, both of whom are in their 30s.

St. Louis Blues: Jason Arnott

Another player who didn’t deserve the contract he got this summer, Jason Arnott is a waste of $2.875 million towards the salary cap.

He is a veteran player with playoff experience, but he won’t help the blues much offensively or defensively.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Vincent Lecavalier

Vinny Lecavalier is not worth $7.727 million towards the salary cap through the 2020 season, and his name has come up in numerous trade rumors the past few seasons because of it.

Lecavalier is a very good player and often plays like an elite player, but at age 31, his contract will damage the Lightning for years unless it is traded away.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Komisarek

Mike Komisarek is an average defenseman, but he won’t contribute a ton offensively and won’t play like a shut down defenseman.

His $4.5 million cap hit is a bit too much for what he gives the Maple Leafs, and they would be wise to have one of their talented young defenseman fill his role.

Vancouver Canucks: Keith Ballard

Keith Ballard was supposed to give the Vancouver Canucks defensive corps another soplid veteran last season, but he had a disappointing season and wasn’t even a starter in the Stanley Cup Finals when the series began.

His $4.2 million is a bad weight on the team and should be moved at any cost.

Washington Capitals: Dennis Wideman

Dennis Wideman is an average to below average defenseman and is wildly inconsistent.

He won’t add much offensively and is not going to shut down anyone.

His $3.937 million cap hit is way too much for the Capitals to burden.

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler

Blake Wheeler was acquired by the Jets near the trading deadline last season from the Boston Bruins, and he is very overrated.

He is 6’5” tall and has great size, but he rarely uses it. Wheeler is a soft player who is inconsistent and doesn’t play with much passion and energy.

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