NHL Trade Speculation: 10 Players That Will Move During 2011-12

Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull and Phil Esposito were all traded at one point during their NHL careers. Nobody is safe.

Heading into the 2011-2012 season, certain players are definitely feeling the heat. Players heading into contract years, or guys who are struggling to live up to their current contracts have already started to come up in trade talks across the league.

Here are the 10 players most likely to get dealt at some point this season.

Andre Kostitsyn

Andrei Kostitsyn has a shaky relationship with the Canadiens coaches, though he and his coach have both downplayed the rumors.

That being said, there is a decent chance Kostitsyn gets moved this season. Montreal could be in for a rough year, in which case they would be looking to sell at the deadline.

Drew Doughty

Drew Doughty has had his name come up in the news all too often this summer.

The stud defenseman has been locked in contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Kings, asking the team to make him the highest-paid player on the roster.

The Kings don't seem willing to meet his demands, and it wouldn't surprise me if Doughty was eventually in another uniform.

I wouldn't be ready to hand out the kind of money Doughty's asking for; he hasn't yet established himself as elite. Some teams would pay a pretty penny for the youngster, though.

Pekka Rinne

The Nashville Predators have a bit of a dilema on their hands: The three best players on the roster—Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter—will be free agents at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 NHL season.

Given how notoriously cheap Nashville is as an organization, something has got to give. In my opinion, the Preds would be wise to move Rinne, given the incredible depth the team has within the organization.

Nashville is one of the top teams in the league at developing goaltenders, so they could score some serious value by moving Rinne.

Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider has been pegged as the next big thing for years. He's just waiting to get his chance.

With his restricted free agency around the corner, Schneider's chance to become a starter in the NHL could be on the horizon.

The Canucks won't move him during the season, since they can do so in the offseason and collect just as much value. But keep an eye on him throughout the season to see how his stock fluctuates.

Sergei Bobrovsky

Ilya Bryzgalov has made Sergei Bobrovsky one of the top backup goaltenders in the NHL, leaving the Flyers with a big decision to make.

Bobrovsky was outstanding in the preseason opener, and was solid at times last season, but with Bryz locked into a nine-year contract, the younger Russian seems to be stuck in a tough situation.

Philadelphia may recoup some of his value if the price is right.

Kyle Turris

Kyle Turris is making some ridiculous contract demands right now, and it does not appear that the Phoenix Coyotes are going to be willing meet his wants.

Turris would be a prime candidate to be traded if there was a team out there willing to pay him $4 million. We'll see what happens.

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla has been the subject of trade rumors for quite a while. I still have some faith in the Flames and their ability to hang onto their franchise player, but there is a chance that he gets moved.

Iginla would make an outstanding trade deadline acquisition for a contending team. The guy deserves a championship.

Alex Semin

Alexander Semin is slowly falling out of favor with the Washington Capitals. Between his attitude and lack of production at opportune times, Semin is not a golden child in the locker room.

His talent is undeniable, and there will be a desperate team at the deadline willing to acquire him if the Capitals are interested in dealing. Patience is wearing thin in Washington.

Ales Hemsky

The Edmonton Oilers are slowly building a winning hockey team through the draft. Ales Hemsky is beginning to enter his prime, but it is uncertain whether or not he is a going to be a part of the Oilers' long-term plans.

Hemsky has had some injury issues during his career, but when healthy, he has been one of the brighest offensive stars on Edmonton's roster.

Any team who acquires Hemsky would certainly be gambling, but it would be a risk worth taking for a contending team.

Zach Parise

Despite lengthy contract negotiations, Zach Parise and the New Jersey Devils were unable to hammer out a long-term deal. That has to be concerning for New Jersey Devils fans.

The Devils could likely be heading for another losing season, and if they don't think Parise is part of the long-term solution, they will not hesitate to ship him and his hefty cap hit to a contending team.

I have a suspicion that Parise's days in New Jersey are numbered.