NHL Trade Speculation: What's on the Deadline Wish List for Each Team

As the NHL trading deadline approaches there are many teams in need of several things to improve before the playoffs come.

Names like Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks, Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils, and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames will be hot trade names throughout the season, and several teams will look at acquiring these stars.

Whether teams need a player, a new coach, or something else, very few teams are set up to win the Stanley Cup Final as currently constructed.

Let's look at what each team needs to acquire between now and the deadline.

Anaheim Ducks: Find a New Coach

Randy Carlyle has not gotten the most out of his Anaheim Ducks this season. WIth the talent he has at his disposal the Ducks should be in one of the eight playoff spots right now, but instead they currently sit 14th in the Western Conference and 28th in the NHL.

If their 6-13-4 record does not improve drastically soon Carlyle should be fired.

Boston Bruins: A Sniper

The Boston Bruins have several good physical forwards but do not have many snipers who have deadly accuracy.

Sophomore forward Tyler Seguin is the team's only legitimate sniper.

The Bruins have a ton of depth but a sniping forward might be one piece which would help them make a very strong run at a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

Buffalo Sabres: Power Forward

The Buffalo Sabres need to be more physical with teams, especially the Boston Bruins within the Northeast division.

Finding a good power forward that can contribute offensively on the top three lines is a real need for the Sabres before the deadline.

Calgary Flames: Trade Jarome Iginla and Rebuild

It's time for the Calgary Flames to rebuild for the future, and that starts with trading some of their star players such as forward Jarome Iginla.

Iginla is an aging stat whose trade value won't be high forever, the Flames must trade him this season to allow him a chance to win a Stanley Cup and so the team can rebuild for future success.

Carolina Hurricanes: Find a New Coach

Paul Maurice has not lived up to expectations this season and his Carolina Hurricanes are currently sitting in last place in the Southeast division and second to last in the Eastern Conference.

With stars such as Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner and some good defensive talent there is no excuse for the Hurricanes to be this bad.

They should be contending for a playoff spot with the talent they have.

Chicago Blackhawks: More Defensive Talent

While the Chicago Blackhawks have a tremendous first line pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on defense, the rest of the defensive roster is much less talented.

The Blackhawks have a team fully capable of winning the Stanley Cup, but adding a good defenseman should be something the team looks at before the trading deadline.

Colorado Avalanche: Veteran Scorer

With a lot of young talent on their roster, the Colorado Avalanche do not have a veteran player who can bring great scoring and leadership to the team.

Adding a veteran offensive player would help their on ice performance and would allow their younger players to grow and learn better.

Columbus Blue Jackets: A Young Star Goalie

Doesn't every team want a young star goalie? All kidding aside, the Columbus Blue Jackets desperately need a young goalie who has already proven he can play at the NHL level.

Boston Bruins backup Tuukka Rask and Vancouver Canucks backup Cory Schneider are the two best goalies to trade for right now, but it will take a lot to get them.

The Blue Jackets may have to part with captain Rick Nash to get the right goalie, and that is a move they must make.

Dallas Stars: Offensive Depth

The Dallas Stars are 22nd in the league in goals for per game and shot for per game. After a hot start to the season, the team has cooled off a bit.

There is enough talent on the Stars to make a playoff push, but they need some more offensive talent, especially at center.

Detroit Red Wings: Big Name Defenseman

Nicklas Lidstrom is not going to dominate forever, although with his recent play you'd probably think he will.

Going after a young defensive star would be a great move for the Detroit Red Wings, and Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter is a name that comes to mind.

Detroit could also use a forward for their top line such as Rick Nash or Stephen Weiss.

Edmonton Oilers: More Veteran Talent

The Edmonton Oilers are stacked with young talent like star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall, but they need more veteran talent and leadership to make a real run at the playoffs.

Many of their young players are ready to compete for the playoffs this season, the team just needs a few more veterans.

Florida Panthers: A Big Name Scorer

The Florida Panthers have the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference and lead the Southeast division. That is not a joke.

For the Panthers to continue their push toward a playoff appearance, they must acquire a top scorer. They have the young talent and prospects to acquire a top offensive player, but whether they choose to do that is another story.

Los Angeles Kings: Another All-Around Defenseman

The Boston bruins showed you can never have enough defense last postseason, and for the Los Angeles Kings to make a strong push toward the Western Conference Finals I would like to see them acquire another all-around defenseman.

Someone like Boston's Johnny Boychuk, who is a free agent next summer.

Minnesota Wild: Goal Scoring Forward

The Minnesota Wild are off to a great start this season and lead the Northwest division by two points over the Vancouver Canucks.

However, they are 27th in the NHL in goals scored per game, and must find another top scorer to remain a top team in the Western Conference.

Montreal Canadiens: Trade Scott Gomez

I think the Montreal Canadiens would give away Scott Gomez at this point but in all seriousness something must be done about his contract.

The Canadiens have to improve their defensive depth and don't have a ton of cap space to do it. Gomez's departure from Montreal needs to happen at all costs.

Nashville Predators: Trade Shea Weber or Ryan Suter for Offense

The chances of the Nashville Predators re-signing defensive stars Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are pretty slim, so the team must decide which one to go with and trade the other for some offense.

Nashville is 18th in the league in goals scored per game, and do not have any dangerous offensive players teams fear.

New Jersey Devils: A Future Replacement for Martin Brodeur

Future hall of fame goaltender Martin Brodeur is not the elite player he was for much of his career, and the time has come for the New Jersey Devils to find his successor.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider is probably the team's best target.

New York Islanders: Defensive Talent

The New York Islanders have several quality young forwards but they do not have a dominant defenseman, which is something the team really needs to make a serious playoff run.

They have goalie Evgeni Nabokov to trade near the deadline, and his playoff experience will be attractive to many contenders with sub-par goaltending.

New York Rangers: Left Winger or Defenseman

The New York Rangers lead the NHL in fewest goals allowed per game, and could really use another defenseman to ensure they lead in that category going forward.

The team also needs a left winger because they are a bit thin at that position. Pursuing Ryan Suter may be a bit unrealistic but acquiring a good veteran defenseman is something the Rangers could certainly do.

Ottawa Senators: Young Defensive Talent

The Ottawa Senators have a need for better young defenseman, and trading veteran d-man Sergei Gonchar may be a way to add some quality to their roster.

His $5.5 million salary is not worth it to the Senators, and while they have good salary cap space, whether they use it is another issue entirely.

Philadelphia Flyers: Trade Sergei Bobrovsky for Talent

Sergei Bobrovsky has played well for the Philadelphia Flyers this season while high-priced free agent signing Ilya Bryzgalov has struggled this season.

Bobrovsky will be a heavily pursued traded target, and the Flyers would be wise to move him and improve the team.

Phoenix Coyotes: Trade Kyle Turris to the Highest Bidder

Young center Kyle Turris does not want to be in Phoenix long term, that is very clear. There is no point in having an unhappy young player, especially when a team will surely overpay to acquire him. 

The Coyotes should trade Turris to the highest bidder and move forward as a franchise.

Pittsburgh Penguins: More Defensive Depth

With Sidney Crosby returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup and playing well, the team still needs to upgrade its defense a bit. 

Adding a defenseman who is physical and good in his own end would be a perfect addition for Pittsburgh. 

A contending team like the Penguins can never have enough quality defenseman.

San Jose Sharks: Acquire a Young Top 9 Forward

The San Jose Sharks need to get younger on offense. Joe Thornton, Martin Havlat, Patrick Marleau, and Michal Handzus are all 30 years old or older.

The team must find another young forward to give the team new energy and scoring this season and for the future.

St. Louis Blues: More Scoring

The St. Louis Blues are getting great goaltending this season but they still are not scoring enough. They are tied for 20th in the NHL with 2.5 goals scored per game.

Finding some more offense, especially a scoring winger, would be a good option for the Blues going forward.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Young Defenseman

The Tampa Bay Lightning are a very unpredictable team, and since they have all kinds of offensive firepower, finding some young defensive talent is a real need.

Victor Hedman has not become the star player the Lightning had hoped he'd be right now, so acquiring someone like Winnipeg Jets d-man Zach Bogosian would be a smart move.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Parise

I cannot see Zach Parise signing with the New Jersey Devils and passing on a chance to make as much money on a team ready to contend for the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

Parise would be great with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his scoring ability would make the Leafs a real contender for the Eastern Conference championship.

Vancouver Canucks: Power Forward (Rick Nash 1st Choice)

The Vancouver Canucks have to get stronger and more physical on their top offensive lines. The Canucks need a power forward who can score goals and throw his weight around on the forecheck.

Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash would be a perfect fit for a Canucks team who desperately need more toughness from its top two lines.

The Jackets would love to acquire Canucks backup goaltender Cory Schneider, so maybe the two teams can work out a deal.

Washington Capitals: Veteran Tough Guy (like Boston's Shawn Thornton)

Maybe with Bruce Boudreau out as Washington Captials head coach the team will play more inspired hockey under former team captain Dale Hunter.

Alexander Ovechkin has to play better and needs to become a great two-way player, he has the ability to be that kind of star.

The Capitals should certainly look at acquiring a physical veteran with Cup winning experience near the deadline.

Winnipeg Jets: Defensive Talent

The Winnipeg Jets are in the top half of the league in goals scored per game but are near the bottom in goals allowed per game.

With young star Evander Kane having a great season thus far, adding more offensive talent is not a glaring need.

Adding some defensive talent would really make the Jets a more balanced team.