NHL Trade Talk: 1 Player Each Team Will Be Looking To Deal at the Deadline

With the NHL season recently passing the quarter mark, teams are deciding whether to be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

Roberto Luongo, Bobby Ryan, Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla will be hot names leading up to the trading deadline.

Regardless of which teams decide to be buyers and sellers, each of them will be looking to make moves to improve for this season and the future.

Let's look at one player each NHL team will try to move by the deadline.

Anaheim Ducks: Bobby Ryan

Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan has reportedly been taken off the trade market, but he is still someone the club should look to deal.

The Ducks are having a disappointing season thus far, and recently fired head coach Randy Carlyle. 

Ryan has a workable salary cap hit and is a proven goal scorer. A lot of contending teams will want to acquire a young player like Ryan for a playoff push.

The Ducks could get a lot in return for the young forward.

Boston Bruins: Johnny Boychuk

Johnny Boychuk is a good defenseman and he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Bruins don't need to make any trades unless injuries create a need, but Boychuk is one person they could look to move.

With young defenseman Steven Kampfer and Dougie Hamilton impressing this year, Boychuk becomes expendable.

Buffalo Sabres: Ville Leino

Ville Leino has really under performed this season with just two goals and seven assists thus far. He signed a big contract in the summer and has not lived up to it.

The Sabres don't have to move Leino, but it wouldn't hurt to see if they can erase their mistake of signing him.

Calgary Flames: Matt Stajan

Matt Stajan will have a cap hit of $3.5 million through the 2013-14 season, and he is not earning any of his pay.

He just has four assists this season with no goals scored, and has given the Flames practically nothing. Calgary must find a way to get rid of Stajan to improve their cap situation.

Carolina Hurricanes: Tuomo Ruutu

Tuomo Ruutu has 13 points this season with six goals scored, and while he hasn't been a major problem for the Carolina Hurricanes, the team could look to trade him for a young player.

If Ruutu keeps up his current point pace, then a contender may look to acquire him for depth before the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks: Bryan Bickell

Bryan Bickell was a player the Blackhawks really thought could play a decent role this season but his offensive production has not been good.

Bickell is getting about 13 minutes of ice time per game and has a terrible plus-minus. The Blackhawks should trade Bickell and look for a defenseman.

Colorado Avalanche: Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson is a former No. 1 overall draft pick and the Colorado Avalanche took a chance when they acquired him in a trade with the St. Louis  Blues before last season.

Johnson has a ton of talent, but he has not progressed to the level he needs to be at right now. He has nine points on the season with no goals scored, and is a -12.

It's time for the Avalanche to move on from Johnson.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Nash

Rick Nash is a fabulous player and the face of the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise. However, after a terrible start to the 2011-12 season, Columbus needs to trade Nash to improve huge the weaknesses the team has.

The Blue Jackets desperately need an upgrade at goaltender, and trading Rick Nash could net them a star goalie to build their team around.

Dallas Stats: Adam Burish

Adam Burish has scored just eight points this season in 16 games played. He's battled injury this season, but he still has not played well enough for the Dallas Stars.

The Stars have started off the season well, and could trade Burish and his expiring contract to improve the team for this year.

Detroit Red Wings: Dan Cleary

Dan Cleary has not had the breakout season Red Wings fans hoped he would have this year. Cleary has just eight points with five goals scored this season and has not been consistent on offense.

If he continues to struggle he might be moved by Detroit near the deadline.

Edmonton Oilers: Ales Hemsky

Ales Hemsky has just three goals and 11 points this season for the Edmonton Oilers, and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

If the Oilers don't have plans to re-sign Hemsky for the future, then they must trade him and acquire some talent in return.

There will likely be a contender willing to take on some of his $4.1 million cap hit for this season near the deadline.

Florida Panthers: Ed Jovanovski

Ed Jovanovski is a veteran player but is not the star he used to be. The Florida Panthers grossly overpaid for him this summer, and his $4 million cap hit will burden the team for the next few years.

The Panthers should move Jovanovski and continue to add to their fine young roster of talent which has proven it can contend.

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner has just one goal and three total points for the Los Angeles Kings in 15 games this season. 

It's no secret Penner has been a huge disappointment since the Kings acquired him from the Edmonton Oilers last season. Penner has to prove he can be a big part of the team's offense or the Kings should look to move him near the deadline.

Minnesota Wild: Trade Picks/Players for Parise

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, New Jersey Devils star Zach Parise's Dad J.P. said that the Wild are "a young, coming team."

Zach's dad used to be a Minnesota North Stars captain. The Wild need to do whatever it takes to acquire Parise, and with their hot start to the season, adding a player like Parise would make them a dangerous team in the Western Conference.

Montreal Canadiens: Scott Gomez

Were you expecting someone other than Scott Gomez? I hope not. Gomez is the most overpaid player in the NHL with a cap hit at about $7.3 million through the 2013-14 season.

Gomez has no goals with just four assists this season, and is currently on injured reserve.

Nashville Predators: Mike Fisher

Mike Fisher is 31 years old and has 12 points this season.

He's not having a terrible season, but with the Nashville Predators needing to sign defensive stars Shea Weber and Ryan Suter next summer, they will need all the cap space possible.

Fisher has a cap hit of $4.2 million through next season.

New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise

Obviously a player like Zach Parise is someone you want to keep, but let's be realistic, the New Jersey Devils are a long way from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. 

Parise wants to win and will likely test free agency next summer. The Devils must trade him to avoid getting no young talent in return.

New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov

Evgeni Nabokov is a veteran goalie with a lot of playoff experience from his days with the San Jose Sharks, and the New York Islanders will likely get calls from contending teams interested in the goaltender before the deadline.

Nabokov would be valuable to a playoff team as a starter or a backup.

New York Rangers: Brian Boyle

Brian Boyle has five points with just two goals in 24 games this season. Boyle could be a player the New York Rangers use to acquire a left winger to add depth to that position.

The Rangers could also just stand pat and be big players in free agency next summer.

Ottawa Senators: Craig Anderson

Craig Anderson started off the season well but has regressed since then. Anderson's save percentage is only .896 and his GAA is 3.36.

The Senators have a lot of depth on defense, but they need a dependable goalie to be a real contender this season and for the future.

Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Hartnell

Scott Hartnell is a good player but the Philadelphia Flyers score the most goals per game in the NHL at 3.52, and with recent injuries to Andreas Lilja and the November surgery to Chris Pronger, the team should look to acquire a defenseman very soon.

Trading Hartnell and his $4.2 million cap hit would help.

Phoenix Coyotes: Kyle Turris

Kyle Turris clearly doesn't want to be with the Phoenix Coyotes long term, and despite the fact he has not been a dominant player thus far in his young career, some contending team will likely overpay for him.

Turris has a ton of talent, but the Coyotes are better off trading him and acquiring some established talent in return.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Paul Martin

Paul Martin hasn't earned his $5 million cap hit this season, and has just nine assists with no goals scored. 

The Penguins would be wise to shop Martin to clear some cap space so they can acquire a younger and better defenseman with Kris Letang's injury.

San Jose Sharks: Antero Niittymaki

Antero Niittymaki is a good goaltender who is coming back to health after recent injury problems. With Antti Niemi and Thomas Greiss playing well between the pipes, Niittymaki could be moved for a defenseman.

The Sharks will certainly have some teams interested in what the cost will be to acquire the goaltender.

St. Louis Blues: Jaroslav Halak

With goaltender Brian Elliott leading the NHL in save percentage and GAA, Jaroslav Halak has become expendable.

Halak wasn't amazing last season, and this year he is just 4-7-3. His save percentage is .903 and he has a GAA of 2.40. 

The Blues could get a decent return for Halak, and  may look to deal him if they are in the playoff race near the trading deadline.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Pavel Kubina

Pavel Kubina is a good player but he has been disappointing this season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 25 games he has just four points.

With him and young defenseman Victor Hedman due for new contracts in the summer, it's likely the team will sign the younger Hedman.

The Lightning should trade Kubina and get some sort of return.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Komisarek

If Mike Komisarek can prove he's healthy enough to be an effective player once he returns from his broken arm, then the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade him.

Komisarek has a $4.5 million cap hit through the 2014-15 NHL season. The Leafs would be wise to move him and free themselves some cap space to improve the club.

Vancouver Canucks: Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2022, and until then his cap hit is $5.33 million. Luongo has struggled this season after playing terribly in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins last season.

His save percentage is just .896 and his record is 8-6-1. Luongo's GAA is 2.90.

With Cory Schneider proving he can be a good NHL goaltender with more playing time, the idea of trading Luongo is a smart one for Canucks general manager Mike Gillis.

The team needs a power forward, and Luongo should be traded to get one.

Washington Capitals: Alexander Semin

The Washington Capitals need a physically intimidating defenseman, and getting rid of Alexander Semin who is an unrestricted free agent next season could create some cap space.

Defensemen John Carlson and Mike Green are free agents this summer, and both will be looking for raises. Semin is probably one of the more likely players to be moved by the trading deadline.

Winnipeg Jets: Tim Stapleton

Tim Stapleton has just seven points and two goals in 18 games for the Winnipeg Jets this season. He has not scored since the middle of November.

There's really no pressing need for the Jets to make a big trade, but Stapleton could be a player they look to deal in a small trade leading up to the deadline.