NHL Trade Speculation: Top 15 Scorers on the Move and Where They'll Land

Finding players who can consistently score goals at the trading deadline is a difficult task, but acquiring one of these players can really make a team better prepared to make a deep run in the NHL playoffs.

Stars like Alexander Semin, Rick Nash, and Ales Hemsky could possibly be on the move this season, and there are many teams who may be willing to pay a steep price to acquire their scoring talent.

Let's look at the top 15 scorers who are on the move and where they will land.

Alexander Semin

Alexander Semin's time with the Washington Capitals seems to be running out, and with the team struggling this season he could be moved well before the trading deadline.

It's clear a change of scenery would help him, and there are many teams who would like to acquire him. His salary is over $6 million but he is a free agent next season, so there is no long-term commitment to be made in acquiring him.

The Los Angeles Kings should make a play for Semin because he could help them climb the Pacific division standings after a poor start to the season.

Rick Nash

It's difficult to trade a player who has been the face of your franchise for years but this is a move the Columbus Blue Jackets must make.

They need an elite goaltender to solve their biggest weakness, and trading captain Rick Nash is the only way to go.

Unfortunately not many teams are willing to part with such goaltenders, even for an elite player like Nash. Only Boston and Vancouver could be willing to acquire Nash because both teams have two talented goalies.

Ales Hemsky

Ales Hemsky has just 11 points with three goals this season, and with his contract up at the end of the season he could be with a new team in the near future.

It would be unwise for the Edmonton Oilers to let him walk in free agency at the end of the year without getting some kind of return for him.

Teams like the Anaheim Ducks, or Los Angeles Kings could use offense to get back into the playoff hunt.

Scott Hartnell

Scott Hartnell is a good offensive player who plays his role well on the Philadelphia Flyers, but with the team having lost defenseman Chris Pronger for the season due to injury, the Flyers need to find another quality d-man.

Hartnell's cap hit is about $4 million which will help the Flyers make a better play for a defenseman because the team has little room to take salary on without giving up a good amount themselves.

Maybe acquiring former No. 1 pick Erik Johnson from the Colorado Avalanche would work for Philly.

Andrei Kostitsyn

The Montreal Canadiens still need another defenseman to contend in the Eastern Conference this season, and trading winger Andrei Kostitsyn could help them acquire a quality d-man.

Kostitsyn is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. A team such as the Washington Capitals could use some scoring if Semin leaves.

Rene Bourque

Rene Bourque is a quality offensive player who signed for the next three years at a modest $3.33 million cap hit. A change of scenery would really benefit Bourque, who knows the Calgary Flames are not contending for the Stanley Cup any time soon.

Teams such as the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Washington Capitals could use offense near the trading deadline.

Zach Parise

It's getting more obvious that New Jersey Devils star Zach Parise will test free agency in the summer because he will have more than half the league interested in him to some degree.

The Devils would be incredibly foolish not to trade him and get some valuable talent back in return for their captain. Parise wants to win and that won't happen in New Jersey.

The Minnesota Wild could make a play for Parise, who was born in Minneapolis. The Wild however, might wait until the summer to pursue Parise when they won't have to give up talent for him.

Kyle Okposo

New York Islanders center Kyle Okposo has been a healthy scratch a few times recently, and could be on the move as the team looks to sure up some of its weaknesses.

Okposo has five goals and seven assists this season and would make a quality second line center for teams such as the Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets.

Sam Gagner

The Edmonton Oilers may be looking to deal center Sam Gagner with the team looking to build around Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Eberle.

Gagner would be a great fit on the Chicago Blackhawks and give them some nice depth at center. Thus far, Gagner has three goals and nine assists for Edmonton.

Bobby Ryan

Anaheim Ducks star Bobby Ryan is a very good offensive player who would be a solid power forward for any team. He is a proven 30-goal scorer and plays with a lot of passion and intensity.

A team like the Nashville Predators could really use Ryan to bolster their scoring production and give them a legitimate scorer for the playoffs, something the team has lacked in recent seasons.

Jeff Carter

Looking back at the Columbus Bue Jackets' trade to acwuire Jeff Carter from the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 2011 NHL Draft it's safe to say it wasn't a good move.

Carter hasn't been a top tier center with the Blue Jackets, and if the team does not want to trade Rick Nash for a top goaltender maybe they could get a talented goalie for Jeff Carter.

St. Louis, Dallas, and San Jose could show interest.

Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner has been very unproductive since joining the Los Angeles Kings last season, and getting rid of his $4.25 million cap hit would be an ideal move for the team before the trading deadline.

He could be better on a team sure to make the playoffs, and still has very good offensive talent. Florida could use another offensive player and they might think about making a move for Penner, who the Panthers could dump at the end of the season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Evander Kane

Winnipeg Jets star forward Evander Kane has denied reports that he requested a trade from the team, but if he is on the trading block you can bet there will be many teams looking to acquire him.

Kane is only 20-years-old and has scored 15 goals this season after scoring just 19 last year. Teams like the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Washington Capitals could be interested in Kane, but the asking price will be very high if he is on the block.

Jarome Iginla

There have been rumors recently that Jarome Iginla could possibly be traded from the Calgary Flames this season and that he realizes his chances of winning the Stanley Cup are getting slimmer.

The Flames owe it to Iginla to help him win a Stanley Cup after all he has done for the franchise, and the team cannot wait too long to trade him or his value could go down a bit.

The Boston Bruins are the best fit for Iginla and they would give him the best chance at winning a title this season.

Chris Stewart

St. Louis Blues winger Chris Stewart has struggled this season scoring just four goals with seven assists and could be on the move if the team looks to upgrade on defense.

Teams such as the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars are contenders who could show interest in acquiring Stewart.