With the NHL trade deadline looming there are a lot of teams looking to move players to prepare for their futures. This is just educated speculation, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the names on this list get moved or if very few names on the list get moved. With the free agency buzz diminishing over the last few years its fun to speculate on big moves that could come via trade...
There are a number of big names out there, here's a short list.
Anaheim Ducks
Let's face it, they're out of the race this season, they are going to get a top 5 pick, if not the number 1 overall pick. This team is looking to unload big salaries for a good-great return. Anaheim will dangle a number of players including Lubomir Visnovski (35, under contract for next season, $3 Million due next season, financially very attractive to go along with his powerplay toxicity), Teemu Selanne (41, probably will retire at the end of the season, he could be shipped to a contender to get a chance at a cup run, also could end up back north to finish his career with the Jets), Ryan Getzlaf (In his prime but with his struggles this season Anaheim may look to a different source for their leadership, probably going to cost a long list of high draft picks, a few prospects, and 1 or 2 roster players), Bobby Ryan (24, Anaheim is paying a huge contract for their second line right winger and 21 points in 35 games just won't cut it, like Getzlaf he is going to come at a high price but both he and the Ducks my feel a change will do both parties good).
Buffalo Sabres
For a team that was expected to contend in the east sitting 4 points out of the 8th seed playoff divider isn't what Darcy Regier expected. Ryan Miller has a lot to do with it, in his 10 wins this season he has a goals against around 2.00 and a save % around .930, in his 13 losses he has a goals against around 4.00 and a save % around .875, that's unacceptable for an Olympic standout goalie. His $7.5 million salary over the foreseeable future isn't attractive as he ages, and with Jonas Enroth is emerging as a perennial starting netminder, don't be surprised if the boys in Buffalo look to move Miller. To free up cap space and get a nice return for him, although there isn't many suitors for him now by July 1st of 2012 there could be a lot of interest in him.
Calgary Flames
This team is old and they're not going anywhere. That being said they are looking towards the future. And while both Jarome Iginla and Miika Kiprusoff have some hockey left in their tanks don't be surprised if Calgary explores trading options with them both. The 2 players have about $13 million in cap hits and if one or both were traded they could free up space for the future.
Colorado Avalanche
With only 5 players under contract through the end of the 2011-2012 season (including both their netminders) the Avs have some big decisions to make on how they want to divy up their spending cash. Their biggest resign need is Matt Duchene. The Colorado Avalanche want to make him their highest paid player which would seem like a no brainer. But there is a problem, Paul Stastny. He is making $7.5 Million per but they don't want to pay Duchene that much. Like Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf struggles, Stastny is struggling mightily (21 points in 38 games), look for Colorado to unload him. With his monster salary and his struggles the Avs won't get as much as the Ducks would get for Getzlaf and Ryan, a team might send back a high pick, a prospect, and a roster player (probably a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman that has a bad contract).
Edmonton Oilers
Oil country is rebuilding. And they got the pieces to become a top contender in the Western Conference. With all their young talent emerging and in a few years getting big new contracts, they want to move Ales Hemsky. He has top line skill but is often injured. Both parties would welcome a change. They would look to trade him and probably get defense depth in return.
Nashville Predators
By July 1st Preds GM Doug Poile will have a huge decisions to make on franchise defensemen in Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. As a traditional small market team Nashville probably won't have the cash to sign both players to big contracts. Ryan Suter is going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season while Weber is going to be a restricted free agent, so with Weber the Preds have some control over. However with Weber not signing a long term contract over the 2011 summer, it may be a sign he wants to end up elsewhere. The Preds are going to look at trading one of the defensemen so they don't end up losing one of them for nothing. Depending on how negotiations go with both of them over the next 2 months Nashville may look to move one of them at the deadline, especially if Nashville is on the playoff bubble.
New York Islanders
Again this team is at the bottom heap of the league. It's simple they have "3" NHL goalies (I don't really count Rick Dipietro as an NHL goalie). With both Dipietro and Montoya under contract beyond this season and with goalie prospects such as Kevin Poulin pushing for NHL time, the logical solution would be to try and move Evgeni Nabokov. (When have the Islanders ever made a logical decision? Trading Luongo to draft Dipietro, trading Chara and a 1st rounder (Jason Spezza) for Alexei Yashin, or signing Dipietro to a ridiculous 15 year contract) He's been solid for the whole season and he wants to be moved off the Island. And there is no way with his contract expiring July 1st that he resigns.
Phoenix Coyotes
This team's future is completely up in the air, where they will be playing beyond this season no one knows. If they move they may look to part ways with Shane Doan. If they were to trade him I could easily seeing him end up back with the Jets.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have Bobby Luongo locked up until he retires. Cory Schneider is a #1 starting goalie. The longer the Canucks hold on to him the longer they delay the inevitable that Schneider bolts for a starting gig.
Teams looking to add right now
Dallas Stars - Looking for either a #1 D-man or Center, they could be after Stastny or Visnovski
Detroit Red Wings - Looking to add a top 6 forward, they could be after Hemsky
Los Angeles Kings - Looking to add scoring, probably after Iginla
Philadelphia Flyers - With Pronger out for the season they're looking to add depth on their blue line
Pittsburgh Penguins - Looking to add scoring depth to compensate for Crosby being out
Tampa Bay Lightning - Their terrible team defense and goaltending will keep them out of the playoffs unless Stevie Y makes a move now, they're looking for help in net, either Nabokov for the short term or Schneider or Johnny Bernier for the long term
Toronto Maple Leafs - They need a top line center to go along with Kessel
Washington Capitals - They need secondary scoring, especially with Ovechkin and Backstrom not scoring at their usual rates
Winnipeg Jets - In their 1st season back up north they will look to add scoring depth, and depth in general to deal with their ridiculous travel schedule the rest of the season.
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