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The trade deadline is fast approaching and it's time to take a look at who may be the most sought after players this year. On this list we've only included players from those teams who stand no chance of making the playoffs. Carolina leads the way with 3 representatives on the list. Will Dave Normoyle finally do some selling and make the Canes a younger franchise? 10. Mikael Samuelsson - St. Louis Blues - F - 64 10+22=32 -20 38 pims - UFA Samuelsson is struggling this year and was not named to the Swedish Olympic team. He began the year in Carolina posting 20 points in 43 games for Normoyle's team. Since arriving in St. Louis he has 4 goals and 12 points in 21 games and is just a -3. Put on a more competitive team, Samuelsson could help anybody with his skill and natural ability to score goals. 9. Jochen Hecht - New York Rangers - F - 66 6+17=23 -8 0 pims - 2 years Jochen Hecht has been abysmal this season for the Rangers and could likely be had for a low round draft pick. A team willing to take a chance on the German veteran could get a big steal as Hecht is just too good a player to keep slumping like this. One of the best two-way forwards on the market. 8. Teemu Selanne - St. Louis Blues - F - 63 19+38=57 -4 4pims - 3 years If not for a massive 3 year contract Selanne would be #1 on this list. Teemu is a big game player and an even better human being. He just gets winning. The contract makes him an unlikely target at the deadline but any team willing to take a flyer on Selanne are guaranteed to get a huge offensive boost. At this stage of his career he's just too good a player to not be on the ice when the playoffs come around. 7. Marty Turco - Carolina Hurricanes - G - 58 25-29-4 .897 3.07 0 shutouts - 3 years Forget what that Swede in Pittsburgh tells you. Marty Turco may be on the decline but he is still a very capable goaltender who can win games on his own. He's losing the starting job to Vesa Toskala in Carolina and could most likely be available at a bargain price. Teams looking for a capable veteran goaltender should be all over Marty Turco right now. 6. Chris Kunitz - Ottawa Senators - F - 69 16+26=42 -10 85 pims - 2 years Kunitz is overpaid but brings an element of physicality that most other players on this list lack. That physical edge is often a differencemaker in the playoffs and for teams lacking in the hitting department, Kunitz would be the missing piece. He also owns a very underrated offensive game and fits in nicely on any line. 5. Vaclav Prospal - San Jose Sharks - F - 65 17+25=42 -5 66 pims - 2 years Vinny Prospal has been mentioned in rumours for most of the year, primarily linked to the New Jersey Devils. It's about time other teams started taking an interest in the talented Czech winger. To call him a legend of the sport might be stretching the truth but the fact remains that Prospal has had a very successful OHL career, playing on some of the best teams of all time and winning a Cup with the Devils. A playoff-veteran, Prospal would help any team in the post-season. 4. Michal Handzus - Carolina Hurricanes - F - 66 13+20=33 +1 12 pims - 3 years So you want size down the middle combined with defensive awareness, faceoff prowess and scoring? Handzus is the complete package for you and should be the most sought after forward at the deadline. His special combination of size and skill make him the perfect pivot to be used in a shutdown role. He comes with a very affordable contract and a mullet unlike any other in the league today. Was impressive at the Olympics. 3. Brian Campbell - New York Rangers - D - 66 12+27=39 -17 6 pims - UFA Every year we see GMs go above and beyond looking for elite puckmoving defensemen. At the deadline there are none more skilled than smoothskating Brian Campbell. At times he can be reckless in his own zone but in the right environment and used properly, he can be a gamebreaker. He's struggled in New York, perhaps from playing too many minutes. His skills are undeniable and the Rangers can expect a hefty return on their most prized asset. 2. Sami Salo - Carolina Hurricanes - D - 65 16+40=56 -5 10 pims - UFA Not the effortless skater that Campbell is, Sami Salo compensates with a cannon of a shot and better defensive play. Salo leads the Hurricanes in scoring this year and it's going to take a big package for Normoyle to make this trade. Still, teams looking to go far in the playoffs will have no choice but to consider making a pitch for the Finn shooter. 1. Tomas Vokoun - San Jose Sharks - G - 60 23-26-9 .901 3.30 2 shutouts No surprise here as Tomas Vokoun is one of the top 5 goalies in the league. Many will say the Sharks would be nuts to trade him, but lets be honest here. The Sharks had miserable year with a handful of players walking out on GM Kowalchuk and I'm not entirely sure they will be good enough to seriously challenge the top teams in the conference next year either. It would be gross negligence on the part of Kowalchuk if he was to NOT test the market for Vokoun this year to see what interest there might be from around the league. A goalie of Vokoun's caliber should be able to land the Sharks 4-5 really good young assets that would make them a far better team in the near future. |
