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The weekend before the regular season, the time of year where hockey pools are firing up and Canada celebrates New Year, not really, but close. Trade Deadline, July 1st and the Draft are now ahead of us, not behind us. We remind ourselves why we hate the Oilers and Canucks. E-bay is getting more time as tickets start coming out. Hockey is here.

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Trade deadline this year could be pretty interesting, therefore July 1st as well as most pending UFA’s can become trade bait based on where there team will end up. I have compiled a few interesting names I believe will be around and available at trade deadline based on projections of their teams being out of the playoff picture. Of course I am guessing here and in the interest of fairness have included the Flames.

EAST

Ottawa:

If anyone it’s Kuba, it’s not a hot pick but hey, some teams will be beat up on D and Kuba’s salary and hit are ok for that time of year. Of note Filitov will be RFA so this should be interesting to see how this super skilled softy does.

Toronto:

T dot not making it Kind of goes without saying right? Phanuef is a liability, they will realize it sooner or later, and Aulie was not good enough to make the Flames but was one of their top guys??? ANYWAY. Grabovsky, wowsa, this guy is talented. I have a hard time with him being available but if the price is right maybe Burke moves him. Either way if he makes it July 1st, and Russians do, he will be very sought after. J.M. Liles might also garner some attention at the deadline, this is his year to make a big impact so there’s a good likelihood Toronto may not want to let him go.

New Jersey:

No I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs. Kovalchuk is a great player but it’s a team game. Parise is obviously the huge gem here, they have the cap to afford him next year but ownership is already stretched and that situation might play into where he ends up (cough Calgary cough). Another question is does Parise want to play behind Kovalchuk? I would assume not. Broduer will be UFA and might be traded to a Stanley contender but I HIGHLY doubt it. He is there symbol and the net minder position in Jersey looks very bleak after him.

New York:

Relax, I mean the Islanders of course. Rolston could go to a team that needs some Power Play punch at the deadline, it wouldn’t be crazy but he is a big cap hit. Nabakov is there just to be traded is my feeling. He will get some interest from teams like Oilers, Phoenix etc. that have goalie issues.

Hurricanes:

Yeah despite having a great goalie and pretty decent scoring I just don’t see them being better than several teams in the east. Ruuto might garner some interest but the price might not be worth shipping him.

Florida:

A fixture on this list. No real notables here though. Versteeg is RFA, seems like he’s been around forever though but given that he can just be qualified I’m not sure they would move him.

Jets:

I’ll put them on this list for now but obviously they’ll be in the West next year. Oduya is a guy that could move and get return who is UFA next year so that looks like a likely one to me.

WEST:

Nashville:

There’s good teams in the West who will not make it because there are lots of awesome teams in the west and I think Nashville is a good team. I question if they will be next year. Pekke Renne is up and he will get some dough. Dough I’m not sure the preds can afford, sure they have the cap room but do they have the cash? It may come down to if they keep Suter, Ryan is a pretty great defenseman and a lot of team will want a crack at him too. With Weber’s RFA contract coming I’m not sure Nashville can keep all of these guys. Tootoo, I hate him, I think he’s dirty but teams will love his grit and his peskiness so he could also be a target at trade deadline if Nashville is out of it. The preds and the devils may be the two teams to watch this season for big players moving.

Columbus:

Sorry Mr. Carter. You are just not enough. Huselius, Prospal and are both good bets to have inquires on trade deadline or before. Good depth guys for teams that have injuries. In Columbus they are top line guys, not sure that is healthy.

Phoenix:

Sorry Oilers, I think Phoenix will be taking the first overall next year, I bet you thought you had a right to it by now. They are hurt next year in any case, most of their top guys are UFA and honestly why wouldn’t you move them and just start again? Doan, Langkow,Whitney are all older guys. Pyatt will have some value out there as will biznasty. Rozsival is also a guy a lot of teams would love to take off their hands at the trade deadline. It could be a huge purge in the desert this year.

Calgary:

Pains me to say it and I think they’ll be in it to the end, maybe missing by a point of two. Have you seen the Flames UFA’s next year? Most teams have a few, the Flames have 11 and Backlund is also RFA. Hagman if he can generate like he has in the preseason and get back to 20 goal form he will be easily moved. Likely that won’t happen though. Jokinen is not what he used to be but a team may like him for his size and small upside. Stempniak can score in spurts and has a good depth feel to him. Moss has the potential to get 20 but injuries keep him from that usually, teams may like his size and secondary scoring ability. Moprrison…is this guy still alive? Feaster signed him to a contract while he had one knee… I don’t think he goes anywhere. Kostopolous, hell this guy has grown on all of us, he’s a great grinder, if that’s what a team wants… same goes for Jackman. We also have TWO pugilists for availability, Ivanans and leblond. Take them please, they have a free sign on them. Sarich and Hannan also both have very tradeable qualities. Maybe Pheonix will give up their first for a few of these guys? I kid…

Wild:

Again, lots of fight just not enough talent. There are a few UFA’s but really Brodziak and Zanon are the only two guys that I think are assets. Josh Harding just doesn’t have the league begging for him you know?

The Avs:

A lot of UFA’s and RFA’s coming up. The UFA’s are not that notable outside Hedjuk, I don’t see him being moved either, I think he has let it be known this is it. The RFA stories in Colorado are worth following though. Duchene, Mueller, O’reilly, Galiardi, Quincy and Wilson… that could be a lot of dough for an owner that is struggling….

Oilers:

It’s scary that Smyth and Hemsky jump out at you as UFA. I believe Hemsky is gone, somewhere East, probably playing against Regehr. Without these guys this is a VERY young team, very talented but very immature. Horcoff remains as the elder…until 2015 at 5.5 per year (just had to throw that in there! What a rip off!!) They have 5 guys in forward positions, possibly more on opening day, on entry level contracts. Their defence is pretty atrocious, Gilbert and Whitney being the exceptions. Sutton is UFA but I have a hard time thinking there is a team out there wanting him bad.

Again this was just a list of teams I think will miss the Playoffs and their pending UFA’s which might make for trade bait.

S>O>
Filed Under:   Parise   Suter   Hemsky  
September 30, 2011 11:07 AM ET | Delete
Wake and bake then blogging doesn't mix
September 30, 2011 11:36 AM ET | Delete
Thanks for the feedback, anything you disagree with in particular? Or did you just think of that witty line and couldn't wait to use it??
September 30, 2011 11:59 AM ET | Delete
Sane, if you're talking about teams who will be selling at the deadline, you need to exclude the teams that will be in a race for the post-season. If you're close, you don't sell. Jersey, Toronto, Calgary, Columbus, and Nashville will all likely be within striking distance of a playoff spot at the deadline. I don't think you'll see them move many players, except in hockey trades.
September 30, 2011 12:06 PM ET | Delete
I agree with jtommyt. If in the race, teams will be skeptical to trade. But there could be a team that pulls a St. Louis like last year. They were still in the race (though barely) but pulled off that trade sending Boyes to the Sabres.
September 30, 2011 12:19 PM ET | Delete
Not sure where you heard thay Kroenke is struggling.
September 30, 2011 12:21 PM ET | Delete
It's all speculation of course, I don't think these tems make it but I don't agree jersey will be there. Brodeur is 90, lowest offence in the league last year, kovy is on the downside, Zajac is injured... anyone of these teams could also be out of it completely by trade deadline, if they are here's their ufa's!
September 30, 2011 12:31 PM ET | Delete
FOppa- Comments made by owner and media regarding lack of Colorado attendance (14 thousand avg roughly) make them financially risky. Kroenke himself is a rich bastard and his wife's family is LOADED so sorry for the misleading way of saying the Avs are struggling with money. And they are.
September 30, 2011 3:03 PM ET | Delete
I think you pretty well have alist for East
September 30, 2011 3:15 PM ET | Delete
Horcoff contributes as much if not more to Edmonton as Blowmeester does to Calgary. (just had to throw that in there! What a rip off!!)
September 30, 2011 4:31 PM ET | Delete
Liked it, keep it up!
September 30, 2011 4:43 PM ET | Delete
Oilers... Horcoff is a forward so comparing is tough. I'm not sure how you get there though. Horcoff never plays a full season, is not known for anything, and costs more than some of the elite players in the legue. Bouwmeester is the Flames #1 d and plays 28 min a night against the hardest comp in the league...
September 30, 2011 4:47 PM ET | Delete
habs- Thanks!
September 30, 2011 8:34 PM ET | Delete
why the aulie hate? he is a young guy getting better...you sound bitter
September 30, 2011 10:02 PM ET | Delete
I feel like there was some sour grapes in the Aulie assessment.
September 30, 2011 10:16 PM ET | Delete
*I feel like there are some sour grapes in the Aulie assessment.
October 1, 2011 9:01 AM ET | Delete
weber should be the one moved if, and i say if we are out of it. w/ the huge arbitration award setting the bar he wont be here beyond the following season at best. ideally, we make the playoffs and trde him at the draft.
October 3, 2011 11:28 AM ET | Delete
preds- interesting take from a preds fan, I admit I'm surprised to hear you say that. ki and a-mar, I do not have sour grapes, it's just the way it is, Aulie is already fighting to keep his spot.
October 4, 2011 12:27 PM ET | Delete
Hockeysfuture would have Aulie as either Calgary's top or 2nd best defensive prospect. He outplayed seasoned veterans last year to earn those minutes. Was he leaned on more than Schenn, Gunnarsson or Phaneuf? No. Would the Flames love to have a 22-yr old emerging shutdown guy? Yeah, who wouldn't? So disparaging Aulie or his role on a developing Leafs team seems a little counter intuitive.
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