The NHL trade deadline is one of the most exciting times of any hockey season as playoff contending teams build up their rosters for a Stanley Cup run, while non-playoff teams trade away impending free agents, veterans, and other assets for prospects and draft picks to rebuild their teams. With the 2009 trade deadline only a few days away, I'm going to take a look at some of the players who I believe will NOT be dealt by the 3:00 PM, March 4 deadline. In no particular order, they are:
1. Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida Panthers - With the Florida Panthers currently holding onto the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and their first playoff berth in almost 10 years, they are not about to trade their star defenseman. Sure, there has been plenty of interest in him from around the league and GM Jacques Martin has stated that he would only trade him if they got a really sweet offer, but the Panthers do not want to destroy their chances at making the playoffs. Trading Bouwmeester could send the wrong message to Panthers fans that the team does not care about making the playoffs. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and if the Panthers cannot re-sign him, expect them to trade Bouwmeester near the June draft, not at the trade deadline.
2. Chris Pronger, D, Anaheim Ducks - With the Ducks slipping down through the standings in recent weeks and in danger of missing the playoffs, there has been rampant speculation that Pronger will be traded at the deadline. The problem with that is the Ducks only have two defensemen signed through next season, Pronger and the recently acquired Ryan Whitney. With uncertainty over whether Scott Niedermayer will retire or whether impending free agent defensmen Francois Beauchemin, Steve Montador, Bret Hedican, or Kent Huskins will be re-signed, it would be a devastating blow to the Ducks blueline if Pronger was traded. As with Bouwmeester, it would be more logical if the Ducks traded Pronger near the June draft when it may be more clear as to which defensemen will be returning to the team next season.
3. Vincent Lecavalier, C, Tampa Bay Lightning - The Lightning have sat near the bottom of the Eastern Conference for most of the season and have made several trades and free agent signings throughout the hockey year to get better. About two months ago, wild speculation began to emerge that the Lightning were going to trade captain and franchise forward Vincent Lecavalier to the Montreal Canadiens. The rumors were quickly shot down by Lecavalier and the Canadiens, and for good reason. The Lightning are not about to give up on their star player just for a quick fix, plus he carries an expensive, long-term contract. Most teams would have to dump considerable salary in order to acquire Lecavalier. The same goes for Martin St. Louis. Neither player is getting traded this season.
4. Ryan Smyth, LW, Colorado Avalanche - As the Avalanche sunk through the standings this past week, rumors began to surface that the team was shopping Smyth. While there are rumors that plenty of teams are interested in him, he has a no-trade clause and has refused to waive it. Smyth is not going anywhere and will finish the season with Colorado.
5. Marian Gaborik, RW, Minnesota Wild - Gaborik has been the subject of trade rumors all season, but has also been injured for most of the season. Plenty of teams were interested in him before he suffered his latest injury, Gaborik's trade value right now is very low as he recuperates from hip surgery. No one is going to take a chance on Gaborik given his injury history and the Wild are prepared to lose him for nothing when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
6. Niklas Backstrom, G, Minnesota Wild - While on the subject of the Wild, Backstrom's name has popped up a lot in the rumor mill recently. He is an unrestricted free agent this summer and contract talks are reportedly going slow. However, the Wild are very close to a playoff spot and trading Backstrom would signal that they have given up on the season. If they are to make the playoffs, they are going to need Backstrom to help them do it. He will remain with the Wild until the end of the season, and if they cannot get him re-signed prior to July 1, it is possible they could shop him close to the draft.
7. Nikolai Khabibulin, G, Chicago Blackhawks - The Blackhawks spent the first couple months of the season deciding whether or not to trade the goaltender and his strong play convinced them to keep him. Given Cristobal Huet's struggles this season, the Blackhawks will keep Khabibulin and will go with him as their goalie in the playoffs. Plus, Khabibulin has won a Stanley Cup and Huet has yet to win a playoff series, so it makes sense for the Blackhawks to retain him.
8. Olli Jokinen, C, Phoenix Coyotes - Jokinen's name began to surface in the rumor mill a few weeks ago given his average play this season. While his name is getting mentioned more frequently in rumors as the days go on, I believe the Coyotes will retain him at the deadline. The likely asking price for Jokinen will be high and coupled with the fact that Jokinen has never once played in the Stanley Cup playoffs will probably turn most teams away. The Coyotes may have more lucking shopping Jokinen at the draft when more teams will know what their salary cap space will be like for next season.
9. Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk's name began to pop up in rumors several weeks ago as it became apparent that the Thrashers were going to be sellers at this year's deadline. However, given Kovalchuk's fine performance in recent weeks, the Thrashers are keen to retain him. Besides, if the Thrashers were to trade him, it may send the wrong message to the fans that the team is unwilling to retain its star players. The soonest I could see the Thrashers shopping Kovalchuk is next year at this time, but only if they are out of the playoffs and if they know they cannot get him signed to a new contract, as he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2010.
10. Christoph Schubert, D/W, Ottawa Senators - With the Senators set to become sellers on Wednesday, Schubert's name is still showing up in trade rumors. Given his lowly production this season, there is currently no market for the 27-year-old player and his trade value is near zero. He will still be a Senator through the end of the season.
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