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NHL Trade Deadline 2014: Your guide to the big names in play

NHL Trade Deadline 2014: Your guide to the big names in play

The 2014 NHL Trade Deadline is upon us. The rumor mill is spinning with some very interesting names, and Puck Daddy takes a look at some of them here.

Which ones should you covet? Which ones should make you cringe? And does it matter if you can't get them anyway?

Martin Brodeur, G, New Jersey Devils

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Does your team need to sell tickets?

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: He's a 41-year old goaltender with a .900 save percentage. This isn't 2004 Martin Brodeur you're getting. Not even the 2010 version.

Can Your Team Get Him? That depends on if Devils GM Lou Lamoriello decides to ask Brodeur to waive his no-trade clause, something the netminder has talked about a lot this season.

Ryan Callahan, F, New York Rangers

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Because you’ll not find a more tenacious, gritty forward with leadership qualities and a propensity for bodily sacrifice at the deadline … outside of Ryan Kesler. Plus he has a terrific net presence offensively.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Even if talks break down with the Rangers, it’s going to take a significant package to pry him from Glen Sather.

Can Your Team Get Him? Given how close he is to an extension, probably not.

Michael Cammalleri, F, Calgary Flames

Why Your Team Should Want Him: The mighty mite (hilariously listed at 5-foot-9) is a sniper that’s languished in Calgarian obscurity. Remember when he was one of the most dependable offensive forces in the postseason? Someone probably will at the trade deadline. Oh, and his elephantine contract is up this summer.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Because he’s not exactly played for that new contract or deadline allure. Struggle through a hand injury and (another) concussion, Cammalleri has 21 points in 43 games and a minus-24.

Can Your Team Get Him? In theory, he’ll come cheaper than Matt Moulson or Thomas Vanek. Then again, Brian Burke is the one setting the price, and he’s that guy on Craigslist asking $1,000 for a 12-year-old couch from IKEA because “I’m not just going to give it away.”

Christian Ehrhoff, D, Buffalo Sabres

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Because he might be the best offensive defenseman available at the deadline and can quarterback a power play for your team.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Well, that depends on whether a $4 million cap hit through 2021 is a good thing or a bad thing in your eyes … keeping in mind that cap recapture rules make the creative accounting on his contract slightly less sexy.

Can Your Team Get Him? If they’re on his list, sure.

Marian Gaborik, F, Columbus Blue Jacket

Why Your Team Should Want Him: He's a pending UFA, so that $7.5 million cap hit won't affect you going forward should you decide to move on in the summer time.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: After being relatively healthy for a few seasons, the injury bug has jumped up and bit Gaborik again. Collarbone and knee injuries have limited him to only 21 games this season.

Can Your Team Get Him? If you have a quality, young defensman under contract beyond this season, Jarmo Kekalainen will list.

Jaroslav Halak, G, Buffalo Sabres

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Halak is a quality goalie that would be perfect for a tandem before your team allows him to float off in the UFA market this summer.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Remember the last Shrek movie? Yeah, it came out around the same time that Halak did something relevant in the postseason.

Can Your Team Get Him? Of course, seeing as how he’s not even going to hit the ice for the Sabres. The Wild like him. The Capitals should, however, make this play.

Ales Hemsky, F, Edmonton Oilers

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Just go read Tyler Dellow’s deadline valentine to Hemsky. He’s a player that’s needed a change in scenery, and he could be lightning in a bottle if he gets one. Plus he’s a rental.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Because despite that potential to recapture his offensive form, he’s not anywhere near the force at even strength that he was in the past. And he’s not exactly been a model of durability.

Can Your Team Get Him? Unless the Oilers expect him back for a massive pay cut and Hemsky’s cool playing behind a cadre of young offensive wingers, we’d say he’s available.

Ryan Kesler, C, Vancouver Canucks

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Because Kesler is that rare combination of Selke-worthy defense and offense that can still reach upwards of 30 goals. He’s gritty, surly and can still turn on the pest act when necessary. He’s also one of those players that can go BEAST MODE in a playoff series; as the Nashville Predators.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: The asking price for Kesler is going to be a first and a top prospect, and that’s the starting point. Also if Mike Gillis tells you the only way a deal gets done is if you take the backup goalie from the Heritage Classic in the deal.

Can Your Team Get Him? First, if you’re a Canadian franchise, forget it – it’s been reported that Kesler wants to play in the U.S. Second, if you’re not a Cup contender, forget it, because Kesler clearly wants to play with a team building towards one than one falling to the playoff bubble. Third, if your general manager isn’t Ray Shero or Paul Holmgren, forget it, because, well, that’s probably where he’s headed if anywhere.

David Legwand, C, Nashville Predators

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Because the veteran center is having a rather productive offensive season in his walk year with 40 points in 61 games on a Predators team that’s had a down year goal-scoring wise.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Because Nashville doesn’t want to deal him, and because his heart is in Nashville and he has a no-trade clause. All of this equals overpayment.

Can Your Team Get Him? Nope. Quothe David Poile: “I am not aggressively pursuing it. I have touched base with all 30 clubs. They all know that David is unrestricted. They all know that under certain circumstances, he could be available. They all know he has a no-trade contract. ... So there’s a lot of factors that look to me like David is going to be here.”

Andrew MacDonald, D, New York Islanders

Why Your Team Should Want Him: Because winning teams usually have shutdown defensemen they can skate out against the oppositions’ best, and to that end, MacDonald should be coveted.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: He’s a pending UFA who will be in line for a massive raise this summer. And while this shouldn’t be a huge factor, last season was his first foray into the postseason.

Can Your Team Get Him? Yes, but don’t expect Garth Snow to let go without someone paying his pricetag.

Matt Moulson, LW, Buffalo Sabres

Why Your Team Should Want Him: He scored 11 goals in 44 games within the Sabres’ gong show, and as scoring left wingers that are available as rentals go, he’s second only to Vanek. Plus he’s a completely likeable, non-boat-rocking dude.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Is Moulson going to give you enough from the deadline on to warrant a first-rounder going back to Buffalo? Maybe. But be wary of what he is as a player: a slow skater who isn’t exactly a physical forward. But he can snipe.

Can Your Team Get Him? Absolutely, provided the Sabres front office can figure out who gets to be on the trade call without someone resigning.

Chris Phillips, D, Ottawa Senators

Why Your Team Should Want Him: He’s a solid veteran, especially in the room, who plays top four minutes at 35 years old and is a rental.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Because all that said, his best years are in the rearview. He’s played better in a contract year, but is really still a top four guy on a contending team?

Can Your Team Get Him? Possibly, unless if the Sens decide to stick with the one-year offer and Phillips accepts it.

Thomas Vanek, LW, New York Islanders

Why Your Team Should Want Him: His 44 points in 47 games with the Islanders is indicative of what Vanek brings to your team – ridiculous offense, and the ability to create it either on his own or in tandem with a top line player like John Tavares makes him coveted. Oh, and if your power play sucks, 16 of his 53 points this season have been on the man advantage, too.

Why Your Team Should Treat Him Like Hockey Toxic Waste: Because he’s going to look great in a Minnesota Wild jersey next season; and, frankly, because he’s one of only about three players around which there’s going to be a bidding war, and you might regret giving up the freight for Vanek in a few years.

Can Your Team Get Him? Yes, if they ante up the right package (including a first-rounder) to Garth Snow. Just, uh, make sure you do a bed check before Game 7 of your playoff series.