The NHL playoffs have four teams left and as the offseason for 2014 approaches, names like Evgeni Malkin, Dion Phaneuf, Brad Marchand, Mikko Koivu, Kris Letang, Ryan Kesler, Jason Spezza and Marc-Andre Fleury have come up as players that could be on the move and with teams like the Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Blues losing in the postseason, it could be a very dramatic summer.
The Penguins are one team to watch and while they may not take the drastic move of trading Evgeni Malkin or Marc-Andre Fleury, there is a good chance those conversations has come up since losing to the NY Rangers in the second round. Kesler has been mentioned in rumors since last season about getting traded along with Spezza, while the Bruins may look at making changes as well after being upset by the Canadiens this postseason. The summer doesn't usually have many blockbuster trades, but with a number of good teams falling out of the playoffs early, things could be different this time around.
Phaneuf signed a contract but he could be on the move if the right deal comes along, while Koivu and Letang also could be targets from their teams for other clubs looking to make moves. The Penguins lost to a lower seeded team for the third straight season and with the way that the team played along with Sidney Crosby's performance, some major changes could be on the way. A Malkin trade would be dramatic, but some have called for it after the way the Penguins played in this postseason, as the team could turn him into a fantastic package since he is one of the best scorers in the league.
The Penguins got rid of Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma could be next and while Crosby is likely untouchable, this wouldn't be the first time that Makin's future has come into question with the Penguins. Some fans have come out to say that Makin could be moved to get better supporting players for Crosby, who isn't going anywhere, but it's very unlikely that the Penguins go down that route, as Malkin is on an eight year deal that takes him into the 2022 season. Marchand is 26 years old and after the Bruins lost he could be an option to get moved, as he is a solid scorer who has been over 20 goals three times in his career and could get a nice return for Boston.
Koivu is in an interesting spot for the Wild, as he is making $5.4 million next season before it jumps to over $7 and then $9 million the year after and that is one reason why they could look to make a trade. Phaneuf has come up numerous times in deals and while the Panthers and the Avalanche have been interested, so far no trades have gone down and that could change this summer if the Maple Leafs feel like they can get enough in return for the very good defenseman.
