NHL Trade Rumors: The Top 8 Team with the Best Chance to Land Teemu Selanne

As the trade deadline approaches, one name that is not being thrown out there quite as often is NHL legend and surefire Hall of Famer, Teemu Selanne. 

During the reign of Randy Carlyle, the Ducks were left for dead—they continued to play poorly and lose games, despite having the pieces they needed for a regular winning team. 

The Ducks found new life, however, and as of current are surging up towards the playoff bubble. The bad news for the Ducks is that they don't hold a significant number of games in hand that would help them move up the ladder in the later part of the season. Anaheim also has the begrudging task of trying to pass another four teams, simply for a shot at making the final seed in the Western Conference. 

In this speculation of Selanne, we assess what exactly it will take each potential suitor to land him, and what their chances are of actually making a trade for him.

Keep in mind that Selanne currently holds in his contract a No Movement Clause. This means that if Teemu wants to stay in Anaheim and forego one last shot at the Cup with another team, the team cannot move him under any circumstances. 

I have based the chances of landing Selanne on the amount each team must pay for the winger, what Conference and Division the team plays in and the relationship between general managers. This means what Anaheim is likely to ask—or in some cases demand—from another GM to set up a potential trade. 

On their seemingly eternal quest for a top wing scorer, Los Angeles is a prime candidate to bid for Selanne's services. 

Every trade deadline is the same—LA seeks a winger. GM Dean Lombardi thought he had his man last season, when the Kings traded for Oilers winger Dustin Penner. Penner, however, didn't provide much of a spark in the post season—not to mention things went horribly wrong for the Kings when they lost their best player and first line center, Anze Kopitar, to injury for the entire playoffs.

The Kings are healthy enough and are right on the bubble of playoff teams. The Kings have major goal scoring issues—in fact, the Kings are the worst team in the NHL at scoring goals. In a nutshell, goalie Jonathan Quick is pretty much the only reason that LA even has a minute chance of making the playoffs.

Prying Selanne away from a division rival will be hard, and the Kings might have to overpay to get him, but crazier things have happened.

What it would take to get Selanne:

First or second round draft choice, high level prospect

What are their chances of getting him:

Very Bad

Under Jack Adams favorite, Ken Hitchcock, the Blues have just as good a chance as anyone at making it all the way to the Cup. 

The Blues are a team that plays tight defense while keeping a modest scoring pace. Although their team relies heavily on coach Hitchcock's defensive system that pads goalies' stats and makes the No. 1 through No. 6 defenseman invaluable, the Blues wouldn't mind an veteran offensive minded player who responds well to coaching. 

On a mostly young team, Selanne could provide that extra spark that would push St. Louis over the hill and all the way to Cup glory. 

What it would take to get Selanne:

A bottom six forward or lower pairing defenseman

What are their chances of getting him:

Mediocre 

We've seen them do it before, with Peter Forsberg and Paul Kariya—the Nashville Predators aren't afraid to bring in old vets who can score to bolster the lineup.

Unlike those teams of past, however, the Predators actually have a deceivingly good chance of going very far in this year's playoffs.

The Predators currently boast the unquestioned best defensive pairing in the NHL, along with a goaltender who amazes fans and players alike every night.

If the Predators are serious about making it to the Western Conference Finals or beyond, they still need to add scoring. Surprisingly, the Preds have the second best power play percentage in the league and they are not having trouble scoring goals, compared to some of their opponents in the West.

Adding Selanne could all but ensure that scoring depth is never an issue for the remainder of the year. With the right pieces in place, Nashville could be the dark horse contender for the Cup. 

What it would take to get Selanne:

Draft picks, Anders Lindback or Austin Watson

What are their chances of getting him:

Mediocre

What Detroit is accomplishing this year at home is not only impressive, but historic.

Still, all of us know that home ice advantage might as well be thrown out as soon as the playoffs start. The only two things that will get you the Cup are how well you play and how well you are coached.

Detroit is one of those teams, like the Rangers, where a GM might be afraid to make any changes at the deadline, in fear of shaking up or ruining team chemistry. The Wings are firing on all cylinders and it might not be wise to move anyone around or make a trade that would disrupt that.

Having said that, there is no reason to believe that Selanne would have any objection to waiving his No Movement Clause to join Detroit for one final shot at the Cup—a shot that Detroit is definitely in place to provide. 

What it would take to get Selanne:

A young roster player or mid-high level prospect(s)

What are their chances of getting him:

Mediocre 

While everyone else is busy discussing why the Hawks should trade Patrick Kane—the 20-something-year-old former first overall pick, Calder Memorial Trophy Winner and Stanley Cup Champion—for Ryan Miller, the rest of us are on planet Earth looking for small ways the Blackhawks can stay competitive in the tight playoff race taking place in the Western Conference.

Analysts and commentators like to leave the Blackhawks for dead as soon as they hit the slightest skid—they are obsessed with doing so and it really is quite mystifying. 

Chicago, like Detroit, provides a real chance for Selanne to win the Cup this year. Surrounded by young players who have a ton of playoff experience already, not to mention the fact that they've already won quite recently, Teemu would feel right at home and very comfortable.

The added responsibility of trying to mentor a young team and teaching them what it takes to win big in the clutch simply would not be needed. Even though the Hawks are a young bunch, they are ready to win now.

What it would take to get Selanne:

Brandon Saad or Kyle Beach 

What are their chances of getting him:

Good

To return where it all started...

Selanne had the best season a rookie has ever had in the NHL when he broke on to the scene with the Winnipeg Jets in the '92-93 season. Teemu scored 76 goals and put up 132 points, a rookie feat we will most likely never see again. 

Going to the Jets might be a real possibility for the old Finn. The Jets are sitting right on the bubble of a playoff spot—and in their first year back in Winnipeg, if the movies have taught us anything it's that the underdog that deserves to win, can. 

Realistically, the Jets probably have the worst chance of going deep or even winning a playoff round out of anyone currently with a playoff seed, or sitting right on the bubble. However, if Teemu really feels enthusiastic about returning to his genesis, I see no reason why he wouldn't agree to a trade that would send him back to Manitoba.

What it would take to get Selanne:

Draft picks or low-mid level prospects

What are their chances of getting him:

Good

The Devils are a team on a mission—to steal the Atlantic Division away from the once untouchable New York Rangers.

What better to accomplish that with than another veteran scoring threat? 

Although the Devils' primary need moving into the playoffs is another defenseman, it would surprise no one if they made another move involving a forward. The Devils have made recent moves at forward, bringing in bottom six winger Alex Ponikarovsky and recalling AHL-cast away Steve Bernier up to the show. 

The Devils and Ducks have already made a transacation so far this season, when Anaheim shipped oft-scratched blue liner Kurtis Foster to the Devils in exchange for Rod Pelley and Mark Fraser.

Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Lou Lamoriello and Bob Murray?

What it would take to get Selanne:

A mid level defensive prospect or Mattias Tedenby

What are their chances of getting him:

Good

New York is the destination that almost makes too much sense.

The Rangers enjoy one of the best goal differentials in the entire league, yet still are being outscored by every Eastern playoff contender, sans Florida. 

Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan, the two leading scorers of the Rangers, are fixtures on right-wing and provide instant offense. Perhaps the Rangers' captain might be willing to move to the left side for a while to allow Teemu to be more comfortable in his natural position.

The Rangers have one of the worst power-plays in all the NHL and Selanne is a power play specialist, netting nine to date—almost 50 percent of his goals total.

What it would take to get Selanne:

Brandon Dubinsky

What are their chances of getting him:

Very Good