NHL Trade Speculation: Five Most Likely Teams to End the Season with Ryan Suter

The Nashville Predators are in an odd situation with two star defenders headed to free agency following this season.

Ryan Suter, set to be a UFA, has stated that he does not plan on signing a contract extension before the trade deadline, sparking speculation that he could be moved.  

Six days ago, Nashville acquired Hal Gill from the Montreal Canadiens.  

Does that mean they're gearing up for a deep playoff run? Or are they bolstering their defense in preparation to part ways with Suter?

All our questions will be answered in the next four days as the Predators reveal their strategy.  

The following are the five most likely teams to finish the season with Ryan Suter on their roster.

The Boston Bruins haven't been themselves lately. With a 4-6-0 record in the last 10 games, Boston is still leading the Northwest but now sits just two points ahead of the surging Ottawa Senators.  

With Nathan Horton and Rich Peverley both out long term, the Bruins are most likely looking to add a right-winger, but Ryan Suter should be on their list as well. 

Upgrading from Joe Corvo as the second defenseman, the Bruins would be once again among the league's elite and have a much better chance at a repeat from last season.  

The situation the New Jersey Devils are in with Zach Parise is similar to that with the Predators and Suter. Both players are headed to unrestricted free agency, and neither intend on signing a contract extension prior to the trade deadline.  

With Nashville lacking offensive talent and New Jersey lacking productive defenders, a straight-up player swap isn't out of the question, especially if the general managers feel that the players don't want to return. 

With three losses in a row (two of which happened in an embarrassing fashion), the Washington Capitals now find themselves 10th in the East. 

After the last two games, you've got to assume George McPhee is thinking of something drastic.  

With one of the worst GA/G in the league, Ryan Suter could be the drastic move to make, although a push for a goalie could be a higher priority. 

Alexander Semin and a draft pick could be offered in return.

Age has been a growing issue on the Flames' roster, with the majority of their top players on the decline.  

In acquiring Mike Cammalleri, they addressed the issue of age while making their playoff intentions clear. 

With so many strong teams in the West, they'll need more than Cammalleri to get it done.  

The acquisition of Ryan Suter would be another step to add youth to the team while making the Flames true Stanley Cup contenders.

Surely the offers will be coming in, but odds are in favor that both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber will finish out the season as Predators.  

I strongly believe that Hal Gill was brought to the team to help create a winning environment; one that both defenders would like coming back to.

While it is risky, it's a tactic that could pay off in both this season and for the future.