Last Run Before Retirement? Five Elder Trade Targets

Going out on top is a dream for professional athletes.  As these five players near the twilight of their career, will they be traded for one more shot at the Stanley Cup?

Dec 29, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; The Minnesota Wild players celebrate after the game against the Winnipeg Jets after the third period at MTS Centre The Wild won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

As the NHL trade deadline moves closer some of the leagues elder statesmen could prove to be attractive additions to a team looking for a veteran presence, additional scoring or depth on defense.  Not to mention these players will tend to cost acquiring GM’s a lesser price.  And it would give these players, many of whom have been very productive throughout their careers, one final opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup.  And if Raymond Bourque can be traded for a shot at Lord Stanley, anyone can.

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With questions still lingering about next years’ salary cap teams may be less willing to acquire players with much time left on their contracts, though I do suggest at the end one such player that could (and should) be available for the right price. Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated that the cap should move up $4 million to $73 million, but that is still subject to change.  With an eye to the bottom line and the playoffs, GM’s will have to find the right talent to add to enhance their teams toward winning the most important sixteen games of the season.

Here are five players that could be available and make nice additions to a contending team, including a team that I believe would make sense to acquire them: