NHL trade rumors are running rampant as we count down the hours until Monday afternoon's deadline, and while we've all read about names like Ales Hemsky and Jeff Carter being tossed around, I thought it might be worth indulging in a quick survey of some other forwards who could help the Nashville Predators. Consider this a "quick hit" exercise to work some other names into the mix, besides the ones which have dominated the conversation lately.

To be perfectly clear - these aren't players I think the Predators are pursuing, but are instead ones who I think could help the team immediately (and in some cases, for a few years), from teams which might have reason to make such a trade. This is based on pure, 100% speculation.

So after the jump, let's examine a few names out there for consideration (presented in no particular order)...

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Why scratch Ryan Ellis? Only a game removed from his 2 point performance against Chicago, it seems like a valid question. Assuming Weber, Suter, Klein, and now Gill are safe, what does Roman Josi (9 points, but -10) and Francis Bouillon (7 points in twice as many games), have over Ryan Ellis' 9 points and +8 rating?

Only half the stats tell half the tale, though. Let's look a little deeper at the Preds defenseman. I created this sortable table to compare each player's 5-on-5 performance:

By default, the table is sorted by quality of competition, in which Ellis ranks dead last. Trotz never uses Ellis against top lines, if he can help it. Another measure of strength of minutes is zone starts, or the percentage of times the player starts his shift in the offensive zone versus defensive zone. Here, Trotz has found another way of protecting Ellis, sending him out whenever the Preds get a whistle in the offensive zone.

Roman Josi, by contrast, has faced some of toughest minutes (42.7% zone starts). And their results reflect that difference. Josi is -10 on the season, because he does much of the team's defensive heavy lifting, along with Klein, Weber, and Suter. Ryan Ellis is +8 because he's used like a power play specialist, even at even-strength.

Should Ellis be punished for making the most of the opportunities given to him? That's a trickier question and one we debated with Cody Franson/Kevin Klein. But if Franson's time with the Predators taught us anything, if Trotz doesn't trust the player with a greater role, there's a reason, and he won't change his mind in the middle of a stretch run.

Carrying a power play specialist would have been defensible on past Predators teams, but this year Weber, Suter, and Josi have all been excellent on the man-up. And the acquisition of Gill for the PK frees up Weber and Suter for more PP minutes. Given that Trotz trusts Josi and Bouillon to help carry the load at even strength, scratching Ellis works to the benefit of everyone.

The Predators' priorities, heading into the February 27 trade deadline should be:

1. Convince Suter (and Weber) to stay
2. Make the team better for the stretch run
3. Increase payroll

And in that order.

These goals are interrelated, of course--some potentially available players could help the Predators in the playoffs, and, in turn, make Nashville more attractive to the team's impending free agents. Very few of said players, however, signal a significant long-term financial commitment and instantly make Nashville a serious Stanley Cup contender.

Jeff Carter does! And he fits a series of needs.

Tweet with the hashtag #barterforcarter to let David Poile know Jan Hlavac and Dustin Boyd aren't going to cut it!

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As we consider potential trade targets for the Nashville Predators, one aspect of the team that could use a boost would be on defense, where on some nights, half the group is 5'10" tall or less. This is the kind of vulnerability that can be focused on and exploited over the course of a seven-game playoff series, and the addition of a veteran, physically rugged blueliner could not only relieve a bit of the burden carried by Shea Weber & Ryan Suter, but also provide a bit of a safety net for rookies like Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis to do their thing.

One such guy to fit that bill is Montreal's Hal Gill...

Hal Gill

#75 / Defenseman / Montreal Canadiens

Height: 6-7

Weight: 244

Born: Apr 06, 1975

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With the trade deadline approaching, the Nashville Predators are poised to make a move that could significantly improve the team down the stretch. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll take a look at a few potential players that could bolster the Preds' lineup. First up: Bobby Ryan.

Bobby Ryan

#9 / Left Wing / Anaheim Ducks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 209

Born: Mar 17, 1987

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One of the most satisfying developments of this Nashville Predators season has been the play of rookie defenseman Roman Josi, the Swiss rearguard who has grown into a 2nd-pairing role at even strength alongside Kevin Klein, and a prominent spot on the power play. He represents the latest in a long line of Predators blueliners who have taken the road through Milwaukee on his way to Nashville, having spent all of last season with the Admirals getting used to the North American rink dimensions and style of play.

Roman Josi

#59 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-2

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 01, 1990

Recall, however, that Jonathon Blum had Preds fans similarly excited last spring, as he immediately stepped into a prominent role in the latter portion of the regular season and playoffs. This season, however, something appeared to be different, and after racking up a -14 Plus/Minus over 33 games, Blum was dispatched to Milwaukee, where he has toiled ever since.

The natural question, then, is whether such a fate might await Josi - how does his rookie campaign compare to Blum's, and what does this portend for his (and Blum's) future?

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There's a place at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, in which kids all across North America dream about eventually playing. Y'know...the place by Rippy's and Tootsie's that was originally built for one reason, but now houses concerts through much of the year. It's that big stage, where people stand and cheer for talented people, playing together at the height of their professional careers.

Y'know...the Ryman.

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Even though there are only two games on the schedule, it will be a busy week for the Nashville Predators, with back-to-back contests against division rivals, followed up by the All-Star festivities taking place in Ottawa, Ontario. While the bulk of the roster will get a chance to rest up for a few days, that weekend will give Shea Weber, Craig Smith, and (if he's recovered from injury) Ryan Suter the opportunity to represent Smashville on the NHL's big stage.

But before the big show, they've got serious work to do...

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