Ryan Winn

azcentral sports

The Arizona Coyotes are not Stanley Cup contenders.

This is not a mind-blowing statement. The Coyotes finished out of the playoffs last season, losing their grip on a wild-card spot in the final week of the season. They are a hot pick for a surprise playoff team this season, but nobody is predicting a Cup in the desert. Bovada currently has the Coyotes as a 66/1 shot at winning it all.

The good news for Coyotes fans: Their team is not too far away from being considered a legitimate threat. This a team not too far removed from a Western Conference finals trip. If it weren't for an injury to goaltender Mike Smith and an apparent locker-room distraction in Mike Ribeiro, Arizona likely would have secured a wild card in 2013.

And now there is opportunity for growth. Two of the top teams in the NHL - the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks - are over the salary cap. The Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, are barely getting by at under $1 million in cap space.

There is a bevy of talent to be had for the right price, and the Coyotes - with more than $11 million in cap space - are in prime position to strike a trade.

Let's take a look at some of the possibilities to push Arizona into the discussion for championship contention:

1.) Johnny Oduya, D, Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago has to make a move. The Blackhawks are more than $2 million over the cap according to Capgeek.com, and a trade is imminent. Oduya's expiring $3 million contract is the most likely to be moved.

And he helps the Coyotes where they need it most - on the blue line and on the penalty kill. Oduya was a plus-11 last season for the Blackhawks, playing against opposing team's top-two lines and on the PK. Arizona, meanwhile, was ranked 26th in the league last season when shorthanded. Oduya is also a solid puck-moving defenseman who can contribute on the power play.

Chances of being traded: 70%

2.) Johnny Boychuk, D, Boston Bruins

If the Coyotes don't want a finesse defenseman such as Oduya, perhaps they would prefer a more stout option such as Boychuk. His $3 million cap hit is nearly identical to Oduya's, and he's just as good an option to plug into the PK and top-two defensive pairings.

Boychuk was fifth on the team with a plus-31 and played the third most minutes per game. He isn't much of an offensive threat with just five goals last season, but he's very good in his own end and isn't afraid to use his 6-2, 225-pound frame to clear space around the net.

Chances of being traded: 40%

3.) Chris Kelly, C, Boston Bruins

Kelly has been an alternate captain in Boston for the past two seasons, but he has an injury history and a $3M cap hit with which the Bruins cannot be too smitten. They just signed center David Krejci to a six-year extension, and money is needed to keep a a young core intact for the future.

Kelly missed 25 games last season with a herniated disk in his back that required surgery, and at 33 years old he's no answer for the long term. But he scored 20 goals in his last full season ('11-12) and he adds leadership up the middle the Coyotes didn't get from Ribeiro.

Chances of being traded: 50%

4.) Patrick Sharp, F, Chicago Blackhawks

Another alternate captain with championship experience, Sharp simply has a large $5.9M cap hit going against him. He led Chicago with 78 points last season, scoring a team-high 34 goals. So why would he even be considered to be on the trading block?

His salary is the main reason, but Chicago has a glut of inexpensive (for now) talent at forward. Emerging star Brandon Saad is primed to take his place on the second line, and he will also demand a bigger contract after this season. It will take multiple draft picks and a highly ranked prospect, but the Coyotes could use a scoring splash. They ranked 20th in the league in goals per game last season.

Chances of being traded: 30%

5. Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

If you're going to go for a Cup, you might as well go all-in. Letang's $7.2 million cap hit, combined with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin's massive deals, forced the Penguins to remain silent during free agency. Pittsburgh isn't going to trade Crosby or Malkin to secure flexibility. But under a new general manger, Jim Rutherford, maybe Letang is the big piece to be moved.

Letang missed most of last season after a stroke, so health is obviously a concern. But he is an All-Star and a Norris Trophy candidate when on the ice. If Pittsburgh is willing to look to the future, and the Coyotes are willing to part with some top prospects, it could happen. But it's not likely.

Chances of being traded: 10%

Other possibilities:

Adam McQuaid, D, Boston Bruins

Note: McQuaid has played just a combined 62 games the past two seasons, but he was a plus-16 with 10 points in '11-12. The upside is there, but can he be trusted to stay on the ice? His $1.5 million contract expires after this season, so it might be worth a shot.

Bryan Bickell, F, Chicago Blackhawks

Note: His contract outweighs his regular-season numbers, but he's the best big-body forward Chicago has for a postseason grind.

Rob Scuderi, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Note: He's 35 with three years left on a $3 million salary, and he missed 29 games last season while accumulating just four points. Pittsburgh would probably like to get rid of him, but his value isn't so high.

Kris Versteeg, F, Chicago Blackhawks

Note: Versteeg was just traded for in the middle of last season, but his play makes him expendable in Chicago. He scored 23 goals in '11-12, but injuries have caused a sharp decline in performance. He's making $2.2 million for two more seasons.