Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Jump for Rudy Kelly, Hip Checks and tarts who may be found on or around couches.

Los Angeles Kings

Rudy Kelly from Battle of California:

Hey, look at that; the Kings are actually going to be trading for players.  I was starting to think we weren't allowed to do that.  The Kings need, in order:

1) Depth defenseman to play alongside Jack Johnson
2) Winger to play from lines 2-4

Rudy loves dogs.

The Kings have a pretty good defensive unit and two solid defensive pairings: Doughty-Scuderi and Greene-O'Donnell.  Doughty-Scuderi play against the other team's top lines and do it very well, while Greene-O'Donnell give the Kings a solid bottom pairing that won't make mistakes.  That leaves Jack Johnson and some random schmo for the middle pairing, and they're not getting it done.  Johnson has improved a lot over the course of the year but he needs someone who can watch his back and cover for his mistakes.  If that player can play a little on the power play as well, that'd be great.

Targets: Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Dan Hamhuis, Jan Hejda

The Kings could also use another winger.  With the uncertainty surrounding Justin Williams' status (he broke his leg right at the turn of the year), the Kings could use someone who can play either left or right wing to give them a fallback in case Williams can't go.  Someone who can pot a few goals would be nice.

Targets: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Colby Armstrong, Lee Stempniak

***

San Jose Sharks

Gray of Couch Tarts:

Doug Wilson is pretty coy when it comes to showing his trade hand. He usually hits us all over the head with some last minute amazing deal that we never saw coming. This year though, I'm willing to call it in advance. I have looked into my crystal ball and I have seen the future. Watch out Sharks fans, because I'm about to BLOW YOUR MIND!

What the Sharks need is to clear just enough cap space to cover DW's regular spray tan sessions. Assuming he tans early and often, and by the looks of things he does, that's got to be at least $70-100 every 2 weeks. Conservative estimates (2nd round exit*) mean that money would need to last until early May, with more liberal estimates pushing it out until June. Add to that the cost of tanning extender creams, various coconut scented lotions, exfoliators, compressor time, booth time and it's starting to look more and more like the Sharks will have to become reluctant sellers in order to makes ends meet.

If the Sharks want to make the stretch run successfully this year, moving someone to allow for DW's tanning budget is the only way. My suggestion would be move Nabby to Florida in return for a 20 gallon jug of coconut scented tanning lotion, a jumbo size pack of aloe vera plants and a 6th rounder. A cardboard barrier with a 5 hole cut out can simply be installed in the crease. As long as no one actually aims for the net, everything should be fine.

*Someone was going to make that joke. Might as well be me.

***

Phoenix Coyotes

Jenna from Hip Checks:

If I were GM Don Maloney, I would sit on my hands for the most part. The Coyotes are currently in 4th in the West (6th in the league I believe). We have done fairly well up until this point. Now, that doesn't mean if a fantastic offer comes along to pass it up but I wouldn't be out their trying to trade off players. There is a good core base involved and I can't think of any player that we could trade and get a good return for. We are not looking to do a fire-sale of the team. We have a base we want to build on for future years.

You do not want to break up the Czech line. Petr Prucha, Radim Vrbata and Martin Hanzal have amazing chemistry and seem to work best with each other. They also each contribute individually on the PP and/or PK. This is not the line you want to mess with.

Obviously Doan and Bryz will not be traded. Jovo most likely will not (although I keep praying for that to happen...)

I wouldn't mind trading LaBarbera but I believe Montoya is still out after having surgery earlier this season, so that might leave us a goalie short somewhere along the line if we don't get a goalie in return. Anders Ericksson may also be a good canidate for trade. He hasn't done much for the Coyotes and before the Olympic break was a healthy scratch for several games in favor of Sami Lepisto. I would not expect huge returns from either of those though.

Peter Mueller has been part of several trade rumors all season. He is still young and has the potential to be much better then he has been. I'm not going to lie, if we can get someone better for him, I'd trade him in a heartbeat. And by better, I don't mean some old beat up player who is only going to be around until the end of the season aka not a rental.

If an offer would come along for Robert Lang, Daniel Winnik or Lauri Korpikoski I may take it. I am not going to shop these players but I am not attached to them either. They have served us well but if there is someone else out there who may serve us better, I am all for it.

The Coyotes have a slew of defensive prospects and picks, I would be more willing to work out a trade with these pieces. Maybe get some young talent to stock San Antonio with who will be ready to come up in a season or two.