Who doesn't love a good bargain? NHL teams are always on the hunt for talented young players that, for one reason or another, are in need of change of scenery. Often, the best time to pounce on such players is when their original organization has gotten down on them after a couple years of early-career struggle.

The hit-to-miss ratio on these players blossoming in their second organization isn't great. But every team dreams of being the next one to be on the winning side of one of those Patrick Sharp for Matt Ellison or Markus Naslund for Alek Stojanov type of heists.

Here are three young players -- one forward, one defenseman and one goaltender -- that I've been hearing are available from their current teams. Due to subpar NHL performances to date, the prices may be discounted from what they would have fetched as trading assets a couple years ago when they were considered hotshot NHL prospects.

Magnus Paajarvi: The player once considered to be "Sweden's next NHL superstar" has been a disappointment in Edmonton, and was just returned to the minor leagues. With the Oilers having so many talented young forwards at the NHL level, Paajarvi appears to be the odd man out. He's not going to fetch a high-end defenseman at this point, but there are still a few NHL teams who think he'll eventually blossom in the same Naslund did after a loaded Pittsburgh team gave up on him. Critics say Paajarvi is too soft and too much of a perimeter player.... but then again some of these same folks once dismissed Naslund in the same way.

Keaton Ellerby: At the time of the 2007 Draft, there were some who thought Ellerby had franchise defenseman potential with his combination of size and mobility. But things just haven't come together for him in Florida, and he's off to an unimpressive start this year as well. But Ellerby is still young enough to blossom -- he just turned 24 a couple months ago. In some ways, he seems to be at a frustratingly stagnant early career point similar to where another former first-round pick, Braydon Coburn, was shortly before he was traded from Atlanta to Philadelphia. If so, that wouldn't make Ellerby a star but it still could be the type of defenseman who plays 20-plus minutes on an every-game basis. With defensemen coming at such a high trading premium, Ellerby wouldn't be given away by the savvy Dale Tallon but can be had at less than blockbuster prices. At least four teams appear to be interested.

Steve Mason: I know, I know, I know. Mason has not been very good since his excellent rookie season, nor have the Columbus teams in front of him been too hot. Even so, you'd be surprised at the way some NHL teams still think the lightbulb will go on for Mason as a number one starter if he gets a fresh start elsewhere. With Sergei Bobrovsky competing with Mason for the starting role and highly regarded Oscar Dansk in the farm system (the Jackets actually used two of their top three picks last summer on goalies), Columbus has made it clear they are prepared to move on from Mason at any point.

I'll be back later with the latest on Luongo, the Phoenix Coyotes status and a surprising name who has entered the rumor mill. Stay tuned!

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