The latest on William Nylander, Slava Voynov, Michael Frolik and more.
- If and when the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to move William Nylander, Carolina appears to be the team most motivated to acquire the RFA winger. The two camps are still a ways apart on a new deal, but with the December 1st deadline for signing restricted free agents approaching, something will have to give. It's possible neither side blinks and Nylander ends up sitting out the year, but it's much more likely he's either signed or traded. The Kings, Wild and Flyers have been linked to Nylander as well.
- Slava Voynov continues to go through the process of returning to the NHL after self-deporting from the United States over a domestic violence incident with his wife in 2015. Several teams are rumoured to have interest. I'm a bit skeptical of there actually being NHL teams willing to sign Voynov even if he does make it through the legal process, because the public backlash is going to be truly severe regardless of where he signs. The LA Kings still retain his rights, but it doesn't sound like they're overly eager to bring him back into the fold.
- Montreal looks poised to trade some of their forward depth, with Charles Hudon and Nikita Scherbak entering the rumour mill in recent weeks. Both have struggled to hold spots the lineup and may be looking for a fresh start. Hudon is no stranger to the rumour mill, having seen his name pop up before the deadline over the past few seasons.
- Though his name hasn't surfaced in a while, Andrew Shaw is another logical trade candidate out of Montreal. Last trade deadline the Hurricanes and Rangers kicked tires on the veteran forward, who has seen his ice time and role diminish greatly this year.
- Speaking of fresh starts, the Calgary Flames are rumoured to be open to offers on Michael Frolik and Sam Bennett. As the fourth overall pick in 2014, Bennett has disappointed thus far in his young career and could use a change of scenery. The Ducks and Sabres are rumoured to have shown interest in Bennett in the past, but it's not clear what teams would still have interest in the winger. At just 22 years of age, there's still plenty of time for him to turn things around.
