We're in for a very, very busy week. With just days to go before the NHL trade deadline a ton of big names names still in play, buckle up.
|
|
|
- Quick hits on the top players potentially on the move this week.
- Mike Hoffman - It's still about 50/50 he moves, but we've got a possible landing spot for him now: the Islanders. Plenty more teams should emerge if the Panthers start shopping him aggressively, but that may not happen for a few more days. Hoffman's departure is probably predicated on whether they need to clear cap space for big fish like Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.
- The list of contenders for Panarin has grown so large that we're going to eventually start listing who isn't interested instead of who is. The Islanders join a list that now includes the Rangers, Predators, Kings, Panthers, Bruins, Maple Leafs, Blues, Flyers, Penguins, Avalanche and Stars. Though there haven't been any solid rumours connecting Panarin to the Hurricanes, that seems like a good fit as well. The Leafs connection is doubtful - but he's someone the team has looked at several times in the recent past.
- It appears Matt Duchene's days (hours?) in Ottawa are numbered with extension talks fizzling out in recent days. The Senators are believed to have taken one last crack at an extension this weekend. The Jets, Predators and Blue Jackets appear to be the frontrunners, but the Islanders and Sabres have been linked to Duchene before as well. The Duchene deal could take place sometime during the week, which could open the trade deadline floodgates heading into next weekend.
- The Hurricanes found themselves in a playoff spot late on Saturday. I think you can probably cross Micheal Ferland's name off the trade bait list, at least for now.
- A name that's gaining a bit of traction in recent days is Detroit's Nick Jensen. The pending UFA blueliner has played well in Detroit, who will try one last time to get him extended. No solid rumours connecting him to the Maple Leafs, but a lot of buzz connecting him with them nonetheless.
Follow NHL Rumour Report on Facebook and Twitter for the latest rumour updates!
