Markets are developing for several key pending free agents and more in today's NHL rumour update.
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- The Jesse Puljujarvi sweepstakes are expected to heat up with the December 1st RFA deadline fast approaching. Several teams, including the Hurricanes, Rangers, Lightning and Senators have been linked to Puljujarvi. If he isn't signed by a team by December 1st, he will be ineligible to play in the NHL at all this season. The Oilers, of course, do not have to move him before this date, and could very well wait until the offseason to make the move.
- Trade buzz continues to ramp up around the Devils and Taylor Hall. We're still a ways away from getting an idea which teams would be interested in Hall if and when he is put on the trade market, but some early speculation has pointed to the St. Louis Blues as one realistic possibility. With Vladimir Tarasenko on the shelf until the playoffs, the Blues have some cap room to play with.
- The Andreas Athanasiou trade rumours never seem to go away, do they? Once again, Athanasiou is seeing his name in rumour chatter as teams wonder what the future holds for the arbitration eligible pending RFA. Past negotiations between Athanasiou and the Red Wings have been contentious, so a parting of ways wouldn't be a complete surprise. The Red Wings are likely sellers at this year's deadline, so they could have their hands full in the coming months.
- This one is a little bit surprising, considering how well the team has started: the Sabres are listening on Evan Rodrigues. Adding to the strangeness of the rumour is one of the teams that apparently interested: the salary cap maxed divisional rival Maple Leafs. The Senators may also be interested, which makes sense considering they were apparently pursuing another Namestnikov-type transaction.
- Plenty more coming this week. It has been a fairly noisy start to the season on the NHL rumour front, which bodes well for an active lead-up to the 2020 trade deadline.
