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NHL Rumour Report: Latest rumblings as NHL free agency approaches


Buckle up: silly season is here.

- After a trade-filled NHL entry draft, many teams are still on the hunt for trades before, during and after the free agent market opens on the 13th.
 
- The Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes are dragging on to the 11th hour. The team to watch here, aside from the Flames, are the Flyers. Keep an eye on what the Flyers do in the coming days; do they try to shed cap space by moving out a player like James van Riemsdyk? The Kraken would be interested in JvR - but they'll also take a run at Gaudreau themselves.
 
- If the Flames can't hold onto Gaudreau, expect them to pivot to the UFA market. Chief among their rumoured targets is Nazem Kadri, who is generating a ton of interest around the league.
 
- John Klingberg appears intent on exploring free agency. Carolina and Seattle will be aggressive in their pursuit.
 
- The game of goaltending musical chairs continues, with a number of teams still looking for starters. The Oilers and Maple Leafs continue to compete on several options, including Jack Campbell and Darcy Kuemper. Kuemper appears more likely to end up in Washington, who just sent Vitek Vanecek to New Jersey. 

- Among the potential targets for the Leafs, aside from Campbell and Kuemper, are Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Semyon Varlamov, Mackenzie Blackwood and Jake Allen. Further down the list are options such as Matt Murray and Thomas Greiss. Some wonder if the Sharks are trying to trade Adin Hill as well. It should be a very intriguing few days in the lead-up to free agency.

- Evgeni Malkin watch continues. There's a growing sense that a deal should get done, but the two sides remain deadlocked on term.

- It's starting to feel like a matter of if, not when, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are traded out of Chicago. The belief is that neither player has been asked to consider a trade, but GM Kyle Davidson is hopeful that the two players eventually come to him with requests to be moved. Kane has been linked to the Avalanche and Rangers; Toews to the Bruins. Seth Jones would be a tough contract to move, but the Blackhawks are willing to consider just about anything right now.

- The Blues continue to shop Vladimir Tarasenko, who has long wished for a trade out of St. Louis. He's likely to have that wish granted this offseason. Among the teams believed to have interest are the Hurricanes.

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