The draft and free agency will force major decisions on franchise players across the NHL.
- The trade winds are blowing ahead of what should be a wild week of drafting, trading and signings in the NHL. Here's the latest.
NHL RUMOURS BY TEAM
- Evgeni Malkin: though the Penguins continue to work towards an extension for the franchise centerman, teams around the league are preparing their best offers ahead of July 13th. The Capitals, Panthers and Hurricanes have recently emerged as possibilities.
- Alex DeBrincat: the odds of a trade continue to rise as we get close to the draft. The team to watch appears to be the Flyers, although the Devils and Senators are among the second tier of contenders. This could be a Montreal draft floor deal.
- Some around the league are starting to wonder if an Alex DeBrincat trade out of Chicago could be a 'last straw' moment for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. A long rebuild appears to be ahead for the Blackhawks, who have agreed to only explore trade offers on their two cornerstones if they request it. The Rangers and Avalanche are teams to watch with Kane.
- Alex DeBrincat: the odds of a trade continue to rise as we get close to the draft. The team to watch appears to be the Flyers, although the Devils and Senators are among the second tier of contenders. This could be a Montreal draft floor deal.
- Some around the league are starting to wonder if an Alex DeBrincat trade out of Chicago could be a 'last straw' moment for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. A long rebuild appears to be ahead for the Blackhawks, who have agreed to only explore trade offers on their two cornerstones if they request it. The Rangers and Avalanche are teams to watch with Kane.
- Nazem Kadri: a growing list of suitors for the pending UFA pivot. Colorado would love to keep Kadri in town, but appear more focused on hammering out deals with Valeri Nichushkin and Darcy Kuemper. The Hurricanes, Panthers, Rangers, Red Wings, Kraken, Capitals, Flames, Bruins and Coyotes are among the teams that are believed to have kicked tires.
- Johnny Gaudreau: Flames fans are sweating as the clock ticks towards free agency. The Flames offer is on the table, and it is believed to be a higher total number than anything the open market can potentially bring. The Devils and Flyers, who are also vying for Alex DeBrincat, are considered frontrunners. Lurking in the weeds are the Kraken and Islanders, but there will surely be plenty of suitors if and when Gaudreau hits the market.
- Jack Campbell: Two horse race? Reports suggest the Oilers and Devils will be most aggressive for the services of the pending UFA netminder.
- Darcy Kuemper: if it's not Colorado, Washington and Toronto will be in the mix. And if it's Washington, that means one or both of Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek will be on the move. Reports have connected Samsonov with Montreal in the past.
- Claude Giroux: Toronto, Ottawa, Colorado are among the teams that will look at Giroux, who the Panthers would like to keep but may not be able to make it work.
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NHL RUMOURS BY TEAM