NHL Rumors: Saturday Night Headlines Massive Rumor Round Up
Tampa Bay Lightning are front runners for Erik Karlsson.

Sportsnet: Hockey Night in Canada Headlines …

Elliotte Freidman: Belief is the Senators want to try to make a deal happen, and Erik Karlsson wants a deal to happen. They’ve been grinding for two or three days to see if they can make it happen.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the leading contender. Think they’ve thrown several different trade proposals at each other.

There seems to be stealth contenders out there for Karlsson, teams that haven’t been in the news. One of the teams is Nashville. Some think that Predators GM David Poile is trying to drive up the price for others.

Chris Johnston: There is the potential of Bobby Ryan being included. There was word today a potential fourth team involved. Maybe Vegas, Tampa, Montreal. That is a lot more fiction than fact. What is important to the Senators is that it’s a hockey deal. Even if Bobby Ryan is included, the Senators need to get hockey players back.

Nick Kypreos: There is the sense that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman wants to get a deal done without changing up his roster. He has a framework of five or six pieces of picks and prospects. As of tonight, the Senators are saying no, ‘we need a player off your roster, a significant one.’ Sure that names like Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde have come up. At the very least it could cost them Vladislav Namestnikov. The Senators want a major piece back.

Elliotte Friedman: Think that if it was Namestnikov, that’s something Tampa would do.

Chris Johnston: The Senators have left Ian Cole in the US so they don’t have to go through the immigration process. They do plan to flip him. Rental prices so far are Brandon Davidson and Nick Holden for a third-round pick. Maybe it’s a second-round for Ottawa for Cole.

Elliotte Friedman: Think the belief is that Max Pacioretty wants to go.  There were trade talks with Minnesota. Believe that the asking price was Charlie Coyle plus and that the Wild don’t want to do that and talks broke off. There may be a team on the West coast that is interested in Pacioretty.

Nick Kypreos: The LA Kings are pushing hard for Pacioretty. There have been a goal scoring issues for years on LA. Believe that the Canadiens have asked for Tanner Pearson or Tyler Toffoli. Not sure that is enough to get it done. At least a first-round pick would be involved, maybe last year’s first-round pick Gabriel Vilardi.

Elliotte Friedman: Among the teams that are interested in Tomas Plekanec are the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Boston Bruins appear to be the front-runners on Rick Nash. They would likely have to make other moves to fit his salary in. Looks like the Bruins are the number one contenders.

Chris Johnston: There was word that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jack Johnson have been talking contract extension. That hasn’t gone anywhere yet, they aren’t close to an extension. The Blue Jackets will have a decision to make on Monday to move him or not if a deal isn’t in place.

Elliotte Friedman: The Anaheim Ducks are a potential landing spot for Thomas Vanek.

Chris Johnston: Jarome Iginla skated with the Providence Bruins and is hoping for another shot. Unclear if that will happen.

Nick Kypreos: Hearing that Chris Kelly has come to terms with an NHL team. He doesn’t have to clear waivers. Hearing it’s a West coast team.

Elliotte Friedman: Think that the New Jersey Devils are picking up coach John Hynes fourth year option.