NHL Rumors: The Trade Market Is Flooded With Forwards
Kris Russell and the NHL trade market

Garrioch Rumor Roundup …

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Sense is the trade market will be busy from now until the trade deadline. Issue that is coming up now is that the trade market is flooded with forwards. There are the questions involving Steven Stamkos.Other forwards that could be available: Eric Staal, Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, Mikkel Boedker, Scott Hartnell, Kyle Okposo and Jonathan Drouin.

    The Oilers could move assets in Justin Schultz and Teddy Purcell. Both are getting interest.

    The Bruins are likely to trade pending UFA Loui Eriksson.

    Contract talks between the Jets and Andrew Ladd don’t appear to be going anywhere and he’ll likely be moved. Reports are they will give it one last shot. The Panthers would be a good fit, with the Blackhawks as another.

    Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello isn’t close to being done and is the most aggressive among Canadian teams.

    “Lou’s trying to get ahead of the other teams,” said a league executive. “I didn’t think he was trying to do that by trading Phaneuf to Ottawa.”

    The Leafs have been trying to trade Joffrey Lupul with no success. Daniel Winnik’s name has come up in talks. P.A. Parenteau is getting interest. If the Maple Leafs trade James Reimer, he’s likely to get an extension with that team as goalies aren’t often rentals.

    The Canucks will get calls on defenseman Dan Hamhuis. He’d like to stay in Vancouver, but he’d need to take a pay cut.

    The Flames have pending UFA Jiri Hudler. Teams are calling the Flames about Kris Russell. They’d like to re-sign him, but it’s not looking like that will happen.

    The Coyotes are in the playoff hunt, but they don’t want to lose pending UFA winger Mikkel Boedker for nothing. There hasn’t been serious contract talks. Sense is GM Don Maloney wants to wait until the trade deadline is closer to see where they are at.

    Flyers GM Ron Hextall wants to open up some spots on his blueline. They could also look to move Sam Gagner who they’ve already put on waivers this year.