Jul 6 2009
An occasional round-up of NHL trade rumors from around the hockey world.
Senators F Dany Heatley for Flames D Dion Phaneuf is the rumor circulating lately. Inevitable, perhaps, considering that Calgary's projected franchise defenseman was mediocre last season.
Hard to see Calgary making this trade, given Heatley's reputation as a defensive bystander and Phaneuf's long history with new coach Brent Sutter.
Or Heatley could end up in Edmonton, with a package including Oilers F Dustin Penner and a quality young player going to Ottawa.
The Oilers are reportedly also looking to move one of their offensive defenseman, and the most likely candidate is Sheldon Souray.
The rumor has Souray going to Los Angeles, where his kids and ex-wife live, for Kings D Jack Johnson. For a guy drafted as a grade A prospect, Johnson's name is surfacing in a lot of rumors lately.
June 28/09 -
Not a lot of new rumors circulating post-draft. Mostly just the usual names:
Lightning F Vincent Lecavalier to Montreal rumor appears to have gone cold, for now anyway.
Flyers still offering F Daniel Briere around. Montreal and L.A. mentioned as destinations.
F Simon Gagne also surfacing in rumors. Hard to see why the Flyers would part with such a well-rounded veteran.
Thrashers said to be offering goalies Kari Lehtonen and Ondrej Pavelec.
The D Tomas Kaberle for F Phil Kessell deal between Toronto and Boston is apparently dead.
No good offers for Ottawa F Dany Heatley during draft weekend. Interested teams? Rangers, Oilers, Blues, Wild, Kings, Blackhawks have all been mentioned.
Would San Jose move G Evgeni Nabokov if they could acquire Wild G Josh Harding?
Ottawa D Jason Smith and Alexandre Picard on offer, but little interest.
June 25/09 -
The Wild could be moving young G Josh Harding, with St. Louis, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Detroit and San Jose mentioned a possible destinations.
Reports suggest Panthers D Jay Bouwmeester won't negotiate with teams before the free agency market opens on July 1. If that's true, there is no value in trading for his rights before then.
A Toronto report says the no-trade clauses of D Pavel Kubina and D Tomas Kaberle do not apply between the NHL Draft and July 1.
One potential deal: Kaberle, a 1st-round pick (#7 overall), and next year's 2nd-round pick to Tampa Bay for F Ryan Malone and a 1st-round pick (#2 overall). Sounds to good to be true for Leafs fans.
The Blue Jackets have denied a rumor that they will trade D Kris Russell for Ottawa G Alex Auld.
Latest Dany Heatley rumors:
The Kings have offered (or have been asked for) one or two players from F Alex Frolov, D Jack Johnson, and F Jarret Stoll, plus a late draft pick.
The Wild are in the mix with some combination that would include two or three of F James Sheppard, F Eric Belanger, F Cal Clutterbuck, F Derek Boogaard, D Tyler Cuma and D Marek Zidlicky.
Ottawa could package Heatley with some combination of D Jason Smith, D Alexandre Picard, G Alex Auld and F Chris Kelly.
Reports out of Boston say the Bruins are negotiating with restricted free agent F Phil Kessel, but his salary demands could result in a trade.
There is also talk that Boston could move F Marc Savard, who would have to waive a no-trade clause.
It looks like the Wild will lose star F Marian Gaborik as a free agent, making Minnesote one team that could be in the running for Kessel.
The San Jose Sharks are said to be close to making a deal. Curiously, the most popular Shark in current trade rumors is F Ryane Clowe, one of the few players who showed up for the team's latest playoff debacle. Clowe is a restricted free agent, so any team acquiring him has to sign him.
The Leafs are reportedly pursuing Bruins F Peter Schaefer, who spent most of last season in the minors, and Rangers D Wade Redden, whose expensive six-year contract was presumed to be untradeable.
The Atlanta Thrashers won't be trading F Ilya Kovalchuk. Not yet, at least. He's unrestricted next summer.
June 21/09-
The most often cited destinations for Ottawa F Dany Heatley are Western Conference teams. Maybe Anaheim, L.A., or Minnesota. Possibly Vancouver if the Sedin brother sleave as free agents. Heatley is due a $4 million bonus on July 1, so Ottawa will be trying to trade him before then.
Would the Rangers package F Niklolai Zherdev and D Michal Rozsival for Heatley?
The Rangers are rumored to be seeking Toronto's first-round draft pick (seventh overall), offering some combination of D Marc Staal, F Brandon Dubinsky, and D Wade Redden in a package deal for the pick and a player.
Wild G Josh Harding says he wants to be a starting goaltender. That won't happen in Minnesota, where Niklas Backstrom has a new contract. Harding is considered an excellent young goalie with number-one potential.
One rumor that sounds implausible: Harding and Wild D Marek Zidlicky to Toronto for Leafs D Tomas Kaberle.
The Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens will come up in plenty of trade rumors because they go into the off-season with plenty of salary cap space.
Flyers F Daniel Briere to Los Angeles is a popular rumor, and Tampa Bay F Vincent Lecavalier to Montreal is a long-standing rumor that refuses to go away.
If Philadelphia can't deal Briere, there's speculation the team will move F Simon Gagne. Gagne makes less money on a shorter contract, and brings good defensive skills as well.
It's widely assumed the Flyers need to deal a forward to make room for a new top defenseman, possibly Florida D Jay Bouwmeester. Look for Florida to trade Bouwmeester's rights before he becomes a free agent on July 1.
Next Page: More NHL Trade Rumors
