NHL rumors: Latest buzz around trades, coach firings, signings
By Justin Lee, Chat Sports
One week out from the 2016 NHL trade deadline, teams are starting to differentiate themselves into the camps of buyers, sellers and onlookers. The Calgary Flames have reportedly opened the door on nearly every player on the roster, using potential rental candidates as trade bait to land younger players under more years of team control.
On the other side, Stanley Cup contenders such as the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings are scouring the market for impact talent, including Chicago’s reported infatuation with Winnipeg Jets winger Andrew Ladd.
Who’s actually going to clean house? Who’s going to make an aggressive play on the market in hopes of lifting the Cup this summer? We don’t know yet, but we do know that we’re in for a wild week around the league.
Check out the latest NHL news and rumors below.
• Chat Sports: Blackhawks have several wingers targeted before trade deadline
• The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Shawn Matthias to the Colorado Avalanche for a fourth-round draft pick and minor league forward Colin Smith, according to multiple media reports.
• Montreal Canadiens general manager says he will not trade star defenseman PK Subban before the trade deadline, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.
• St. Louis Blues top-line center Alexander Steen will miss at least four weeks on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the team announced Sunday.
• Carolina Hurricanes veteran forward Eric Staal is on the trade block despite the team being in the playoff hunt, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
• The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers have emerged as potential trade suitors for Winnipeg’s Andrew Ladd, reports Scott Lewis of Sportsnet.
• Chat Sports: More NHL news and rumors inside the Chat Sports app
• The Buffalo Sabres would trade pending unrestricted free agent Jamie McGinn if they could get a second-round draft pick for him, reports Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.
• Teams are calling the Calgary Flames about upcoming unrestricted free agents Jiri Hudler and Kris Russell, reports the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch.