NHL rumors: Latest buzz around trades, coach firings, signings
The Chicago Blackhawks may have already “won” the NHL trade deadline with days to go until Monday’s cutoff. On Thursday, Chicago finalized a four-player deal which netted them Winnipeg Jets star winger Andrew Ladd—a swap which also includes a cache of draft picks sent from Chicago to Winnipeg.
Ladd, 30, was widely considered as the best available rental option on the trade market. In the final season of a five-year, $22 million deal, Ladd has posted 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) and a -10 plus/minus.
Check out the latest NHL rumors and news below.
• The Vancouver Canucks are looking for a top blue-line prospect in any trade involving Dam Hamhuis and Radim Vrbata, reports Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province.
• The Minnesota Wild are “not looking to sell” in advance of Monday’s trade deadline, general manager Chuck Fletcher said according to Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press.
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• The Edmonton Oilers will likely have to retain some salary and lower their asking price if they want to trade Justin Schultz, according to Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot.
• P.A. Parenteau says that reports that he had been told by the Toronto Maple Leafs that he had be traded are false, reports Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star.
• The Montreal Canadiens are listening to trade offers for Max Pacioretty, according to Jimmy Murphy of Bruinsdaily.com.
• It’s unlikely that the New York Islanders will trade Travis Hamonic before the deadline, according to Hamonic’s agent, Kevin Epp.
• Epp, also the agent for Arizona Coyotes winger Mikkel Boedker, believes his client will be “moved to a contending team” before the deadline, according to Frank Seravelli of TSN.
• Carolina Hurricanes stalwart Eric Staal says he hasn’t yet been asked to waive his no-trade clause, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.