Trade Deadline Rumour List
The NHL's annual trading deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 27. And with an earlier date than previous years, teams won't be making deals for successful playoff runs so much as they'll be loading up just to clinch a postseason berth. Here is a little list i put together for the names heard prominently in trade rumours around the league.
Here are some names in play:
Adrian Aucoin
Position: Defenceman
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Canadiens
The Blackhawks pinned much of their immediate future on Aucoin when they signed him to a four-year, $12 million deal in 2005. But the veteran blueliner has not lived up to expectations, battling groin injuries and spending a lot of time in the press box because of his recent defensive struggles. Aucoin can get his game back with a new team, but with two years and $8 million left on his contract, the price could be too much. A recent rumour had him possibly going to Montreal for Craig Rivet and Sergei Samsonov.
Todd Bertuzzi
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Red Wings
Coming off back surgery, a healthy Bertuzzi could give any team an edge in a tight playoff race. But off-ice issues aside, a big drawback is the remainder of his $5.3 million salary that has to be paid out. That will limit the number of potential suitors, but teams would be getting a player who can still dominate and set the tone in any given game. Bertuzzi will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Eric Brewer
Position: Defence
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Thrashers
Head coach Andy Murray has brought a winning attitude to the Blues, but a playoff spot might not be in the picture this season. Brewer, acquired by St. Louis in 2005 in a deal for Chris Pronger, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and the remainder of this year's $2 million salary is workable for a team looking to improve its blueline.
Joe Corvo
Position: Defenceman
Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 29
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Where stats are concerned, Corvo has kept pretty much the same pace as last season when he finished with 40 points with the L.A. Kings. But a plus-minus rating of -8 has made him his own worst critic and other teams could be clamouring for his services as a solid puck-moving defenceman. The Oilers were reportedly interested in dealing a player like Raffi Torres or Joffrey Lupul for Corvo, but his four-year, $10.5 million contract could be a point of contention.
Peter Forsberg
Position: Centre
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Avalanche, Canadiens, Red Wings, Hurricanes
Almost a dozen teams have reportedly expressed interest in Forsberg, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. But trade rumours are the farthest thing from Foppa's mind these days, as the former Hart Trophy winner is more concerned about getting the proper skate for his ankle and playing with a clean bill of health. There's no doubt that he's hurting this season, so how much is a team willing to give up for two or three months (at best?) for his services?
Bill Guerin
Position: Right Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 36
Rumoured Suitors? -
Guerin, who won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995, has plenty of playoff experience and brings veteran help to any team looking to make a postseason run. The one-year contract he signed with the Blues last summer makes him the perfect rental player, much like Mark Recchi and Doug Weight were last season. If St. Louis seems like it's on the outside looking in, the gritty scorer will be a hot commodity come Feb. 27.
Ladislav Nagy
Position: Left Wing
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Canadiens
The direction the Coyotes take at the trade deadline all depends on whether or not they're still in a realistic postseason hunt. With Nagy and captain Shane Doan set to hit the free agent market this summer, one or the other could be traded to a contending team. A club acquiring Nagy also gets the best opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal. At 27, he still has a lot of good hockey ahead of him.
Gary Roberts
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 40
Rumoured Suitors? - Maple Leafs, Senators
If Florida falls quickly out of contention, GM Jacques Martin could be looking to sell off some veteran talent in exchange for picks or prospects. Roberts could be a candidate if he waives his no-trade clause. Injury woes aside (suffering a hip flexor in January), Roberts takes very good care of himself and would be beneficial for any team in a short-term postseason run. The Roberts-to-Toronto rumours have always been kicking around, but it won't have much meat to it if the Leafs fall out of the race for a playoff berth.
Sergei Samsonov
Position: Left Wing
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Rumoured Suitors? - Blackhawks
Simply put, the stats show that Samsonov has been a bad fit for the Canadiens. A change of scenery may be the remedy to get this speedy and skilled forward back up to par, but the sticking point for the Habs may be his $3.75 million salary next season. He was recently waived by the Canadiens, but it looks like the Russian sniper and the team are stuck together until a) he finds his groove down the stretch or b) GM Bob Gainey is able to find a suitable trading partner.
Brad Stuart
Position: Defenceman
Team: Boston Bruins
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Stuart, acquired by Boston in 2005 as part of the blockbuster Joe Thornton trade, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The Bruins might deal Stuart if two factors come into play. First, the team would have to miss the postseason and pack it up. The second is even more crucial - seeing if he'll sign with the team. If Stuart and the Bruins can't come to terms, then it would only be logical to deal him rather than lose him for nothing in July.
Mats Sundin
Position: Centre
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 35
Rumoured Suitors? -
Most hockey pundits didn't have lot of expectations for the Maple Leafs this season. And if Toronto is well on its way to a second straight non-playoff campaign, they might bid farewell to their soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. That doesn't mean he'll be gone from Toronto forever, as the Leafs could hypothetically re-sign him in the summer. But if an April tee-time on the golf course is imminent, John Ferguson Jr. could be tempted to rent out his captain for a few months.
Jose Theodore
Position: Goaltender
Team: Colorado Avalanche
Age: 30
Rumoured Suitors? -
Another season, and another year of struggles for the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner. Pierre Lacroix's big acquisition from Montreal last March has turned out to be an $11.5 million ($5.5 million this year, $6 million next year) albatross for current GM Francois Giguere as backup Peter Budaj has unceremoniously taken the No. 1 job in net. There are few doubts that the Avalanche would love to trade Theodore and his hefty salary, but you won't find any takers. Reports out of Denver suggested Theodore could be shipped to Philly in exchange for Peter Forsberg, but those rumours were quickly refuted.
Keith Tkachuk
Position: Left Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 34
Rumoured Suitors? -
Even at 34, Tkachuk has all the makings of a solid power forward. WHen he's on his game, he can crash, bang and score like the rest of them. Though he makes $3.8 million this season, his salary counts for $5.7 million against the cap. Perhaps a fraction of that money is digestable for a team looking to make the postseason...that is, if the Blues are looking to cash in their chips early.
Darcy Tucker
Position: Right Wing
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Flames
The rumour mill started swirling with reports of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers showing interest in the feisty winger. The Alberta native, who played his junior hockey with Kamloops of the WHL, would be a welcome character player in either lineup. But are the Leafs willing to part ways with him without trying to sign him to a long-term contract first? Tucker could always re-sign with the blue and white in the summer, as it seems that both he and the Leafs want to get a deal done so he can stay in Toronto.
Here are some names in play:
Adrian Aucoin
Position: Defenceman
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Canadiens
The Blackhawks pinned much of their immediate future on Aucoin when they signed him to a four-year, $12 million deal in 2005. But the veteran blueliner has not lived up to expectations, battling groin injuries and spending a lot of time in the press box because of his recent defensive struggles. Aucoin can get his game back with a new team, but with two years and $8 million left on his contract, the price could be too much. A recent rumour had him possibly going to Montreal for Craig Rivet and Sergei Samsonov.
Todd Bertuzzi
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Red Wings
Coming off back surgery, a healthy Bertuzzi could give any team an edge in a tight playoff race. But off-ice issues aside, a big drawback is the remainder of his $5.3 million salary that has to be paid out. That will limit the number of potential suitors, but teams would be getting a player who can still dominate and set the tone in any given game. Bertuzzi will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Eric Brewer
Position: Defence
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Thrashers
Head coach Andy Murray has brought a winning attitude to the Blues, but a playoff spot might not be in the picture this season. Brewer, acquired by St. Louis in 2005 in a deal for Chris Pronger, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and the remainder of this year's $2 million salary is workable for a team looking to improve its blueline.
Joe Corvo
Position: Defenceman
Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 29
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Where stats are concerned, Corvo has kept pretty much the same pace as last season when he finished with 40 points with the L.A. Kings. But a plus-minus rating of -8 has made him his own worst critic and other teams could be clamouring for his services as a solid puck-moving defenceman. The Oilers were reportedly interested in dealing a player like Raffi Torres or Joffrey Lupul for Corvo, but his four-year, $10.5 million contract could be a point of contention.
Peter Forsberg
Position: Centre
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Avalanche, Canadiens, Red Wings, Hurricanes
Almost a dozen teams have reportedly expressed interest in Forsberg, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. But trade rumours are the farthest thing from Foppa's mind these days, as the former Hart Trophy winner is more concerned about getting the proper skate for his ankle and playing with a clean bill of health. There's no doubt that he's hurting this season, so how much is a team willing to give up for two or three months (at best?) for his services?
Bill Guerin
Position: Right Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 36
Rumoured Suitors? -
Guerin, who won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995, has plenty of playoff experience and brings veteran help to any team looking to make a postseason run. The one-year contract he signed with the Blues last summer makes him the perfect rental player, much like Mark Recchi and Doug Weight were last season. If St. Louis seems like it's on the outside looking in, the gritty scorer will be a hot commodity come Feb. 27.
Ladislav Nagy
Position: Left Wing
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Canadiens
The direction the Coyotes take at the trade deadline all depends on whether or not they're still in a realistic postseason hunt. With Nagy and captain Shane Doan set to hit the free agent market this summer, one or the other could be traded to a contending team. A club acquiring Nagy also gets the best opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal. At 27, he still has a lot of good hockey ahead of him.
Gary Roberts
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 40
Rumoured Suitors? - Maple Leafs, Senators
If Florida falls quickly out of contention, GM Jacques Martin could be looking to sell off some veteran talent in exchange for picks or prospects. Roberts could be a candidate if he waives his no-trade clause. Injury woes aside (suffering a hip flexor in January), Roberts takes very good care of himself and would be beneficial for any team in a short-term postseason run. The Roberts-to-Toronto rumours have always been kicking around, but it won't have much meat to it if the Leafs fall out of the race for a playoff berth.
Sergei Samsonov
Position: Left Wing
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Rumoured Suitors? - Blackhawks
Simply put, the stats show that Samsonov has been a bad fit for the Canadiens. A change of scenery may be the remedy to get this speedy and skilled forward back up to par, but the sticking point for the Habs may be his $3.75 million salary next season. He was recently waived by the Canadiens, but it looks like the Russian sniper and the team are stuck together until a) he finds his groove down the stretch or b) GM Bob Gainey is able to find a suitable trading partner.
Brad Stuart
Position: Defenceman
Team: Boston Bruins
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Stuart, acquired by Boston in 2005 as part of the blockbuster Joe Thornton trade, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The Bruins might deal Stuart if two factors come into play. First, the team would have to miss the postseason and pack it up. The second is even more crucial - seeing if he'll sign with the team. If Stuart and the Bruins can't come to terms, then it would only be logical to deal him rather than lose him for nothing in July.
Mats Sundin
Position: Centre
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 35
Rumoured Suitors? -
Most hockey pundits didn't have lot of expectations for the Maple Leafs this season. And if Toronto is well on its way to a second straight non-playoff campaign, they might bid farewell to their soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. That doesn't mean he'll be gone from Toronto forever, as the Leafs could hypothetically re-sign him in the summer. But if an April tee-time on the golf course is imminent, John Ferguson Jr. could be tempted to rent out his captain for a few months.
Jose Theodore
Position: Goaltender
Team: Colorado Avalanche
Age: 30
Rumoured Suitors? -
Another season, and another year of struggles for the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner. Pierre Lacroix's big acquisition from Montreal last March has turned out to be an $11.5 million ($5.5 million this year, $6 million next year) albatross for current GM Francois Giguere as backup Peter Budaj has unceremoniously taken the No. 1 job in net. There are few doubts that the Avalanche would love to trade Theodore and his hefty salary, but you won't find any takers. Reports out of Denver suggested Theodore could be shipped to Philly in exchange for Peter Forsberg, but those rumours were quickly refuted.
Keith Tkachuk
Position: Left Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 34
Rumoured Suitors? -
Even at 34, Tkachuk has all the makings of a solid power forward. WHen he's on his game, he can crash, bang and score like the rest of them. Though he makes $3.8 million this season, his salary counts for $5.7 million against the cap. Perhaps a fraction of that money is digestable for a team looking to make the postseason...that is, if the Blues are looking to cash in their chips early.
Darcy Tucker
Position: Right Wing
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Flames
The rumour mill started swirling with reports of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers showing interest in the feisty winger. The Alberta native, who played his junior hockey with Kamloops of the WHL, would be a welcome character player in either lineup. But are the Leafs willing to part ways with him without trying to sign him to a long-term contract first? Tucker could always re-sign with the blue and white in the summer, as it seems that both he and the Leafs want to get a deal done so he can stay in Toronto.
posted by Head Gossipper at 3:18 PM
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