Trade chatter continues to intensify around the NHL with 24 teams now in full offseason mode.
- Change is coming in Los Angeles after the upstart Kings got bounced from the first round for the second year in a row. Expectations have grown after the team emerged from an abbreviated rebuild last season, and big moves are expected.
- It starts in net, where the Kings appear lukewarm about their goaltending situation. The team will have to divest themselves of Cal Petersen's albatross contract and must decide whether to extend Joonas Korpisalo, who was up and down in their first round tilt against the Oilers.
- Rumblings suggest the team is looking for a big name goalie on the trade market. At the deadline they kicked tires on Juuse Saros and Thatcher Demko, but it will be difficult if not impossible to pry those two franchise netminders away from their respective teams. Who might else be on their radar? Among the top names rumoured to be available are Connor Hellebuyck, Carter Hart, Jordan Binnington and John Gibson and pending UFAs Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen and Semyon Varlamov. We will get a clearer picture of their targets as we get closer to the draft.
- At forward, the Kings are expected to move on from some of their young talent that has struggled to crack a contending veteran lineup. Players like Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Turcotte are rumoured to be restless and eager for a change of scenery if opportunities remain limited.
- The same is likely to apply to their crowded blueline, where names like Sean Walker continue to swirl as potential trade bait. All are potential chips that may become part of a blockbuster package for the franchise netminder the team has needed for years.
- Change could be coming in Boston after suffering a devastating first round defeat at the hands of the Panthers. Though they would love to keep him, pending UFA winger Tyler Bertuzzi will be a target high on many teams radars, including the Stars. Dmitry Orlov could be a luxury the B's can't afford either, with rumblings suggesting the blueliner might like to return to the Washington Capitals to close out his career. Taylor Hall and Matt Grzelcyk have also seen their names in the rumour mill from time to time.
- Following the firing of head coach Darryl Sutter, it's believed a number of Flames players have rescinded trade requests. Among the players that were evidently unhappy under the veteran bench boss were Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund. With many core Flames' contracts up for renewal soon, a tough business decision appears to have been made. A bizarre rumour suggests the Flames would even consider going back with GM Brad Treliving, who departed the franchise just weeks ago over the Flames' apparent (at the time) decision to stand by Sutter. Never a dull moment in Calgary.
- Plenty more coming. Less than two months to go until the NHL entry draft and free agency. Please consider sharing this post and following NHL Rumour Report on Facebook and Twitter for the latest NHL rumour updates!
