NHL Rumour Report - NHL Trade Rumours and Speculation

Rumoured contenders for the top pending UFAs: Part II

We're now just 5 days away from the UFA interview period, and speculation continues to surface around the league. Here's Part II of the rumoured contenders for the top pending UFAs. Check out Part I if you missed it.

Just 6 days from now all 30 NHL teams will be allowed to talk to any pending UFA. Time to fish or cut bait.

- Matt Duchene is back in the rumour mill. His name first surfaced early in the NHL regular season, but things seemed to taper off as his play improved. The Senators and Jets are two teams known to have kicked tires. If the Avs move him, it'll likely be to improve their struggling blueline.

Lots going on in the NHL rumour mill so you'll see shorter posts at a greater frequency for the next while.

We are a mere 11 days away from the June 25th UFA interview period, and several teams are putting the final touches on their sales pitches to Steven Stamkos. Stamkos has expressed his desire to remain with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but if and when he opens up to offers from other teams, there will be no lack of suitors.

We're now just 12 days away from the NHL draft and the opening of the UFA interview period. On June 22nd the NHL Board of Governors will vote on expansion, which will tell GMs whether they need to make trades in anticipation of a 2017 expansion draft. And if teams want to make sure they don't want to face an offer sheet on one of their RFAs, they'd better get on that before the June 28th RFA interview period opens.

The goalie market in the NHL has probably never been hotter than it is right now. Teams are under increased pressure to shed salary in light of news that the NHL salary cap will remain relatively stagnant this year. If and when the NHL approves expansion to Las Vegas, an expansion draft will likely happen in 2017 which will expose eligible goalies around the league and force teams to make trades ahead of the draft. Keep these factors in mind as you read this star-studded list of goalies on the block.

The list of teams inquiring on Jacob Trouba continues to grow, with Boston joining Edmonton, Colorado and the Islanders as teams with keen interest in the pending RFA blueliner. The Jets have continued a dialogue with Trouba, though they may not be able to afford him following the re-signing of Dustin Byfuglien. Rumours emerged several months ago that Trouba was seeking a long term deal of over 6 million a season.