With the NHL Trade Deadline less than a month away, teams are making decisions on whether to buy or sell. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat, and follow TSN.ca each day until Deadline Day for all the updates.
Time To Mix It Up?
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie explains why the Oilers could be looking to trade defenceman Ryan Whitney.
Whitney's contract expires at the end of this year and his value may be on the rise after scoring three goals in six games since returning to the lineup in March.
"The Oilers have come to the realization that their team lacks the right mix up front," explained McKenzie. "They have got too much of the same thing, all these high end, skill guys that maybe aren't that big."
"They need more size, they need more strength, they need more physical play. Maybe they can use Whitney or Eric Belanger or somebody like that to help get something in that vein."
Big Ticket Item
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger discusses the possibility of the San Jose Sharks moving forward Ryan Clowe before the deadline.
Clowe is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and while the Sharks would like to sign him, they also have to consider their payroll as the cap comes down next year.
"[The Sharks] are not shopping Clowe, they are listening to interest," said Dreger. "This is a big ticket type of trade; you're talking about a first round draft pick or two seconds, you're talking about a prospect player, and maybe another component as well just to get the Sharks listening."
Pick Your Panther
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun wonders whether the Florida Panthers will be one of the teams selling at the trade deadline.
The Panthers have players they may be interested in moving, such as Kris Versteeg (three years left on contract), Tomas Fleischmann (two years left) and Filip Kuba (one year left).
"These are guys with term, they are not easy to move," said LeBrun. 'The salary cap is going down in the off-season, but I think there will at least be some callers on one of those guys."
Centre Of Attention
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province provides some potential options for the Canucks to consider if they plan on finding more depth at centre.
Some of the names include, Panthers' Shawn Matthias, Sabres' Jochen Hecht, Islanders' Marty Reasoner, and Tampa Bay's Nate Thompson.
"The Western Conference will be a playoff mine field - one misstep and kaboom - and there are few sellers with tight races in a shortened season. But unless the Canucks start winning consistently, waiting until the deadline may be too late," stated Kuzma.
