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.
Showing Patience
Kevin Allen of USA Today writes that the Anaheim Ducks will not trade Corey Perry even if they don't have him signed.
"Why would they?" says Allen. "They are having an exceptional season, and Perry is a crucial player. Plus, they still hope to get him signed. Re-signing Ryan Getzlaf helps their cause, plus they can give Perry an eight-year deal and other teams can go only seven. The Ducks will offer at least Getzlaf money ($66 million)."
Perry is in the final season of a five-year, $26.625 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5.
Island Dwellers
Allen also discussed the New York Islanders and their trio of potential unrestricted free agents, Brad Boyes, Lubomir Visnovsky and Mark Streit.
In particular, Allen suggests that as long as the Islanders remain in the playoff race, they are less likely to become sellers. New York is 10th in the Eastern Conference, three points out of a playoff spot.
No Quick Fix
Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal spoke to Oilers GM Steve Tambellini in Denver this week, and he made it clear what Edmonton's philosophy is in the weeks leading up the April 3 trade deadline.
"Whether you're in the playoffs or not, if you can upgrade your team or improve it, we'll do that, but most of the people (with the Oilers) are the people we're going to be counting on for some time," Tambellini said. "You're not going to give up youth just for a quick fix there, that's for sure."
