Keep up to date on the latest rumours and speculation around the NHL beat with TSN.ca's Rumour Mill.

Not on the Block

In response to a report over the weekend that the Ottawa Senators have asked Erik Karlsson to submit his 10-team no-trade list, two sources told Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun that the team has yet to discuss Karlsson in any trade talks.

Garrioch notes that while the Senators are becoming desperate after losing 10 of their past 11 games, trading their best player won’t help the franchise and the price for Karlsson is likely be too high for any team to match. Garrioch reports the team’s plan remains to keep Karlsson and open extension talks on July 1 when he becomes eligible. 

As TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said last week, Ottawa’s Pierre Dorion is one of the more aggressive general managers in the league and isn’t willing to sit and watch as his team struggles. Garrioch believes Dorion is feeling the crunch ahead of the league’s Dec. 19 roster freeze.

Garrioch reports Dorion has actively engaged in trade talks with multiple teams and lists Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Cody Ceci as the three best options to bring in a worthy return. He adds that Zack Smith, who has been a hot commodity in the past, has seen his stock drop with just one goal in 19 games this season.

With the team needing a major wake-up, Garrioch believes there is no point in Dorion making a minor tweak and adds that the Senators must trade a core player to send a message to their dressing room.

Ottawa does not have a first or second-round pick in next year's draft and also gave up their third-round pick in 2019 as part of the deal to acquire Matt Duchene last month. According to CapFriendly, the team has $1.725 million in cap space.

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Leadership Needed?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have needed more depth at centre this season and have been forced to play Jake Guentzel in the middle of their second line at times.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes Matt Cullen of the struggling Minnesota Wild could be the perfect piece to add to the Penguins lineup.

Cullen was a healthy scratch for the Wild on Friday night and is averaging a career-low 11:17 of ice time this year. The 41-year-old signed with the Wild in the off-season so he could return to his hometown, though Mackey notes that Cullen spoke well of Pittsburgh after his time with the team.

Mackey reports there have been no signs the Penguins have made an aggressive play for Cullen yet and he expects the Wild to wait until closer to the deadline before selling any assets.

Cullen has a goal and six assists in 28 games and is minus-9 this season.

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Wanted Him Back

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said Saturday that the team wanted to re-sign defenceman Matt Hunwick this past summer, but he got a better offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“He was a real role model for people, did things right every day,” Babcock told The Toronto Sun. “We were always impressed by him.

“We tried to sign Hunny again. He got a better deal here in Pittsburgh. That’s what you have to do as a player. I was excited for him, he got a three-year deal.”

The Maple Leafs filled the void left by Hunwick by signing former Penguin Ron Hainsey. Hainsey has slid up the Leafs lineup to pair with Morgan Rielly and now averages 21:55 of ice time per game.

Hainsey has two goals and 13 points through 31 games with the Maple Leafs this season, while Hunwick, who missed significant time due to a concussion, has three goals and four points in 16 games with Pittsburgh, averaging 18:27 of ice time per game.