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NHL trade rumors continue to churn even with the season on pause for the Olympics, making for some interesting chatter.
The NHL season has officially hit the pause button for the Olympics. But that doesn’t mean that NHL trade rumors will be taking a break anytime soon.
In fact, now is the time when plenty of chatter has begun to kick up around the league. So, it’s worth taking a closer look at what some teams are doing to hedge their bets ahead of the trade deadline.
NHL Trade Rumors: Sharks Blueliner No Longer in Team’s Plans
The San Jose Sharks could be making some waves at the trade deadline. They’ll be entering a type of hybrid deadline in which they’ll both buy and sell.
One of the pieces they’ll be looking to sell is impending UFA defenseman Timothy Liljegren. Liljegren joined the Sharks following a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. While the 26-year-old has been a regular in San Jose’s lineup, he hasn’t exactly thrived.
As such, insider David Pagnotta reported that the Sharks are looking to move on from Liljegren. In that case, the club could be looking to recoup assets to bolster its blue line. It will be interesting to see how GM Mike Grier navigates the situation to get the pieces he’s looking for for a playoff push.
Red Wings Not Interested in Rentals
Another interesting part of current NHL trade rumors is the talk that the Detroit Red Wings are not looking into rentals. The Wings are seeking a return to the playoffs after a nearly decade-long absence.
But as Pagnotta reported, the Red Wings aren’t looking for short-term gains. The club is prioritizing players with term left on their deals. The Wings were briefly in the talk surrounding Artemi Panarin, but that didn’t get very far due to extension demands.
That’s a situation that could complicate the Red Wings’ trade deadline strategy. The lot of players hitting the market will likely be impending UFAs. So, landing players with term could be more of an offseason part of NHL trade rumors.
Blue Jackets to Assess Future of UFAs
Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets could also be making some noise at the deadline. They have a couple of interesting impending UFAs. The two names that have hit NHL trade rumors are Charlie Coyle and captain Boone Jenner.
Jenner has been part of links to the Edmonton Oilers. As for Coyle, any number of contenders could be looking to add an experienced middle-six center like him.
The chatter is that the Blue Jackets will assess the likelihood of re-signing Jenner and Coyle. If there doesn’t appear to be much of a future with both, they could hit the market at the deadline.
Given the lack of centers, it’s safe to assume that Coyle will get plenty of attention. Numerous NHL trade rumors have already come up positing that Coyle could be in the sights of just about every contender this season.
It’s worth pointing out that the Blue Jackets are riding a seven-game winning streak. They hit the Olympic break four points out of a playoff spot. So, they’re not giving up any time soon. That situation could make for an interesting trade deadline in Columbus.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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