NHL Rumors: Islanders, Top Trade Bait and KHL
Sami Vatanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
On the New York Islanders …

Arthur Staple of Newsday: It appears that Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin will be testing free agency. Sources saying that the Islanders haven’t spoken with the either players agent since the end of the season. Contract talks with Frans Nielsen are in the preliminary stages, but he could still hit the open market on July 1st.

12 players Staples thinks could be available through trade and would help out the Islanders: James van Riemsdyk, Alex Killorn, Ryan Callahan, Nikita Nesterov, Ben Bishop, Jeff Carter, Valeri Nichushkin, Cam Atkinson, Beau Bennett, Wayne Simmonds, Mark Streit and Jordan Eberle.

On the trade market …

Frank Seravalli of TSN: TSN’s trade bait list – players who could be moved this offseason.

  1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers
    2. Tyson Barrie – Colorado Avalanche
    3. Kevin Shattenkirk – St. Louis Blues
    4. Edmonton’s 4th overall pick
    5. Sami Vatanen – Anaheim Ducks
    6. Mikael Granlund – Minnesota Wild
    7. Scott Hartnell – Columbus Blue Jackets
    8. Rick Nash – New York Rangers
    9. Frederik Andersen – Anaheim Ducks
    10. Jacob Trouba – Winnipeg Jets
    11. Marc-Andre Fleury – Pittsburgh Penguins
    12. Jordan Eberle – Edmonton Oilers
    13. Jonas Brodin – Minnesota Wild
    14. Ben Bishop – Tampa Bay Lightning
    15. Jack Johnson – Columbus Blue Jackets
    16. Jimmy Howard – Detroit Red Wings
    17. Hampus Lindholm – Anaheim Ducks
    18. Nail Yakupov – Edmonton Oilers
    19. Dustin Brown – Los Angeles Kings
    20. P.K. Subban – Montreal Canadiens
On the KHL …

Aivis Kalnins: Hearing the Jeff Platt of CSKA could be looking at the NHL. He had 35 points in 55 games for CSKA last year. (Platt played 41 games with the Blue Jackets over two seasons, 2005-07, and five games with the Ducks in 2007-08)

Igor Eronko: Alexander Khokhlachev said that at this point going Russia is better for his career, but added that he’d have a good chance to make the NHL with a team other than the Bruins.

Aivis Kalnins: Torpedo of the KHL deny there are having financial issues, but a bunch of players are considering to terminate their contracts.