Quick hit 31 Thoughts rumor roundup
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking for right-handed defensemen.
The Florida Panthers could take a run at both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky this offseason.
The market for Wayne Simmonds may shake out after decisions/trades are made involving Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Panarin.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are among the teams looking at Micheal Ferland.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will continue to look at right-handed defensemen and it will likely be money in, money out. They need to limit their bonus overages for next season.
It’s believed the Maple Leafs rejected sending William Nylander to the St. Louis Blues.
The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning were also talking to the LA Kings about Jake Muzzin.
It’s unlikely that the Vegas Golden Knights would give teams (Edmonton Oilers) permission to speak with assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon in-season.
Contract extension talks between the San Jose Sharks and Erik Karlsson are about to get underway.
Friedman on what the Blackhawks could do
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 650 talking about the Chicago Blackhawks and what they might be looking to do. Friedman notes they will be sellers. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews aren’t going anywhere, Brent Seabrook would be a tough trade and they might not be ready to ask Duncan Keith if he’d be willing to move on.
“So I think the biggest thing is going to be what is the piece they decide that they can move. Is it Saad, is it something else. But I do think they’re going to be looking to breathe new life into their organization.”
Kane and Toews are basically the only untouchables, but it’s unlikely they would want to move Henri Jokiharju and Alex DeBrincat.
“Before Peter Chiarelli got fired, I heard they were talking about something potentially big with Edmonton. But I don’t even know if that’s still on the map anymore. But I don’t know what they would have to give up that would really make Edmonton a ton better.”