NHL Trade Rumors Heating Up

Even though the Stanley Cup Finals are taking place, don’t expect the rest of the NHL to stop. There are 29 other general managers looking for ways to improve their teams. Whether that happens through the draft, through free agency or through trades is till anybody’s guess. But the trade rumors typically heat up this time of year. Most often nothing comes out of them. But this year’s expansion draft makes it likely there will be more taking place than normal.

The big news is that Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan hinted to the Associated Press that Alex Ovechkin could be traded if the right deal came along. That really isn’t saying all that much. If the Edmonton Oilers offered Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for Ovechkin, owner Ted Leonsis would drive Alex to the airport. That’s not going to happen, but any player is liable to be traded if the right deal comes along. Still, MacLellan said something that would have considered taboo not too long ago.

Other names that have been mentioned include Montreal’s Alex Galchenyuk, Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle, Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Drouin and Carolina’s Justin Faulk. The expansion draft will also affect trades after it is completed. Las Vegas will get some good defensemen and be a bit lacking in forwards. Expect the Knights to be willing to move defensive players for help up front or draft picks.

The Minnesota Wild could be the key team heading into the NHL expansion draft. They are likely to lose a top-four defenseman but trading one doesn’t do them much good. They have five players worth protecting. Minnesota may consider trading two if they can back a solid, young expansion exempt defenseman and something else nice. But very few teams will have what they want and be willing to part with it.