NHL Trade Deadline Rumors: Hurricanes Will Be A Big Buyer

The Carolina Hurricanes are the class of the Metro Division. They didn’t score enough in last year’s playoffs, and they aren’t going to let that happen again. A source told me they are considering everyone from Bo Horvat to Tyler Bertuzzi. They have cap space. They have young assets like Seth Jarvis, Scott Morrow, Noel Gunler, and Ryan Suzuki. If it’s the Vancouver Canucks, they could appease the fans with at least one of those names in a package with picks. If you’re Detroit, you might be able to pry Jarvis if Bertuzzi were to sign with Carolina long-term. That’s assuming the Red Wings don’t extend him before the deadline, but so far that hasn’t happened.

Is Dylan Larkin On The Trading Block? 

The Red Wings are trying to extend Larkin. I don’t see letting him get past the trading deadline without a new contract. Steve Yzerman doesn’t operate that way.  A source told me If Dylan Larkin goes to free agency, don’t rule out the Columbus Blue Jackets as a landing spot. His close friend Zach Werenski will lead the recruiting effort. They’ve played on youth hockey teams since they were ten years old. They both played at Michigan together. There was this moment as well.

Is Interest in Rasmus Ristolainen Growing? 

Rasmus Ristolainen has had a decent season for new head coach, John Tortorella. But he’s mainly been a physical, puck-moving defenseman. Right now, the Finnish defenseman is a far cry from his point-producing days with the Buffalo Sabres, but his offense has come alive in the past two weeks. Just after Ristolainen got his first point of the season, and that took a while. A source told me that a team was interested in him and thought they could turn him into a 30-point defenseman once again. Now that he is better defensively, still not rock solid by any stretch, but this extra offense could open the market for the Flyers’ general manager to make a potential “hockey trade” for him. Don’t rule it out.

The Kraken Will Be Buyers At The Deadline

It’s an amazing turnaround from last year, but the Seattle Kraken are legit playoff contenders, and as a result, don’t expect to be sellers at the trading deadline. At game 47, this season, Seattle has broken their own team record for points with 61. Here is something a source just told me: The Kraken like their defense, but they want to improve the depth back there. The Kraken could take on salary and get a grizzled rock-solid defenseman to fortify their blueline. Enter Joel Edmundson. A Stanley Cup champion with size who only has a minor injury at this time. He will be healthy at that time, plus he has a year of term left. Edmundson has a modified no-trade clause, so this could be a match for both if Edmundson approves it. Seattle would likely have to give a pick and a prospect of some sort.