NHL trade rumors heating up as deadline date approaches

With just under two weeks to go before the NHL trade deadline, trade rumors around the league have begun to reach their boiling point, and with one trade down, the floodgates could open at any moment.

The 2018 NHL trade deadline has been one of the most anticipated deadlines in recent memory with storylines galore and plenty of big names almost guaranteed to be on a different team once Feb. 26 rolls around.

Buyers and sellers have almost all been determined at this point of the deadline countdown, and one of the most interesting teams is the Winnipeg Jets in the buyer category for the first time in recent history.

The Jets currently sit second in the Central Division with a record of 33-15-9, enough for 75 points and fifth in the NHL. According to the Winnipeg Sun, the Jets have made it quite clear that their interest is in adding another top-six scoring winger, specifically one with playoff experience. The Jets have had no issue scoring goals this season with 183 in 57 games, sixth in the NHL, but a stretch of injuries has strong-armed Winnipeg’s management into trying to make a deal.

General manager Tim Cheveldayoff has made it known that he would settle for a top-nine winger if he had to, but the goal is to find just one more guy they can stick next to Mark Scheifele or Blake Wheeler, and this yea’rs deadline is abundant with wingers who fit the bill. Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello, Evander Kane and Michael Grabner are all big name trade bait who have been linked to the Jets. Acquiring any of these players should be no problem, as Winnipeg has plenty of assets to acquire whoever they want, with a strong farm system, all of their own draft picks and an additional fifth-round pick.

On the topic of injuries changing deadline plans, the Philadelphia Flyers have found themselves in the unenviable position with goalie Brian Elliott out five to six weeks with a core muscle injury that required surgery Tuesday morning. The timing of this injury could not have been worse for the Flyers in this mess of a Metropolitan division, where one bad stretch could find them waking up on the outside looking in on the playoffs. The question now is do the Flyers stick with the goalie tandem of the inconsistent Michal Neuvirth and AHL call-up Alex Lyon, or do they make a move and acquire a solid goaltender for down the home stretch?

In the latest addition of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts, Friedman reported the Flyers top pro scout, Dave Brown, has been up in Buffalo often, and that two teams may have engaged in talks. Pending RFA goaltender Robin Lehner‘s $4 million cap hit expires after 2018-19, and could check the boxes for what Hextall is looking for if he decides that this current goaltending pair will not cut it.

The possibility of the Flyers making a move depends on two things: the play of Michal Neuvirth and the asking price of bringing in a goaltender. This season, Neuvirth’s record sits at 7-7-2 with a .917 save percentage. If Neuvirth can consistently sustain his current backup numbers while getting starter minutes and looks as though he can get Philadelphia into the playoffs, then Hextall likely stands pat. If Neuvirth looks shaky and inconsistent like we’ve seen before, then don’t be surprised to see the Flyers making a move before Feb. 26.

The final batch of recent rumors concerns the Ottawa Senators, this year’s team that has fallen off a cliff. Tuesday night saw them shed Dion Phaneuf’s contract along with Nate Thompson to the LA Kings in exchange for Marián Gáborík and Nick Shore, marking the beginning of the fire sale for the Senators that has included almost every possible name on the Senators roster.

Derick Brassard has been one of more consistent names floating on the trade block, and according to the Ottawa Sun, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been showing substantial in the center in order bolster up in an attempt to claim a third straight Stanley Cup.

If the Penguins are willing to commit on going all in on one more Cup, they’ll have to be ready to pay a hefty price. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Monday that general manager Pierre Dorion is asking for a first-round pick, a top prospect and a third piece. With very few centers on the market this year, the Penguins need to be absolutely all-in or be ready to stand pat and shoot for a Cup with what they have. Reports have circulated that Jean Gabriel Pageau might be linked to Pittsburgh, but those rumors were recently shot down.

Next: New York Rangers send letter to fans signifying that a rebuild is imminent

As we continue to inch closer to the NHL trade deadline, we can only say one thing is for certain: the league will look significantly different come Feb. 26.