The NHL season is now into 2014 and with the Winter Olympics break and the trading deadline coming up, many expect there to be some action over the next couple weeks and some names that could come up in rumors and speculation includes players like Martin Brodeur, Michael Del Zotto, Ryan Miller, Marian Gaborik, Jaromir Jagr and Evander Kane are getting buzz and could end up getting dealt.
The Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers are teams that could be looking for trades and according to CBS Sports, the Senators could be willing to unload some talent to get a veteran. The team has not been able to replace the leadership from Daniel Alfredsson and after getting Bobby Ryan over the summer, the team could be willing to do more before the Olympics break. Matt Moulson is an option, as is Michael Del Zotto, who the team reportedly was interested in earlier in the season.
According to SB Nation, Del Zotto has been linked to the senators for quite some time, as the Rangers may want to trade the defenseman and he has not been a favorite of the new head coach. The Rangers are a team that is speculated to be making moves and it remains to be seen if they will deal him. Brodeur is a name that seems crazy to move, but if the Devils are out of it by the deadline, he could be a name that moves and at that position so is Ryan Miller. Right now Buffalo is way out of it and the Devils are in the mix, so it remains to be seen if any moves will go down.
The deadline comes on February 7 and then breaks until February 23 and then the actual trading deadline comes on March 5, so it will be interesting to see if any teams pull off deals before the Olympic roster freeze. Marian Gaborik is a name that could move after he was dealt for Rick Nash, while Miller will continue to get attention if the Sabres keep losing.
Check here for more on NHL trade rumors.
In some news from earlier in the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Dion Phaneuf to a contract extension and he is a cornerstone player for the team and here is more from Reuters.com. The Toronto Maple Leafs locked up a key member of their defense corps by signing captain Dion Phaneuf to a seven-year contract extension, the National Hockey League team said on Tuesday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team but local reports said the contract is worth $49 million.
"Dion is our team leader and has been a pillar in our building process," Maple Leafs General Manger Dave Nonis said in a statement. "He has proven to be a very durable and reliable defenseman in all facets of the game."
Phaneuf, 28, began his NHL career with the Calgary Flames but was traded to Toronto in 2010. The former first round draft pick has 110 goals and 245 assists in 630 career games.
He has 15 points in 39 games this season for a Maple Leafs team that is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. (Reuters)