The NHL trade deadline is coming and rumors have the top names moving in players like Thomas Vanek, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Kesler, Mike Cammalleri, Brad Boyes and Martin Brodeur, while teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings could be deadline options.
The deadline has already had a big move go down in Ryan Miller getting traded to the St. Louis Blues and now with injuries starting to pile up, names like Steve Ott and Cam Ward could also move. The Islanders could get involved at the deadline and this comes after Vanek was traded from the Sabres earlier in the season and now Vanek and Andrew MacDonald could be the top options for GM Garth Snow to deal. The Islanders lost John Tavares to an injury in Sochi for the Olympics and now they could really start to sell off and that is what the Sabres started doing with the Ryan Miller traded and that brought Jaroslav Halak to the team.
The Sabres have a number of players they can still deal and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff could be an option for the Chicago Blackhawks or Boston Bruins after some of the injuries they have had and that could come on deadline day on Wednesday. Ehrhoff said that he has given the team a no-trade list and this comes after he signed a 10-year, $40 million contract extension with the team three years ago and he is one of the main players getting shopped by the Sabres.
The Blackhawks have dealt with a number of injuries and now Marian Hossa will be out for up to three weeks with an injury to his upper body and that could spark the team to go after Vanek or Mike Cammalleri, two of the top offensive players on the trade market. Hossa has 24 goals in 57 games this season and he was hurt during the outdoor game against the Penguins and after ESPN.com reported that the Blackhawks GM said the team would not be doing a deal at the deadline, this could change things. ESPN.com also reported that the team could be in the mix for a backup goalie like Martin Brodeur or Cam Ward for Corey Crawford on the playoffs.
Ryan Callahan and the Rangers looked like a trade was inevitable, but the captain of the team has now said that he would go for a six year deal rather than a seven year deal. ESPN.com reported on the news and that the dollar amount by year is still in dispute and that could force a trade, but the Rangers are hoping to avoid that and they hope to keep him long term. Kesler is having the same issues and Glen Sather wants to sign him to a deal, but at the right price and Callahan is asking for over $6 million, while the Rangers are hoping for a bit less than that annually.
