With the NHL Trade Deadline less than 50 hours away there have been a few trades early Saturday and more rumours around the league.
On the trade front there were two moves so far today. Firstly the Carolina Hurricanes sent defenseman Tim Gleason to the Washington Capitals in return for Jack Hillen and a 2015 fourth round pick. The Hurricanes had sent Andrej Sekera to the LA Kings on Wednesday.
Later Tomas Fleischmann was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in return for Dany Heatley and a 2015 third round pick. Heatley has been playing in the AHL and was sent to the San Antontio Rampage, the Florida Panthers AHL affiliate.
On the Dallas Stars front it has mostly been quite quiet and what rumours have appeared on twitter are mostly what was expected.
ESPN’s Craig Custance reported that there has been significant interest in the Dallas Stars pending UFA Erik Cole but that Shawn Horcoff was also receiving interest.
Significant interest right now in Erik Cole.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 28, 2015
Cole generating the interest in Dallas but Horcoff another option. Especially after Vermette moves. Horcoff’s no-trade lifted this season.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 28, 2015
There isn’t anything here that comes as much of a surprise to those who have been following the Dallas Stars. But it’s reassuring that the Stars are being mentioned. There hasn’t been much mentioned surrounding the Stars unlike the rumours that are flying abound about other teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks.
Speaking of the Blackhawks and trade rumours; it seems that suggestions that Patrick Sharp was being shopped are wrong. His agent spoke with GM Stan Bowman and was reassured that they had no intention of trading him.
Patrick Sharp’s agent, Rick Curran, spoke with GM Stan Bowman on Thursday and was assured #Blackhawks have “no intention” of trading Sharp.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) February 28, 2015
In other trade rumours the New York Rangers are apparently shopping forward Mats Zuccarello. Apparently they are not confident that Zuccarello will re-sign with the Rangers. The Norwegian forward has 35 points so far in 58 games this year.
The Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils have decided to protect their valuable assets with only two days until the deadline by scratching pending UFAs. Martin Havlat and Jeff Petry will sit out their respective games.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for any rumours or any trades that could happen later today. With talk surrounding Cole heating up we could see the pending UFA being move sooner, rather than later.