Rumour Mill In Overdrive as NHL Trade Deadline Approaches

Let’s get this out of the way first: because this story was posted after noon on Monday, this is not an April Fools prank. There is also no joking around when it comes to discussing the National Hockey League trade deadline at 3 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, April 3.

Between now and then, all kinds of rumours will be bandied about and some actual trades will (or should) occur. The sports-talk shows in hockey-obsessed markets — such as all of Canada — have been discussing various trade-related subjects until even they appear bored by all the hooey they’ve been shovelling in an effort to keep the ratings up. So here is a compilation of what has happened in the last week or so, and what is expected to happen within the next 48 hours.

Until Monday afternoon, the only team which had been active on the trade front is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last Wednesday, they rocked the hockey world when they acquired an icon — winger Jarome Iginla from Calgary — and in separate deals got Brenden Morrow, who had been the captain of the Dallas Stars, and big defenceman Douglas Murray from the San Jose Sharks.

The Penguins didn’t give up anyone from their active roster, which was a good thing for them because they’ve been wracked with injuries since completing those deals. Sidney Crosby, the best player in the league, will likely be out until the playoffs after he took a puck to the face last Saturday, breaking his jaw and requiring emergency dental surgery. The Pens have also lost two of their top defencemen, Kris Letang and Paul Martin, to various injuries.

What has taken up much of the oxygen is the chatter about who will (or ought to) be moved. At the top of that list all season long has been Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, who is still linked with the Toronto Maple Leafs — despite the denials of Leafs general manager Dave Nonis — and at least three more teams. Others who may be moved by the deadline include netminder Miikka Kiprusoff and defenceman Jay Bouwmeester of the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars forwards Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy, and Washington Capitals centre Mike Ribeiro.

UPDATE: On Monday afternoon the Chicago Blackhawks brought in 36-year-old centre Michal Handzus from the Sharks for a fourth-round draft pick. In 28 games this season, Handzus has one goal and one assist. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Flyers picked up bruising forward Jay Rosehill from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for rookie forward Harry Zolnierczyk.