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A Preview of (some of the) HUGE Names I Hear Could Move this Off-Season.

April 9, 2012, 1:53 PM ET [160 Comments]
Eklund
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Spring is in the air, the playoffs are here, but for so many of you this Monday is one of the hardest to deal with of all...

Why? Because 14 of the NHL’s 30 franchises are sitting back in waiting, but it isn’t hard to look at a few key teams out of the playoffs...Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Buffalo, Islanders, Wild, Avalanche to name a few to realize that well over 50% of the hockeybuzz readers are fans of teams who are NOT playing any more games. If you are one of them, don’t worry....The draft is coming quicker than you think and UFA Day, Sunday July 1st, is exactly 82 days away. Not even three months away! And while I will of course cover the race for the Cup, I won’t leave those not playing in the dust. I will have you covered..and by the end of April...14 teams out will become 22...and 2 of those teams will be either Detroit, Nashville, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh.

The past few summers have been fantastic in many ways. We have seen trades at drafts, and we have seen UFA frenzy’s on July 1, but my friends and fellow fans of rumors...you are in for a treat this time around....

This summer will be the best since the first post lockout frenzy. We not only have big name UFA’s, we have big name trades being already discussed.

Over the next several days I will go into much more depth on each of these players individually as we play all sorts of UFA scenarios out...and discuss where certain teams are rumored to be heading...

But today... An overview of what you have to look forward to...because never has the term, “Hope Springs Eternal” been more apt.

The P.I.N.D. Factor.

From all indications, this summer we could see four major forwards dealt. Two are UFAs, but I fully expect their teams will deal their rights by the draft if no extension can be worked out.

Zach Parise.
As a general rule, I won’t discuss rumors about a player who is still playing, except to say he is in play. I have yet to find an insider I know who disagrees. Zach Parise is in play. Where he goes and who is ALREADY putting him on their wishlist...we will discuss after the Devils run here. Is it possible Parise returns to NJ? It is absolutely possible.

Jarome Iginla.
It came out in the past few days the ownership of Calgary is for the first time considering moving Iginla. I believe fully that Feaster will move Iginla. Do I agree with this? No. I really believe Iginla is more valuable as a Flame player than he is for the assets you can obtain. However, history tells us that teams who “consider” moving franchise players (see Rick Nash) do indeed move them. And there are some serious teams who would love Iginla. NJ is one of them. Montreal is another. The Penguins could be in the mix. Boston is a possibility, and don’t rule out Buffalo here....at all.

Rick Nash (part deux)
Yes Virginia, there is a Rick Nash trade coming. Anyone who doubted the seriousness of Columbus need only remember the post deadline press conference. Part of me ALWAYS felt the Jackets were testing waters at the deadline, trying to hook a desperate Toronto, LA, or NY...but in the end the answer to the question, “Why would they ever trade him now because when they could get so much more at the draft?” was: “They wouldn’t.” Who gets in on Nash? It will be similar teams...San Jose, Rangers, Nashville, Toronto, Vancouver, LA (although some question if Nash would go and re-join Carter in LA) ..but others could emerge as well... The key to Nash’s final resting place could be in which of these teams in the playoffs now has a disappointing playoff run...

Shane Doan.
You will see shortly that I am extremely high on the Coyotes chances moving forward here. All that being said I have heard rumblings about more than a few teams who have serious interest in Doan’s services were he to hit the market July 1. This is one case I will definitely not discuss the who’s and why’s about yet, suffice to say I believe Doan will remain in Phoenix as long as the NHL does.



Possible Key UFA’s

Ryan Suter

I am of the belief that Ryan Suter’s future may be tied to Radulov’s future in Nashville. The Predators tried to get Nash and even considered Carter in an attempt to add scoring up front, but inevitably help came from a familiar face in Radulov. If Suter is pleased with what he sees I believe he stays a Pred for life. If he isn’t I believe we will see serious bids for his rights via teams we will discuss later on...

Alex Semin

He is as talented is anyone. He reminds me so much of another Russian Alex, Alex Kovalev when looking at this kid’s skill level. How many times did we sit and scratch our heads about Kovalev...Semin can be a factor in a huge way...He SHOULD be a factior in a huge way...the difference with Semin and Kovalev may be Kovalev appeared to have a much stronger love of North America...He played over in Russia this past year, but many times before couldn’t be lured back to the homeland. I am not so sure about Semin. These playoffs could very well define Semin’s NHL future, and as we all know to date the NHL playoffs would be “the last thing” Semin would want to define himself by.

Jaromir Jagr

He has shown a remarkable ability to come back to the NHL and use elements of a once dominant game to re-define his own game based on a more limited palate. But what Jagr has brought to the Flyers has been nothing short of awesome. If nothing else, his linemates, Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell have learned what it takes to be stars in the NHL. Quite simply neither have been allowed to take a single shift lightly and there is something to what Mario taught Jagr and Jagr taught Giroux that can not be downplayed. There is no doubt both sides want to continue this relationship forward, but I am quite sure were Jagr to have a remarkable playoff run...it could get very expensive...and other teams with similar young stars have absolutely taken note of this invaluable mentor.

Olli Jokinen

He has truly found his game and by all indication his life balance in Calgary. He wants to stay in Calgary for sure. However were it easy to get done, it would have been done by now. See, something happened to Jokinen this season. Olli got his star power back. He is a force once again. The player, who on his best nights I used to liken to Peter Forsberg, is coming back strong. Calgary wants him. He wants Calgary. But until it is done, he is on my list of players I discuss with sources day in and day out.

Paul Gaustad

There were way more teams wanting “goose” at the deadline. We will talk more about him later on...

Brad Stuart

The Wings want to keep Brad in a HUGE way. There are few players coach Babcock likes more. But the reality of the money may dictate otherwise...we will see.

Jonas Gustavsson

Leaf fans will have to admit that were it not for Jonas this team would have not even been close to a playoff spot. Goalies are hard to handicap...but in General the market for a goalie is set by a disappointing playoff performance by a team with high expectations...Jonas will have suitors.

Matt Carle.

The career of Matt Carle has been fascinating. He is an example of a guy who signed for too much money with his first contract, got dealt around because of his Cap hit, but slowly but surely played hockey that was more than worthy of his pricetag. Another example of both sides wanting to get it done, much depends on who else is available for the Flyers who may be replacing Pronger permanently...(and partially just did by extending Nic Grossmann) Carle could get a big number from elsewhere too...

and there is much more to come...

And that is just the tip of the iceberg this summer....a summer that will see a CBA negotiation which could include a player exemption clause that could open up the trade floodgates at the draft in Pittsburgh like never before. No matter how you slice it...a whole lot better than a summer waiting for an aging Sundin, hurting Forsberg, or even Brad Richards courtship...We have stars out there for the picking!

Next up...I will be making my picks for the first round as well as diving into the deep end to discuss the summers ahead for the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Has there ever been a time when both of the leagues most followed teams were in such a state of flux at the same time?

As Gene Hart would say...”Fasten your seat belts, my friends!”
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