I have updated Kadri, Yakupov, Halak, McDonald, Gunnarsson, and Setoguchi on Eklund's Trade Rumor Chart
Per Darren Dreger: The Predators have acquired Del Zotto from NY for Klein....
On Olympics..
I talked last night to a person with extreme knowledge of the situation about the future of the NHL at the Olympics and the NHL and was told "This is basically it." The NHL loves the exposure the NHLers get at the Olympics, but the schedule and the safety issues surrounding the games coupled with the next two games being in South Korea and China means the NHL owners are basically done with it.
"The risks far outnumber the rewards. Were these games NOT in Russia we wouldn't be going. The owners knew that some key Russians would force their hands this time around... so they punted, but they won't do so again."
The players want to play for their countries though. My source said that shortly after the season this year (or perhaps even before) the NHL will announce a "World Cup of Hockey" that takes place in August and rotates between the countries involved...with more of an emphasis on the games being held in Canada and the United States for monetary reasons and ease on the players.
The World Cup of Hockey will launch in 2016 and may piggyback on the summer Olympics, following the games every four years, "while people are still in the mood to watch nations compete, but the event would not be part of the summer games...they would be independent."
What do you think?