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It's July 19 and 20 Players have just been updated on the Chart

July 19, 2018, 12:11 PM ET [153 Comments]
Eklund
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20 Players remain on the rumor chart...All Updated this morning..

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Every year my wife and kids ask me the same question....

"When is the hockey world going to slow down and summer going to begin for you?"

My usual response has been "Somewhere around July 15th most of the big stuff should be done... Around now you will see teams sending out the invites to camp and a few players may sign small two-way deals...and all the trading has happened...

Not this year!

This year it is July 19th and we have more hanging in the balance than we did last July 1. Big names who we KNOW will get traded are keeping vacation from starting, and frankly I love it. I live for hockey rumors, and the excitement of where these players could end up...and if you are reading my blog on July 19th...you feel the same!

So this morning I updated 20 players on the Rumor Chart (which we usually take down about now because everyone is already in place) and here are just some of the latest rumors I am hearing throughout the NHL...

On Erik Karlsson...

Ottawa is at least "telling" people they can keep him and not move him. This is their way of essentially pretending to "walk out of the dealership" in hopes that a sales person grabs them and says, "Wait, let me talk to my manager."

* The Lightning are still the favorite, but not by much. I earlier wrote, and continue to hear, that Tampa has put a deadline on this and is waiting on Ottawa to sweeten the pot.
* Dallas is looking at Skinner...
* Vegas hasn't shown half the interest they did at the trade deadline...

However, a new team is emerging: San Jose...I am keeping an eye on them.

On Varlamov...

You can be sure that Grubauer didn't extend in Colorado to be a backup. I have heard the Isles still have interest, but I am also hearing Edmonton is the new name on this one...Varly has one year left and is making just shy of $6M.

On Jeff Skinner...

The Bruins are the new team to check out here...They have had interest all along, but have shot to the top of my list based on a conversation I had yesterday afternoon...Can't get too into the details, but let's just say the Bruins have another deal in the works that would make Skinner an obvious and important grab.

On Wayne Simmonds....

The Flyers expect a lot if they are to trade him, and I do get the sense they could just let him play out the season...I know Edmonton and Toronto would be eager to make this move, but I am also hearing Tampa's name today...That looks like a contingency path should Karlsson fall through.

Back later with more on the 20 players.


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