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Trade Freeze Midnight Tonight...What I am chasing today...

December 19, 2018, 9:33 AM ET [105 Comments]
Eklund
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The THE 2018-19 Trade RUMOR CHART Is LIVE and I have already updated Panarin, Puljujarvi, Sheahan, Burakovsky, Simmonds, Ferland, Nylander and Keith...

Tonight, at midnight, the NHL will give its players their annual holiday present of "One week of job security." This is due to the fact that starting at midnight tonight for one week the NHL teams will not be allowed to trade or waive any players.

Historically this day has been kind of quiet, but there is ALWAYS talk and actually it may surprise you to know that many of the eventual deadline deals get their start out of talk that happens today and throughout the next week...Just because you can't make moves over the next week doesn't mean you can't lay some groundwork...

So the norm is not many big moves, a few smaller ones...but this year feels very different...and I am not the only hockey pundit out there who is saying they are hearing way more chatter. Leading up to, and including today, I am seriously tracking many possibilities...but the most noise currently is coming from Pittsburgh, St Louis, LA, Philadelphia, and Montreal.



On TuneIn Radio




On Pittsburgh...

First off, the Penguins GM Rutherford is one of the GMs historically active on the trade freeze day. Last year he made a few minor deals on trade freeze day...and talking to other GMs they are all saying: "Pittsburgh. He is trying very hard to do something."

The Penguins are looking to add some depth up front and on the backline, and may be willing to move Phil Kessel...I keep hearing Pitt connected to Micheal Ferland from Carolina and Brandon Montour from Anaheim...I was hearing Nyquist as well...but not as much lately.

On St Louis....

I am not at all buying the Pietrangelo stuff. If his name came up with Nylander for a second that is now apparently well...over. Parayko is a name that could move today, and that would be the biggest trade freeze move I can remember... The Leafs have been trying to get him "almost every day' per a source...

On LA...

Muzzin is a very polarizing figure...so much so I am having a hard time even finding a place for him on the Rumor Chart...and yet his name continues to surface.. eff Carter will NOT waive his NTC to go anywhere...with the possible exception of Anaheim...but can you really see LA helping out Anaheim? Carter has shown he has to be happy to play effectively... Jonathan Quick is the most interesting name floating around...especially when linked to Philly.

On Philadelphia...

The Flyers and Carter Hart won their first game under Gordon last night...but not by a lot...and not to a very solid Red Wings team...But it is step in the right direction...and they will take it. Fletcher has come out and said he is going to do everything he can to make some kind of move prior to the Christmas break to show the fans that they aren't throwing in the towel yet..Simmonds could be on the move if the Flyers can land the right package...Goalie is the #1 concern...Quick, Anderson, and even possibly Jake Allen I am told (if Parayko or Schwartz was a part of that deal) There was a ton of speculation last night that Jimmy Howard was on the Flyers radar...I don't think the plan is to run with Carter Hart here.

on Montreal....

The Habs are shopping hard for a Center I am told...They talked to LA about Jeff Carter, but as I stated I don't think Jeff is willing to move his family away from LA....Montreal has also has some talks I am told with Pittsburgh about Derick Brassard...but I still need to make more calls today before I put Brassard on the rumor chart and update you all...

ENJOY THE DAY...I will update this blog with any moves that happen as well as more rumors throughout the day...
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