| | If Ray Bourque can get traded, anyone is fair game. ESPN.com breaks down the possibilities and serves as your one-stop shopping for the rumors. Now that Doug Gilmour has shuffled off to Buffalo, let's look at a few side stories for starters.
The Dallas Stars are in the market for another wing, perhaps. If the situation was right, Dallas may dangle someone like 21-year-old Richard Jackman in a trade.
The Ducks could be interested in making a move, but they don't have much to give. Paul Kariya is off limits, as is Teemu Selanne, for now. Young talents like Matt Cullen aren't available, and guys like Ted Donato and Marty McInnis aren't that marketable. One guy who could get some value in return would be Fredrik Olausson, who could be expendable because of Oleg Tverdovsky.
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Flyers
Red Wings
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The Habs are still in the thick of the playoff race. What should they do? Trade for the future or keep the team together and make a run for it? Hackett wants to stay in Montreal, and he has helped the Habs get in position for a playoff berth. But backup Jose Theodore is younger, cheaper and capable of being a No. 1. Hackett has a long-term deal, but if other teams offer up young, inexpensive talent, Montreal might bite. |
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Maple Leafs
Devils
Rangers
Sabres
Ducks
Senators
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It's a bit of a long shot for Vancouver to make the postseason, but they're competitive right now, and Messier has reiterated his desire to help the Canucks make the playoffs. If a deal were made, he might fit best in Toronto, where he is exactly what the Leafs lack: Leadership, grit and timely scoring. But it's doubtful Messier and coach Pat Quinn are too excited about working together again. Buffalo isn't much of an option because the spotlights might not be bright enough for Messier. |
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Plenty of other fodder
All of a sudden, the Islanders won't be so active dumping expensive talent at the deadline. Published reports early in the week stated the Isles won't trade Kenny Jonsson or Olli Jokinen, both heavily rumored to be on the move. Then on Wednesday, the team signed center Claude Lapointe -- who would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer -- to a three-year deal. ... With all the Hackett talk, people forget Shayne Corson was an early target to get out of Montreal. He won't score much, but he'd be a great addition to any team. He is rumored as a possibility in Toronto, and he could end up in Edmonton for streaky scorer Alexander Selivanov. ... Keith Tkachuk suffered a setback in his return from injury, and he may miss another week. That dampens any chances the Rangers had of landing him in a deal. With the departure of Rick Tocchet, the Coyotes need Tkachuk more than anyone else does. | |
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