With the NHL roster freeze looming at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon for the Olympic break, there is only one week between the time the rosters unfreeze and the NHL trade deadline on March 5. There are many potential deals in the works before that date arrives and rumors have swirled around the NHL regarding possible trades that may happen before March 5, and here are five of the most recent names that have popped up in trade discussions.
Ryan Callahan New York Rangers:
Ryan Callahan is the heart-and-soul captain of the Rangers, often sacrificing his body with gritty plays and his shot-blocking and penalty killing ability, however with Callahan set to become an unrestricted free agent, his name has popped up in trade rumors as of late. With the Blueshirts under hefty contracts with Henrik Lundqvist, Brad Richards and Rick Nash, it may be hard for the team to retain its captain.
Callahan is commanding a seven-year deal but the Rangers only want to give him five, and with their captain becoming a UFA, if the team can't extend him to a long-term deal before the deadline, he could very well be moved. The Rangers don't want to lose their captain for nothing through free agency, and with the market for the captain expected to be substantial if he becomes a free agent, it's possible the team may move him if they can't retain him.
Callahan's agent said that they may not have been able to work an extension with the Rangers, but he planned to talk to the Rangers again this week.
"I'm going to circle back with the Rangers this week," Callahan's agent Steve Bartlett said via ESPNNewYork.com on Monday.
Callahan, who has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points, may be helping another team soon.
Thomas Vanek New York Islanders:
Thomas Vanek was dealt from the Buffalo Sabres to the Islanders earlier on in the season, but the Austrian native may not be settled in as he has become a hot name in the trade market. Vanek reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to stay with the Islanders, meaning that the team will probably be looking to trade the free agent-to-be so they can get some value back for him.
Vanek reportedly turned down the Islanders offer of a deal that was somewhere in the seven-year $50 million range like the current one that he is on right now, meaning that he'll likely be shipped out of town. Bartlett is also Vanek's agent, and he told Newsday that he realizes Islanders general manager Garth Snow either wants to extend Vanek or ship him out.
"I understand we're getting close to the time where Garth may feel he needs to act," Bartlett told Newsday.
Vanek has 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points this season.
Matt Moulson Buffalo Sabres:
Matt Moulson was the one involved in the deal for Vanek and while he was shipped to Buffalo earlier this season, he may also be traded twice in one season as the rebuilding Sabres--30th overall in the league--are looking for some more youth to build up their franchise for better days in the future. Already going through transitions with a new coach and general manager, the Sabres may overhaul their roster.
Moulson reportedly had 12 or more teams interested in acquiring him, and his cap hit of $3.13 million is worth the price for him even if he proves to be just a rental player for a team that is hoping to make a playoff push this season.
Moulson has dealt with a lower-body injury but expects to make a full recovery after the Olympic break and could possibly be dealt to a team looking for a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Moulson has 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points this season.
Ryan Miller Buffalo Sabres:
Like with Moulson, the Sabres could be planning to deal Ryan Miller as part of their rebuilding mode to try and bring in some youth. Miller's case is different than Moulson's whereas the team brought in Moulson this year, Miller has spent his entire 11 years in Buffalo.
Miller is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and with the Sabres in 30th place, his name has popped up in rumors and even he doesn't know what his future holds.
Miller suited up for what could have been his last home game with the Sabres in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, and said beforehand he wasn't sure if it was the last time he'd play for the Sabres in Buffalo.
"Anything's possible, just with the way the season's gone and the direction it could be headed," Miller, who was selected by the Sabres in the fifth round of the 1999 draft, said per NHL.com. "We'll just wait to see what the plans start to become."
Miller is 14-22-3 this season with a 2.74 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
Sam Gagner Edmonton Oilers:
Sam Gagner's name has come up a lot in rumors over the past couple of days, with reports of him being traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Kyle Clifford heating up. Gagner, who is signed through the 2015-16 season with a $4.8 million annual salary cap hit, could fit in with the Kings due to their need for scoring depth.
The Oilers, who are dead last in the Western Conference with a 20-33-6 record, are definitely sellers in the trade market and just may very well trade Gagner in order to shore up their future.
Gagner, 24, is part of the Oilers young core, but the team is reportedly willing to part ways with him, though it would be hard to imagine the team pulling the trigger on a deal that would send a young player that's been with the team for seven seasons to Los Angeles in exchange for a fourth liner with three goals on the year.
Gagner has six goals and 18 assists for 24 points this season.
The NHL roster freeze ends on Feb. 24 and deals can be made between then and the March 5 deadline, but it remains to be seen what moves will be made and where these five players will be when all is said and done.
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