NHL Rumors: Taylor Hall move hung up on trade and sign; Blues may move Jaden Schwartz; and Predators now a buyer?
Anthony Scultore
|
Taylor Hall is still sitting at home waiting for a trade. The Sabres have opted to scratch him in order to protect against injury. As the talk heats up around him, the latest is that the delay has something to do with a possible trade and sign with his new team.
Taylor Hall trade still lingering
On the latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Darren Dreger broke it all down.
Yeah, well that’s where he belongs. Ongoing conversation and discussions between Kevyn Adams, the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres and multiple teams I’m told are now in. We shouldn’t be surprised by this, it seemed like there were fewer teams involved prior to the trade with Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac going to the New York Islanders from the New Jersey Devils. That seems to have loosened things up a little bit but to a point, managers are talking to Taylor Hall’s agent, Darren Ferris, and they’re wondering what an extension to a contract might look like.
TSN
While some contenders are in the market for him; only one recent rumor talked about an extension. According to former NHL GM and insider Doug Maclean he believes it’s the Oilers. In a recent radio spot on CHED 630 Edmonton; MacLean said that “reliable sources” told him they were in on Hall.
Doug MacLean: “I also heard yesterday they’re in on the guy from Buffalo that everybody wants: Taylor Hall. I’m thinking: How is that going to work. How could Taylor Hall go there on a deal? The guy told me they’re looking at a deal that would have them both done for less than $12 million for both of them (Hall and RNH), and it would work next year…It was a reasonable source that said it.”
Edmonton Journal
This would certainly take some cap gymnastics to make work. David Staples believes in order for this to even be possible the Oilers would have to move out players like Zack Kassian ($3.2M) and/or James Neal ($4.625M). With Neal on the taxi squad and having multiple years left on his deal I don’t see any interest there.
Blues willing to move Jaden Schwartz for significant return
Add another member of the St. Louis Blues to the trade bait board! The 28 year-old forward has just 12 points in 24 games this season but is a perennial 20 goal scorer. He will be a UFA at the end of the season and Pierre LeBrun believes is available for the right price.
Jaden Schwartz is a name that’s popping up a bit more on my radar in the last 24 hours or so. We know that fellow pending UFAs Mike Hoffman and Tyler Bozak are in play but until now I must admit I didn’t quite know what to make of Schwartz because of how much he’s mattered to the Blues.
Pierre LeBrun
Nashville Predators now buyers?
Throw a monkey wrench into the trade deadline. The Nashville Predators were labeled not only sellers at one point but had a small list of untouchables with just three players on it. Now as they march toward post season action you have to wonder if they will keep players like Mikael Granlund and add rentals of their own?
They have some cap space to do it and getting additional scoring depth at the deadline could be in the cards. Keep your eyes out for the Predators come Monday.