In today’s NHL rumors posted on The Hockey Writers, I run through the trade rumors coming out of Edmonton involving Cam Talbot and speculation that head coach Ken Hitchcock had offered to resign his position as head coach. I then travel over to the New York Islanders where the talk is about Brock Nelson staying and Ilya Kovalchuk potentially coming over. Finally, I cite a report by TSN’s Bob McKenzie who comments on the trade rumors out of Florida surrounding Jonathan Huberdeau.
Talbot on the Move Out of Edmonton
The minute Mikko Koskinen signed his three-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, Cam Talbot’s time in Edmonton was probably limited. But, do the Oilers finally have a taker?
It is being reported by TSN, there’s a chance Oilers goaltender “Cam Talbot could be heading East ahead of February 25’s trade deadline.”
Darren Dreger says there’s nothing imminent but the Flyers and Oilers are talking.
Also out of Edmonton, there were rumors over the weekend that coach Ken Hitchcock offered to step back and those rumors were blown out of proportion when Hitch wasn’t coaching the team during practice on Thursday. Andy Strickland tweeted, “The rumor of Ken Hitchcock is considering or had considered stepping down is completely false. He’s often taken in practices from the stands in the past. Watched practice up high after running a long meeting. #Oilers”
Lots Happening With the Islanders
Andrew Gross of Newsday is reporting that New York Islanders center Brock Nelson doesn’t want to leave the team and that, “Everybody is happy with being here and winning games and we’d like that to continue.”
There is also news the Islanders might be interested in grabbing Ilya Kovalchuk from the LA Kings.
Latest on Jonathan Huberdeau Rumors
Some talk out of Florida suggests Jonathan Huberdeau might be a trade candidate to make room for Artemin Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. Bob McKenzie, via NBCSN and commented:
“I believe that Huberdeau has been told by the Panthers, ‘We’re not trying to trade you. We’re not shopping you.’ You never get the full thing where a team says, ‘Under no circumstances will we ever trade you,’ because you know sometimes it just needs to happen. But I think he’s been assured in the short term anyway.”
Elliotte Friedman’s Must-Watch Teams
Elliotte Friedman used his latest edition of 31 Thoughts, to name his top teams that might be active at the trade deadline. Who did he list?…
