NHL Rumors: Latest Rumblings Across League as Trade Deadline Approaches

Unlike other major professional sports leagues (*ahem* NBA, NFL *ahem*), the NHL actually uses its trade deadline. And, no, not just to shuffle deck chairs on the flotsam market, either (again, looking at you, NBA). 

While the NBA's collective bargaining agreement has actively dampened the trade market and the NFL just doesn't trade players for whatever reason, the NHL has spent its hours leading up to Wednesday's cutoff date completing a flurry of high-profile deals.

Ryan Miller. Roberto Luongo. Dustin Penner. Andrew MacDonald. And on, and on and on. Expiring contracts, big names on bad teams and more are on the outs—and little should change that over the next few hours.

Just one look at the rumor mill exposes All-Stars past and present on the chopping block and probably a whole lot of names that haven't even been confirmed yet. The great (and totally mortifying, if you're a player) thing about the NHL trade deadline is anything can and usually does on the date Lord Gary Bettman sets on the league's calendar.

With that in mind, let's check in on some of the latest high-profile names being floated around league circles as we close in on deadline day. 

A Pennsylvania Battle for Ryan Kesler?

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Ryan Kesler operates on an interesting NHL paradigm. While he's respected as an agitating, two-way forward with a propensity for excellence on the international stage, Kesler has made just one All-Star team. Perhaps in a weaker era of talent, he would have more—and you can argue he's been snubbed at least once or twice—but Kesler is in the "very good, not otherworldly" strata that's often difficult to quantify.

He's also in an interesting spot when it comes to how he's viewed by the Canucks. Vancouver, which once looked to Kesler as a cornerstone, now likely sees a far more expendable talent. Last season was almost entirely lost due to myriad injuries, and this year Kesler has his highest production rate (35:23) since 2007-08.

With Vancouver hanging out of the playoff race and Kesler turning 30 later this year, there is a very serious internal discussion about where he stands going forward. Not old enough to be washed up nor young enough to be bound for any major improvement—again, somewhere in a solid middle ground.

Meaning, he's the exact type of player who could help a team with actual Stanley Cup aspirations. You know, like the Flyers and Penguins. The latter of the Pennsylvania powers rightfully gets more praise as a contender for the best trophy in all of major professional sports, but Philly has made a surprisingly concerted push at the deadline.

The Flyers sent two high-round picks and prospect Matt Mangene to the Islanders for MacDonald on Tuesday, per NHL.com. 

Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting they may continue their all-in acquisition spree with Kesler, sending a "substantial" offer Vancouver's way. Details of said offer are still unknown and Seravalli seemed pessimistic a deal would get done, but one would venture to guess more of the same (draft picks, young players, etc.) plus cap fodder would be in order.

Philly isn't without competition, though. The Penguins, who are rarely shy around deadline day, are looking to add another center, and Kesler's name has come up in discussions. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Kesler is the Penguins' top trade target. General manager Ray Shero supposedly has management's 100 percent approval to push the chips to the center of the table. 

The only question remaining is whether either team has offered enough for Vancouver to bite.

Paul Stastny's Future Still Up in the Air?

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Where Kesler's situation is atypical of what you usually see around the deadline, Stastny's ongoing saga is a copy-paste of a ton of deadline guys. The Avalanche alternate captain has spent his entire NHL career in Colorado, but he will get a chance to test the open market this summer. 

Extension talks have been ongoing but are still up in the air, with Wednesday's deadline looming as a double whammy for both sides. Colorado, by all accounts, would seem to prefer Stastny be back long-term and for the stretch run. The Avalanche have broken into the ranks of the Western Conference elite this season and are certainly a looming threat to the Chicagos, St. Louises and Anaheims of the world.

Captain Obvious thought: Having Paul Stastny on your roster when facing said teams is typically a good thing.

Captain Obvious thought 2.0: Losing Paul Stastny for nothing this summer in order to chase an unlikely Stanley Cup is a short-sighted management move that could backfire in everyone's face.

Hence the dilemma. Teams, knowing this, have been inquiring about Stastny's status for much of the season with little tangible action. Still, as Adrian Dater of the Denver Post pointed out, expect the conversations to only continue as the deadline approaches:

The more likely scenario at this point remains Stastny sticking in Colorado. There hasn't been a suitor that sticks out as an overarching favorite, though, the obvious suitors stick out. The Blackhawks would probably be more than glad to bring him in, as would the Penguins if the Kesler pursuit falls through.

That said, it would be hard to take Stastny out of the lineup with his line playing so well. And the Avalanche obviously know what he can bring to the table and will going forward at age 28. What's more, Stastny told Terry Frei of the Denver Post he would be willing to take a hometown discount to stick around:

"

Everybody knows how the business works. You can obviously go somewhere and get more money somewhere else. But if you have something good and you want to stick with it, that hometown discount is obviously something that everyone's aware of and is important to do. You want both sides to be happy. You don't want to (mistreat) the team and you want the team to be put in a good situation where they can kind of compete down the road as well.

"

These sound like the words of someone who is willing to find an amenable middle ground. There's just not enough smoke here to make me think Stastny will actually be moved by Wednesday.

Vanek Deal All But Certain?

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We go from one unlikely deal to one that's all but certain to go down. Thomas Vanek has seen his name floating around the trade rumor mill for much of the season, with the Islanders battling for the NHL's basement and undergoing a massive restructuring before the move to Brooklyn.

Vanek, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has roughly a 0.0 percent chance of being around for any of that nonsense. He turned down a potential contract extension last month and seems determined to test his worth in the open market.

It's hard to blame him. Vanek, at 30, is probably on the precipice of signing his last big contract. He's also someone who hasn't gotten a legitimate shot at a Cup and would very much like to do so.

With Vanek held out of the starting lineup for Tuesday night's game at Winnipeg, the writing is on the wall. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported a potential deal is getting close:

Terms of a potential deal haven't been disclosed, nor has the team linked to Vanek been 100 percent confirmed. The San Jose Sharks are gaining steam—though Brodie Brazil of Comcast SportsNet is unsure how Vanek would fit under the cap—but there is no shortage of suitors. One team that seems to have dropped out, per Pagnotta, is the Ducks:

Wherever Vanek winds up will be his third team of 2013-14. After spending the first eight seasons of his career with Buffalo, Vanek has twice seen his impending free agency come between him and a franchise. Vanek is going to get paid. His 53 total points this season is a solid number, and he shouldn't have any trouble finding suitors on the open market.

Then again, who knows? Maybe the third time will be the charm.

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