NHL Trade Rumors: Dissecting Latest Gossip Around the League

If you thought the fact that the NHL season is less than three weeks old would mean there would be no rumors flying around already, guess again. 

As teams begin to evaluate what they have on the ice in the early going and injuries mount up, there are sure to be moves between now and the trade deadline. While they may take some time, the accompanying rumors have already begun.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the latest gossip from around the NHL.

Philadelphia Flyers

LM Otero/Associated Press

TheFourthPeriod.com provided the latest on the potentially active Philadelphia Flyers:

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The Philadelphia Flyers are actively scouring the trade market in hopes of improving their current roster and have more than defensemen to deal.

It has been widely reported that the Flyers are dangling the likes of Luke Schenn, Braydon Coburn and Nicklas Grossman.

While all three defensemen are still available, multiple sources have told TFP the Flyers have also made forward Brayden Schenn, Luke's brother, available.

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Tim Panaccio of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia added some more context to the Brayden Schenn situation:

It is understandable why there is a desire for changes in Philadelphia. The team lost its first four games of the season, although two were in shootouts, and struggled to find the back of the net and prevent the other team from scoring.

Brayden Schenn was on the top line for a short time but was eventually taken off, and general manager Ron Hextall may prefer to add another top-six forward to the roster. Ideally, that forward would fit in alongside Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.

The Flyers defense could also use an upgrade if some of these moves are to be made. 

To Philadelphia’s credit, it won two of the last three after the abysmal start, but it probably has to make some serious changes if it plans on contending for anything of note this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

TheFourthPeriod.com passed along the latest from the Columbus Blue Jackets as well:

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have been calmly exploring the marketplace, as they are interested in improving their roster and bettering their playoff hopes.

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is weighing his options, as the club has been watching a few different teams and taking calls from others.

Multiple scouts from the Blue Jackets have been watching the Edmonton Oilers lately, as the team is reportedly getting inquiries about the availability of forwards Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov, and defenseman Jeff Petry, among others.

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There may not be a team in the NHL that has experienced the kind of bad luck the Blue Jackets have early in the season, so it is not surprising that they may be looking to make a significant move.

Nathan Horton, Boone Jenner, Ryan Murray and Brandon Dubinsky are all out with some form of long-term injury, and Horton may very well be done for the season, and maybe his career, with degenerative back issues.

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

It is a rather unfortunate situation and easy to feel sorry for Horton, but the team has to move on if it hopes to build from last year’s playoff run. With so many significant cornerstones to the team missing action, an early trade or move may be in the works just to get some momentum on the Blue Jackets’ side.

Landing someone like Jordan Eberle could at least give Columbus another forward option.

Detroit Red Wings

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

Ken Campbell of The Hockey News passed along some worrisome news for Detroit Red Wings fans hoping to keep their coach around:

Mike Babcock is in the final year of his contract with the Red Wings, but this update certainly suggests the team is interested in signing him to another. In order to do that, Detroit is going to have to open the checkbook, more so than it apparently already has in early discussions.

Chicago’s Joel Quenneville is the highest-paid coach in the league, but Babcock can likely get more than the Blackhawks’ head man from either Detroit or someone else. It may very well take more than $3 million per season to keep him in the Motor City.

Interestingly, there has been some speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a landing spot for Babcock, and Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith discussed it during a trip to Toronto, via Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press:

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"I love being back here with my family and friends. The nostalgia, it hasn't changed. It's always been amazing for me."

Asked about the Babcock situation, Smith said, "I hear the buzz about it. With the media talking about it, I guess they're pushing for it." 

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The longer Babcock goes without signing some form of a contract with the Red Wings, the louder that buzz will grow. Perhaps Toronto could be the ultimate landing spot.

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