NHL Trade Rumors: Latest on Maple Leafs, Jaromir Jagr and Andrej Sekera

With the NHL trade deadline a few weeks away, potential deals and rumors are starting to heat up. There are always a few deals before the deadline that shake up the league, bolster contenders and get hockey fans everywhere talking. 

Below, I'll take a look at a few of the latest rumors making the rounds.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the Toronto Maple Leafs 12 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, it's hardly surprising that the team is thinking about the future. It has already dealt away Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli, and more moves could be on the way, according to general manager Dave Nonis.

The Canadian Press, via NHL.com, has more:

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No one's off-limits, Nonis said, with perhaps the exception of impressive 20-year-old defenceman Morgan Rielly.

"If we're trying to put together a young group that can grow together and have a chance to win, you'd have a harder time moving the younger players," Nonis said. "For us to move Morgan Rielly right now, unless it was something that makes so much sense in terms of rebuilding a team, you just wouldn't do. I wouldn't say untouchable ... but obviously there's some players that would be very difficult for us to move."

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One player who could be moved is Dion Phaneuf, as Jeff Simmons of Sportsnet reports:

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As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to blow up their roster, one name that has come up in trade talks is defenceman Dion Phaneuf. 

According to Sportsnet’s Damien Cox and Elliotte Friedman, the Los Angeles Kings have already expressed interest in the Leafs captain and the defence-needy Detroit Red Wings could show some interest as well.

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Moving Franson and Santorelli signaled the Leafs as sellers, and The Canadian Press speculates that players such as Daniel Winnik, David Booth, Olli Jokinen (acquired in the Franson and Santorelli trade), Nazem Kadri, Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul could also be trade options if the team decides to do a full rebuild.

There is talent in Toronto, but it doesn't look as though that talent is up to the task of getting the team back into the playoff picture. At this point, the squad's best option might be to sell off its top veterans—namely any players with expiring contracts—and continue to bolster the squad for the future.

Jaromir Jagr

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Sometimes, it's easy to forget that Jaromir Jagr is 43 years old. After all, he has 11 goals and 18 assists this season, and while he has slowed down over the years, he's more than capable of helping a contender down the stretch.

ESPN Insider Craig Custance thinks he might end up doing just that:

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I think Jagr gets moved. I checked in with a source on him recently, and this was the thought there: 'It all depends on what him and Lou [Lamoriello] have cooked up with each other—if he wants to go anywhere. I’m sure Lou would give him the option of doing whatever he wants. If he wanted to go somewhere to a team that had a shot at the playoffs, he will.'

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Jagr would be an asset for a team's power play, and adding another veteran presence with plenty of postseason experience would be a benefit for most teams. One would think Jagr doesn't have many seasons left in the tank—though he's defied Father Time to this point—and would jump at the chance to play for a contending organization. 

Don't be surprised if he's moved. 

Andrej Sekera

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Good defensemen are always in demand, and Andrej Sekera is becoming one of the more appealing options on the trade market. With the Carolina Hurricanes in last place in the Metropolitan Division, it looks as though the team might be willing to sell.

Bob McKenzie of TSN has more on one team that might be interested:

Scott Lewis of Sportsnet provides another organization that might be looking to make a deal for Sekera:

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The Carolina Hurricanes will enter the NHL trade deadline as sellers, and one player who will draw interest from a number of teams is defenceman Andrej Sekera.

Elliotte Friedman and Damien Cox noted during this week’s instalment of “Headlines” on Hockey Night in Canada that the Dallas Stars could make a run at acquiring Sekera from the Hurricanes.

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Sekera has had a solid season, notching two goals and 16 assists while averaging 22 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time per game. While he's almost assuredly a rental, as his contract expires after this season, there's no doubting he would be an upgrade in defense and a top-four defenseman for many teams. 

For a squad in win-now mode that doesn't mind shelling out prospects for a player it may not be able to re-sign—or for a team convinced it can shell out the cash to keep him around—Sekera is an enticing option on the trade market.