NHL Trade Deadline 2015: Rumors on Jordan Staal, James Wisniewski and More

One advantage of the NHL's trade deadline occurring so late in the season, with most teams having less than 20 games to play before March 2, is it leaves no middle ground. You are either a contender or not by this stage of the year. 

There will always be some owners and general managers who don't want to accept the reality of their situation, hanging on to assets for no particular reason. But for the most part it's a busy time for teams looking to make a big move. Whether it's the push for a Stanley Cup now or in the future, the goal of any trade is the same. 

This time of the year is all about speculation, though action does tend to bleed through in the right circumstances. With less than one week before the deadline, teams are wearing their phones out to negotiate deals.

Here are the hottest rumors in advance of Monday's deadline. 

Jordan Staal On Pittsburgh's Radar, But...

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Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins are comfortably in the playoffs with 77 points, they are a pedestrian 8-6 since the All-Star break. They have only scored 34 goals during that span, which is unusual because of the talent on the front line. 

Given those struggles, it's not a surprise to see that the Penguins want to upgrade their offense. They are also reportedly looking at a blast from the past in the form of Jordan Staal. It just may not be a deal that happens right now, if at all. 

According to Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh is kicking the tires on trying to bring Staal back to where his career started:

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The Penguins are interested in reacquiring center Jordan Staal, sources told Trib Total Media.

A move likely would not take place until after the season, though the Penguins have inquired about what it would take to obtain the Carolina Hurricane before the March 2 trade deadline, sources said.

Such a move would require the Penguins to slash significant salary, as they are less than $1 million under the $69 million salary cap.

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A reunion between Staal and the Penguins sounds nice, especially since he's just 26 years old, and his value would be low having just played 22 games so far this season. 

However, per Aaron Ward of TSN, the Hurricanes have left no doubt that Staal will remain with the team:

Even though the Penguins need to do something right now, Staal doesn't seem like the option. He's owed too much money, they don't have enough cap space and the Hurricanes are under no pressure to get rid of the 26-year-old. 

Things can change quickly when discussing trades—especially if the Hurricanes get blown away with an offer. But that's more likely to happen in the offseason than at some point in the next six days. 

James Wisniewski Ready to Go

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Unlike Staal, who is in a spot where his current team doesn't want to move on, James Wisniewski has no such dilemma with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

According to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets are actively working the phones trying to find a taker for Wisniewski:

Wisniewski is an intriguing trade option, despite being 31 years old. He's a scoring defenseman with 27 points and 20 assists so far this season and is signed for the next two years. According to Spotrac, he will account for a total of $11 million against the cap in 2015 and 2016. 

Finding a landing spot with that cap number could be difficult, though there are teams that have been openly shopping for defensemen. 

Larry Brooks of the New York Post recently wrote the New York Rangers are looking for a defenseman:

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An interesting development over the last few games for the surging Rangers:

And that is, as the March 2 trade deadline approaches, the Blueshirts’ primary need is for a reliable left defenseman to partner on the third pair with Dan Boyle rather than a bottom-six forward to bolster the team’s depth up front.

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Wisniewski would fit that mold spectacularly well for the Rangers, as he doesn't need to be taking on a huge load to make an impact with a new team. He's best used as a supporting player for a contender.

The Rangers are rolling right now with seven wins in their last 10 games, moving into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and they can supplement a talented roster with depth. 

Wisniewski may not end up in New York, though reading the tea leaves, it seems like his days in Columbus are numbered. 

Maple Leafs May Be Stuck With Joffrey Lupul

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It's no secret that Toronto holds the cards this trade season. The Maple Leafs have many assets to deal, no reason to keep anything with the third-fewest points in the Eastern Conference and seem motivated to do whatever they can. 

However, per TSN's Darren Dreger, one domino that may not be ready to fall due to a lack of ideal offers is Joffrey Lupul:

The 31-year-old Lupul told Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star that he's conflicted over all the trade talk surrounding him and the franchise: "I want to stay here. I like playing here, I love Toronto. But if I’m not in the plans here, if they are truly are wanting to make as many changes as I keep hearing about, I’m comfortable that way too. This is where I want to be. If I am to be somewhere else, it’s not going to be that difficult."

Despite Dreger's report, Lupul's current standing seems like posturing by the Maple Leafs. He's 31 years old and signed for the next three years, so there likely won't be a budding market. The team can keep him until the last possible second, then make a move on Monday. 

The Maple Leafs have no incentive to keep Lupul, other than liking him as a person, which is a bad way to conduct business when you are a rebuilding franchise.