NHL Trade Deadline 2015: Breaking Down Rumors About Coveted Targets

The 2015 NHL trade deadline is set for Monday, March 2. Although the number of deals that will be made over the next couple of days is a mystery, the amount of buzz around the league suggests it could become a very active deadline period.

That's in large part because a good mix of teams has developed. There are contenders searching for the missing piece, fringe playoff teams looking for an asset who can push them into the postseason and some sellers already looking ahead to next season and beyond.

So the environment is there for a lot of deals to get made. Perhaps enough to help shake up the playoff outlook by the time the dust settles. For now, let's check out some of the latest rumors about potential moves on the horizon.

Boston Bruins Seek Impact Winger

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The Bruins are one of the teams on the edge of the playoff race. They currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but there are three teams within five points. In turn, the front office is casting a wide net to find an upgrade on the wing.

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reports Boston continues to chase the Buffalo Sabres' Chris Stewart. He also confirms a report from Darren Dreger of TSN about the team's interest in Antoine Vermette from the Arizona Coyotes:

Joe Haggerty of CSN New England notes Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs is another player on the team's wish list:

The Bruins have been linked to Stewart for a while now, and for good reason. He would be a nice match for the team's style of play as a prototypical power forward. He's set to become a free agent at season's end, leaving little reason for the league-worst Sabres to keep him.

Vermette and Lupul are also interesting targets. The former is a better two-way player, while the latter could make a greater offensive impact. Ultimately, there are enough solid options that Boston should be able to acquire one of them before the deadline.

Cam Fowler Available?

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The Anaheim Ducks drafted Fowler in the first round of the 2010 draft. He made an immediate jump to the pro ranks, scoring 10 goals and 40 points as a rookie. His production hasn't returned to those levels in the four years that have followed, though.

Now the question is whether the Ducks may be looking to move the 23-year-old blueliner. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports scouts around the league think he would be the one defender Anaheim may move to acquire a forward:

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Sounds a little screwy, but there are some scouts who feel the one young defenceman the Ducks might trade is Cam Fowler, who doesn't have Hampus Lindholm's all-around game or Sami Vatanen's offensive bang. Fowler is good, for sure, but scouts wonder if Canadian junior team star Theodore could replace Fowler in time, and they might consider moving Fowler for a forward who could play with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

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It sounds similar to the case of Tyler Myers. He had an outstanding rookie season for Buffalo. But then his play dropped off in the years that followed, and the team shipped him to the Winnipeg Jets in a deal that featured Evander Kane.

Any deal for Fowler would likely have to include a similar high-upside forward. While it seems like a long shot, the Ducks have enough depth at the back to take a chance if they feel the package coming back for him would put them over the top.

High Interest In Zbynek Michalek

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Michalek is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. Although there isn't an exact timetable for his return, it apparently isn't causing interest in him to diminish. The veteran defender, who's best known for his work in the defensive zone, has eight points in 53 games.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports there's still plenty of buzz surrounding the Arizona Coyotes blueliner. He states Michalek will likely get moved, but the exact price tag is going to depend on how long he could be out of action:

Michalek makes the most sense for a contender with a void to fill on the second or third defensive pairing. Obviously teams in the heat of a playoff race don't want to acquire an asset whose short-term status is uncertain. Certain playoff qualifiers have a little more wiggle room.

It's a situation that may go right down to the deadline as interested general managers wait to hear if there's an update on his status. He wouldn't be a flashy addition, but could add a reliable presence on defense for the stretch run.