NHL Trade Deadline 2015: Hottest Rumors as Cutoff Date Approaches

We're in the home stretch now, folks, as the NHL trade deadline is just a day away, and all trades must be in by 3 p.m. ET on Monday. The next 24 hours, give or take, promise to be a whirlwind of action, rumors, deals that fall through and, everyone's favorite part of the entire ordeal, speculation.

Below, I rounded up a few of the rumors that are really picking up steam as the deadline nears. Let's break them down.

Jeff Petry

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Jeff Petry is one of the defensemen still available in a trade in what has turned out to be a vibrant market before the deadline for the blueliners. And Pierre LeBrun of ESPN is hearing one team in particular could be chasing the 27-year-old:

Scott Burnside of ESPN has more on Petry's situation in Edmonton:

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Petry has a lot of qualities that make him attractive to teams for the stretch run. He's a defenseman, he's young (26), he's got good offensive upside and he shoots from the right side, making him extremely attractive. Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish secured a first-round pick for David Perron from the Pittsburgh Penguins, and MacTavish could be looking at another nice return for Petry, given the demand for players with his skill set by Detroit and Anaheim.

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Petry is having a nice season, with four goals and 11 assists, though on a more dangerous team his offensive numbers would likely increase. Remember, this is a player who notched 23 assists in the 2011-12 season. 

More importantly, of course, is that he's a solid defensive option at a trade deadline that has seen the blueliners really dominate the market. This hasn't necessarily been a trade deadline marked by superstars swapping teams, but rather a seller's market where contenders find themselves bartering and, at times, somewhat having to overpay for solid but unspectacular players to patch a need area or solidify depth for a postseason run. 

Petry fits that bill. He'll almost assuredly be moved.

Zbynek Michalek

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For teams in need of help on defense and willing to take on a potential rental, Zbynek Michalek is one of the top remaining options. And David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is hearing he's likely to be moved:

The 32-year-old has regressed a bit in recent years—or perhaps he's just been stuck on a poor team that has made it appear he's regressed—but a change of scenery might not only add a spark to his game, but it could potentially really upgrade a blue line for a contender. 

While Michalek has been sidelined for over two weeks now with an injury, teams are going to inquire about his services. It would be shocking if he wasn't on a new team by the deadline.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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Toronto is open for business, folks. 

Well, at least according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, who wrote, "Pick any name on the Leafs and they’re available with the exception of Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner. It’s believed as many as five teams have contacted the Leafs on winger Joffrey Lupul but his $5.25-million cap hit through 2017-18 is making it difficult."

Lupul doesn't seem affected one way or another, at least based on his comments to Garrioch.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds, if they want to rebuild from scratch or whatever it is ... but it’s not my job. My job is to play (Saturday), play Sunday and then see what happens on Monday.”

What will likely happen Monday is that the Leafs will look like a dramatically different team, whether Lupul is there or not. While the Leafs likely won't simply sell everyone off, there is little incentive for them to protect the current roster when the team is tied for the second-fewest points in the Eastern Conference.

At this point, adding draft picks or young prospects and rebuilding for the future, again, is the prudent move in Toronto. It may not put the best product on the ice in the present, but the hope will be that the team can perhaps use this postseason to once again build for the future.