NHL Trade Rumors: Speculation on Erik Cole, Olli Jokinen and More

Buckle up—because Monday’s NHL trade deadline is sure to shake up the playoff race. 

There are a number of contenders with needs to fill, which means those out of the postseason race will look to bolster their future with timely swaps. Even the division races and battles for the top seeds in the impending playoffs are tight, so there figures to be some movement as teams look to separate themselves from the competition.

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

Erik Cole

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Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post (and Craig Custance of ESPN The Magazine) passed along an update on Erik Cole:

Cole has 33 points (18 goals and 15 assists) on the season, but he has been playing some of his best hockey of the year as of late. He scored 10 points in February, including six in his last six games, which is likely appealing to playoff contenders looking to add some punch to the offense.

The Dallas Stars are in last place in the Central division in the daunting Western Conference, so it is not a surprise that they are potential sellers at the deadline. Trading the red-hot Cole would likely net some solid future considerations in return, be it draft picks or young players who can improve.

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The Washington Capitals are battling for postseason position in the Eastern Conference, and adding someone such as Cole would make an already formidable offense (eighth in the league in goals per game) all the more dangerous. 

That is not an enticing proposition for the rest of the East.

Olli Jokinen

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Jonas Siegel of TSN noted that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to move veteran Olli Jokinen:

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Olli Jokinen has just a single playoff team on his resume of 16 NHL seasons and he was dealt there on trade deadline day.

The Maple Leafs hope to shuttle him off to a second such destination in the coming hours. Toronto picked up the 36-year-old in a swap with Nashville two weeks ago and they've done all they can since to showcase him ahead of Monday's deadline.

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It is rather incredible that he has only been to the playoffs one time in 16 seasons, and he would probably love another chance at this stage of his career. For his part, he has been particularly involved with the Maple Leafs and has even played some center in the offensive attack and been a part of the power play.

Jeff Curry/Getty Images

He only has seven points on the season, but there is something to be said for veteran leadership late in a campaign. He may not have playoff experience, but Jokinen is a veteran who has seen about everything else in the league.

He commented on his mindset with rumors circulating, via Siegel:

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As a younger player coming into the league you have a tendency to lose your focus and start focusing on what's happening around you and what other guys are doing. You're checking the news and stuff like that as a young player. But now, I would say the last four or five years, I started understanding that you can't worry about things you can't control. Whatever happens happens…If you think anything else you're not going to be able to play on the level you'd like to play. 

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Some contender could likely find room on one of its lines to add a multidimensional veteran like Jokinen who can play on the penalty kill, power play and at even strength. A trade would also help the Maple Leafs’ attempt to rebuild after what has been a disappointing 2014-15 season.

Pittsburgh Penguins 

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Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review passed along an update on the Pittsburgh Penguins on the eve of the deadline:

Such is life for contenders at the trade deadline. With a number of teams looking to make moves and a handful of others that are trying to rebuild for the future, it is a seller’s market. Hence, the high cost that it would take to land a formidable defender for the Penguins. 

For what it’s worth, Pittsburgh is an impressive fourth in the league in goals against, so improving the defense would be a case of the rich getting richer before the postseason. Still, adding depth in one of the most important areas of the ice is never a bad idea; however, it may not be worth mortgaging the future if the cost is too high.

Any move (or lack of a move) the Penguins make before the deadline will have a direct impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race. Other teams will certainly be watching.

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