Buying or Selling the Latest NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors

With the July 1 start of the NHL's free-agent market nearly upon us, rumors are growing over potential destinations for the top unrestricted free agents.

Given the lack of depth in the UFA market, there's also persistent chatter regarding possible trades.

Once the top free-agent talent is gone, teams could return to the trade market. Players like St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk or Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (pictured above) could attract considerable interest following the free-agent signing frenzy.

Trade and free-agent rumors are flying, but not all of them are worth buying into. Read on to see which ones are have a shot of coming to fruition and which can be thrown into the trash already based on player talent, salary and roster needs, among other factors.

Chris Stewart to the Flames or Senators?

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The Rumor: Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wondered if the Calgary Flames or Ottawa Senators might try to sign free-agent right wing Chris Stewart. Friedman noted that both clubs pursued Stewart when he was with the Buffalo Sabres. 

Analysis: A former two-time 28-goal scorer, Stewart plays a physical game. While the 27-year-old winger's offensive production has declined, his gritty style could still interest teams like the Flames and Senators. 

Buying or selling: Buy in the case of the Flames, sell for the Senators. The Flames have the cap space to sign Stewart if they wish to bolster their depth at right wing. The Senators, meanwhile, are a budget-conscious club that must re-sign restricted free agents Mike Hoffman and Alex Chiasson. 

Antoine Vermette Back to the Arizona Coyotes?

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The Rumor: The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported that there's “a strong belief” that center Antoine Vermette could return to the Arizona Coyotes as a free agent. 

Analysis: The Coyotes dealt Vermette, 32, to the Chicago Blackhawks near the March 2015 trade deadline. Garrioch claimed Vermette was comfortable in Arizona. He also noted the Coyotes have $18 million in salary-cap space. That's more than enough to re-sign Vermette.

Buying or selling: Sell. Having won a Stanley Cup with Chicago, Vermette could return to the Coyotes, but they might not want him back. While the rebuilding Coyotes could use experienced depth at center, they could consider younger options via trade or free agency.

Justin Williams to the Pittsburgh Penguins?

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The Rumor: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun speculated that Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford could look at signing free agent right wing Justin Williams. 

Analysis:  It's no secret Rutherford is shopping around for scoring wingers. LeBrun claims the Penguins GM intends to be patient in his quest. Many of those he's been linked to (Phil Kessel, Patrick Sharp, Jeff Skinner, T.J. Oshie) carry annual salaries in excess of $4 million. Rutherford was Williams' GM when they  won a Stanley Cup together with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Buying or selling: Buy, depending upon Williams' asking price. The 33-year-old winger has tallied 41-plus points in four of the past five seasons. Winning the 2014 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP burnished his reputation as a clutch scorer. He earned an annual cap hit of $3.65 million on his last contract. He'll have to keep his salary requests reasonable to join the Penguins.

Brad Richards to the New York Islanders?

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The Rumor: The New York Post's Larry Brooks suggested that center Brad Richards could be “a darn good fit” for Brooklyn (meaning the relocating New York Islanders). 

Analysis: Richards, 35, is no longer the high-scoring center he once was, though he did collect 14 points in 23 playoff games with the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. The Isles, meanwhile, have John Tavares, Frans Nielsen, Mikhail Grabovski and Casey Cizikas as their centers.

Buying or selling: Sell: Unless the Islanders decide to replace Grabovski or Cizikas, they have no room at center for a fading star like Richards.

Andrej Sekera to the Colorado Avalanche?

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The Rumor: The Denver Post's Mike Chambers reported that the Colorado Avalanche hope to add a defenseman or two (preferably left-handed shots) via free agency. Chambers considered Andrej Sekera to be their best bet. 

Analysis: Sekera, 29, plays a solid game at both ends of the rink. He's one year removed from a career-best 44-point season. He can log well over 21 minutes of ice time per game and is an effective shot-blocker. His experience could make him a good fit with the Avalanche.

Buying or selling: Buy, depending upon Sekera's asking price. He earned an annual cap hit of $2.75 million on his last contract. He could seek around $5 million annually on a long-term deal.

Martin St. Louis to the New Jersey Devils?

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The Rumor: The New York Post's Larry Brooks reported that former New York Rangers winger Martin St. Louis doesn't intend to retire. Brooks cited the New Jersey Devils among possible destinations for the 40-year-old. 

Analysis: Though St. Louis tallied 52 points in 74 games last season, he managed only seven points in 19 playoff games. It's painfully apparent that age is catching up with him. The Devils need scoring depth at right wing, but could entertain younger options. 

Buying or selling: Sell. Under new general manager Ray Shero, the Devils are shedding aging veterans and rebuilding with youth. St. Louis isn't a fit in New Jersey.

Kevin Bieksa to the San Jose Sharks?

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The Rumor: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reported that a deal which would've sent Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa to the San Jose Sharks fell through before the recent NHL draft. San Jose Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka, however, speculated that the deal might not be entirely dead.

Analysis: Pashelka cited Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province, who noted that Bieksa was willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Sharks. It's possible both sides could revisit this once the dust settles from the opening days of free agency.

Buying or selling: Buy, depending upon what the Sharks and Canucks do immediate after July 1. If the Canucks fail to attract other suitors for Bieksa and the Sharks don't find a suitable alternative via trade or free agency, they could revisit these talks.

Matt Beleskey to the Montreal Canadiens?

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Rumor: Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos speculated that the Montreal Canadiens' contract buyout of winger Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau could create salary-cap room to pursue free-agent winger Matt Beleskey.

Analysis: Beleskey, who scored 22 goals in 65 games last season plus eight in the playoffs, would be an improvement over the disappointing Parenteau, who managed only 22 points in 56 games. However, ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun claimed that Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin doesn't intend to pursue players via free agency.

Buying or selling: Sell. If we take Bergevin at his word, he won't chase Beleskey. While the Parenteau buyout gives the Canadiens over $6.6 million in cap space, they still need to re-sign restricted free agent Alex Galchenyuk. Bergevin could instead look toward the trade market to add another scorer. 

St. Louis Blues Shopping Kevin Shattenkirk?

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The Rumor: Prior to the recent NHL draft, the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson reported that St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk might be available, due to the high salaries of the Blues defense corps (notably Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester).

Analysis: The Blues have committed considerable payroll to their blue line. Shattenkirk, however, was their best puck-moving defenseman. Despite missing 26 games last season, the 26-year-old tallied 44 points in 56 games, along with another eight points in six postseason contests.

Buying or selling: Sell. The Blues need to shake up some of their playoff underachievers like forwards T.J. Oshie, David Backes and Patrik Berglund. Shipping out Shattenkirk is the wrong move.

Tuukka Rask on the Trade Block?

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The Rumor: Sportsnet's Damien Cox noted that the Boston Bruins trading Dougie Hamilton and Milan Lucic didn't free up much cap space, as they retained part of Lucic's salary. Given the Bruins' depth in young goaltenders, Cox wondered if Tuukka Rask ($7 million annual cap hit) could be dealt.

Analysis: The Bruins have roughly $6 million in cap room for next season and must re-sign restricted free agents Ryan Spooner and Brett Connolly. While this duo could take up a significant chunk of that cap space, there's no reason for the Bruins to trade their former Vezina Trophy winner.

Buying or selling: Sell. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told TSN's Darren Dreger that he's not trading Rask. Considering how Sweeney dealing away Hamilton and Lucic for mostly draft picks weakens the Bruins roster for next season, it would be foolhardy to ship out his top goaltender.

Player stats via NHL.com. Salary info via General Fanager and Spotrac.