NHL Trade Rumors: Latest Reports on Potential Moves Around the League

Since Wednesday, a wacky and wild start to the NHL free-agency period has been jam-packed with big free-agent signings and surprising trades, taking many of the most talked-about players off the market. But alas—there's still quality talent to choose from on the trading block.

Household names like T.J. Oshie and Phil Kessel have been snatched from sellers in the span of the last few days, and established players have been flipped left and right. Things may be slowing down considerably as the first weekend of free agency begins, but they are far from grinding to a halt—as if they ever do in the NHL.

Let's break down an Independence Day version of NHL trade rumors by looking at the latest buzz around the league.

Trio of Maple Leafs Staying Put?

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Some saw the trade of Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the first move of a busy offseason that could see longtime Toronto Maple Leafs players like Dion Phaneuf, Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul change sweaters along with him. But the Maple Leafs aren't getting what they want in the market and just may keep (some of) the band together.

As reported by the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle, the Leafs have gotten interest for all three players who have long been in the rumor mill. Mirtle reported that Toronto rebuffed a sweet deal from the Arizona Coyotes for Bozak: "One neutral party familiar with what the Leafs were offered for Bozak said they were surprised they hadn’t taken the deal."

Lupul also appears likely to stay, as his large contract ($5.25 million cap hit, per Spotrac) will be impossibly tough to move without incurring a big salary in return. As Mirtle stated, he's likely to get better offers near the deadline.

Perhaps most intriguing is the saga surrounding Phaneuf, the star defenseman on a hefty contract ($7 million cap hit) that is making the Leafs' reported asking price—a good prospect and no salary retained, per Mirtle—too high for teams to bite on. What's more, new head coach Mike Babcock sees a reclamation project, per Mirtle:

"

In the NHL’s current climate, with a lot of free-agent defencemen signed and many teams settled on the blueline, that’s a big ask for such a big contract. (Phaneuf has six years at $7-million a season remaining.)

Leafs coach Mike Babcock also wants to see what he can do with Phaneuf. Can he be more than he has been under Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle? In Phaneuf, Babcock sees a willing pupil, a player who works hard and buys in, but who is asked to do too much without a lot of help.

"

Regardless of whether he's played up to his big salary or not in recent years, the Maple Leafs would have a difficult time streamlining their rebuild without Phaneuf. Take a look at the Nashville Predators, which gutted their roster two offseasons ago and opted to match a seismic offer sheet for Shea Weber. Within one season, they returned near the top of the Western Conference.

If the Maple Leafs aspire to get things going as quickly as that, they would do well to hold on to their top blue-liner.

Blackhawks Vets Still Being Shopped

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The Chicago Blackhawks' season ended in lifting the Stanley Cup, but many around the organization knew their tight position with the salary cap would force some difficult changes. Many expect those changes to include trades of Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell.

Although both players are still Blackhawks and may be for the next few months, that doesn't mean they will be on the roster for the 2015-16 season opener. Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times shared some information on why Chicago hasn't moved them yet and how the market for them has changed:

"

A source said that the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens were among the initial teams with some interest in Sharp. But the Penguins got their winger in Kessel, and the Capitals added Oshie. The Boston Bruins were believed to be sniffing around Bickell, but acquired power forward Jimmy Hayes (an ex-Hawks winger) and signed winger Matt Beleskey on Wednesday.

That doesn’t leave Bowman with many potential trade partners as the July frenzy dies down.

"

Despite those developments, Lazerus noted Sharp and Bickell as the "leading candidates to be dealt." They combine for a $9.9 million cap hit, per Spotrac, and Chicago could immensely help its cap situation by slashing their salaries.

The Blackhawks will be in a precarious situation in the coming months. They will likely need to move Sharp or Bickell (or both) to get under the salary cap, and Chicago has until the season opener to do that. But as teams get more familiar with what the Blackhawks are doing, the value for Sharp and Bickell could lower in the process.