NHL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Top Available Trade Targets

The frantic beginning of the NHL's free-agency period, which included plenty of blockbuster trades, is starting to settle down. After the league saw some of its best players find out where their homes will be in 2015-16 over the first four days, there are still a few difference-makers remaining. 

Saturday saw just two transactions, and they were both free-agent signings. Goaltender Dan Ellis signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals and center Cody Bass inked a season-long gig with the Nashville Predators, according to TSN.

Continue reading for the latest buzz on some of the most likely trade targets.

Patrick Sharp

One of the most notable names on the trading block before the draft, there still is no clear indication as to where Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp will be playing his hockey next year. 

Sharp has been all but forced out of Chicago because of salary-cap problems. HockeyBuzz.com shows the Blackhawks are currently $418,129 over the cap limit. Sharp is set to make $5.5 million in 2015-16 in the fourth year of his five-year, $29.5 million contract according to Spotrac.

Plenty of teams are looking at the possibility of acquiring the 33-year-old, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Bruins are considered out of the running by Lazerus because they acquired left winger Matt Beleskey from the Anaheim Ducks and signed him to a five-year deal on Wednesday. It was later reported by Arthur Staple of Newsday that the New York Islanders have also fallen out of contention to acquire Sharp. 

Sharp was drafted in the third round in 2001 by the Philadelphia Flyers, another of Lazerus' listed teams. He played a total of 66 games over three seasons in Philadelphia, recording just 10 goals and five assists.

He was traded to the Blackhawks in 2005, where he has developed into one of the most solid, role-playing wingers in the league, helping Chicago win three Stanley Cups in that time. 

The Flyers would be able to use another skilled winger such as Sharp on a team that has a first line consisting of Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. Put Sharp on a line with those stars and they could become one of the most dangerous units in the NHL.

The last team Lazerus lists is the Florida Panthers. One of the up-and-coming teams in the Eastern Conference, the Panthers have a blend of young, raw talent and aging veterans who can still produce. 

Of the 11 forwards listed on their current roster, five are under the age of 25 and three are over the age of 37. Acquiring Sharp would bring in an experienced forward who still has plenty left in the tank. He would most likely be playing first-line hockey, much like he would be doing on the Flyers, whether it would mean moving to right wing or doing so to Jonathan Huberdeau while flanking Nick Bjugstad at center.

Kevin Shattenkirk

Kevin Shattenkirk is one of the core defenseman for a St. Louis Blues team that can only be described as an underachieving side that is a victim of a deep Western Conference. 

In the past four seasons, the Blues have made the playoffs each time. In three of them (the other was a strike-shortened season), they recorded 109 points or more during the regular season. During that span, they have won just one playoff series.

That could be why Joe Haggerty of CSN New England has reported the following:

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Per a league source, there have been discussions over the past few weeks between the Blues and both the Rangers and Flyers about Shattenkirk, and there’s a fair chance he could be on the move this summer.

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With little postseason success, the Blues could be looking to clear out their big names. T.J. Oshie was dealt to the Washington Capitals for Troy Brouwer and goalie prospect Pheonix Copley. 

Following Haggerty's report, the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac claimed on Saturday that Shattenkirk's agent, Jordan Neumann, said he was "led to believe there is no truth to these rumors."

The Flyers, with the 21st-ranked defense in the league, have been in need of defensive help and took a step in the right direction during the draft, selecting Ivan Provorov with the seventh overall pick. The Rangers already have a puck-moving defenseman in Keith Yandle. Interest in Shattenkirk could mean they are looking to deal him.

In 56 games last season, Shattenkirk recorded 44 points with a +19 rating. The season before, he had 45 points in 81 games. He and fellow blueliner Alex Pietrangelo are within a year of each other in age (Shattenkirk is 26 and Pietrangelo is 25) and were a big reason why they were ranked fifth in the NHL with 2.40 goals allowed per game. Dealing him would not be do much to help those numbers.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com