NHL Rumors: Latest Roundup on Potential Trades and Free-Agency Moves

It's an understatement to say a lot has happened in the opening days of the NHL free-agency period. But while the free-agency moves and talk of trades may be dying down, they are far from going away.

Most teams have already done much of the heavy work in terms of filling their biggest needs and getting in position for success in 2015-16, but none of the 30 organizations are close to done with their offseason transactions. Pressing issues still need to be sorted out in various spots, whether it's an embattled player or needing to open up some salary space to get under the cap.

From the players still on the market to others who could be swapping jerseys in the coming days, let's take a look at the latest names being talked about.

Alexander Semin

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

After being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes on the eve of free agency, Alexander Semin emerged as an intriguing option for teams looking for scoring help. But there remained the possibility that the KHL could sweep him up again, as it did during part of 2012-13.

Rumblings about Semin were minimal at the busy start of free agency, prompting questions about whether he was even in play in NHL circles. Mike Vogel of the Washington Capitals' official site reported on Thursday that the player was looking to remain in the NHL. His agent then confirmed as much to Sport-Express.ru's Igor Eronko:

A one-year contract would be just about ideal for both Semin and whichever team would be willing to take a small gamble.

At 31, Semin's 70-point seasons from his Washington Capitals days are inevitably a thing of the past. His woeful six-goal performance in 57 games in 2014-15 could cause NHL front offices to pump the brakes, but he's not far removed from his 22-goal, 20-assist season in 2013-14.

The KHL is more than likely where the Russian would want to end his career, but he obviously believes he has a few good years left at the highest level. A short-term deal would allow him to re-explore that possibility next offseason.

There are no potential suitors to report of as of yet, but as free-agent options come off the market and teams get more desperate for goal scoring, they will inevitably emerge for his services. 

Kevin Shattenkirk

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The surprising rumors about Kevin Shattenkirk's potential trade from the St. Louis Blues were quelled somewhat in the first few days of free agency. However, more has come out to indicate the blueliner could soon be on the move.

According to Joe Haggerty of CSN New England, the Blues recently held talks with multiple teams about dealing Shattenkirk:

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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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This comes after the Blues refuted the possibility of Shattenkirk being dealt. They confirmed that to TSN's Darren Dreger after a busy opening day of free agency, which included trading T.J. Oshie to the Washington Capitals:

Trade rumors were denied from Shattenkirk's agent, Jordan Neumann, as well, per ESPN's Craig Custance, but that only means so much in today's NHL. Potential deals are talked about between front-office higher-ups all the time, and it often doesn't get to the point where a player is even briefed.

One thing that's worth questioning is why the Blues would even ponder such a move. Shattenkirk was immense last season, notching 44 points in 56 games, and there's no immediate replacement on the roster to replace his production.

Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

As the dust continues to settle around the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise following the trade of Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, trade-rumor regulars Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak inevitably wonder if they will be next up on the trading block.

One appears to be safe. The other? Not so much. ESPN's Pierre LeBrun joined TSN's That's Hockey, and he shared insight on how Phaneuf may be able to remain in Toronto:

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I think as we speak Dion Phaneuf will be a Maple Leaf when the puck drops in October. Now, I’m not gonna say that 100 percent because if a team phones with the kind of offer that includes the kind of future assets that the Leafs are continuing to try and build with, then they’d have to think about it.

But unless there’s that super offer, I believe Dion Phaneuf will remain part of the mix. I think that new head coach Mike Babcock likes Phaneuf and wants to turn this around with him as part of it.

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As for Bozak, LeBrun stated he "certainly is in play" but wondered whether the Maple Leafs might opt to keep him to start 2014-15 and hope a strong beginning to the season would up his value.

Of course, dealing Bozak isn't as simple as it seems. He has a list of 12 teams that he's willing to be traded to and can rebuff a deal to any other team, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. But the team already seems to be making moves geared toward replacing him, as the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle noted:

New head coach Mike Babcock will need to retain all of the talent he can on a Maple Leafs team that is short on it, which means he might do well to just hold onto the trade targets he's currently graced with. But that doesn't mean he and the Toronto front office won't continue fielding calls.