NHL Trade Rumors: Buzz on Tyler Bozak, Keith Yandle and More

The amount of player movement around the NHL has slowed considerably after a flurry surrounding the draft and the opening of free agency. Now, the question is whether there will be another surge or if things are going to remain relatively quiet for the remainder of the summer.

Several marquee names have already passed through an active trade market. Phil Kessel, Brandon Saad, Ryan O'Reilly and T.J. Oshie are just some of the players who will be wearing new jerseys next season, and more could join the list.

So let's check out some of the latest trade talk making its way around the league.

Tyler Bozak

The aforementioned exit of Kessel illustrated the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a retooling phase. It might not be a full-blown rebuild, but they are making some significant changes to the roster as they enter a new era with Mike Babcock as head coach.

Tyler Bozak could be the next to go despite scoring 49 points, including 23 goals, last season. James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail reports he's one of two high-profile forwards who could get dealt:

"

That really only leaves two other members of Toronto’s long-standing "core" left to ponder: Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul.

Both would like to stay, or at least that was the sense before Kessel was dealt on Wednesday. The Leafs have been getting interest and even offers on Bozak now for a while, with the inquiring Arizona Coyotes the best fit until they signed Antoine Vermette.

"

Building depth up the middle remains a hallmark of top teams. Although Bozak isn't a No. 1 center, a role he's been thrust into at times in Toronto, he's a capable No. 2 option who would top 50 points in the right situation.

Given the direction of the team, it would make sense for the Leafs to move him while he's in his prime, helping his market value. Finding the right buyer could take some time, though, now that the initial wave of movement is over.

Keith Yandle

The New York Rangers acquired Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes last season to help their defensive depth heading into the playoffs. He did his part, scoring 11 points in 21 games and then adding 11 more in 19 playoff appearances, but the team fell short of its ultimate goal.

Now, with the team facing some cap issues and needing to re-sign Derek Stepan, the defenseman could be on the move again. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports he's the more likely asset to move, with Rick Nash also being bantered about in the media recently:

"

It's a different dynamic with Yandle, whose $2.625 million cap hit (the other half absorbed by the Coyotes) is friendly enough, but who is a year away from unrestricted free agency with almost no chance of re-upping given the pricey long-term commitments already in place with lefties Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh, behind whom Yandle sits on the depth chart.

"

Yandle is an outstanding offensive defenseman and could command a massive deal on the open market. Moving him now to recoup value before potentially losing him for nothing makes sense. But other teams understand that situation as well, which will impact the return.

If the Rangers can't find the right deal soon, it may be better to wait until the trade deadline. Teams are willing to give up a piece or two for a rental to help the postseason charge, just like New York when it traded for him.

Kevin Shattenkirk

Kevin Shattenkirk scored 44 points in just 56 games for the St. Louis Blues last season. Add the fact that he's just 26, and the defenseman isn't the type of player normally in the rumor mill. But his name has popped up quite a bit in recent weeks.

Joe Haggerty of CSN New England reports the Boston Bruins have discussed him, but it's unclear whether they are involved this time, and at least two other teams have engaged the Blues in talks this offseason:

"

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. There is no indication that the Bruins are in on Shattenkirk, but they certainly should be if they aren't already.

"

The Rangers are an intriguing link because, as NHL Numbers notes, they already have six defensemen under contract for at least $3 million. So it would probably take a blockbuster involving one of them to acquire Shattenkirk.

Philadelphia makes a little more sense because it could use a top-pairing, offensive defenseman. Whether the Flyers have enough high-end assets to acquire a player of his caliber is a mystery, though. The Blues should be asking a king's ransom.