NHL Rumors: Latest on Jonathan Drouin and More Ahead of 2016 Trade Deadline

The NHL trade deadline is just hours away as the pressure ramps up for teams looking to hit the market and make a move. 

Some players are garnering a ton of interest from a number of teams, while others are unsure if they are even in trade discussions. 

Here is the latest buzz surrounding some of the top trade targets.

Jonathan Drouin

Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Jonathan Drouin has wanted out of the blue and white for quite some time. Unhappy with his role on the team, Drouin requested a trade away from Tampa Bay in November. 

The 20-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, one that has seen him appear in just 19 games due to injuries and a demotion to the AHL. In his limited time on the ice this year, Drouin has just two goals and six assists.

Despite the low numbers, demotion and injuries, Drouin is still getting a ton of interest on the trade market, per TSN's Bob McKenzie:

Drouin was drafted third overall in 2013 with some high expectations from Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray, per Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times. 

"There's nothing offensively that he can't do as far as playmaking, goal scoring, beating people one-on-one," Murray said. "He has a special compete level and a special skill set you very rarely see come along."

While those aspects haven't necessarily carried over into the NHL as of yet, Drouin is still young and can flourish under the right system. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman won't stand in his way either, as he told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun:

"

We're close to the trade deadline, we're trying to make the playoffs, if I can trade him and put a player on my team and make us better, isn't that common sense? I'm not going to wait just to wait, but I'm not going to trade him just to trade him. If there's something in the next four to five days that helps us now, sure, that would be my preference.

"

Yzerman has been patient, but he's running out of time.

"I've been talking to teams for months, every team knows what I'm looking for, I know what they're willing to do," he said. 

It's unclear what Yzerman is looking for, but the Lightning could use some scoring depth that would play on the bottom three lines. Other than Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning don't have anyone with more than 15 goals. 

It's important to get some goal scoring, especially with Stamkos set to be a free agent. If he were to walk in the offseason, then Tampa Bay's offense would be in big trouble. 

Eric Staal

According to Chip Alexander of the News and Observer, there is a possibility that Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal would waive his no-trade clause before Monday's deadline. 

Staal, an unrestricted free agent after this season, spoke with Alexander about the possibility of being dealt:

"

We’ll see what happens. For me, personally, there’s been talk in certain areas. Ultimately, we’ll see what management wants to do and what they see is best for this organization and this team, and we’ll go from there.

Obviously it depends on the situation and where it would be. But I think we’ve got a pretty good relationship where we can talk it out and figure it out. I’m not going to be trying to hold anything back, but it’s got to be the right situation for myself, as well.

"

Staal is in his 12th year with the Hurricanes but has only made the playoffs twice, the last time in 2008-09. At 31 years old and with Carolina on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoff race, the idea of being dealt to a contender probably sounds more appealing to him. 

New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal is already making it known that he'd like to see his brother at Madison Square Garden, per Andrew Gross of the Record:

Per Alexander, the Rangers are one of the teams that have been linked to Staal, along with the Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators. All three of those teams currently sit in playoff positions, and acquiring a center like Staal could provide a huge boost moving forward. 

Putting him on the second line of any of those teams would make them more of a contender in their respective conferences. But it will all come down to whether he wants to leave Carolina. 

Dan Hamhuis

Like Staal, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis isn't sure about waiving his no-trade clause, per Ben Kuzma of the Province. He also is an unrestricted free agent when the season ends. 

The veteran defenseman has been a steady presence with the Canucks over a 12-year-career that began in Nashville with the Predators. However, because of his play in small markets, he hasn't always gotten the credit he deserves. 

He hasn't had a negative plus-minus rating in seven years and has appeared in the top 20 of the Norris Trophy voting three times. 

But at 33 years old, Hamhuis' better days are behind him, and the Canucks are eight points out of a playoff spot. His consistency could make him a coveted trade target, per Kuzma, but Hamhuis is on the fence. 

"We’ve been working through some thoughts and to be prepared,” Hamhuis told Kuzma. “And certainly, if going is the direction, we would have to give them (Canucks) some time to make a deal happen.”

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the Boston Bruins have shown interest in Hamhuis. He'd be a nice addition to Boston's third defensive pairing in the midst of a playoff push. 

But the Dallas Stars seem to be a favorite if Hamhuis were to waive his no-trade clause. According to Sportsnet's Dan Murphy, there is mutual interest between the Stars and Hamhuis. 

Dallas is the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and could use Hamhuis to shore up the blue line. Thanks to the Stars' potent offense, the team has been able to succeed despite giving up the sixth-most goals in the league. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.