NHL Rumors: Analyzing Hottest Trade Buzz Entering 2016 Deadline Day

With the NHL trade deadline ending on Monday at 3 p.m. ET, the flurry of activity on the final day could set record numbers.

According to Dave Stubbs of NHL.com, if there are 44 players moved on Monday, it would reach an NHL record of 1,000.

With that many players moving, it's impossible to track all of them, but there are a few names still on the trading block that are rumored to be moved. Let's take a look at a few of them and break down what trades would mean should any go through.

Hamhuis Most Likely on the Move Soon

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis appears to be on the trade block. According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, it could be good news for Hamhuis, as the top-two teams in the Western Conference are interested in his services:

The veteran defenseman has six assists this season with a plus-minus of plus-five, and he has earned the right to play for a contender, according to Craig Custance of ESPN the Magazine:

Per Jason Botchford of the Province, Hamhuis waived his no-trade clause earlier this month and even commented on what it would be like to play in Dallas. 

“I think Dallas has a lot of great things going for it,” Hamhuis said. “It’s one of the best teams in the league. It’d be a great city to play in and have a chance to win this year.”

However, Botchford said it won't be easy getting a deal done with the Stars.

"The bad news is that Canucks ownership has had a long-standing feud with Dallas’ ownership," he wrote. "It seems unlikely they’d snuff a trade, especially if it was the best offer, but they may like to try and steer things to another team if they could get equal, or close to it, value."

With the Boston Bruins also in the mix, per Botchford, it seems that it's only a matter of where and when the 33-year-old is shipped out of town.

Drouin's Time in Tampa Seems Over

The Tampa Bay Lighting are apparently ready to move on from former No. 3 overall selection Jonathan Drouin. 

According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, speaking on 590 The Fan on Sunday (h/t Jeff Simmons of Sportsnet), Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman is ready to make a trade:

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The Lightning want it to be done. They see it as an opportunity to bring in a piece that can help them. They’ve rebounded over the last month from a tough season. I don’t think they’re viewed anywhere near a Stanley Cup contender [like] they were last June. So this is the big piece he can play. Now that he has decided not to trade away Steven Stamkos, this is his move to get better.

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Drouin is currently serving an indefinite suspension handed down by the Lightning for not reporting to their AHL affiliate. The last time he skated for Tampa Bay was Dec. 30. After a rookie season that saw him compile 32 points, he has just eight in 19 games this season.

There was plenty of talk that Drouin would be traded on Sunday, but it never happened. Brian Lawton of NHL Network thought the Ottawa Senators would be the team to land him:

Lawton also tweeted that Tampa had up to five offers on the table for Drouin. At this point, there is no doubt he will be on another team this season, but it remains to be seen what he can contribute.

When a player hasn't been on the ice in a while and is at odds with his team, sometimes it takes a fresh start to get him back in form. That could be the case here for Drouin, who showed signs of promise in his rookie season.

Boedker Could Land With New Team During Career Year

Another player who is all but already traded is Arizona Coyotes left winger Mikkel Boedker. Custance said there is interest in the eight-year veteran among multiple teams:

He was asked on Saturday if he is ready to accept the fact his days are likely numbered in Arizona, per Sarah McLellan of AZCentral.com: “I have to be. I think if that’s the decision that’s meant to be, then you have to be prepared for it and you have to take it as a new challenge. But we’ll see come Monday.”

Despite his experience, Boedker is just now entering his prime. Lawton thinks he is a good bargain and said the New York Islanders have been inquiring about his services:

Boedker has 80 career goals, including 13 in 62 games this season, which are six short of his career high. Lighthouse Hockey broke down a possible trade that included Boedker to the Islanders:

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The Islanders could use another forward as insurance for the playoff drive. Mikhail Grabovski is currently on injured reserve and though he's not expected to be out long, he's always an injury risk. Boedker is a versatile and conscientious forward (much like Grabovski) and his salary/cap hit ($3.75 million) is not problematic.

But this late in the season, the challenge isn't payroll nor cap room. It's asking price. The Coyotes are believed to be trying to auction up the price for Boedker, whose value in terms of "supply" may be increasing as other forwards come off the market, whether through trade or by being kept by their teams (e.g. Loui Eriksson in Boston). At one point the Coyotes were reported to be discussing a long-term extension worth around $6 million per year, so take that as you will, but that doesn't sound like the kind of price the Isles would want beyond this season.

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Boedker, who has a career plus-minus of minus-42, could certainly help any team he goes to, as his best hockey is most likely ahead of him. The writing appears to be on the wall, so now it's up to the Coyotes to get the most they can in return for one of the more productive wingers still left on the market.