NHL Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on P.K. Subban, Tyson Barrie and More

The Pittsburgh Penguins could clinch their fourth Stanley Cup win on Thursday night with a victory against the San Jose Sharks in the Steel City.

It would officially usher in the offseason for the entirety of the NHL, making roster transactions—whether they be from free agency, the draft or trades—the biggest stories in the league. 

But the trade winds are already swirling even during the Stanley Cup Final as we take a look at some of the latest rumors from around the league. 

P.K. Subban

Despite a rocky relationship, P.K. Subban signed an eight-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens prior to the start of the 2014-15 season. 

But ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reported on June 3 there is a possibility of the All-Star defenseman being dealt this summer:

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As far as I can tell, I don’t believe the Montreal Canadiens are phoning teams about him. However, I know of at least one team that has contacted the Habs about Subban, and it didn’t go anywhere.

Which is to say: I would put the odds of Subban getting traded before July 1 at about 5 percent. But I’m not ready to say it’s 100 percent it won’t happen because you just never know what kind of offer might come from general manager Marc Bergevin.

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On Wednesday, ESPN's Craig Custance said that Subban's chances of being traded are "a little higher" than five percent. He even delved into possible front-runners to partner with the Canadiens for the 27-year-old, saying that the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche have the pieces to pull off a deal. 

Big names who are in the prime of their career are rarely dealt in the NHL, and Subban is one of the best defensemen the league has to offer. 

He's a two-way defender who can not only knock an opposing player off of the puck but can then start an attack the other way with his speed and puck-handling abilities. 

Yet he has a fiery personality that at times can get him in trouble with referees and management:

TVA Sports' Louis Jean also added that he and captain Max Pacioretty "are not best friends. [Subban] is a guy who does rub others the wrong way," (via Luke Fox of Sportsnet). 

For a Canadiens team that was one of the worst in hockey after goaltender Carey Price went down with a knee injury in November, Subban, who might not be the most positive presence off of the ice, could be viewed as expendable by Montreal. 

Tyson Barrie

The Avalanche, who Custance alluded to as a possible front-runner for Subban, could have a coveted trade chip in defenseman Tyson Barrie. 

Barrie has become the premier blueliner in Colorado and one of the most solid defensemen in the Western Conference, as he recorded a second straight season in which he recorded over 45 points. 

At 24 years old, he's also a player that a team can build its blue line around, but his price might be too steep for the Avalanche, who finished five points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Barrie is a restricted free agent this summer who could be going to arbitration.

That's why TSN's Bob McKenzie told Edmonton’s TSN 1260 on Friday that Colorado could deal him (via Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot):

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This is not going to make any sense, but I’m going to say it anyways. Colorado is looking for a defenseman. But I don’t think they like the economic leverage that Tyson Barrie has right now. Tyson Barrie has got a very strong arbitration case. I think he’s going to be looking for a sum of money that Colorado doesn’t feel comfortable in giving him. Therefore I think they’re looking for somebody who – looking for a different type of defenseman maybe, or one that’s not going to cost them as much money.

So I think they are in the market for a defenseman. I think they are in the market for forwards as well, being a non-playoff team and all. But I definitely think Tyson Barrie has been in play, continues to be in play, and there’s a real strong chance that he could be traded at some point here.

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While Barrie is talented, he didn't do much to help keep the puck out of the net. He was a career-worst minus-16 in 2015-16 as the Avalanche allowed 240 goals. Only seven teams allowed more than that. 

Add that with an offense that ranked in the bottom half of the league, and Colorado could also be looking for some forwards who can find ways to put the puck in the net. They only had three players who scored more than 20 goals, and a blueliner such as Barrie fetch a couple offensive forwards. 

Bryan Bickell

Left winger Bryan Bickell could hit the 10-year mark with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016-17 if he is able to suit up for them. According to Custance, though, that likely won't happen, as the Blackhawks are "trying hard" to trade Bickell and his big contract. 

For a player who's set to make $4.5 million this season, per Spotrac, Bickell didn't show a reason why he deserved that kind of money. In 25 games, he didn't score a goal and recorded a pair of assists before being placed on waivers and later being designated to the AHL. 

Bickell's agent, Todd Diamond, expressed to Scott Powers in an article for the Chicago Sun-Times that his client wanted a trade but none came. 

Now with the Blackhawks continuing their fight against the salary cap, they want to move Bickell to make room to sign restricted free agent Andrew Shaw, per Custance. 

Shaw is a forward who not only can put the puck in the net but can get under an opponent's skin with his relentless motor and willingness to throw his body around. It makes him a versatile player who could be featured on any of Chicago's four lines. 

Seeing him walk could be something the Blackhawks might regret, which means they'll need to free up as much as they can to get Shaw back in red and black. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.