NHL Rumors: Latest Trade Talk for 2016 Draft Picks and Prospects

The NHL draft is all about bringing an influx of young talent into the league that will help teams improve in both the short and long term.

As teams consider which young players to draft Friday night and Saturday in Buffalo, New York, they will also consider trades. In some cases, those trades will involve a veteran player for a high draft pick.

The St. Louis Blues would love to re-sign defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who is set to receive $4.25 million in salary in 2016-17 before becoming a free agent. However, the Blues have salary-cap issues and are unlikely to sign him to an extension.

The Blues are likely to trade him, according to a report by Frank Seravalli of TSN. The Boston Bruins are at the top of the list of trade partners, and that could suit Shattenkirk, who played his college hockey at Boston University. 

The Bruins also have two first-round picks, so parting with one of them could be a big part of completing a deal between the two teams.

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A major deal could be on the horizon between the league's last two Stanley Cup champions. The Pittsburgh Penguins, fresh off their victory over the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup Final, are considering moving high-scoring center Evgeni Malkin.

While Malkin made a nice contribution during the Pens' Stanley Cup run, he was injured late in the season and missed much of their late climb in the regular season when they closed the year with 14 wins in 16 games.

The Chicago Blackhawks may emerge as the trade partner in a deal for Malkin, according to Steve Zipay of Newsday. The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, including the 2015 title.

The Blackhawks have salary-cap issues of their own, but if general manager Stan Bowman can find a way to work them out, it will give the Blackhawks yet another superstar. They already have Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa.

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The emergence of Matt Murray in goal for the Penguins means they could possibly make a move with veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury without hurting their prospects for the future.

The Calgary Flames have goaltending issues and could be a potential trading partner with the Penguins. The Flames were resurgent in 2014-15 but failed to make the playoffs last year. Their issues in goal played a role in their postseason absence.

The Flames allowed 3.13 goals per game last season, which was the worst mark in the league.

They may be interested in making a deal for Fleury, according to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun. Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford would like to get the Flames' first-round pick (sixth overall) in exchange for Fleury, but that's unlikely to happen. Still, the Flames need an upgrade in goal, and that means trade talks are likely to be serious between the two teams.

Speaking of contracts, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported that moving Pavel Datsyuk's contract, which has a salary-cap hit of $7.5 million, is one of the things that general manager Ken Holland wants to accomplish at the draft this weekend.

Datsyuk has decided to leave the NHL and possibly play in Russia for the upcoming season.

No team would have to pay Datsyuk his actual salary of $5.5 million this season, but if Holland can induce a trade partner to take the salary-cap hit, the Wings will be in a better position to make key moves in the offseason.