The Hottest NHL Trade Speculation as the Regular Season Approaches

NHL training camps are underway, and the Oct. 12 start of the season is on the horizon. The trade-rumor mill is also returning to life. Several notable players, such as Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba, are once again hot topics of trade speculation. 

Trouba isn't the only familiar name resurfacing in recent NHL rumors. Anaheim Ducks blueliner Cam Fowler and Edmonton Oilers right wing Nail Yakupov continue to be mentioned as possible trade candidates. Some new names, such as Montreal Canadiens defender Nathan Beaulieu, also recently popped up. 

Here's a look at the hottest trade speculation as the NHL season approaches. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below. 

Is Montreal Canadiens Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu on the Trade Block?

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin made the most surprising trade of the offseason by shipping defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for rearguard Shea Weber. He might not be finished tweaking his blue line. 

On Sept. 16, The Score's Craig Hagerman cited Francois Gagnon of RDS reporting Bergevin was fielding offers for defenseman Nathan Beaulieu. Bergevin said he wasn't actively shopping the 23-year-old and was doing his job listening to offers that might help his club. If that sounds familiar, Bergevin said the same thing about Subban prior to trading him to Nashville. 

Beaulieu's 19 points in 64 games last season was good for third among Habs defensemen. He has potential to become a good second-pairing defenseman and carries an affordable $1 million salary for 2016-17. 

The Canadiens lack skilled depth beyond Max Pacioretty at left wing, so perhaps Beaulieu could be used as trade bait to address that need. Doing so, however, would leave Bergevin in need of finding a suitable defenseman to replace Beaulieu. 

Could This Season Be Nail Yakupov's Last with the Edmonton Oilers?

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The top pick of the 2012 NHL draft, Edmonton Oilers right wing Nail Yakupov struggled to play up to expectations as a scoring forward. Entering 2016-17, the 22-year-old is once again the subject of trade rumors. 

On Sept. 23, the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson reported of offseason expectation the Oilers would trade Yakupov for another young player or a draft pick. Matheson suggested the young winger could still be moved if he has a good start or if promising right wing Jesse Puljujarvi proves NHL ready.

Matheson's colleague David Staples cited the belief of TSN's Ryan Rishaug that the Oilers will part ways with Yakupov if the right opportunity appears. Staples also noted Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli tried to trade the winger this summer but couldn't find a decent offer and lacked a suitable replacement for him.

Yakupov's sputtering production over the last three seasons hurts his trade value. Last season, he managed only 23 points in 60 games. His $2.5 million salary for the upcoming season could also be a sticking point. His play must substantially improve this season to bolster his stock in the trade market. 

Will the Tampa Bay Lightning Shed Salary Via Trade?

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

With training camp underway, the Tampa Bay Lightning have yet to re-sign restricted free agent right wing Nikita Kucherov. Re-signing him could force Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman to make room for the winger's new contract by shedding some salary via trade.

Kucherov tallied 65 points in 2014-15 and 66 points (with 30 goals) last season. He was their leading scorer in the regular season and the playoffs (19 points). On Sept. 11, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times speculated Kucherov could warrant a deal comparable to Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg (six years, $36 million) and the eight year, $60 million deal of St. Louis Blues right winger Vladimir Tarasenko.

With over $66 million in salary-cap payroll, the Lightning have just over $6.2 million of cap space. Assuming Kucherov gets $6 million per season on his new contract, they'll have to free up room to re-sign defenseman Nikita Nesterov and leave sufficient space for other moves as required in the upcoming season. 

Jones noted the Lightning could move goalie Ben Bishop ($5.95 million cap hit), center Valtteri Filppula (pictured above, $5 million) or defenseman Jason Garrison ($4.6 million). He noted Yzerman said he could retain Bishop this season. That leaves Filppula or Garrison, provided they agree to waive their respective no-trade clauses. 

Could the Anaheim Ducks Move Defenseman Cam Fowler?

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler was the subject of trade rumors this summer. As the season approaches, it's unlikely the speculation about the 24-year-old blueliner will die down. 

On Sept. 21, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register noted the increase in Fowler trade chatter this offseason. Much of it had him being shopped for a scoring winger or to clear salary-cap room to re-sign restricted free agents Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Stephens wonders how long Fowler will remain a Duck.

Fowler currently has two years remaining on his contract worth $4 million per season. The Ducks have over $7.5 million of salary-cap space, but re-signing Lindholm and Rakell will take up most of that. Given their depth on defense, they could afford to part with a skilled puck-moving blueliner such as Fowler. 

NHL clubs such as the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of blue-line depth. All could have interest in Fowler if he hits the trade block. 

Could the Boston Bruins Trade a Center for a Defenseman?

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On Aug. 31, the Boston Herald's Steve Conroy called the Boston Bruins signing free-agent center Dominic Moore an unusual move. Noting the Bruins already had Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, David Backes, Ryan Spooner and Noel Acciari at center, he wondered if one of them could be used as trade bait for a defenseman.

Conroy suggested Spooner as a possible trade candidate, noting his upside and affordable $950,000 salary. On Sept. 13, CSNNE.com's Joe Haggerty also mused over Krejci or Spooner being swapped for a top-four puck-moving blueliner. 

Krejci is an established star, but he carries a $7.25 million salary-cap hit through 2020-21 with a no-movement clause. He also underwent offseason hip surgery, further dampening his trade value. Bergeron is the Bruins' top center and isn't going anywhere. Neither is Backes, who was added via free agency this summer.

Spooner could interest clubs with depth at defense seeking a young center with upside. However, he's among a handful of experienced Bruins forwards under 26 years old. Management could be reluctant to part with him. 

Will the St. Louis Blues Trade Kevin Shattenkirk?

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Throughout the offseason, St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was a frequent topic of trade speculation. On Sept. 22, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Blues attempted to move Shattenkirk this summer but couldn't find a deal. 

Rutherford noted Shattenkirk's eligibility next summer for unrestricted free agency means his status will remain a distraction until he's either re-signed or dealt. The 27-year-old blueliner acknowledged the trade chatter could persist throughout the season. 

Most of the Shattenkirk trade rumors link him to the New York Rangers, who lack a skilled puck-moving defenseman. On Sept 20, Rutherford's colleague Jeff Gordon suggested swapping Shattenkirk for Rangers left wing Rick Nash if forward Vladimir Sobotka, who's spent the last two seasons playing in Russia, doesn't return to the Blues.

It remains to be seen if the Blues use Shattenkirk as trade bait to land Nash or look at other options. Despite his free-agent status, they could retain him to bolster their chances for a Stanley Cup run next spring.

Where Will the Winnipeg Jets Trade Jacob Trouba?

Kelvin Kuo/Associated Press

On Sept. 24, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Free Press reported Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba requested a trade. A restricted free agent, the 22-year-old expressed his wish to play an expanded role on the right side of the Jets blue line. He denied the request had anything to do with money, the city of Winnipeg or the Jets organization. 

With Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers ahead of Trouba on the Jets depth chart, he won't get the opportunity to play top-four minutes on the right side. Billeck noted Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged Trouba's request but declined further comment on the issue.

Cheveldayoff should expect plenty of interest from GMs seeking a skilled right-handed defenseman. CBS Sports' Chris Peters listed the Boston Bruins, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings as possible suitors. NBC Sports' Adam Gretz believed the Bruins, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche could come calling. 

Any club pursuing Trouba must have sufficient salary-cap space to re-sign him to a deal worth at least $5 million annually. It should also be prepared to part with at least a good young established player.

Hanging over this is the Dec. 1 deadline for re-signing restricted free agents. If Trouba is unsigned by that date, he'll be ineligible to play the remainder of the season. 

Player stats via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.