NHL Trade Rumors: Top Buzz on Matt Duchene, Vegas Golden Knights and More

Several big names have already been moved during the NHL offseason via trade, but there are several more that could potentially switch teams as free agency approaches.

There is often a post-draft lull in terms of the trade market; however, the action almost always picks up once the dust starts to settle from a free-agent perspective since teams get a clearer picture of what holes there are and aren't able to fill on their roster.

Here is a closer look at some of the top names rumored to be on the block with the start of free agency rapidly approaching noon ET Saturday.

Matt Duchene

Coming off the worst full season of his NHL career, forward Matt Duchene appears to be very much on the trading block for the Colorado Avalanche.

He has just two years remaining on his current contract, and with the distinct possibility present that the Avs won't attempt to re-sign him, dealing him now while he still has some level of value may be their best course of action.

The 26-year-old undoubtedly hurt his trade value in 2016-17, as he registered just 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points while posting a career-worst rating of minus-34.

Despite his struggles, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators have shown interest in Duchene.

Dreger added, though, that the Preds aren't likely to surrender a defenseman such as P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm or Ryan Ellis in a potential deal for Duchene.

There is reason for concern as it relates to his performance last season, but the Avalanche were a mess as a whole, and essentially everyone on the roster performed well below expectations.

Duchene scored a career-high 30 goals the previous season, and the former No. 3 overall draft pick has topped the 20-goal plateau on five different occasions.

Nashville could use some more offensive production up front after losing James Neal to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, and Duchene would seemingly be a good fit provided it can land him without giving up a top blueliner.

Vegas Golden Knights

The expansion Golden Knights have been remarkably active on the trade front since the expansion draft, but they may not be done.

According to TSN's Frank Seravalli, Vegas is looking to trade veteran defensemen Alexei Emelin and Luca Sbisa after nabbing them in the expansion draft.

The Golden Knights loaded up on rearguards, and they have already moved Trevor van Riemsdyk, Dave Schlemko and Marc Methot to the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars, respectively.

Vegas has a ton of defensive depth, plus it stands to potentially get even more in free agency if it so chooses.

The 31-year-old Emelin is a big, physical, stay-at-home defenseman, who is an even player over the past five seasons with the Habs.

Sbisa is a 27-year-old Swiss defenseman with a little more offensive punch, but he finished last season with just 13 points in 82 games.

He did have a minus-one rating, which was somewhat impressive considering he played for a Vancouver Canucks team that struggled.

Both Emelin and Sbisa are solid players who would fit in well on the third pairing for most teams, but considering how many defensemen the Golden Knights already have on their roster, there isn't much room for them in Vegas.

Jason Demers

With four years remaining on his contract and the Florida Panthers seemingly in retooling mode, defenseman Jason Demers may be on the move.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun (h/t Michael Augello of HockeyBuzz.com), the Panthers are likely to trade Demers, with the Toronto Maple Leafs representing a potential landing spot.

The 29-year-old Demers joined the Panthers prior to the 2016-17 season and put up solid numbers with a career-high nine goals to go along with 19 assists for 28 points.

Demers was a minus-14 for a Panthers team that struggled, but he was a plus player in three of the previous four campaigns with the Stars and San Jose Sharks.

The biggest issue as it relates to Demers is the term of his contract at a cap hit of $4.5 million per season, according to NHL Numbers.

While the cap hit isn't outrageous, Demers is a third-pairing guy on a good team, and he is somewhat pricey for that role.

The Leafs' biggest deficiency is on the blue line, though, and they could use some depth behind the likes of Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev.

Provided the cost isn't particularly high and assuming Florida would just be happy to get Demers off the books, Toronto is a team that can absorb his contract and get the most out of his ability to jump into the play.