Believe it or not, there is still an NHL trade deadline in place even though Jarome Iginla has been traded. Who knew?
I kid, I kid. The rumors are now flying around the league and plenty of big names remain on the trading block. Heck, one imagines the Boston Bruins will make a trade simply so they don't feel like jilted lovers after Iginla scorned them for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With that in mind, let's round up a few of the juicy rumors making the rounds around the NHL.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Could the Sabres actually move starting goalie Ryan Miller?
It's a distinct possibility, writes Craig Custance of ESPN Insider:
Starting goalie Ryan Miller has another season remaining on his contract that comes with an annual cap hit of $6.25 million (salary info per CapGeek.com). Miller has trade protection in that he can submit a list of teams he won't accept a trade to, but there are some teams that believe Miller wants out of Buffalo. And really, you can't blame him. That situation might depend on what happens with GM Darcy Regier and the coaching staff after this season, but it's one to watch closely.
Meanwhile, Andy Strickland of True Hockey has more info on that list of teams:
If you're looking for a fun way to spend the evening with your friends, grab a six pack and try to figure out which eight teams Miller refuses to play for! What fun!
In all honesty, I don't see Miller moving at the deadline, not in what is looking like a saturated goalie market with Miikka Kiprusof apparently on the block along with the two players listed below. Still, if I was going to deal for a goalie this season, Miller would be on my list.
Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks
For the time being it remains all quiet on the Roberto Luongo front, which is a bit surprising seeing as the Canucks seem more dedicated to Cory Schneider moving forward.
It's not that teams haven't been inquiring, as Custance writes—the Canucks just aren't hearing what they need to hear to move either player:
It's been a bit lost in the Iginla and Kiprusoff trade rumors, but things have gone quiet on the Roberto Luongo front. Teams are still calling Vancouver GM Mike Gillis about Luongo and Cory Schneider, but the reality is a summer goalie shuffle will provide more fertile ground for the Canucks to get full value for Luongo. Full value means a player who helps the Canucks immediately and a piece or two that helps them in the future.
At the end of the day, having two No. 1 goalies heading into the playoffs is a nice luxury, and the Canucks shouldn't trade Luongo simply to trade Luongo. Don't expect him to be moved until this summer.
Max Talbot and Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
You can accuse the Philadelphia Flyers of a lot of things this season—namely, dramatically underachieving—but don't accuse them of giving up on the season just yet.
According to Renaud Lavoie of RDS, a lot of teams have come calling about Max Talbot, but the Flyers are having none of it:
The Flyers are currently outside of the playoff picture looking in, and have already been rumored to consider moving forward Daniel Briere, according to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE:
Don't be shocked if the Flyers become mild sellers as the deadline looms.
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