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The NHL’s annual holiday roster freeze is from Dec. 20 to 27. It remains to be seen whether there will be any last-minute moves, but that hasn’t stopped the chatter in the rumor mill.
The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau noted Wednesday’s trade activity, which included the struggling New York Rangers shipping Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken. He wondered if the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks might get into the action before the freeze.
The floundering Buffalo Sabres might attempt a move that helps get their season back on track. Proteau brought up recent rumors linking the Vancouver Canucks to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov.
Meanwhile, Chicago Blackhawks left winger Taylor Hall struggled earlier this season under coach Luke Richardson. A healthy scratch for their Nov. 16 game against the Vancouver Canucks, he briefly became the subject of trade speculation.
Hall’s performance improved since Anders Sorensen replaced Richardson on Dec. 5, collecting four points in his last six games heading into Thursday’s match against the Kraken. That prompted the New York Post‘s Larry Brooks to suggest the 33-year-old could become a popular trade target if he continues to improve by the March 7 NHL trade deadline.
Another reason for Hall’s improvement could be he’s finally returned to game shape after missing most of last season due to knee surgery. It can take time for an NHL player, especially one approaching his mid-thirties, to return to peak condition. He could draw interest from contenders seeking an experienced top-six playmaker.
Related: Rangers Trade Kaapo Kakko: Two Other NHL Teams Who Should Trade Before Roster Freeze
Turning to the Detroit Red Wings, Brooks noted that Cam Talbot has performed well thus far in Motown. The 37-year-old goaltender has a record of 6-6-2 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Talbot has an affordable two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million. Brooks believes the Colorado Avalanche or New Jersey Devils might come calling if their current goalie tandems don’t work out as hoped.
The poor performance of the Nashville Predators has made Barry Trotz the busiest GM in the trade market, swinging four deals since Nov. 25. The latest saw Trotz ship defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday for blueliner Justin Barron.
That’s prompted some observers to wonder if a rival club might look into whether center Steven Stamkos regrets his decision to join the Predators this summer.
Stamkos, 34, signed a four-year deal worth $8 million annually with Nashville on July 1, coming off a 40-goal performance last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s well off that pace this season, with eight goals in 32 games.
Things aren’t going as well as hoped for Stamkos and the Predators thus far. However, RG.org’s Marco D’Amico cited a league source saying there’s no indication either side is having second thoughts about the situation.
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