The Chicago Blackhawks have a chance to win the Stanley Cup tonight in Boston and based on some of the rumours swirling around right now, that could kick start a busy couple weeks for NHL GMs.
With the draft now less than a week away, there is plenty of talk around the league and not so surprisingly, the Ottawa Senators have found themselves in the middle of some of those rumours. Whether it be a top six forward, an additional defenceman, or a move up the draft order, Bryan Murray will likely be active in the next week.
The speculation that took the internet by storm yesterday has the Senators and the Edmonton Oilers discussing a deal that would see skilled forward Ales Hemsky move to the Nation's Capital. Heading the other way would be defensive centre Zack Smith. On the surface, it's a deal that seems to make sense for both teams.
The Sens get their top six forward while the Oilers add a little toughness, which is a priority for new General Manager Craig MacTavish.
The sources on this one seem to have a proven track record in Oiler circles but it's hard to classify this as anything more than a rumour right now. I reached out to a couple contacts last night and nobody was ready to place that same "done deal" stamp on this. In fact, one sources suggested it was "unlikely".
Certainly not ready to dismiss this rumour outright though. It makes sense for both teams and is certainly something worth keeping an eye on.
To add to the Hemsky for Smith swap, some have suggested that the Sens may also be targeting the Oiler's 7th overall selection in a deal. We know Bryan Murray wants to move up on Draft Day so again, this does make some sense.
Expect rumours like this to pick up steam in the week leading up to the draft. Lots of GMs are looking to deal and the Ottawa Senators are one of those teams.
More coming as it becomes available.
- Another interesting development over the weekend was the notable absence of Daniel Alfredsson from Sweden's training camp roster for the Sochi Olympics. Some have read into this and suggested it's an indication that Alfredsson may not be returning next season. Not the case, apparently. Those in the know still seem to expect the Captain to come back for another season. His decision can't be far off.
