NHL Rumors: Oilers, Jets, Senators, Canucks

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, a couple of insiders like Marc-Andre Fleury as a fit for the Edmonton Oilers, assuming the Minnesota Wild ever open up to the idea of trading him. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets have started contract talks with a couple of pending UFAs. The Ottawa Senators are taking calls, but fans are hoping the team doesn’t trade Jakob Chychrun. Finally, I try to make up for forgetting to post yesterday’s “crazy rumors out of Vancouver” by including them in today’s post.

Is Fleury an Ideal Mentor in Edmonton?

While still too far from the NHL trade deadline to know if the Minnesota Wild are officially sellers, speculation surrounding veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has intensified, with potential landing spots becoming a topic of discussion. The Wild have dismissed immediate trade ideas, but General Manager Bill Guerin remains open to the possibility of a Fleury trade if the team falls out of playoff contention and Fleury expresses a desire to join a contender.

In a recent Got Yer’ Back podcast featuring TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Mike Johnson, and Pierre LeBrun, Edmonton was deemed a strong candidate for Fleury. LeBrun emphasized the idea of the veteran as a mentor for Stuart Skinner, while Rishaug added that, given the Oilers’ active search for a goaltender to share the load with Skinner, especially in crucial playoff scenarios, Fleury could be a valuable addition.

Related: Flyers Can Move a Defenseman After Adding Jamie Drysdale

All said Fleury would likely want to go somewhere he could play. That made New Jersey an option, but likely only in the event they are playoff team.

Jets Begin Contract Talks with DeMelo and Dillon

As per Murat Ates of The Athletic, “Kevin Cheveldayoff and Larry Simmons have begun conversations with Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon’s camps. Doesn’t say negotiations are ongoing exactly. Sounds preliminary.”

Both players are likely in line for a raise, so the Jets may not be rushing into anything.

Senators Considering Jakob Chychrun Trade, Fans Plead for the Defenseman Not to Leave

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes that the Senators are highly engaged in trade discussions, ranking among the NHL’s most active teams. They aren’t looking to move any of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, or Thomas Chabot, but incoming calls from other teams persistently continue. Others on the roster may be…