In today’s NHL rumors rundown, two of the biggest available players this trade deadline are off the market, so who can replace them? Elsewhere, Yanni Gourde, one of the top trade deadline targets for many teams, is set to miss an extended period of time. Finishing off, the Dallas Stars have placed Tyler Seguin and Nils Lundkvist on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), and may have a move on the way.
Late in the evening on Jan. 31, the Vancouver Canucks made a pair of big trades. The first was sending J.T. Miller, Erik Brannstrom, and prospect Jackson Dorrington to the New York Rangers for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a protected first-round pick. They quickly flipped the pick, sending it alongside Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen, and prospect Melvin Fernstrom to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor.
Related: Grading Rangers & Canucks Blockbuster J.T. Miller Trade
According to The Hockey Writers‘ Trade Bait Board, Miller was the top target, with Pettersson being number five on the list and the second defenseman.
Centers and defensemen are always the top targets at the trade deadline, and according to the trade bait board, that leaves Brock Nelson as the top center option, and Ivan Provorov remains the top defenseman, which leaves Bowen Byram and Rasmus Ristolainen as the next options.
There are still questions on whether or not the Canucks are done and if they will trade Elias Pettersson, too. It is unlikely, but there have been reports that the Canucks had options to move neither player, one player, or both. With plenty of talks between the Canucks and other teams, including the Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and others, they are aware of the market and what teams are offering. They are now in a position that they don’t need to trade Pettersson, and have regained some leverage in a deal if they opt to go that route.
Gourde’s Injury Takes Him Off Trade Market
After seeing two of the top trade targets get moved and starting to go down the list, Gourde was one of the players that plenty of teams have been linked to. Unfortunately, Gourde is sidelined for 5-7 weeks after a sports hernia surgery. Gourde has been out of the lineup since Jan. 2 with a lower-body injury and with just over a month until the trade deadline, his 5-7 week timeline puts him out of the running as a trade…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…