Experts Rumor Update:
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Adrian Aucoins recent groin injury may force the Isles to speed up trade talks with the Bruins about the services of Kyle McLaren.– The sides nearly came to an agreement last week that would have sent winger Brad Isbister and a draft pick to the Bruins, although Isbister’s agent, Paul Theofanous, insisted Isbister “never” was informed by the Isles that he’d been traded, as a Boston newspaper reported yesterday.
-The Habs are said to be shopping several players, which include the likes of Mariusz Czerkawski, Donald Audette, Karl Dykhuis and Oleg Petrov. The Habs are said to be in the market for a strong, two-way defenseman. Reports suggest the team may be willing to pay a chunk of some player’s salaries.
-And according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Canadiens are still trying to trade veteran Jeff Hackett. Now that Montreal has already eaten half of Hackett’s salary for the season, he’s a bit more marketable.-The Bruins are the more likely contenders for Hackett.
– Several reports indicated yesterday that Monday’s deal for Grahame was to set up a blockbuster trade that would have unsigned defenceman Kyle McLaren of the Bruins headed to the Islanders, goalie Chris Osgood and winger Brad Isbister of New York to Boston, Islanders defenceman Roman Hamrlik to Tampa, and Lightning winger Freddie Modin to the Islanders.
-The Toronto Maple Leafs have also been reported to be in trade talks with the Predators about the services of Scott Walker. Jonas Hoglund and Karel Pilar’s names have been rumored to be involved.
W.C.