Hockey Trade Rumors

Adrian Dater

The John Liles situation – and it has entered into “situation” territory – figures to be interesting again tomorrow. Will Liles get back in the lineup against Columbus, or will he be benched again? Needless to say, he and his agent aren’t happy at the benching he received Sunday night, especially not after having put up nine points in his previous 10 games. Liles is too laid back to come out and rip the team or anything, but his agent, Joe Resnick, had a hard time biting his tongue the other night.

Oilers feel trade fever

No guessing Sutter’s next move

Jackets’ Torres likely on trading block

Tim Sassone

Are the Blackhawks stepping up their efforts to acquire a defenseman for the stretch run?

There were plenty of rumors Monday pointing in that direction.

By Calgary Herald

Olli Jokinen is reported to be Broadway bound.

After negotiating a seven-player swap, speculation is rampant that Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter hasn’t finished re-tooling his struggling hockey team. TSN.ca is reporting that the underachieving Jokinen will be officially dealt to the New York Rangers today along with Brandon Prust in exchange for wingers Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins.

LARRY BROOKS

Ales Kotalik has left the Rangers after being told that he would be traded, The Post has learned.

Kotalik, the 32-year-old winger who was signed to a three-year, $9M free agent contract this summer, accompanied the Blueshirts to Phoenix for the first game of their three-game western tour but did not accompany his teammates here for tonight’s match against the Avalanche.

Larry Brooks

So Atlanta general manager Don Waddell will not allow clubs interested in acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk to speak to the winger’s representative about a contract extension before a trade is completed.

We were told a while ago that Waddell doesn’t want agent Jay Grossman to control the process, but we are duty bound to suggest that might not be such a bad idea given the Thrashers’ track record in these matters.

The Leafs “are” also on the verge of acquiring veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks, pending his waiving a no-trade clause, a source told ESPN.com.

BRUCE GARRIOCH

The Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes are cooling off, just at the wrong time for Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell.

With only two weeks until the Olympic break and a roster freeze that runs Feb. 12-28 — up until three days before the trade deadline — sources say Waddell’s phone isn’t exactly ringing off the hook.

At this point, it would appear more teams are out of the running than actually vying for Kovalchuk.

The belief is the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers both looked into acquiring the potential unrestricted free agent, but don’t consider themselves contenders.

Kent Hughes, the agent for Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier, did react to a Hockey News story that said if Vinik takes control, he could ask Lecavalier to waive his no-move clause as a way for the team to cut costs.

Lecavalier, 29, with 14 goals and 52 points, is in the first year of an 11-year, $85 million deal that pays $10 million this season.

Given that they’re still just a few points out of a playoff spot with 29 games left, it’s hard to tell whether the Ducks will be buyers or sellers when the March 3 trade deadline rolls around.

Pierre LeBrun

In the meantime, Chiarelli confirmed he’s working the phones trying to make a deal ahead of the Feb. 12 Olympic roster freeze and March 3 trade deadline.

“I’m looking every year [to make trades] but maybe more so this year because of the way we performed,” Chiarelli said. “Having said all that, we want to be in the playoffs and we want to succeed in the playoffs.”

At least four teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, are in contention for the high-scoring left wing who reportedly wants upward of $10 million a year for 10 years.

The Kings are a prime contender to acquire high-scoring left wing Ilya Kovalchuk from Atlanta, but they’re competing with Vancouver, Boston and another Eastern team for the two-time 50-goal scorer, according to hockey sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

The Bruins are mired in a 1-7-1 slump. They’ve fallen out of a playoff position in the East. And they’re coming off their most horrid performance of the season, losing 5-1 Sunday in Carolina against the team with the worst record in the NHL.

Rugged Maple Leafs forward Jamal Mayers believes he has at least a few good years left him in, but doesn’t see Toronto in his future.

By Adrian Dater

It’s only January, but already NHL teams are making decisions about whether to buy or sell at the league’s trading deadline. Why now, when the deadline isn’t until March 3?

Oilers blue-line big gun likely on the move before trade deadline

By Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Sheldon Souray isn’t saying what clubs he would play for and waive his no-trade clause, but you can bet these teams are on his list — Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers.

David Shoalts

An alternative could be Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Even though the Panthers are almost as inept as the Leafs, Vokoun quietly re-established himself as one of the best goalies in the league. Word is that if the Panthers remain out of playoff contention leading up to the deadline, GM Randy Sexton will starting looking to trade his goaltender.

Eric Duhatschek

NHL general manager Darryl Sutter was going on and on about trade rumours the other day – dismissing all the speculation percolating around his Calgary Flames – and, on one level, what’s not to believe?

Consider Sheldon Souray officially on the market.

The Oilers defenceman gave GM Steve Tambellini a list of preferences in the event that he is shipped out before the trade deadline, according to the National Post.

Unrestricted free agents Toskala, Stajan rumoured to be on block

By TERRY KOSHAN, Toronto Sun

The future of Mike Komisarek and several of his Maple Leafs teammates is about as clear as the bleak January skies.