Hockey Trade Rumors

Three teams say there is a lot of chatter and most of it is coming from the Sunshine State. After sending Versteeg back to the Hawks, Florida GM Dale Tallon isn’t done. He’d like to move RW Scottie Upshall, LW Tomas Fleischman, RW Brad Boyes, RW Tomas Kopecky, C Marcel Goc and C Shawn Matthias before the deadline.

There is a market for D Dmitry Kulikov with lots of teams interest, but he may bolt for the KHL. Upshall and Fleischmann are immoveable because of their contracts but Tallon may find someone to take Goc, Kulikov and Matthias off their hands before the deadline. The Panthers wanted to move Versteeg so badly they picked up $6 million in salary and I’m told by a NHL executive Tallon is “open for business. He’s even willing to take on cash.” … Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster has been busy working the phones. It’s believed he has served notice C Mikael Backlund and D Shane O’Brien are available. O’Brien has a cap hit of $2 million while Backlund is making $1.5 million. Both have deals that run through 2014-15 … Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish has been calling around to get a blueliner to replace D Ladislav Smid, who was dealt down the street to Calgary. The Oilers need help everywhere, however, teams are asking for young players in return. “They want to do something but they overrate their players which means the prices are high,” said a league executive. He should be able to get a top pick for UFA RW Ales Hemsky

http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/11/23/phillys-captain-claude-giroux-set-for-sochi-olympics