Countdown to TradeCentre: 'All signs' point to Devils as front-runners for Meier
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The NHL's March 3 Trade Deadline is approaching, and teams are making decisions on whether to buy or sell, and on which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.
Devils the front-runners for Meier
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that all signs point to the New Jersey Devils being the front-runners for San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier at this moment but there's still to work to be done. He adds there is no trade yet but the Devils and Sharks are working at it.
LeBrun reported earlier today the Sharks informed the Carolina Hurricanes late Saturday night that they were out of the trade sweepstakes for Meier, with the Devils and Vegas Golden Knights emerging as the two favourites to acquire him as of Sunday morning.
The pending restricted free agent remains No. 1 on TSN's Trade Bait board. The 26-year-old has 31 goals and 21 assists in 57 games this season. In 451 career games this is the Sharks, the Herisau, Switzerland native has 154 goals and 162 assists for 316 points. The Sharks selected Meier ninth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Kane deal to take more time
While indications remain positive on a deal that would send forward Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Rangers, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports that the trade itself likely won't be executed before Wednesday. The deal could come even closer to Friday's 3 p.m. deadline as the cap implication of acquiring Kane improve with each day.
The 34-year-old pending free agent who carries a cap hit of $10.5M has ascended up TSN's Trade Bait board large in part to his recent tear. After a slow start to the season, Kane has heated up and now has 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 54 games this season.
Kane has been vocal regarding his wish to go to the Rangers. On Feb. 10, Kane admitted was not thrilled to see the Blueshirts acquire forward Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues.
"It's not like the happiest I've been to hear about a trade," Kane said at the time. "I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons."
"If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at," he added. "It seems like they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal, so it is what it is."
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger also reports that it`s believed Kane is no longer with the team and has returned home while the process is playing out.