Spector's notes: http://www.spectorshockey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1341:fathers-day-nhl-rumor-roundup-june-20-2010&catid=5:trade-rumors&Itemid=4
The latest from the StarTribune.com and the Edmonton Journal. Happy Father's Day, everyone!
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Michael Russo reports the Philadelphia Flyers will have to dump a veteran salary if they hope to re-sign recently-acquired blueliner Dan Hamhuis, wondering if it'll be a forward like Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Daniel Briere, Scott Hartnell or defenseman Matt Carle...Having traded away Hamhuis and Jason Arnott yesterday is it possible Predators GM David Poile could pursue Ottawa's Jason Spezza or Florida's Nathan Horton?...The Florida Panthers are shopping Horton around the league, including to the Minnesota Wild, but GM Chuck Fletcher needs a scoring center, not a winger, and unless Fletcher moved out significant dollars acquiring a player like Horton could be the only significant move he'd make this summer.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: I agree with Russo, the Flyers have to move out a significant salary, not just to re-sign Hamhuis but also to land an experienced starting goalie. Carter and Carle would be easiest to move as they lack movement clauses...I'll be very surprised if the Predators deal for Spezza or Horton given their limited budget under their self-imposed cap...I expect Fletcher will do something to land that scoring center he so desperately needs, but it could cost him either Brent Burns or Nick Schultz to do it.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli keeps insisting he won't trade the second overall pick but wondered if offering up Ales Hemsky and either Jordan Eberle or Magnus Paajavi-Svensson might get his attention...Matheson believes a possible trade scenario being pitched for any team interested in Kris Versteeg is a second round pick in return but the interested team also has to take defenseman Brent Sopel...Don't expect Georges Laraque to return to the Edmonton Oilers. Matheson suggests the NY Rangers might be the best bet as they're ridding themselves of Donald Brashear or perhaps the Calgary Flames...One trade option for the Wild seeking a scoring center could be Dallas's Mike Ribeiro...He also suggests the Buffalo Sabres might be a good fit for Sheldon Souray...
SPECTOR'S NOTE: I think Chiarelli will retain that pick regardless of whatever realistic offer is sent his way...The Blackhawks could end up burying Sopel's contract in the minors or perhaps buying him out. I don't foresee any team taking him along with Versteeg...Laraque could find it difficult to find another NHL team to land with as the role of enforcer is changing and teams prefer their tough guys also prove capable of playing a regular shift...Ribeiro could be an option for the Stars but he would be perhaps more expensive than someone like Chicago's Patrick Sharp or Florida's Stephen Weiss...I'll be shocked if the Sabres took on Souray and his expensive contract. They could do better...