NHL Evening Rumor Roundup – February 7, 2015

Latest on Evander Kane (yes, again!) and Kimmo Timonen, plus the latest on the Ducks and Oilers. Enjoy!

Guessing some trade destinations for Evander Kane.

SPORTSNET: Mike Johnston lists the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils as seven potential trade destinations for Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins and Ducks are building for a Stanley Cup run this season. As TSN’s Darren Dreger notes, such teams aren’t interested in a player who can’t help them this season. Given Kane’s $5.25 million cap hit, I doubt the Penguins have room for him come the offseason. The Flyers must focus on rebuilding their defense corps, not adding a high-salaried, potentially problematic winger. They also lack cap space to take him on. And no, the Jets don’t want a fading Vincent Lecavalier and his toxic contract. The Bruins need a top-line right wing, not a left wing. The Avalanche need experienced blue line depth. Does anyone honestly believe Kane will interest Devils GM and control freak Lou Lamoriello? The Canucks could be an option as they lack offensive depth and Kane is a Vancouver native, but he can’t help them this season. Maybe they’ll consider him in the offseason, though I don’t think his personality is the right fit for what Trevor Linden and Jim Benning are trying to build in Vancouver.

Latest Ducks and Kings speculation.

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS: Mark Whicker believes Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers is just what the Anaheim Ducks blueline needs. It could prove costly for the Ducks, as Whicker speculates Sami Vatanen, Rickard Rakell, William Karlsson, Matt Beleskey or even prospect Nick Ritchie could become trade candidates. He feels it’s worth it for the Ducks to stop postponing their future. As for the Kings, Whicker isn’t buying the cries of wolf from management, believing they’ll seek a defenseman before the trade deadline, though they’ll need more than a depth blueliner. He speculates Toronto’s Cody Franson could be an option. As for trade bait, Whicker suggests pending UFAs Justin Williams or Jarret Stoll.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Eric Stephens reports agent Murray Kuntz, who represents Anaheim Ducks pending UFA forward Matt Beleskey, claims contract talks are ongoing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landing Myers will be expensive, and there’s no guarantee he’ll turn into a Zdeno Chara clone with the Ducks. Still, there’s a belief the Ducks could load up for a Cup run this season. Myers would be a long-term investment, rather than a rental player. As for the Kings, I agree that Williams and Stoll are probably the only reasonable trade bait the Kings could part with for blueline help, but will GM Dean Lombardi, who’s loyal to a fault (hello there, Mike Richards), actually trade those two?

Oilers trade bait.

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the Edmonton Oilers will trade Jeff Petry and believes the Pittsburgh Penguins are interested in him. Spector also believes goalie Viktor Fasth and center Derek Roy will be trade candidates.

A market for Timonen?

COURIER-POST ONLINE: Dave Isaac wonders if there’s a trade market for Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who’s attempting a comeback after missing all of this season thus far to blood clots. Isaac feels Nashville, San Jose and Chicago could have interest.