NHL Rumors: Senators Trade Plans, Canucks Reichel Interest, Sharks Selling Assets

The Ottawa Senators are swinging for the fences in the trade market, but they’re finding it tough to land that perfect deal. They’ve been trying since May, but the market isn’t exactly cooperating.

What’s making things tricky? A lot of the big names they might have targeted are now off the board. Players like Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, and even Connor McDavid have all signed extensions with their current teams.

But there’s still one major target that’s got everyone talking: Jason Robertson.

The Dallas Stars are ready to talk money with Robertson, according to insider Pierre LeBrun. They’re just waiting for Robertson’s team to come back to the negotiating table. He’s exactly the kind of star player the Senators would love to land.

There are other options out there. Jonathan Marchessault or Steven Stamkos from Nashville could be interesting picks. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell might be available too, though they’re not quite in the same league as Robertson.

Meanwhile, Lukas Reichel’s Vancouver experiment might be coming to an end after just 13 games. The Canucks didn’t risk much when they got him – just a fourth-round pick – but things haven’t clicked like they hoped.

He started off pretty well, showing lots of hustle and creating chances. But lately? Not so much. Rick Dhaliwal reports that the Canucks are already looking to move him.

In San Jose, the Sharks are facing an unexpected dilemma. They’re supposed to be rebuilding, but they’re playing surprisingly decent hockey with a 10-8-3 record. Having a 19-year-old phenom sitting third in league scoring doesn’t hurt either.

Still, they’ve got plenty of trade chips to play with. David Pagnotta points out five defensemen who could be on the move: Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren, John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Leddy. They’re all free agents next summer, making them perfect trade bait.

The Sharks could stack up some serious assets by moving these players while still letting their young core develop. It’s a win-win situation for a team that’s somehow managing to rebuild and compete at the same time.