DEADLINE CHATTER AS FLYERS WORK ON GIROUX TRADE

TORONTO, ON — The Philadelphia Flyers have been working diligently on maximizing a return for captain Claude Giroux ahead of the trade deadline and the primary pieces of a package may already be in place.

As I’ve been saying all week, the Florida Panthers are the frontrunner for Giroux. According to separate sources, the main parameters of a deal are believed to be agreed upon and the financial aspect of a trade – salary retention – is to be finalized.

If the Panthers can put the finishing touches on a trade with Philly, forward Owen Tippett will be part of the package heading back to the Flyers. There are draft picks and other players expected to be a deal, with Eetu Luostarinen, Grigori Denisenko and 2021 first-round draft pick Mackie Samoskevich among those believed to be of interest to the Flyers. Noel Acciari’s name was also floating around Thursday night.

The Colorado Avalanche have remained in the mix for Giroux, but a combination of the returning package and the salary cap itself has posed issues. While I’m fully aware Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told local media defenceman Samuel Girard will miss four weeks with his lower body injury – the constant reminders on Twitter have helped, thank you – it is my understanding Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog’s recovery time from knee surgery may be as little as four weeks and barring any setbacks, he is expected to be back in action before the regular-season wraps up, which does not allow the Avs to utilize LTI space.

The Carolina Hurricanes made a push for Giroux, I’m told, but are no longer in the running, while I don’t get the sense Giroux is willing to waive his no-movement clause for the New York Rangers.

There was also talk that Giroux wanted a contract extension wherever he ended up, but I’ve been told that’s not the case.

Everything appears to be moving in Florida’s favour. So, unless there’s a last minute, out of left field offer that takes the Flyers by storm, and Giroux is willing to go there, we may see the native of Hearst, Ontario, in a Panthers uniform in the very near future.

Moving Giroux may not be the only move the Flyers pull off, as defenceman Justin Braun is expected to be dealt in the coming days, while there is banter surrounding Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov.

Konecny was talked about last season and was almost traded in the off-season. Teams are calling again, and the Flyers are listening.

The chatter around Provorov is getting louder, but as my colleagues Dennis Bernstein and Irfaan Gaffar discussed in Thursday’s video segment as part of our trade deadline coverage, it may take a humongous package for the Flyers to even consider it. Still, there seems to be talk out there and his camp is aware of it.

FLY AWAY TOGETHER

The Anaheim Ducks already moved out Josh Manson, and all the attention has now shifted to Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell, both of whom are set to become unrestricted free agents July 13.

As we’ve reported for the last month, Lindholm’s desire is to test the free agent waters this summer. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek tried to change his mind, but it doesn’t sound like he was willing to go beyond four years on an extension.

There is significant interest in Lindholm, with the asking price still a first-round pick, top-tier prospect and another asset, as we reported last week. Toronto, Boston, Carolina, St. Louis, the New York Rangers and Minnesota have all expressed some level of interest in Lindholm.

It’s also been quiet on the Rakell contract talk front and he’s expected to be moved, with the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins among the teams knocking on the door.

You can also add Nic Deslauriers, another pending UFA this summer, and 23-year-old Maxime Comtois to the list of players the Ducks are chatting about. In fact, I’m told the Ducks have been actively shopping Comtois.

DEADLINE NOTES

As much as the Los Angeles Kings are in on Arizona Coyotes defenceman Jakob Chychrun, they’ve also had discussions with the Vancouver Canucks about winger Conor Garland. As we’ve reported, LA also wants a top-six winger with term. Beyond that, as far as the rental market is concerned, they are expected to add a bottom-six forward and a depth defenceman ahead of the deadline.

Boston, Pittsburgh, Columbus, New Jersey have also checked in on Garland.

Montreal GM Kent Hughes said Thursday he would like to hold on to Brett Kulak and Artturi Lehkonen, but would listen if the right offer came along. There are teams that have interest in both players and the 23 playoff games Kulak played in the last two seasons if a major reason why he’s generated attention. Both are prime candidates to be dealt, but we shall see.

With Tomas Hertl locked into a new eight-year extension, the Sharks are now going to focus on getting Alexander Barabanov signed to a new deal. He’s well liked in the room and is having a good season. San Jose wants to keep him around. We’ll see if they can figure out the dollars.

Filip Forsberg wants to stay in Nashville and the Predators want to keep him. But I still don’t get the sense an extension is going to be agreed to by the deadline. At the same time, I don’t expect the Predators to trade him. To me, this seems like a deal that gets ironed out in the summer before the free agent doors open.

The Dallas Stars placed Andrej Sekera on waivers Thursday and the expectation is that once he clears, they’ll utilize his $1.5 million cap hit to create space and bring in another defenceman. Something to watch.

Finally, Edmonton, Carolina and Washington are all fishing for inexpensive depth pieces at both ends of the ice to add to their roster.