In today';s rumor rundown, Elliotte Friedman has a theory as to why the Erik
Karlsson trade front has gone so quiet. He also thinks the Columbus Blue
Jackets are re-opening discussions to trade Artemi Panarin.

Meanwhile, Devil';s GM, Ray Shero is doing his best to be patient after failing
 to add some pieces in free agency and the Jets and Jacob Trouba have gone to
arbitration. Could this signal the eventual split between the two sides?Holding
 Pattern For Karlsson

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the NHL Network and discussed a
number of topics, including the status of an Erik Karlsson trade. Friedman
doubts the trade rumors were ever as close as it was being reported, which if
you asked a number of insiders a couple weeks ago, the trade was almost all but
 done. He reports things have changed and the situation is now in a holding
pattern.Erik Karlsson #65, Ottawa Senators - February 3, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

Teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights are
not as invested as some might think because of how difficult it would be to
guarantee a future with the player. Tampa can';t really afford Karlsson (at
least not at his asking price), Dallas thinks he is a one-year rental and Vegas
 has more interest in Mark Stone than they do Karlsson at this point.

Then, oddly, Friedman said an NHL general manager told him last week that there
 was a sense Karlsson actually wanted to stay in Ottawa if the situation there
wasn';t so messy right now.

In short, all the factors that were obstacles in a Karlsson trade - his current
 salary, his next salary, dumping Bobby Ryan';s contract and the return coming
the other way - have made Karlsson almost untradeable at this moment and teams
are going to simply wait.Related: NHL Rumors: Seguin, Hughes, Pacioretty,
MoreLeafs Interested in Panarin?

Friedman also discussed the Columbus Blue Jackets dilemma with forward Artemi
Panarin and said the Jackets have re-entered the trade market to see which NHL
teams are really serious about adding the winger. Panarin';s unwillingness to
sign an extension and his notice that he';ll refuse to talk business after
September 13 has put a sense of urgency on a trade. Friedman wonders if teams
that might be looking at a push this season to be competitive would have
interest. Specifically, he noted San Jose and Toronto.Artemi Panarin, Columbus
Blue Jackets, Feb. 22, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Friedman admitted that the Maple Leafs can';t afford to extend Panarin';s
contract so they';d be picking him up merely as a rental but that they might be
 willing to explore the idea. The Leafs did lose James van Riemsdyk and could
use a left winger but the problem with this theory is what the Blue Jackets
would require back and if asking for someone like Mitch Marner or William
Nylander would be a non-starter in any trade conversation.

What could Toronto possibly offer without subtracting from their core that the
Blue Jackets would feel is a worthy return for someone of Panarin';s
skillset?Related: NHL Rumors: Panarin, Montour, Nelson, MoreDevils Wanted
Maroon, Still Looking Around

Stan Fischler of MSG Networks reports New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero has no
choice but to be patient for the remainder of the summer and through free
agency even if that wasn';t his original intention. Fischler notes Shero
struck out on Patrick Maroon, who left for the St. Louis Blues but the Devils
had offered much more money to in an effort to keep him. "We wanted Maroon,"
Ray said, "but he wanted to return to his hometown and I respect him for
that."New Jersey Devils left wing Patrick Maroon (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Right now, the Devils are looking at adding to their top-four defense and are
getting set to announce their assistant coaches. "We still have to name
assistant coaches," he added, "and that should happen in the next week or
so."Trouba to Be Traded?

Jacob Trouba and the Winnipeg Jets went to arbitration and while the process is
 not as negatively impacting on the relationship as some have described, there
is a sense that a one-year deal around $5.5 million could mean the end of
Trouba';s time in Winnipeg.

The player and the organization have a history of not being able to amicably
work out contract terms and Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press thinks the
lasting scars from so many failed attempts to come to terms without issue will
eventually lead to the defenseman's departure out of Winnipeg. Wiecek wonders
if Trouba has simply tired of the idea of playing in Winnipeg noting teammates
such as Dustin Byfuglien, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Connor Hellebuyck
had no problem accepting lucrative long-term deals with the club.

The post NHL Rumors: Karlsson, Panarin, Maroon, More appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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