The trade speculation has been constant and will heat up even more.
The Canes' names have been out there: Tim Gleason, Tuomo Ruutu, Jaroslav Spacek, Bryan Allen. "UFA" might as well stand for Undetermined Future Acquisition, to read some of the trade gossip floating around the 'net.
But there are some in the Canadian media who want to float two other names: Eric Staal and Cam Ward. With a big enough offer, some believe, one of them might be available as the Canes look to reconstruct the team.
Question: Can you see that happening? Or just wild speculation?
The floor is open.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Given JR's breaking comment
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 13:30 — ctillGiven JR's breaking comment that "We thank Tim for choosing to stay with the Hurricanes long term" it appears Gleason is off the trading block. For now, at least.
I agree
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 13:10 — DavidMeyerNever say never in professional sports, but the probability of the Canes trading either Staal or Ward is extremely low. they have been marketed as the face of the franchise; they still are. In a non-traditional market, you can't just trade those players on a whim.
I think Gleason will be traded very soon, and I'm OK with that. I feel his run here has finished; that he wouldn't resign here as a UFA. So let's get some value for him. A 2nd rounder is what I foresee.
Ruutu seems to be the hot name in rumors. I saw there is no way we should trade him unless we get a very lucrative return. At least a 1st round pick. Because we are going to have to go out and find another power forward to replace him. I'd prefer to resign him.
All that being said, JR does need to perform major surgery on this team, so be prepared for a wild couple of weeks.
Ruutu and Gleason
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 11:30 — Hockeydad92Are the only the 2012 "blockbusters", both Gleason and Ruutu will be shipped for, at best, a 2nd round and a couple later rounds plus a couple ECHL level prospects. This is a cost savings move more so than a "make the team better" move despite the press release wording.
With the defense I could see Allen (NTC) and Jaroslav changing teams too for meager offers and maybe JR accommodates. We are as deep as we have ever been on the blueline prospect wise; with Murphy and the two NCAA guys all apparently ready to make the jump, plus a couple solid possibilities in Charlotte, I see the expensive and or UFA Dmen the first leave Raleigh. Harrison (not a UFA) is a long shot, he has played well this season and is cheap but I suspect we think more of him than the rest of the league does, no big return. McBain being a RFA would be unlikely but with JR who knows, I hope his value is greater with us than others.
Not much beyond Ruutu in the forward ranks unless we move somebody with existing contract.(not a lot of value in the guys up next year other than Skinner) Will be interesting to see if all the RFA's get tenders, we have a number of young guys that are up this year and they too could be in the mix if management has given up long term on them. Tlusty, Samson, Boychuk, the other Sutter etc..
Much to my disappointment, I am afraid that the Cory Perry for LaRose blockbuster deal is not going to materialize....
"Are the only the 2012
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 12:51 — mokimano"Are the only the 2012 "blockbusters", both Gleason and Ruutu will be shipped for, at best, a 2nd round and a couple later rounds plus a couple ECHL level prospects. This is a cost savings move more so than a "make the team better" move despite the press release wording."
Come on man...wake up and smell the coffee...thankfully you are not the GM of an NHL team. To even suggest that two prime rentals the calibre of Gleason and Ruutu are only worth a 2nd round pick and ECHL type prospects is absurd. Gleason and Ruutu are exactly the type of players that playoff contending GM's love to target...character, gritty guys that are pending UFA's that could easily be signed by the acquiring team once acquired. Both Gleason and Ruutu will bring back a sizeable return via trade...wait and see how both of those players will likely garner a first round draft pick and a solid top shelf prospect. Allen and Spacek are likely to be dealt for 2nd round picks...but no way do Gleasona and Ruutu not fetch a great return.
We'll See.
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 17:16 — CanarseA first and a top prospect for Ruutu? I seriously doubt that. He's not that great. We will likely see soon.
Now that Gleason re-upped I think they will be working to trade Allen and/or Spacek. Allen will be more marketable, but for which teams will he waive his no-trade? Spacek is a nice player, but can't stay on the ice. He's not worth much more than a late round pick.
We shall see..
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 15:18 — Hockeydad92the Gleason issue just became more muddy but Ruutu is still up for grabs. Keep in mind that while Ruutu is a 2nd line and sometimes first liner here in Carolina he will likely not be a top 6 player in a number of contending teams depth chart. 1st round pick for a 3rd line guy?
Value
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 09:35 — CanarseI think a lot of folks here are expecting way too much for rentals. I do think Rutuu is one of the hottest commodities out there. He plays a playoff ready game and could really help a team in need. On the other hand he would likely be a third liner on a championship calibre team. I wouldn't expect more than a 2nd round pick. Maybe a prospect thrown in for depth. I believe either Gleason or Allen will go, but not both. Probably Gleason. I doubt either would bring as much as Rutuu in compensation.
I have to agree with DA that that Staal and Ward aren't going anywhere. They would let Staal go for a stupid deal, but I don't think there is a deal out there that would pry away Ward. As a goaltender himself there is no way Jim Rutherford is losing a playoff calibre goalie. They are hard to find and even the best teams are doomed without one. See Philadelphia over the past several years.
VALUE
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 11:38 — hellfishJr had to give up 1st round pick for a 36yr old Doug Weight in 2006 who was far past his prime ,and Ruutu to a contending team will likely get a #1 pick or top prospect which is usually the benchmark ,and a 1st or 2nd pairing Dman like TG to a team like Phillly will also imo cost a #1 pick or prospect.
Philly without a Dman to make up for the loss of Pronger will not get past the 1st or 2nd round ,and not that TG is Pronger ,but Philly's current D corp lacks toughness/depth ,and playoff grit ,and since there are 5-6 teams at least needing a scoring forward ,and Dmen i can see JR getting what he's asking.
Staal and Ward..... Not
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 08:52 — oldpoliticalsStaal and Ward.....
Not going to happen.
Staal, Ward, and the Canadian Media
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 08:52 — louis12580The Staal to Toronto whispers simply won't be allowed to die. Not by just the Toronto press, but also from Ek of Hockey Buzz fame. Surprise, since se had all but traded staal to St. Louis a season ago. He also threw Wards name out there as possibly going to Columbus of all places. Unless the first two words from Scott Howson's mouth were Rick Nash, not gonna do it. I agree with A.D. about it being alarming that Faulk was the only representative at the All Star Weekend. Had Skinner been healthy, he would have gone as well. I think that Tuomo is the hot commodity on this team (for teams looking for that forward) and most likely Tim (as that defenseman) although you can't rule out Spacek/Allen. As for ctill and his mentioning the Gretzky move to L.A., there was a lot of cash involved as well (he was basically sold) so that Poklington could fund his election campaign for Premier of Alberta.
Canadian media often
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 08:29 — ctillCanadian media often exaggerate the situation of every non-traditional market.. particularly now that the Canadian dollar has regained parity with the U.S. dollar.
That said, it's not unthinkable that Ward or Staal could be traded. Edmonton traded Gretzky at age 27 (more or less), the same as Ward and Staal today.
Is it likely? No.
The Canadian media are a lot
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 08:55 — canesehThe Canadian media are a lot more connected to hockey than the folks in the South. Remember, both Ward and Staal have no trade clauses that they would have to waive.
Media
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 09:28 — CanarseCommentators in both the US and Canadian media are in the business of drumming up controversy. All they need to hear is someone talking out his behind to make it a story. There could be truth to the rumors or absolutely no truth. The country of the commentator has little influence. A lot of the US commentators are Canadian anyway.
Ward and Staal would waive their no trade clauses in a second to go to a anglo Canadian team.
Ward and Staal
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 01:18 — abramsdougI see no chance that Ward would be traded. With Staal, it would take a GM who was willing to make an offer Jim Rutherford could not refuse. When Jim Rutherford obtained Glen Wesley from Boston, it took three first round picks. Nobody would have predicted Boston would trade Glen Wesley or that Jim Rutherford would see that Wesley would be a critical piece for a young team to be molded into a Stanley Cup team.
It would take a GM like Brian Burke who is both fiercely independent and wildly creative to make an offer for Eric Staal which was too good for Jim Rutherford to refuse. I don't see a 1% chance of that happening. On the other hand, surely it would be difficult for Jim Rutherford to turn down Kadri and three first round draft picks for Staal. Similarly, if Ottawa were to offer Zibanejad and three first round picks for Staal, that too would be a hard offer to refuse.
From reading various articles, it increasingly sounds and feels as if Ruutu, and some combination of Gleason, Allen, and Spacek will be traded. If the offers are high enough, Pitkanen and Harrison could also be traded. I had hoped that at minimum Jim Rutherford could sign Ruutu to an extension; but unless hockey commentators like Pierre LeBrun are wrong it appears Canes trades may begin as soon as this week. As painful as the coming weeks will be, the 2012 draft is quite deep. If the Hurricanes can muster three or four first round picks in addition to the Canes' first round pick, they can add potentially elite talent at forward.
The fact that Justin Faulk was the only Hurricanes player at the All Star Game stood out as a troubling fact. Clearly, Skinner's concussion held him back; but the fact that neither Ward nor Staal were felt to be playing at NHL All Star levels is significant.
Staal and Ward are star players and are players with whom along with Skinner, Sutter, Faulk, and Pitkanen, Jim Rutherford can build a contending team. It's going to take some more pain before the talent level of elite players is high enough to build a contending team; but the pieces are in place. So, no, I don't see a blockbuster trade in the Hurricanes' future.