With the NHL trade deadline less than a month away, NHL trade rumors are starting to heat up on where Mattias Ekholm will be traded to?
Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler is reporting the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets have interest in Ekholm. Sadler also listed the Toronto Maple Leafs having interest, but it is rumored that the Leafs are looking to trade for a top-six forward.
Ekholm is a top-four, two-way, puck-moving defenceman that will bring an instant upgrade to any contender’s blue line, and his affordable cap hit and term (he’s still under contract for 2021-22, with a $3.75-million AAV) is also what’s helping drive up the price to acquire him.
The Nashville Predators are looking for “a Jake Muzzin” kind of package: Two prospects and a first-rounder. And someone’s gonna pay that price to acquire Ekholm. The big question is, which team will do it?
