NHL Trade Rumors January 9, 2019

What team could Vladimir Tarasenko be traded to?

The Hockey News: The big question is, will St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong trade Vladimir Tarasenko before the 2019 NHL trade deadline?

If Tarasenko is traded, it can be to any team as he does not have a no-trade-clause in his contract.

Here are five teams Vladimir Tarasenko could be traded to:

1. Carolina Hurricanes: The St. Louis Blues would want a high-end prospect back in a trade. It may take a high-end prospect such as 2017 first-rounder Martin Necas to make a Tarasenko package acceptable for St. Louis.
2. Boston Bruins: The Blues would want Jake DeBrusk back in a trade or one or two of the Bruins young players like Brandon Carlo, Ryan Donato, Danton Heinen and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, plus a prospect.
3. Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas sits 14^th in scoring and could really use a high-end shooter.  The Knights have four second-rounders and four third-rounders, over the next two drafts, so the Golden Knights could dream up a package of futures to tempt St. Louis. The Blues would also have to take a salary player back with Tarasenko’s high cap hit.
4. Edmonton Oilers: The would love to have Tarasenko. Tarasenko’s best years came when Ken Hitchcock was coach of the Blues. Could he end up playing for Hitchcock again? What the Oilers lack is players and prospects to offer the Blues.
5. Buffalo Sabres: Tarasenko would change the team’s dynamic and give Buffalo more than one must-stop line, which is something virtually every major Cup contender has now. The Sabres have the cap space to make a trade along with the picks and prospects the Blues would want.

Will the Toronto Maple Leafs go after Dougie Hamilton?

Sportsnet 590: Elliotte Friedman was on the radio discussing Dougie Hamilton. He is available to a team that will offer a scoring forward back in return. That means the Leafs would likely have to send Kasperi Kapanen back if a trade were to happen.

Hamilton has two years beyond 2018-19 remaining on his current six-year, $34.5 million contract, which carries a $5.75 million cap hit. Hamilton could be a good replacement for Jake Gardiner, as he is not expected to be back with the Leafs next year.

Friedman also believes the Pittsburgh Penguins have an interest in Dougie Hamilton, but he is not sure the Penguins have the assets to offer the Hurricanes.