Today's rumors around the NHL (as reported by ESPN)
Kaberle to Canucks?
There's a good chance Tomas Kaberle is traded this offseason, and the Toronto Star's Damien Cox thinks the Vancouver Canucks might be a good fit. "[Vancouver's] blueline is thin, although [Alexander] Edler looks like a comer. You might wonder if a good puck handler like the very available Tomas Kaberle could benefit the 'Nucks."
Most think Kaberle would cost a first-rounder or a top-six forward, but Lance Hornsby of the QMI Agency says he'll only fetch a second-rounder.
It might be more likely that Leafs GM Brian Burke may look for a trade in which he can acquire an establish NHL player, since he continues to say how unreliable draft picks can be. That said, the Leafs really need a No. 1 center, and those types of players are obviously hard to find. (If only they still had their first-rounder this season, they could possibly net Tyler Seguin.)
There has been some buzz that the Leafs are looking into signing RFA Andrew Cogliano and hoping the Oilers don't match -- a discussion that started on CBC's Hockey Night In Canada. Cogliano is hardly a No. 1 center now, but some feel he still has the potential to be a top-six guy.
Will Halak cash in?
It seems likely that Jaroslav Halak is now the guy the Montreal, and Carey Price is on his way out -- especially if the Habs beat the Pens in their second Game 7 this playoffs.
But CyberPresse's Rejean Tremblay writes that the Habs aren't going to break the bank for him, because they can keep his market value down since he's a restricted free agent and they can match any offer that comes their way. In addition, Tramplay hints that the Halak/Price debate isn't over yet.
However, CBC's Elliotte Friedman previously wrote, "Jaroslav Halak will not re-sign there unless Montreal makes an obscene offer."
And if the Habs don't make an obscene offer, there's a chance another team will, which may cause riot in Montreal, especially if Halak leads them to a Stanley Cup and furthers his cult-hero status.
Of course, if Halak's demands are too high, the Habs could always trade Halak and go with Price. But if Halak goes somewhere else and dominates, new GM Pierre Gauthier's head could quickly end up on a platter.
Leafs eyeing Czech star
The Toronto Maple Leafs already brought in one international star in Finnish goalie Jussi Rynnas. But now there are reportedly after Czech center Roman Cervanka, a 24-year-old who is looking to make the NHL jump.
Cervanka played for the Czech Olympic team, and he'll play for the Czech at the world championships, after which he'll make a decision, the Toronto Star reports.
We previously heard Cervanka's name when Jaromir Jagr was thinking about coming to the Edmonton Oilers, and he reportedly wanted the Oilers to sign Cervanka as well. So it's possible the Oilers also have this center on their radar.
Cervanka has played in the Czech league his entire career. Last season, he had 73 points in 50 games.
Bettman hinting Winnipeg favorite to get Coyotes?
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman all but said that, if the NHL has to move the Phoenix Coyotes, they'll likely move them to WInnipeg.
Here's what he exactly told CBC, via Puck Daddy: "If we have to move a franchise, if we have to move the Coyotes, obviously there is an equitable fairness point to be made; if the team has to go somewhere, certainly the place it came from should be given strong consideration."
Now, Bettman is very careful to say that the NHL wants to keep the team in Phoenix. And he won't even acknowledge that everything is in place for the Coyotes to go to Winnipeg.
For now, Ice Edge has walked away from buying the Coyotes because they couldn't get exclusivity in negotiations. Jerry Reinsdorf is still in talks, but there is still some speculation that the more likely move will be out of town, likely to Winnipeg.