It sounds like Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney wasn't bluffing when he threatened to make the entire team available in trade early this month - the latest rumors have Maloney willing to listen on any potential deal for any player on his roster.
Of the names on the Coyotes roster that continue to pop up in the NHL rumor mill, defenseman Keith Yandle may be the biggest and demand the most substantial return.
"Probably the biggest name in play is Keith Yandle. I think people always say, 'You hear his name every year!' Well, you did. Except it was never really true in years past. I don't think Phoenix ever had that much interest in moving him," said TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun on an episode of Vancouver's TSN 1040 Monday morning, as transcribed by NicholsOnHockey.com.
"The difference now is where they are and the fact they have to sort of retool this thing and the fact that he has one year on his deal after this season. You don't want him to go into next year as a pending UFA because that loses some value as an asset. So I suspect they will really, for the first time, listen to offers on him."
Yandle's current deal carries a cap hit of $5.25 million and expires after next season.
According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun Times, both the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars may have interest in acquiring his services.
Winnipeg has a depleted blueline corps that will see the return of a number of quality players from injury within the next several weeks. They've recently moved Dustin Byfuglien back to forward, freeing up at least one spot.
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, while known more for his propensity to sit idle than to wheel and deal, is very interested in adding another defenseman, according to TheFourthPeriod.com.
The Jets, 23rd in the league in goals per game, could make great use of a player of Yandle's ilk - he's a strong possession-pusher with legitimate offensive skill.
The same can be said for Dallas, though for different reasons.
The Stars are 9th in goals per game, but their defensive group is made up of a number of homegrown youngsters not yet ready to fully shoulder the load and players like Trevor Daley, seeing top pairing minutes, when they're much better suited for a second or even third-pairing.
