The 2022 NHL trade deadline is March 21, and front offices are working overtime. It’s not just an influx of scouts at games — general managers and assistant general managers are populating the press boxes, too.

Calls are picking up in frequency and discussions are intensifying. Here’s some scuttle I’ve been hearing after working the phones the past few weeks.

Giordano on the move?

There’s some mystery to how active the Seattle Kraken will be, but one thing has been decided: Defenseman Mark Giordano is almost certainly on his way out.

The Kraken named Giordano captain knowing it could be a short-term role. The 38-year-old was still experiencing some shock after being exposed by the Calgary Flames, for whom he captained and played 949 games. He entered Seattle with an open mind, but things haven’t gone according to plan for the franchise this season, and there are quite a few players not so happy with their situations. Giordano met with general manager Ron Francis last month, and it was determined the best course of action would be the Kraken recouping some value while allowing Giordano to chase a Stanley Cup this spring.

Giordano technically has a 10-team no trade list, but I heard he has not even bothered giving it to the Kraken, knowing the team that trades for him will be one that views itself as a contender. So far, teams that have showed the most interest include the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes. However, it seems unlikely Francis would deal to the Hurricanes, his former team, to help them get better.

One thing to keep in mind: The Kraken can retain up to 50% of Giordano’s $6.75 million cap hit, which could drive up the trade components coming back to Seattle.

Latest on Forsberg

Media reports surfaced last week saying the Predators were “actively shopping” Filip Forsberg. That came as news to Forsberg’s representatives. They’ll admit, contract talks were only in very preliminary phases, but they expected to continue the dialogue with Predators management. Forsberg will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. I do think GM David Poile might have done some due diligence to see what the market would be. But I would be surprised if Forsberg is traded this month.

Remember, the deadline for Forsberg to sign an extension isn’t March 21 but rather July when the 27-year-old hits free agency. The Predators will likely keep Forsberg for the rest of the season as they still push for the playoffs. If contract talks break down over the summer, then they’ll reexamine a trade

New team for Big Z?

Could Zdeno Chara be heading to another team? The 44-year-old just broke the record for most games ever played by a defenseman, but he also has 200 career playoff games on his resume. Though it hasn’t been a stellar season for Chara in Long Island, the former Boston Bruins captain has valuable experience winning in the playoffs, the time of year we begin putting premium on physicality.

New York is likely missing the postseason, but I’m told Chara isn’t asking out. He views it as having signed a one-year commitment to the organization, and he plans to see it through. If a team goes to GM Lou Lamoriello with a trade proposal, Lamoriello has enough respect for Chara that he will bring it to the player and his representatives and they’ll talk it out. Chara will have some family considerations — his wife and kids are still in Boston.

Decision looms on Boeser

There have been plenty of Vancouver Canucks names bandied about in the rumor mill, especially J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser. It has been difficult for those guys not knowing how much of it is true and how much of it is a byproduct of being in an aggressive media market.

The Canucks have staffed up their new management team, and they’re trying to figure out where Boeser figures into their long-term plans. He’s a restricted free agent this summer. There’s a belief around the league that the Canucks are wary of paying Boeser big for a long-term commitment, which is why they’ve dangled his name to see what a return could be. If a team blows Vancouver away with a trade package, I think they’d move Boeser this year, but this easily could be a situation that will come to a head this summer.

ESPN

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