Dan’s Daily Links: UFA Rumors, Uncertain Futures and Buyouts

The Philadelphia Flyers made a smart trade Friday and likely upgraded their team while the Washington Capitals got even heavier on the other end of that trade. New York Islanders winger Jordan Eberle took a pay cut to stay on Long Island. According to a pair of scoops from Boston Hockey Now, it looks like Kevin Hayes won’t sign with Philadelphia and at least one team was heavily scouting David Krejci. And the buyout windows begins today. And there are plenty of free agent rumors today but none involve the Pittsburgh Penguins…because they have no cap space yet.

A little site note–pretty soon we expect PHN Extra subscribers to have access to Colorado Hockey Now subscriber content and Boston Hockey Now Extra, too. It’s not easy but we’re working on it! And a couple of other outlets, too.

First, the big scoops from Boston. Sources close to the player told BHN that Kevin Hayes is interested in playing for his hometown team the Boston Bruins and there is mutual interest considering Boston tried to land Hayes at the trade deadline (Boston Hockey Now)

Trade rumors are about to heat up around David Krejci. Sources inside the Bruins admitted his name is out there and one team admitted to scouting him. The Cup finalists could have a big summer (Boston Hockey Now)

The NHL buyout window opens today. According to the Athletic, here are the top 25 buyout candidates (The Athletic)

Jordan Eberle saw something in the New York Islanders which John Tavares could not. Eberle took a pay cut to stay with the Isles Friday and New York noticed (Newsday)

The Washington Capitals dealt puck-moving defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for hard shouldered Radko Gudas. Washington is not going to be an easy game for anyone with Tom Wilson and Gudas, but especially not the Penguins (ESPN)

Notice the direction of the league. Fans ideology isn’t going to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins from being involved in a few battles.

And here’s Sportsnet’s offseason primer with UFA and trade rumors (Sportsnet)