NHL Trade Buzz: Palmieri improving stock with better play for Devils

Welcome to the NHL Trade Buzz. There are 10 days remaining until the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET; April 12). Here's a look around the League at the latest deadline doings:

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New Jersey Devils

Kyle Palmieri continued to improve his stock, either for the Devils to re-sign him or trade him, by scoring his fourth goal in his past seven games in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Although the 30-year-old forward has been limited to eight goals in 33 games this season, he scored at least 24 goals in each of the past five seasons with New Jersey, including an NHL career-high 30 in 2015-16.
Potential suitors could include the New York Islanders, who lost forward Anders Lee to a season-ending knee injury, and the Bruins, who are looking for scoring beyond their top line of David Pastrnak (14 goals), Patrice Bergeron (10) and Brad Marchand (13). Palmieri has scored five goals in six games against Boston this season.
The Bruins were fourth in the NHL, allowing 2.34 goals per game, but 20th in scoring (2.66 goals per game), and coach Bruce Cassidy has hinted at their need for help offensively.
"I think we're a better defensive team makeup in terms of our roster anyways," Cassidy said after a 1-0 loss to the Devils on Sunday. "That's why our numbers are very good defensively. Offensively, we're not built to outscore teams."

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Philadelphia Flyers

Shayne Gostisbehere was assigned to the taxi squad by the Flyers after no team claimed the defenseman off waivers before noon ET on Wednesday.
This gives the Flyers some roster flexibility because players who clear waivers can play up to 10 games or remain on the NHL roster for up to 30 days without clearing again and remain eligible to be assigned to the taxi squad or the American Hockey League. If Gostisbehere, who has two seasons remaining on his contract, is assigned to the taxi squad or the AHL at any point during these 30 days, Philadelphia would also save some NHL salary cap space (a maximum of $1.075 million per player this season, according to the NHL/NHL Players' Association Collective Bargaining Agreement).
That could open enough cap space for the Flyers to add a player before the deadline. Being able to assign Gostisbehere to the taxi squad or AHL without putting him through waivers again also might make it more appealing for a team to trade for the 27-year-old because he would not have to be placed on the 23-player roster and could be called up when the roster limit is lifted after the deadline.
Gostisbehere has scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) and is minus-1 in 25 games and has been a healthy scratch for three this season, so he might benefit from a change of scenery.

Montreal Canadiens

Artturi Lehkonen said he's trying to block out rumors that the Canadiens might trade him and instead is focused on playing his best when he's in the lineup.
The 25-year-old forward has been pushed down Montreal's depth chart this season and played in 23 of its 32 games, including five of 12 in March.
"It's part of the business," Lehkonen said Wednesday. "It's part of hockey and I'm just focusing on every time I get on the ice (that) I do the best I can and try to help the team."
He scored a goal and had an assist in a 4-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. But the arrival of forward Eric Staal, who is in quarantine after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, and the signing of forward prospect Cole Caufield on Saturday has fueled speculation the Canadiens will try to trade Lehkonen before the deadline to create salary cap space for another move.
Lehkonen is in the final season of a two-year, $4.8 million contract (average annual value of $2.4 million) and can become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He's scored six points (three goals, three assists) this season after averaging 13 goals and 27 points in his first four seasons with Montreal and could help a team seeking a reliable two-way forward and penalty killer who can play on its third or fourth line.
Potential suitors could include the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

Dallas Stars

Although goalie Ben Bishop has resumed skating and is expected to return from October knee surgery before the end of the regular season, the Stars are not planning to trade a goalie before the deadline, general manager Jim Nill told the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday.
The Stars will have three healthy goalies when Bishop is cleared to play, including Anton Khudobin and rookie Jake Oettinger.
"That's going to be more of a summer situation," Nill said. "We'll monitor that as we go forward. I wouldn't say that goaltending is something we're thinking we're going to do something at the deadline right now."
Khudobin is 6-9-4 with a 2.56 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts in 19 games this season after helping Dallas reach the Stanley Cup Final last season when Bishop was injured. Oettinger has pushed Khudobin for playing time, going 5-3-6 with a 2.34 GAA, .909 save percentage and one shutout in 17 games (14 starts).
Finding starts for the 22-year-old will be more difficult when Bishop is able to play, but Nill said he believes it will be better to address the issue in the offseason.
"We'll have plans in place, but those change every day, either because of the injuries or COVID results," Nill said "You never know. We'll monitor that as we go. Put it this way: it'd be a good problem to have if you've got all three guys back."

Tweet from @MDeFranks: Whether the Stars are buying or selling at the trade deadline, it doesn't look like Dallas will try to solve its goaltending situation by April 12. Plus, an update on Ben Bishop's recovery. https://t.co/VjlIFboOuh

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Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres could have more players available before the deadline after center
Eric Staal
was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday for two picks in the 2021 NHL Draft, general manger Kevyn Adams said Wednesday.
Buffalo has several players who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, including forwards Taylor Hall, Tobias Rieder and Riley Sheahan; defensemen Brandon Montour and Matt Irwin; and goalies Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark.
"The veterans know that when you're in the situation we are there may be guys on the move and we'll see where it goes in the next couple of weeks," Adams said.
Buffalo, which is last in the NHL, looks to be among the busiest sellers. Hall won the 2018 Hart Trophy voted as the most valuable player in the NHL when he played for the New Jersey Devils and figures to get the most attention from teams seeking a top-line forward. The 29-year-old has scored 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 35 games.