OTR: NHL Trade Chatter On Seth Jones, Phil Kessel, Blackhawks | PHN +

NHL trade chatter has picked up significantly over the last two weeks. That chatter will only grow louder as we approach July 17, the deadline for NHL teams to submit their NHL Expansion Draft protection lists for the draft four days later.

“Once teams see the list of who Seattle can select from, I think that that’s when you start to see the trade market really open up, and I’m sure they will be involved,” a prominent NHL scout told “Off The Record” on Sunday. “There is plenty of chatter right now, though. Obviously, Jack [Eichel] is the big name, but I think Seth Jones is just as big. That’s a cornerstone defenseman on the market, and that hardly ever happens.”

There’s a long list of suitors for Jones on the NHL trade market, and this week we’ll look into the ones that may be pushing hardest to acquire the Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard.

Speaking of defensemen on the NHL Trade market, could two Chicago Blackhawks defensemen be on the move this summer?

Ever since the Arizona Coyotes and Rick Tocchet mutually parted ways, Coyotes forward Phil Kessel has been a constant name on the NHL trade rumor circuit. His $6.8 million cap hit for the 2021-22 season (Toronto is still on the hook for 15% via the Penguins trade) is hefty, but teams are interested., including one surprise.

Find out that and more in the latest ‘Off The Record.’