The trade rumor mill has grown quiet through most of the first month of this NHL season. That’s due to all of this summer’s notable restricted free agents being re-signed in the weeks before the season opener.
Of the six trades that went down since Oct. 3, only three involved NHL regulars. The first move saw the New York Rangers trade center Vladislav Namestnikov to the Ottawa Senators. Last Friday, the Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman Erik Gudbranson from the Pittsburgh Penguins. On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks shipped little-used forward Brendan Perlini to the Detroit Red Wings.