NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Seth Jones, Mikko Rantanen And Jason Zucker

TSN's Darren Dreger raised some eyebrows last Thursday when he reported teams were calling the Chicago Blackhawks about Seth Jones. He said Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson wasn't shopping the 30-year-old defenseman, but clubs were inquiring about his availability.

Jones' contract and his performance this season made this report so surprising. He's in the third season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau observed Jones hasn't panned out as an upper-tier defenseman. However, he acknowledged he still logs big minutes and mixes some offense into his game.

Proteau admitted Jones' hefty contract would put him out of range for most teams. However, he thinks a trade could be possible if the Blackhawks were willing to retain part of the blueliner's annual cap hit, provided Jones agrees to waive his no-move clause.

Interested teams could prefer the Blackhawks retain half of Jones' cap hit for the next six seasons. That's a long time for the Hawks to have that much dead cap space on their books, but it could be more palatable than carrying the remainder of his contract.

Related: For D-Man Seth Jones To Be Traded By Blackhawks, All The Stars Must Align

Turning to the Colorado Avalanche, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported last week that contract negotiations with Mikko Rantanen have stalled.

If Rantanen and the Avalanche fail to agree to a new contract, he would be perhaps the biggest name in this summer's free-agent market. The 28-year-old right winger is on pace for his third straight 100-point campaign. He's in the final season of a six-year deal with an average annual value of $9.25 million.

Seravalli said the Rantanen camp seeks a cap hit comparable to the $14 million that Leon Draisaitl will start receiving from the Edmonton Oilers next season. The Avalanche would prefer he agrees to something closer to teammate Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6 million.

Some observers recently speculated whether the Avalanche would shop Rantanen if he remains unsigned by the March 7 trade deadline. However, Seravalli indicated they're not doing that, preferring to revisit contract discussions following the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

Related: What If The Maple Leafs And Avalanche Swapped Their NHL Superstar Pending UFAs?

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres must decide whether to shop or re-sign Jason Zucker. Like Rantanen, the 33-year-old winger is UFA-eligible on July 1. He's on a one-year, $5-million contract and lacks no-trade protection.

Zucker's enjoying a bounce-back performance (35 points in 46 games) after struggling last season with the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators. Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic observed the veteran winger's improvement could make him a valuable trade chip for the Sabres. However, Zucker has said he's willing to discuss a contract extension.

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