Will the Ottawa Senators buy, and will the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken sell? Some notable names in trade rumors might not be easy to move.

The Ottawa Senators continue to jockey for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. However, some observers believe GM Steve Staios could make a move before the March 7 NHL trade deadline to give his club a boost.

A Postmedia report last Saturday claimed Staios was working the phones to bolster his club's blueline depth, something that's been a concern since the start of the season. The report also cited league executives claiming the Senators want to get oft-injured center Josh Norris and his $7.95-million cap hit off their books. 

Norris is signed through 2029-30 and, when healthy, plays an effective role as a top-six center. He lacks no-trade protection, but his annual cap hit and injury history make him difficult to move during the season.

The Hockey News' Graeme Nichols cited Staios telling the media on Sunday that he intends to look within his organization for now. He also noted the Senators lack sufficient prospect depth to ship out the door for a quick fix in the trade market.

Turning to the Calgary Flames, Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun reported Rasmus Andersson had become the subject of debate among Flames fans. Some believe the 28-year-old defenseman should be re-signed, while others felt he should be peddled for a return that helps their rebuild. 

Andersson is a year away from UFA eligibility. He told Gilbertson he has little say over the situation other than the six-team no-trade clause in his contract. However, he insisted that he wanted to stay and be part of their plans going forward.

It appears Andersson will get his wish, at least for this season. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports Flames GM Craig Conroy is telling rival teams that the blueliner isn't available and remains puzzled over why clubs keep calling about him. LeBrun also said the Flames intend to open contract extension talks this summer.

Meanwhile, Sporstnet's Elliotte Friedman mentioned last Saturday that Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke travelled to Buffalo to watch his club defeat the Sabres 6-2. He indicated it was an unusual move for Leiweke, whose club had lost nine of 11 games up to that point and sits outside a playoff spot.

Friedman followed up on the Kraken during Monday's 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. He speculated some roster changes could be coming for the struggling club. He'd heard forwards Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstand were “out there” in the trade market.

Both forwards are signed beyond this season with cap hits of around $5.5 million each. They also carry 10-team no-trade lists. Both factors could hamper efforts to move them in a trade market where clubs seek rental players.

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