Trade talks: the latest on Giroux, Lehkonen, Lindholm

The National Hockey League's trade deadline is fast approaching and talks are heating up around several names including Claude Giroux, Hampus Lindholm and Artturi Lehkonen.

On the Claude Giroux front, he played in his 1,000th career game last night and was honoured beforehand. The Flyers won 5-4 and after the game, Giroux took likely his final lap around Wells Fargo Center to a standing ovation.

The 34-year-old won't travel to Ottawa with the Flyers for their game tonight, and it's expected that a deal will be comepletely relavitively soon. TSN's Pierre LeBrun said last night that Florida remains interested and that the Colorado Avalanche are still in the mix.

No Claude Giroux trade yet, sources say. He won't play Friday or Sunday, the Flyers will hold him out until the situation is resolved through the deadline. Florida remains very interested. I think Colorado remains in the mix. We'll see what Friday brings. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 18, 2022

The Montreal Canadiens made a big move a couple of days ago, shipping defenceman Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers in exchange for prospect Tyler Smilanic, a 2023 first round pick and a 2022 fourth round pick.

General Manager Kent Hughes is expected to be busy over the coming days and the next player that could be leaving Montreal is forward Artturi Lehkonen, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

The 26-year old has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence under new Head Coach Martin St. Louis, as have many players on the Canadiens roster. In 15 games since St. Louis came in, Lehkonen has eight points (six goals, two assists), and he can provide some depth scoring on a contending team.

TSN's Darren Dreger said on Friday morning that Lehkonen is the next piece in play in Montreal and that he's garnering a lot of interest.

Finally, it appears that Anaheim Ducks defenceman Hampus Lindholm will be traded before Monday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. Both sides were working on a contract extension that would have kept the 28-year-old Finn in Southern California.

With talks on a contract extension breaking down, the Ducks will make Lindholm a healthy scratch on Friday night as they take on the Florida Panthers.

If the Ducks move Lindholm, he'll be the second pending unrestricted free agent defenceman traded by them this week, after Josh Manson was dealt to Colorado on Monday.

Lindholm has spent his entire nine-year NHL career with the Ducks after being drafted by them with the sixth overall pick in 2012. In 61 games this season, he's recorded 22 points (five goals, eighteen assists), 42 penalty minutes, and has an even rating.

Source says Hampus Lindholm won't play tonight. Will be held out as the Ducks focus on a trade for him. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 18, 2022

Only a few days remain until the trade deadline, so expect it to get very busy over the weekend leading up to Monday at 3 p.m. ET.

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