As of today there hasn’t been anything new in terms of a potential deal but there is some additional speculation surrounding the situation despite the Oilers brass denying the rumor, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal examines the Whitney to Boston scenario and highlights that Whitney would obviously love a chance to play for his hometown team.

Matheson also writes that the Bruins could be “sniffing around” on winger Ales Hemsky and that a mulit-player deal could be had for both clubs.  Matheson hears that Jordan Caron is one player who has surfaced as a potential return for Whitney along with a second round draft pick.  Caron is a big bodied forward and the Oilers certainly need additional size up front.

Matheson goes on to mention Carl Soderberg who has yet to report to the Bruins and is in the midst of serving a suspension in the Swedish Elite League.  Prospect netminder Niklas Svedberg is also named as a possible interest to the Oilers who, like Matheson says, need to replenish their cupboard when it comes to young goalies.

Late yesterday afternoon there were rumblings that Magnus Paajarvi was the potential forward heading to Boston with Whitney, but Jason Gregor via Twitter doesn’t believe that Paajarvi would be of appeal to the Bruins.  He also doesn’t see who the Bruins would move to Edmonton to make room for Paajarvi.

More on this as it continues to come forth.

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3/27/2013 – Update on the Ryan Whitney trade talk that has grown this afternoon between the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins.  Earlier we heard rumblings that the two teams were discussing a deal that would send the 30-year old defenseman to Boston and now Gene Principe of Sportsnet, who follows the Oilers, has confirmed that the two clubs are in fact engaged in discussions surrounding Whitney.  Principe tweeted that the deal could see an Oilers forward also head to Boston but no names were mentioned.

.@hackswithhaggs @csnne confirmed Bruins engaged in discussions w/Edmonton on deal that potentially bring Ryan Whitney and forward to Boston

— Gene Principe (@GenePrincipe) March 27, 2013

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There are rampant rumors via the Twitter world this afternoon that the Edmonton Oilers are closing in on a deal that would send defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Boston Bruins.

Jimmy Murphy from ESPNBoston.com was the first to tweet that he was hearing the rumblings but was quick to point out that nothing had been confirmed.

Keep hearing Oilers D Ryan Whitney possibly being traded to Boston but nothing confirmed.

— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) March 27, 2013

A few minutes later, Bob McKenzie from TSN chimed in via Twitter and offered the following:

…the Edmonton Oilers say they haven’t traded Whitney to BOS or anywhere else. That’s as of now. No doubt they’re trying to move him.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 27, 2013

McKenzie did mention that the Bruins have been doing their “due diligence” on Whitney and have checked out his health which is a primary concern.  The TSN hockey expert does confirm that there is “no doubt” the Oilers are trying to move the 30-year old, a rumor that has surfaced since the beginning of March.

On the season the former fifth overall draft pick in 2002 has 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points 24 games with the Oilers while posting a minus-9 rating.

There is no mention of who is rumored to be involved in the potential trade talks as compensation for Whitney.  But Kevin Paul Dupont from the Boston Globe points out that both Johnny Boychuk and Andrew Ference are from Edmonton.  Could a homecoming be in order for one of the two?  It’s highly doubtful that Edmonton would get a return of Boychuk in the deal but Ferene could be a possibility.

A healthy scratch for multiple games this season, Whitney has left many wondering what has happened to his game and why has he depreciated so rapidly.  Some have stated that his foot speed has fallen off and he can’t keep up to the pace of the game, while others believe that an injury could be the cause for the puck-moving defenseman to lag behind on his offensive production.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Whitney was an offensive catalyst during his years there with the most productive coming in 2006-07 when he registered 59 points in 81 games (14 goals).  Since that breakout year he has only collected more than 40 points in a season once and that was the following year.

He was later traded from the Penguins to the Ducks in 2009 that saw Chris Kunitz head to Pittsburgh.  Anaheim then dealt him to Edmonton in 2010 for Lubomir Visnovsky.

More on this as it happens.

Friedman starts on the Oilers by saying that Ryan Whitney will be traded by this year’s deadline.  Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Whitney’s name has been circulating the rumor mill for the last couple of weeks.

After being a healthy scratch a handful of times this season, Whitney is a regular in the Oilers lineup lately, thanks to some injuries on the blue line and also due to his offensive contributions of late.  He has 3 goals and 4 assists in 18 games this season and despite some critics saying he’s lost his foot speed for the game, there appears to be a market shaping up for Whitney with multiple clubs looking for a puck-moving, big bodies d-man.

The Oilers also have Ladislav Smid who is set to become an UFA this summer and surprisingly to Friedman, there hasn’t been much chatter about extending the 27-year old.  The blue line is by far the Oilers Achilles heel and after doing very little to shore it up last off season, allowing a bruising defenseman like Smid to walk would be foolish.

There has been talk of trading Smid with the Detroit Red Wings showing interest.  GM Ken Holland has wanted to bring in a big name blue liner for months, but won’t pay the price for Keith Yandle or Jay Bouwmeester.  That’s where a guy like Smid might fit in.  Not a big name, but an effective defender.

Ales Hemsky was the subject of trade chatter at this time last season in Edmonton and his name is again coming up in the rumors this year.  Friedman points out that while Hemsky’s name will be floating around from now until April 3rd, he doesn’t think Edmonton will get much for him or any other potential unrestricted free-agent for that matter.  Why pay for a player now when you could potentially sign him in the summer and not have to surrender any prospects?

Friedman then mentions Shawn Horcoff and while it’s merely a random thought from the CBC hockey expert, he does bring up an interesting debate.

Horcoff is a solid centerman who is the Oilers best faceoff guy.  That’s a coveted asset for many clubs heading into the playoffs.  But Friedman wonders aloud if the Oilers would look at moving their captain.  Horcoff does have a no-trade clause through this season  and has two years remaining on his deal that carries a cap hit of $5.5 million. Friedman thinks that there could be a market for Horcoff despite his declining offensive production.

But would the Oilers give up the defensive edge and face-off ability of Horcoff? Not to mention the veteran leadership that Friedman writes about?  Or do the Oilers need a shakeup and need to trim some of the fat that has been hanging around for too many years.

Starting with the Boston Bruins, we posted earlier today that the Bruins are said to be scouting Ryan Clowe of the San Jose Sharks. Now, Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com feels the club needs to address their third line weaknesses, namely the lack of size and grit. While Clowe would be a terrific fit for the Bruins needs, Haggerty also drops names like Jarome Iginla of the Flames, Ryan Smyth of the Oilers and Brenden Morrow of the Dallas Stars.

Iginla isn’t a third line player and Smyth doesn’t necessarily bring the grit and physical play that Clowe or Morrow would.  The price tag on Iginla will be greater than any of the other three, making Clowe or Morrow the more logical choice.

Just as the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have one of the greatest rivlaries on the ice, they could soon be competing on the trade market as well.  According to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the Habs feel they too need to address one of their needs, a top six forward.  LeBrun writes that Clowe could be a fit for the Canadiens and would make the perfect rental, given he’s an unrestricted free agent this summer.  It’s believed that the Sharks would settle for a high draft pick or two and as LeBrun notes, the Canadiens have three picks in the second round and two more in the third round and would undoubtedly look at moving a couple of them.

The Los Angeles Kings are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, aside from the Chicago Blackhawks.  The defending Stanley Cup Champions have found their game and have also found their way into a playoff position as of today.  While GM Dean Lombardi may not need to do a lot of tinkering with his roster, he does have the most coveted backup netminder in the game today in Jonathan Bernier.

LeBrun spoke with Lombardi and points out that LA may not be in a panic to move Bernier before the deadline but rather wait until the season is over.  Bernier is a restricted free agent this summer and LeBrun agrees that it makes little sense for the Kings to re-sign him as a backup to Jonathan Quick.  You can bet that as the deadline approaches, Bernier’s name will be involved in multiple rumors.  Whether or not the Kings move him is anyone’s guess.

Finally, in Detroit, the Red Wings are said to be looking at making some moves but would prefer to wait until closer to the April 3rd cutoff reports Ansar Khan of mlive.com.

Khan writes that the Wings, should they make a move, will likely go after a top-four defenseman and drops names like Ryan Whitney of the Oilers, the Flames Jay Bouwmeester, Mark Streit and Lubomir Visnovsky from the Islanders, Jets’ Ron Hainsey and Robyn Regehr of the Sabres.

Interestingly enough, the Wings are on the verge of having a plethora of blue liners once Carlo Colaiacovo returns from injury.  To indicate how crowded the blue line in Detroit has become, veteran Ian White is said to be a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game tonight.  Currently the Red Wings have eight healthy defenseman which is a dramatic turn around from when the year started and they were forced to sign free agent, Kent Huskins.

The club will have to move more than a couple of their current d-men if they wish to add the likes of a Whitney, Bouwmeester or others.

The best line I saw today about the trade activity that has yet to pick  up around the league came courtesy of Jimmy Murphy from ESPNBoston.com via Twitter.

An NHL Exec on trade market to me last night: “We all have our own little fires burning and we’re waiting for that big bonfire to start.”

— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) March 7, 2013

Well said Mr. Murphy.  Let’s hope that bonfire is ignited soon.