The NHL is approaching one of the busiest months on its calendar. The 2023 Stanley Cup Final begins on Saturday. Once it is completed (by no later than June 19), offseason business will begin for all 32 teams as they will be able to make trades with each other.

On June 28 and 29, the 2023 NHL draft takes place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. With all the general managers in one place at the same time, there's a good chance there will be some trades involving NHL players. On July 1, the free-agent period begins with the usual opening-day frenzy of signings.

Trade talk has been growing in recent weeks. There's speculation suggesting the St. Louis Blues could be willing to peddle some of their first-round picks for immediate roster help. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers could be willing to entertain trade offers for goaltender Carter Hart.

Which of these rumors will pass our BS meter? Read on to find out and feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Washington Capitals Could Pursue Free-Agent Forward

When the NHL free-agent market opens on July 1, the Washington Capitals could go shopping to boost their forward lines. That's the assessment of The Athletic's Tarik El-Bashir, who listed several potential targets for the team to pursue.

El-Bashir believes the Capitals need a second-line right wing. He felt it wasn't a sure thing that they can find what they are seeking in the trade market. They also have limited cap space with just $7.3 million in projected space for 2023-24 with 17 roster players under contract.

Those among El-Bashir's list were the Vegas Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev, Boston Bruins Tyler Bertuzzi, and the Dallas Stars' Max Domi. Others included the Detroit Red Wings' Andreas Athanasiou, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting, the New York Islanders' Pierre Engvall and the Colorado Avalanche's J.T. Compher and Evan Rodrigues.

El-Bashir wasn't concerned about the Capitals' limited cap space. He suggested they could shed a salary via trade, contract buyout or burying one in the minors to free up more room.

BS Meter: Not BS

Barbashev, Bertuzzi and Domi could be difficult to land as their respective playoff performances should increase their value in the free-agent market. Nevertheless, the Capitals should be able to sign a suitable free-agent option, perhaps even one on this list. Their odds of doing so could improve if they can find a way to make a cost-cutting move.

Chicago Could Trade Up in the 2023 Draft Order

The Chicago Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

With the first overall pick in this year's draft, they are expected to select Connor Bedard. They also carry the 19th overall selection which they received from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Brandon Hagel trade in March 2022.

On May 23, The Athletic's Scott Powers reported Chicago management isn't optimistic about moving up from No. 19 into the top 15. Nevertheless, he suggested the Vancouver Canucks as a possible trade partner.

The Canucks hold the 11th overall selection, but they also need to shed some salary. With a projected $84.2 million cap hit invested in 18 players for 2023-24, they're already over the $83.5 million cap.

The Vancouver Province's Patrick Johnston suggested a Chicago-Vancouver swap of first-round picks might be possible. He used a scenario in which Chicago packages the No. 19 pick with a second-rounder or two to Vancouver. In return, the Canucks part with the No. 11 selection and a player under contract for next season.

BS Meter: Not BS

It's no certainty that Chicago and Vancouver will make this trade. Nevertheless, it's an option that could make sense for both clubs to address their respective needs. Chicago might be receptive to acquiring winger Conor Garland. The feisty 27-year-old is in his playing prime and carries a reasonable $4.95 million cap hit through 2025-26.

Los Angeles Kings Could Attempt To Trade Viktor Arvidsson

A key player in the Los Angeles Kings' return to perennial postseason contender status is Viktor Arvidsson.

Since acquiring the Swedish winger from the Nashville Predators in 2021, he's been among their top-five scorers. He tallied 20 goals and 49 points in 66 games in 2021-22 and 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games this season.

The Kings, however, face a salary-cap crunch for 2023-24. With $7.6 million in projected cap space and 18 active roster players under contract, they lack sufficient room to re-sign or replace pending free agents Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo. Both were trade-deadline acquisitions who played well for the Kings over the remainder of this season.

That could make Arvidsson a cost-cutting trade candidate. On the May 19 edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said he heard the Kings want to shed some cap space to take care of other business. While he didn't say that Arvidsson was definitely available, Friedman believes that he'd have some value in the trade market.

Arvidsson carries an affordable $4.3 million average annual value, but he's slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. With Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe due to become UFAs at the same time while young forwards Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev become restricted free agents, Arvidsson could be the odd man out.

BS Meter: Not BS

The Kings could keep Arvidsson in the fold for another playoff run next season and take their chances on losing him next summer to free agency. However, the need to free up cap room to re-sign or replace Gavrikov and Korpisalo could make him the easiest player to move to free up some much-needed cap room.

St. Louis Blues Could Be Willing To Trade 1st-Round Picks

With the St. Louis Blues' playoff hopes fading in February, general manager Doug Armstrong traded winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers and Ryan O'Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blues received two first-round picks in this year's draft as part of the return for both players.

The Blues hold the 10th (their own) and 25th (Toronto's) picks in this year's draft. They also have the Dallas Stars' first-rounder (29th overall), which the Rangers acquired last fall and sent to the Blues in the Tarasenko deal.

General manager Doug Armstrong could use those three picks to rebuild his roster. However, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli noted on May 22 that he intends to reload his roster for a quick turnaround next season. It's believed Armstrong is willing to shop his two late first-rounders for a player or players in their 20s with term remaining on their contracts.

Seravalli observed that Armstrong has done this before. He used first-round picks acquired from trading Kevin Shattenkirk and Paul Stastny to land Brayden Schenn and O'Reilly.

BS Meter: Not BS

Armstrong could target teams that lack a first-rounder and are trying to shed some salary to re-sign players or make additions to their roster. Those clubs could include the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Philadelphia Flyers Could Entertain Trade Offers For Carter Hart

Shortly after the Philadelphia Flyers hired Daniel Brière as their new general manager, he indicated the club would commence rebuilding its roster this offseason. It's been assumed expensive veterans such as Kevin Hayes would become trade candidates.

It turns out Brière is also willing to contemplate trading Carter Hart. On May 27, Philly Hockey Now's Chuck Bausman cited the Flyers GM telling Philadelphia Sports radio 94.1 WIP that he's open to trading the 24-year-old goaltender.

"Most likely, Carter will be our goalie for the future, but I'm not in a position to turn down anything," Brière said. "I have to listen."

Hart has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $3.9 million and lacks no-trade protection. He'll be a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights. Unless he and the Flyers agree to a long-term contract, he will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

BS Meter: Not BS

When a general manager says he's willing to entertain offers for a player, you believe him. It doesn't mean Hart will be traded this summer. Brière will likely set a high asking price for his starting goalie. Nevertheless, a rival team could step up in the coming weeks with an offer too good to refuse.

Edmonton Oilers Might Move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Despite a record-setting regular-season performance by the Boston Bruins, they were upset in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs by the Florida Panthers. They now face an offseason of uncertainty regarding long-time centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci as one or both could retire.

On May 22, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy wondered if the Bruins could swing a deal with the Edmonton Oilers for a center. One NHL source told Murphy that the cap-strapped Oilers "might move" center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in exchange for a blueliner.

Murphy was skeptical of the Bruins taking on Nugent-Hopkins because of their own salary-cap constraints. He pointed out that the 30-year-old is in the second season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $5.1 million.

Instead, Murphy questioned whether Oilers center Ryan McLeod might be available to bolster the Bruins' bottom-six forward lines. He's a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

However, Murphy also noted there's no indication the Oilers are willing to entertain offers for the 23-year-old.

BS Meter: It's BS

The Oilers might have to make a cost-cutting trade or two, but it won't involve Nugent-Hopkins. He has a full no-movement clause and accepted a lower cap hit on this contract to stay in Edmonton.

Stats via NHL.com with salary info via Cap Friendly.