The opening month of an NHL season is usually quiet in the trade market, as teams have limited cap space to make deals. However, there's been some movement to kick off the 2024-25 campaign.

On Oct, 6, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Erik Brännström from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. The Utah Hockey Club acquired Olli Määttä from the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 29 for a draft pick, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs shipping Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks for Matt Benning and two draft picks.

Entering November, there continues to be plenty of buzz in the rumor mill regarding teams looking for help. Several clubs, including the Nashville Predators, are in the market for second-line centers.

Several players slated to become unrestricted free agents next July signed contract extensions in October. That has increased the focus on the contract status of other pending UFA stars such as Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand.

Determining which rumors have a basis in fact can be difficult. That's why we have our trusty BS Meter to help us sort fact from fiction. Feel free to let us know if you agree with our takes or not in the app comments below.

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Looking For A Trade

As of Nov. 1, the Buffalo Sabres were off to a sputtering start with a record of four wins, six losses, and one overtime loss, putting them in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference. This is not the start the Sabres need if they're to put themselves on a path toward ending the longest playoff drought (13 seasons) in NHL history.

On Oct. 30, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams wanted to bolster his roster. He claimed Adams was "one of the more active early-season general managers," referring to his efforts shopping around in the trade market.

Friedman didn't indicate what Adams was looking for, but he was likely looking for a top-six scorer. As of Nov, 1, the Sabres were 17th in goals-per-game average (3.18). While that's an improvement over last season's 2.98 (23rd overall), it's below the 3.57 that ranked third overall in 2022-23.

Adams sought to boost his scoring during the summer by signing Jason Zucker, who sits among their leading scorers with nine points. However, young forwards Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, and Jiri Kulich are struggling to dent the score sheet.

BS Meter: Not BS

Whether it's more scoring or other areas that need improvement, the Sabres must be better than they were through October if they're going to end their long playoff drought this season. Adams will remain on the lookout for players in the trade market who can help his team achieve this goal.

3 Teams Are Seeking Centers

It's still early in the 2024-25 season, but three teams (Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, and Chicago Blackhawks) are reportedly in the market for help at the center position.

On Oct. 21, Calgary Flames general manager told Sportsnet's Eric Francis that he's been in the market for a top-six, right-shot center since trading Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks in January. "It's something we've been talking about for a long, long time," said Francis. "Is it an easy thing to find? Probably not."

Two days later, Francis' colleague Elliotte Friedman reported Predators general manager Barry Trotz told Nashville radio station The Game he'd like to add a centerman. However, he lamented that no one is making trades right now and they're not giving away centers.

Chicago Hockey Now's Brooke LoFurno noted that Friedman and The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta claimed Chicago would also like to add a center. She noted that Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has indicated he's willing to use his draft capital (draft picks) to address his roster's needs.

BS Meter: Not BS

We can take Trotz and Conroy at their word. Chicago could use a second-line center in his late 20s to take some of the offensive load off of franchise player Connor Bedard.

Montreal Canadiens Shopping Around For Help

The Montreal Canadiens are still in their roster rebuild phase that began under general manager Kent Hughes midway through 2022-23. However, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Oct. 24 that the Canadiens' slow start has Hughes calling around the league to see which players might be available in the trade market.

LeBrun indicated Hughes wants to shake up his roster a little and help them win some games but not at the expense of derailing the Canadiens' long-term rebuild plan. Two days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated Hughes sought a right-shot defenseman and a forward who brings an edge to his game.

Arber Xhekaj surfaced as a trade candidate after being a healthy scratch against the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers. The Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan observed the popular 22-year-old defenseman is on a short leash with head coach Martin St. Louis, who expects improvement from the three-year veteran.

Cowan noted that former Canadien George Laraque said he wouldn't be surprised if Xhekaj were traded. Laraque believes some clubs would love to land the physical blueliner and give him more playing time than he's received in Montreal.

BS Meter: Not BS

LeBrun reported an imminent deal wasn't in the works for the Canadiens. Nevertheless, Hughes has shown his willingness to make moves to bolster his roster as recently as August when he brought in Patrik Laine. A deal could happen later this season, perhaps involving Xhekaj if his performance doesn't rise to St. Louis' expected level.

Could the Edmonton Oilers Target a Top-4 Defenseman?

The Edmonton Oilers finished October with a record of five wins, five losses, and one tie for 11 points. It's a better start than last season when they lurched to a record of 2-9-1 before turning things around following a coaching change. Nevertheless, it's not what was expected of last spring's Stanley Cup finalist.

Finding a suitable right-shot defenseman to skate alongside Darnell Nurse on their second blue-line pairing has become a priority. Their defense corps was weakened by the offseason departures of Philip Broberg, Cody Ceci, and Vincent Desharnais.

On Oct. 30, The Hockey News' Caleb Kerney cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggesting four options during an appearance on Oilers Now With Bob Stauffer. Friedman proposed Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago's Seth Jones or Connor Murphy, and Matt Benning of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Friedman acknowledged the difficulty of acquiring Jones given his $9.5 million average annual value and full no-movement clause. Fowler carries a $6.5 million AAV through 2025-26 and a four-team trade list but could widen it for the right teams. Murphy has a $4.4 million AAV but has been hampered by injuries throughout his career.

BS Meter: Not BS on Benning

Jones, Fowler, and Murphy are too expensive for the Oilers in salary and what it would cost to acquire them. Benning, however, has an affordable $1.3 million AAV through next season. He was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, but TSN's Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger mentioned the Leafs could flip him for another asset.

Brad Marchand Not Close To A Contract Extension

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is in the final season of an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.2 million. The 36-year-old winger has been the Bruins' leading scorer over the past seven seasons with 701 total points, sitting eighth overall among all NHL skaters.

Marchand is among several notable players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July. The status of his contract negotiations with the Bruins will draw interest the longer he goes this season without an extension.

On Oct. 26, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed the Bruins and Marchand were closing in on a new contract. He indicated that the two sides were believed to be working on a three-year deal.

Marchand quickly denied Friedman's report, claiming it was false. "If I was going to sign a three-year extension, it would be signed," he said. "Clearly, Elliotte is just wrong here."

BS Meter: Not BS

Marchand's swift denial of Friedman's report doesn't mean he and the Bruins aren't discussing a new deal. For all we know, the two sides could reach an agreement before the end of the season. Based on his remarks, however, there's nothing imminent.

Stats via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia.