If Jiri Hudler returns to the Red Wings, they may be forced to trade Tomas Holmstrom. Detroit doesn't have the cap room for Hudler, and dealing Holmstrom's $2.25 million salary would rectify that. Sports Illustrated has reported that the IIHL has denied Hudler his transfer card, which means he can't play in the KHL as planned. His only option may be to return to the Red Wings.

Senators general manager Bryan Murray says it's unlikely that the club will be able to trade Dany Heatley prior to training camp. Unless another team makes an offer "within days," Murray told the Ottawa Citizen that he has to plan as though Heatley is coming back. Murray added that he was surprised by Heatley's comments about his unhappiness with a diminished role, especially since the organization made him an alternate captain last season.

Phil Kessel doesn't know if the Bruins are going to trade him, but isn't concerned about things he can't control. "I heard about the rumors," Kessel told the Toronto Sun. "I wasn't watching the draft but I got a couple of texts about it. It wasn't something I worried about very much. If you get traded, you get traded. You can't control that. "A lot of good players get traded." Kessel did admit, however, that the rumors have been distracting. "It's been tough," he said. "I hurt my shoulder with about 15 games left in the season and it's really been weighing on me. You get that and obviously the rumors start and you say it's part of the business and you don't take it too personal, but it's still there."

There had been rumors that the Rangers were interested in Dany Heatley and Brad Richards, but the signing of Vaclav Prospal should end whispers. Prospal can play both winger and center, a position that New York had been looking to upgrade.

The Leafs are no longer looking to trade defenseman Tomas Kaberle. "It doesn't matter when," Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said via e-mail when asked about Kaberle's trade window, according to the Toronto Sun. "We're not moving him." The opportunity to trade Kaberle opened up when Toronto missed the playoffs, but nothing serious developed. Burke added that he will look to deal another of the team's defenseman for help at forward.

If the Leafs haven't traded Tomas Kaberle by Saturday, he'll likely be in training camp with the club. That's when window on the defenseman's no-trade contract closes. "I'm happy to be staying a Leaf, though there are still a few days to go," Kaberle said Tuesday, according to the Toronto Sun. "Everyone knew what [Toronto general manager] Brian [Burke] said, that if he got a good deal there would be movement with me. But I'm getting ready to go to Toronto now, working out the past few weeks with (compatriot and Canadiens forward) Tomas Plekanec and ready to fly out in a few weeks and see the guys."

The Maple Leafs are close to trading goaltender Justin Pogge to the Ducks for a conditional draft pick. The deal was expected to be completed late Sunday or Monday, sources confirmed to the Toronto Sun.

Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini publicly announced he's no longer interested in pursuing Dany Heatley. Edmonton spent the better part of a month courting the former 50-goal scorer - a process that started after Tambellini hammered out a deal with the Ottawa Senators for Heatley, only to have the winger refuse to waive a no-trade clause. Talks continued until Tambellini decided earlier this week that enough was enough. "We gave ourselves an allotted amount of time internally ... to explore every opportunity to see if there was something that would work - it didn't," Tambellini said during a conference call with reporters. "It's time for us to move on. We're very comfortable with that." Heatley has been in limbo since requesting a trade from Senators GM Bryan Murray in the spring. Tambellini knows him personally from past involvement with Team Canada and even flew to his home in Kelowna, B.C., for a face-to-face meeting just prior to July 1 - the day Heatley was paid a US$4-million bonus by the Sens. The Oilers also sent along a recruitment video, but Heatley couldn't be persuaded to join them. "They're just not ready to make a decision," said Tambellini. "That's the only answer that I got. That's all I can say."