Montreal Canadiens pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Hal Gill could have as many as six teams vying to acquire his services prior to the February 27 trade deadline, according to the latest segment of SportsNet’s Sources Say.

The panel mentioned that a lot of clubs would be interested in a 6-foot-7, 240-pound shutdown veteran blueliner with playoff experience and leadership qualities such as Gill’s. Add in the fact that he’s an effective penalty killer, a Stanley Cup winner, and is signed to a manageable $2.5 million salary (and cap hit), and Gill makes for a great playoff rental for any team that thinks they’re a contender.

The panel suggests that all the losers in the sweepstakes for Tim Gleason — who has already been re-signed by the Carolina Hurricanes — will turn their attention to Gill.

Supposedly, that list includes the Boston Bruins (one of Gill’s former teams), Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins (the team where Gill won his Stanley Cup), Philadelphia Flyers, and Vancouver Canucks would all have interest if the Gill were made available.

Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News wrote recently that the Blackhawks and Flyers are “desperate” for an established blueliner. While the Canucks would like to improve their depth on the blueline in order to have the ability to sustain potential injuries like they faced during their Stanley Cup finals series against the Bruins last year.

While Gill realizes there’s a chance he could be moved, he tells Pierre LeBrun of ESPN that he would prefer to remain with the Canadiens.

Yeah, I mean, it’s part of the business. No one wants to get traded. I’m into this team and I want to be part of success here. But I understand if it doesn’t work out in terms of the business end.

SportsNet’s Doug MacLean claimed that the Canadiens would try to re-sign the American-born blueliner because they like what he brings to the team.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that is the case. According to Gill’s agent, Mark Witkin, he has not had any contact with the Canadiens about a contract extension for his client.

LeBrun believes that 36-year-old will not be on the Canadiens past the 27th of this month, unless Montreal puts together a miraculous winning streak and put themselves into a playoff position. Chances of that happening are slim, though.

According to Barry Melrose of the NHL Network, defenseman Hall Gill and pending UFA forward Travis Moen of the Montreal Canadiens could attract a lot of attention from playoff bound teams looking to add size and veteran playoff experience before the February 27 trade deadline.

Melrose speculates that high-profile players such as pending unrestricted free agents defenseman Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators, forward Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils, and forward Tuomo Ruutu may follow his Carolina Hurricanes, will be put on the trade market by their respective teams, so secondary players may become much sought after.

That’s where Gill and Moen come in.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and Kevin Allen of the USA Today believe that the Canadiens will move Gill by the trade deadline. The 6-7, 240-pound blueliner could draw many suitors due to his hard-nosed style of play and his Stanley Cup ring.

Allen reports that the Chicago Blackhawks are shopping for a blueliner and may look at Gill among others.

Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch has the St. Louis Blues being interested. CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this month that the Blues had three scouts at a recent game between the Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens watching a left-side defenseman, thought to be Gill.

According to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, the Boston Bruins may look to add to their blueline. Gill would be one of several options.

Montreal Canadiens forward Travis Moen.

According to the Toronto Sun, the Canadiens like what Moen brings to the table but wouldn’t mind moving the former Anaheim Duck because (1) they don’t think they can fit him under the salary cap, and (2) they would like want to give their prospects more playing time.

Like Gill, Moen has won a Stanley Cup and has been a great playoff performer while being a defensively responsible forward and playing a gritty game. As Allen point out, Moen would be much sought after by contending teams.

So far, LeBrun reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins are interested. Dave Lozo of NHL.com has the Detroit Red Wings looking at him as a possibility.

The Toronto Sun reported recently that there is “growing interest” in Moen, with the San Jose Sharks in hot pursuit.

The report also mentions that before teams trade for Moen, they will want to see how he comes back from an upper-body injury he suffered January 21st. Moen has just resumed light skating and is expected to be out for at least another week.

SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker panel recently analyzed the situation of three Canadian teams in the Eastern Conference heading into the February 27 trade deadline.

Here is a quick look at what they discussed (see video for more details):

The Montreal Canadiens are still undecided whether they’ll look to add to their roster or auction off some veterans. The Canadiens do have some players that playoff-bound clubs team may want, like Hal Gill and Travis Mowen.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

In Ottawa, the rebuilding Senators will have to decide if they’re a buyer or a seller. Carolina Hurricanes‘ forward Tuomo Ruutu may be a target, but they won’t overspend to get him — or anyone else.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t get a goaltender. But they will try to find a number one center, or a top-six winger — Tampa Bay Lightning‘s Ryan Malone is at the top of their list, with San Jose Sharks‘ Ryan Clowe, Dallas Stars‘ Brenden Morrow, and Ruutu close behind.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is investigating the trade market to improve his club ahead of the February 27 trade deadline, according to a recent segment of SportsNet’s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker.

Bowman is said to be intent on the Blackhawks recapturing the Stanely Cup this season, and believes is only a couple of players short of a roster that could accomplish that. The HockeyCentral panel reports that Bowman is looking to add a veteran top-six forward — preferably a center — and a top-four NHL caliber defenseman to fill out the Blackhawks’ bottom pair.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun also reports that a number of teams, including the Blackhawks, will explore the possibility of trading for Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller should he become available. However, the HockeyCentral panel shot down any suggestions the Blackhawks will look to make any changes between the pipes.

The HockeyCentral report is more in line with what Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times also reported recently.

According to Jahns, the Blackhawks have been linked to Edmonton Oilers pending free agent center Sam Gagner — a friend and ex-teammate of Patrick Kane’s — and that the Winnipeg Jets have kept a close watch on their games. Before becoming the general manager of the Jets, Kevin Cheveldayoff was a part of the Blackhawks’s front office so he is familiar with the players.

Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Jahns suggests that a couple of Carolina Hurricanes players may be two worthwhile options to investigate — forward Tuomo Ruutu, and former Blackhawk, and defenseman Tim Gleason. However, the price for Gleason is said to two first round draft picks or a first round pick and a top prospect, according to Garrioch.

Jahns notes that the asking price for Drew Stafford, Derek Roy and Brad Boyes of the Buffalo Sabres, and the Anaheim Ducks‘ Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin, is also high and wouldn’t make sense for the Blackhawks to pursue.

Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk lists a number of pending UFA defensemen that may become available: Hal Gill of the Montreal Canadiens, Pavel Kubina and Brett Clark of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bryan Allen of the Carolina Hurricanes, Adrian Aucoin of the Phoenix Coyotes, Andy Sutton of the Edmonton Oilers, and Steve Staios and Milan Jurcina of the New York Islanders.

Bowman is said to be willing to part with draft picks, prospects / AHLers (such as forwards Brandon Pirri and Jeremy Morin and defensemen Shawn Lalonde and Brian Connelly), and depth players off his roster, for the pieces he’s looking to bring in. Defenseman Dylan Olsen, center Kevin Hayes and winger Brandon Saad are believed to be off limits.