Could Anthony Duclair re-sign with the Sharks? Will the Sabres trade Victor Olofsson? Could the Lightning land Flames goalie Dan Vladar? Could the Oilers shop Philip Broberg? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DUCLAIR OPEN TO SIGNING WITH SHARKS

BAY AREA NEWS’ Curtis Pashelka recently reported on social media that Anthony Duclair is open to remaining with the San Jose Sharks on a long-term deal. He said he’s concentrating on the upcoming season and there haven’t been any contract talks yet but indicated there would be a time and place for that.

San Jose Sharks winger Anthony Duclair (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duclair was traded to the Sharks this summer by the Florida Panthers in a cost-cutting move. The 28-year-old winger is now on his seventh team entering his 10th NHL season. It sounds like he’s seeking stability after bouncing around so much in his career.

Whether it gets it from the rebuilding Sharks is another matter. They could see him as a value bargaining chip at the March 8 trade deadline to bring in a good future asset or two.

WILL THE SABRES MOVE OLOFSSON?

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Michael Augello reports Sabres winger Victor Olofsson enters this season with his future in limbo. He was bench late last season and was the subject of offseason trade rumors.

Olofsson is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams may have explored the trade market for the 28-year-old winger but an Achilles injury to winger Jack Quinn may have changed Olofsson’s situation temporarily.

Barring a slew of injuries this season, Augello believes the chances are slim that Olofsson will still be with the Sabres by the March 8 trade deadline. They have sufficient cap room to retain up to half of the winger’s $4.75 million cap hit to facilitate a deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Depending on how long it takes Quinn to recover and if any other promising young forwards make the cut, Olofsson will likely be skating with another club by March 8.

The Sabres are deep in forward depth on their roster and within their prospect pipeline that it’s unlikely they’ll re-sign Olofsson A solid performance on his part this season will serve to enhance his value in the trade market.

CAN THE LIGHTNING AFFORD TO ACQUIRE VLADAR FROM THE FLAMES?

SPORTSNET (stick tap to NHL Watcher): Elliotte Friedman isn’t putting much stock in trade rumors linking Calgary Flames backup goaltender Daniel Vladar to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Friedman doesn’t see how that deal would work, pointing out that the Lightning doesn’t have a plethora of draft picks. He also noted that the Flames aren’t going to give Vladar away as they’ll want “a nice price for him.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For those who missed it, the Lightning will be without starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for the next eight to 10 weeks as he recovers from lower-back surgery. Vladar was listed by some observers as a possible trade target for the Lightning.

With promising Dustin Wolf knocking on the door, the Flames could peddle Vladar at some point to make room for the youngster. As Friedman observed, however, they aren’t just going to give him away. They also have the luxury of keeping the waiver-exempt Wolf in the minors until they get a suitable offer for Vladar.

COULD THE OILERS TRADE BROBERG?

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector recently suggested that Philip Broberg must step up his game and impress the Edmonton Oilers or risk becoming trade bait later this season. The 22-year-old defenseman has yet to play up to expectations.

Spector expects Broberg will be paired up with veteran Mattias Ekholm once he returns from an injured hip flexor. It’s hoped that Ekholm can help Broberg the same way he helped Evan Bouchard last season.