NHL Trade Rumors: Jeff Skinner No Longer "Untouchable"

Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes is the subject of rampant trade speculation. According to one inside source, "some players who were previously untouchable may no longer be untouchable" on the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes finished 13th in the Eastern Conference last season - a big disappointment for a team that was expected to make the playoffs with the additions of Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin.

Skinner performed average offensively, scoring 24 points in 42 games. He struggled defensively with a -26 rating. He has a cap hit of $5.725 million until the 2018-19 season.

GM Jim Rutherford is looking to upgrade his defense at the cost of his 21 year old left winger. There are several teams interested. The frontrunners are the Winnipeg Jets and the Phoenix Coyotes - Dustin Byfuglien or Keith Yandle for Jeff Skinner.