Friday Morning Trade Buzz: Pens not linked to Dustin Brown in early stages; Market strong for Pahlsson & more rumblings

–The trade market is starting to heat up and the availability of Kings captain Dustin Brown is the buzz in NHL circles.

Penguin fans hoping to see Brown in Penguins uniform, I wouldn’t count on it. Those I’ve spoken with this morning indicate the Penguins like Brown but as of right now there are no expectations inside the Penguins organization that they will be in the running for Brown or intend to seriously go after Brown as the Penguins feel they “don’t match up well” for a potential trade.

As expected, the market is significantly strong. TSN’s Bob McKenzie list the following teams as having high level of interests in Brown:

New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks.

Brown, 27, is so attractive to teams because he has two years left on his contract with a cap hit of just $3.125 million.

Brown though is having his worst offensive season since 2005-2006. He has 14 goals and 31 points on the season.

League insiders view Brown as an excellent fit with the Rangers and some feel they should turn their attention to Brown instead of Rick Nash.

— The market for center Sammy Pahlsson is strong, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports. Portzline believes the Jackets might be able to get a 3rd or 4th round pick for Pahlsson, but says they would be “lucky” to get a second. Pittsburgh likes Pahlsson and whispers coming out a few days ago, had talk of the Penguins not being that much interested in going beyond a 4th rounder. We’ll see….

— An NHL source believes Paul Gaustad will command a 2nd round pick and mid-tier prospect.

— Things are starting to heating up on the Ales Hemsky front with the Kings, Rangers, Leafs, Capitals, Sharks, Predators and Devils among many teams showing different levels of interest in the talented winger. Talk around the league is Edmonton now feels they can nab a first rounder or top tier prospect for Hemsky who they are still discussing an extension with. The Oilers are believed to be showing no interest in going beyond three years.

“He’s so talented, someone will overpay, ” an NHL source told me today.

— Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is listening on Ryan Malone, dangling him for a top-4 defenseman with term on their contract. There were talks with the Kings regarding Jack Johnson, and Malone has been linked to the Leafs of late. Anybody looking for Pens to get into the mix, Martin or Michalek would have to go the other way and be a starting point in talks I’m told. Pittsburgh is not believed to be shopping either player. Pittsburgh tried to re-acquire Malone before the 2009 trade deadline.

Yzerman is considered likely to keep Malone. Malone, 32, has three years left on his deal with a cap hit of $4.5 million. However, he’s due to make just $3 million in 2012-2013, followed by $2.5 million in the final two years of his deal. That’s why there’s no sense of urgency from Yzerman to move him.