Jeff Carter

Rumors are swirling that Jeff Carter may be on the trading block (h/t Edmonton Journal). The rumor claims that the Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets are working on a trade, the core of which is Carter and this year's 2012 first round pick to Toronto for Mikhail Grabovski and Luke Schenn.

This offseason has clearly been one of the most aggressive offseasons in the Columbus Blue Jackets short 10-year franchise history.

As soon as the most recent season was put to rest, general manager Scott Howson made it clear that changes were going to made and the Jackets would have a new look come next October.

The Columbus Blue Jackets attempted to improve this off-season.

While they most certainly upgraded on paper, the on-ice product has yet to be seen.

When the clock struck noon on July 1, very few things were certain. One thing that was: the Philadelphia Flyers were going to make headlines. Paul Holmgren and company certainly didn't disappoint, landing future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, forward Maxim Talbot, and defenseman Andreas Lilja and dealing away winger Kris Versteeg. 

With the dust from day one settling, its time to take a look at how the Flyers fared in free agency. 

Despite the fact that the Stanley Cup playoffs have only been put to rest for two days, much of the talk in Philadelphia hockey forums has concerned not the performance of the Canucks and Bruins, but the acquisition of Ilya Bryzgalov and what it means for Flyers’ center/winger Jeff Carter. 

That's all she wrote, folks. The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals are in the books, and over-anxious hockey fans now have from now until the beginning of October to speculate on everything from trades and free agency to the 2011 NHL Draft and potential lineups for their favorite teams.

The rumors surrounding draft picks are picking up steam with just a week left until the 2011 NHL Draft. Meanwhile, the Flyers spoke with Ilya Bryzgalov and his agent yesterday.

According to numerous media outlets, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in serious contention for the Phildelphia Flyers' winger/center Jeff Carter, with many reported proposals being leaked.

The Philadelphia Flyers may not be playing their best hockey right now, but their season overall has been excellent.

In all of the talk about the depth of the team—the defense, the goalie situation and all the new acquisitions—Flyers forward Jeff Carter has been overshadowed.

Maybe it’s better that way.

The Flyers signed Carter to an 11-year extension worth $58 million on Nov. 12.  Carter was scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

The Philadelphia Flyers are leading the Eastern Conference with 86 points and they look to be playing well as the playoffs approach.

The Flyers are only one of four teams in the NHL with at least 200 goals scored and they are third in goal differential with plus-44.

The team is meshing well and, for the most part, the team has remained healthy.

From the goaltending to the forwards to the defense, coach Laviolette has his men playing well and getting prepared for the long push for the Stanley Cup.

How would the Flyers respond this season after such a devastating loss last season.

The Flyers have responded from their Stanley Cup loss last season to the Chicago Blackhawks in impressive fashion by posting a Eastern Conference leading 39-15-5 record, good for 83 points. 

They have opened up an eight-point lead in the Eastern Conference and do not show any signs of slowing down any time soon.

They are even deeper on offense and defense than the team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season.