Trade talk is heating up, and based on some phone conversation I had this morning, trades might trump the draft tomorrow.

Darren Dreger reported this morning that the Sharks are looking at moving Ryane Clowe.

Clowe turns 27 in September and tallied 22 goals and 52 points last year. He has the size to be and hands to be considered a true power forward.

He’s an RFA, and with the salary cap going down next year, I highly doubt he’ll get a Penner-like offer from a team to try and get him.

I spoke with a western-based NHL scout a minute ago and here’s what he said, “Clowe is tough and gritty, but he scored half his goals on the powerplay. Their powerplay was one of the best in the league. I like him as a player, but I’m hesitant to think he’d be a 30-goal man on teams with less skill.”

It is an interesting point. Eleven of Clowe’s goals came on the PP last year. The Sharks were 3rd in the league on the PP and Clowe averaged over three minutes a game. There is nothing wrong with being a powerplay producer, in fact it is very important, but how good is Clowe.

His size would benefit the Oilers for sure and he’d got ample PP time. But is he worth $3.5 million or more? I’ll bet that’s what it will take to get him signed.