The Los Angeles Kings are nearing a deal that will land them forward Teddy Purcell and defenseman Justin Schultz from the Edmonton Oilers, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

If an agreement is finalized with the Kings, it isn't expected that the Oilers will receive a roster player in return.

I should follow last tweet by qualifying LA's interest in Purcell/Schultz remains strong, but other teams remain in the mix as well.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 27, 2016

Purcell, a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final season of a three-year, $13.5 million contract. The 30-year-old has 11 goals and 21 assists in 61 games this season.

Schultz carries a $3.9-million cap hit and will be a restricted free agent at season's end. The 25-year-old has struggled with just 10 points and a minus-22 rating in 45 games.

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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jared Cowen cleared waivers Saturday, as expected.

Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the Dion Phaneuf trade, Cowen is unlikely to suit up in a single game in the blue and white.

Hearing TOR has told Cowen it will try its best to trade him by deadline

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 27, 2016

On Friday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston wrote about Cowen's unusual contract:

... a player who clears waivers can be assigned to the American Hockey League for a period of 30 days, which makes Cowen an even greater asset to a team interested in him acquiring for the purpose of gaining a $650,000 salary cap credit next season by buying out his contract.

Cowen carries a cap hit of $3.1 million this season. He's scheduled to become a restricted free agent after next season, but as Johnston writes, it's more likely he's bought out by the club that trades for him by Monday's deadline - if that happens.

Only 25, Cowen has four assists in 37 games this season. He's been rehabbing a hip injury in the hopes of suiting up for Toronto.

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The Washington Capitals have placed forward Brooks Laich on waivers two days before the NHL trade deadline. Laich is the organization's longest-tenured player but has struggled this season, having just one goal and six assists. The 32-year-ol...

The Washington Capitals placed forward Brooks Laich on waivers Saturday.

The 32-year-old is in the midst of a nightmare season, with only a goal and six assists in 59 games for the Eastern Conference leaders.

Earning $4 million, Laich's under contract for another season at the same salary, but carries a cap hit of $4.5 million.

If Brooks Laich clears waivers and is assigned to AHL, #Caps will clear $950,000 annual space, enough to activate Jay Beagle from LTIR.

— General Fanager (@generalfanager) February 27, 2016

All but one of Laich's 742 regular-season games have been played in a Capitals uniform. He had four straight 40-plus point seasons from 2008-09 through 2011-12, but injuries have kept him from playing a full campaign since. He's averaging a career-low 10:34 of ice time.

Brooks Laich is expected to play in Chicago tomorrow, if he clears. He's on the team. This was just a paperwork issue.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 27, 2016

If that's not the case, and Laich reports to the AHL, he'll still be paid $4 million, according to CSN's Chuck Gormley, and will be eligible for Washington's playoff roster.

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Jiri Sekac is headed to his fourth team in just over a year.

The Arizona Coyotes claimed Sekac off waivers Saturday from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sekac only played in six games for Chicago after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ryan Garbutt earlier in the season.

With the #coyotes claiming Sekac, the #Blackhawks have cleared $213,844 in pro-rated cap hit.https://t.co/WsidvGa0DU

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 27, 2016

The 23-year-old forward has struggled in 2015-16, recording just one goal and three assists in 28 games. He has 27 points in 97 games over his two seasons in the NHL.

He'll have his first opportunity to join the Coyotes roster on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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The first-place Florida Panthers are interested in adding Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl as a rental player, reports the Miami Herald's George Richards.

Hearing that Pirri is on the table but begrudgingly. Tallon will try to mid-round deal picks. #flapanthers

— Harvey Fialkov (@hfialkov) February 27, 2016

Raffl, 27, has eight goals and nine assists in 60 games, averaging 14:17 of ice time. He's an unrestricted free agent at season's end, earning $1.2 million and carrying a salary cap hit of $1.1 million.

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The Minnesota Wild have lost three straight and have fallen four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but general manager Chuck Fletcher is keeping his head up.

"I still maintain our team is talented enough to make the playoffs, whether we add a player or not," Fletcher said, according to Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press.

While the team's intentions ahead of this year's deadline remain uncertain, the Wild have been no strangers to deadline deals, making trades in each of the last three seasons.

Working on a #MNWild trade deadline story. Here's a look back at their deadline moves the past three years. pic.twitter.com/0jUCflaKLO

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) February 27, 2016

Unfortunately, none of the deals have given the club any success in the playoffs. The Wild have lost in the conference semifinals the past two seasons and in the quarterfinals in 2013, all at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.

However, those deals haven't made Fletcher any more hesitant to make a move, as he claims his main reason for his passive position is a weak market.

"Not necessarily. I just don't think it’s a particularly strong rental market," said Fletcher.

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Kris Russell's time with the Calgary Flames appears to be nearing its end.

Russell was informed Friday that he is likely to be traded by the Flames, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

"Kris Russell has an injury. He's going to be a game-time decision. We don't know his status yet." - Bob Hartley

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) February 27, 2016

Dreger adds that there's a very strong market for Russell, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins emerging as front runners ahead of Monday's trade deadline.

The 28-year-old defenseman - a pending unrestricted free agent - carries a $2.6-million cap hit this season.

teams interested in Russell today require $601K in cap space. BOS has it, PIT would need 2 move $ out to make it fit https://t.co/U5e9AivBzD

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 27, 2016

He has four goals and 11 assists in 51 games on the campaign, and has played in 198 games over three seasons in Calgary.

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Jonathan Drouin is a hot commodity.

The young Tampa Bay Lightning forward is awaiting a trade, and as Monday's deadline nears, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that "15 to 20 teams have shown varying degrees of interest at varying times."

That's not exactly surprising, considering Drouin's pedigree and the fact he's turning 21 on March 27.

McKenzie's colleague, Darren Dreger, adds that he was "told (Lightning general manager Steve) Yzerman was asking for a right shot (defenseman) as part of any Drouin deal."

Teams, at times, with maybe > than cursory int: ANA, ARI, BOS, CAR, CHI, COL, MIN, MTL, NSH, NJD, NYI, NYR, OTT, PHI, SJ, STL, TOR, VAN, WPG

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 27, 2016

McKenzie adds that some teams have shown repeated interest in the young forward, as opposed to other teams that have simply checked in. He believes the Lightning have "a handful of legit offers to consider."

If Drouin is traded, TB will have to get a piece that helps them this season and a significant prospect for the future. Maybe a pick, too?

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 27, 2016

The Lightning have won five in a row and are only three points back of the Florida Panthers for first place in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay's focus is undoubtedly the playoffs.

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Could Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal join the New York Rangers by Monday's trade deadline? His brother Marc certainly hopes so.

Staal, a pending unrestricted free agent, awaits the Hurricanes' decision on his future. He would need to waive his no-trade clause in order for any deal to take place, but with the Rangers searching for a top-six addition to their lineup, there's certainly a possibility he could end up leaving his one brother Jordan to play alongside his other sibling by early next week.

"It's obviously something that I'd absolutely like to do," Marc Staal said to Andrew Gross of The Record on Friday. "It would be very cool. It would be a nice change of pace from playing against those two."

The 31-year-old Hurricanes captain is in the final year of a $57.75-million deal, and has spent his entire 12-year career in Carolina. However, he has not made the playoffs since 2009, and has only been to the postseason twice throughout his lengthy tenure.

"He’s been in Carolina a long time, he’s given a lot to that organization," Marc Staal said. "They [Eric and Jordan] have enjoyed it for sure. I think both of them would like to be in the playoffs together."

The 29-year-old defenseman inked a six-year, $34.2-million extension with the Rangers last season, but admittedly thought about how it would deny him of the opportunity to ever play on the same team as his brothers.

"It was definitely on my mind when I was re-signing," he said. "When you do that, you limit your opportunities to be able to play with them. Your career is only so long."

That could certainly change by 3 p.m. ET on Monday.

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