Lightning’s Pavel Kubina Held Out Of Practice; Trade Coming?

Earlier in the month we speculated about how the Rangers might be a potential landing spot for Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina should Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman choose to sell off a few pieces. Well, it seems that Stevie Y has opted to do so. Kubina was not on the ice for practice today, leading to speculation about him being moved. Yzerman is scheduled to speak about this decision later today but the team’s twitter confirms the speculation.

Kubina being held off the ice to protect the team’s interests. Has been asked for teams he would be willing to move to.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 16, 2012

Kubina has a limited No-Trade Clause so there are some limitations on where he can be moved. Thus, Yzerman has to ask him where he’d be willing to go. I would have to believe that the Rangers, a contender with his former coach John Tortorella behind the bench, would be a team he’d be willing to move to. And I’d have to believe that Tortorella would be happy to add a solid, veteran defenseman who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup and knows the system well.

Of course, there are also at least a handful of other teams Kubina could be moved to, and this is mostly speculation on my part. But I do think we need to keep our eyes peeled here. Kubina may very well be a New York Ranger by the end of the week.