Boston Globe scribe Kevin Paul Dupont suggests that Hossa could aim for an eight-year, $64 million deal with plenty of money on the front end of the deal.

Many teams will try to acquire Hossa as a rental. And several of those contenders will also want to talk contract extension with him.

If another team can get Hossa to commit to such an extension, then it would be willing to deal plenty to get him out of Atlanta.

As for the Blues, there is no question they could use a pure scorer. This franchise doesn’t have big money committed past the next two years, so there is some flexibility there.

On the other hand, dealing younger players at this point in the rebuilding process could be disastrous. The Blues have some veteran defensemen to spend – especially Christian Backman – but the team needs to keep Brad Boyes, Lee Stempniak, David Perron, David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund and Lars Eller for their near and distant future.

Yes, the Blues want to make the playoffs this year. But, no, John Davidson hasn’t forgotten his long-term plan. Step by step, this team needs to improve its talent base through the draft and player development.

And if the right free agent comes available this summer or next, sure, investing some more money would make sense.

Here is what else is churning on the rumor mill:

• Cliff Fletcher could be running the Maple Leafs by the All-Star break, displacing John Ferguson. So general managers bidding on Mats Sundin will have a new point man to work.
• Peter Forsberg is back on the ice in Sweden, making NHL GMs drool. The red-hot Flyers will make a big push for him, as will the injury-riddled Avalanche.
• With former Blue Patrick Lalime excelling in Chicago, the Blackhawks really want to move goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and the final year (at $6.75 million) of his contract.
• With Alex Tanguay languishing on Calgary’s second line and his team needing to free up money to re-sign some free agents to be, GM Darryl Sutter may be ready to move him and the $5.375 million he is due next season. Dion Phaneuf, Kristian Huselius and Daymond Langkow are more important to the team’s future.
• The Canadiens, currently shopping Michael Ryder, could be interested in either Tanguay or unproductive Sharks center Patrick Marleau.
• The Kings need to hit the restart button, which is why former Blues Ladislav Nagy and Michal Handzus are available, along with defensemen Brad Stuart, Jaroslav Modry and Rob Blake.
• The Lightning are also the subject of many rumors, with either Brad Richards or Martin St. Louis mentioned as trade targets. The rumor Hockey Guy doesn’t get is the St. Louis-for-Marty Turco rumors with Dallas. Would Turco really be the answer in Tampa?
• The Hurricanes are looking to shake up their mix, eyeing help for their power play (defenseman Joe Corvo, winger David Vyborny?) and penalty killing (Antoine Vermette?). The team might be willing to deal Erik Cole to get something done.
• Jaromir Jagr has come to life while playing with Scott Gomez, but the Rangers are sputtering as a team. With a makeover needed, perhaps shipping No. 68 actually makes sense.