NHL Rumor Mill – November 26, 2025
More trade speculation about the Canucks, the Canadiens are linked to Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, and the latest on Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE CANUCKS
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Jim Rutherford, the Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations, confirmed his club had to get younger. He indicated that his team is willing to listen to trade offers for their unrestricted free agents, seeking younger players, prospects, and draft picks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This comes a day after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman broke the news that the Canucks had informed teams around the league that they were willing to entertain trade offers for pending UFAs or those with a year or two remaining on their contracts.
Rutherford said they weren’t trading everybody, pointing out that there are “a number of veterans who are playing very well.” Instead, he stated that it was about “accelerating the obvious (moves) that could be made two months down the road.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those who aren’t available are defensemen Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek. It’s unlikely that they’re peddling players on long-term contracts, such as winger Brock Boeser, center Elias Pettersson, winger Jake DeBrusk, defenseman Marcus Pettersson, and goaltenders Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. However, they could be willing to listen if someone makes a substantial pitch for any of those players.
Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).
Rutherford confirmed that his club is pursuing a retooling of the roster instead of a full-scale rebuild. He also indicated that Hughes and his agent were aware of the direction the club is taking.
Johnston’s colleague, Ben Kuzma, believes Kiefer Sherwood will command plenty of interest because his feisty, productive style is built for playoff hockey. He leads the Canucks with 12 goals and is on pace for 40. The 29-year-old winger is among those eligible for UFA status next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood’s hot start could cool down as the season progresses, but it’s not a stretch to suggest he could reach 25 goals, which would be a career high. Nevertheless, as Kuzma pointed out, it’s his pugnacious style that will be enticing to playoff contenders.
Kuzma believes Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, and David Kampf are all but certain to be traded. Like Sherwood, they’re UFA-eligible next July. He also thinks gritty winger Conor Garland could be moved. He starts a new six-year contract next season with an average annual value of $6 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garland would draw interest if available, though his salary and lengthy cap hit could scare off some suitors. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Canucks hang onto him.
TSN: Darren Dreger said the Canucks are willing to listen to offers on a “very specific group” of players, that being those eligible for UFA status in July. They include Sherwood, Kane, and Blueger.
Dreger indicated that Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has sought a center for months. If there’s a younger player available now, it would make sense to do it now instead of during the chaos of the March 6 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford and Allvin have a history of swinging major moves well before the trade deadline. The most recent occurred last January, when they shipped J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers and acquired Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As for Hughes, Dreger speculated that all bets could be off if the Canucks haven’t improved by the trade deadline. That could lead to them examining Hughes’ future by the deadline or during the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, if they don’t get an offer to their liking for Hughes by March 6, they’ll wait until the offseason, when teams will have more cap room and a greater willingness to make big trades.
Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre believes any changes management makes that weaken the Canucks in the short term could increase the chances of Hughes’ departure next summer or sooner if the season unravels. The next three months could determine his fate.
CANADIENS LINKED TO RYAN O’REILLY
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the struggling Nashville Predators will continue to incorporate more younger players into their lineup, which means they will be listening to trade offers for their veteran players.
LeBrun mentioned that forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault have surfaced in the rumor mill. They have full no-movement clauses, but the Predators will be open to listening to offers for them.
Ryan O’Reilly has drawn the most interest in the trade market. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $4.5 million. The 34-year-old is very appealing to teams seeking a center with Stanley Cup experience.
LeBrun said the Montreal Canadiens were among the suitors. When the Predators are ready to move O’Reilly, LeBrun claims their asking price will likely be a first-round pick and “an A-level prospect”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: RG.Org’s Marco D’Amico reports that Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is still working the phones in search of a top-six forward or center. They can afford to part with a first-round pick and an “A-level” prospect for a return that addresses their needs now and over the long term.
Hughes usually adds players in their mid-to-late twenties who will fit into their young roster. Adding O’Reilly would be a departure from that template. He would be the oldest player on the Canadiens, and he lacks the speed that is a core part of their game.
O’Reilly lacks a no-trade clause, but the Predators are treating him as though he has that protection. Whether he’d want to come to Montreal remains to be seen.
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV DENIES ANY INTEREST IN A TRADE
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander reports Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov shrugged off a recent report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claiming he was unhappy with his playing time earlier this season and would’ve welcomed a trade if they wanted to move him.
Svechnikov said he didn’t hear about it, but his family members did. He said the report had no validity. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he detected no unhappiness from the winger earlier in the season, adding that his improved play has put the issue to bed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Svechnikov was scoreless in his first eight games, and his ice time declined as a result. In Friedman’s defense, he said the situation has since cooled down, pointing out that the winger has 12 points in his last 14 games and has returned to the Hurricanes’ top line.
Nuks should pull trigger on Quinn. Send memo around league. He is top 3 d in league. The bidding process will be insane Call oilers. Offer Demko they don’t need 2 starters in Van right now
What could the oilers offer them that would land that bounty.
The problem when trading players like Quinn Hughes is the team trading the star player never wins. I am a firm believer in never trade quality for quantity. No matter how many prospects and/or 1st round picks you get, you will never be at the lever of Hughes.
I don’t think the Canucks will trade Demko, but if the Oilers could somehow acquire Lankinen and Tyler Myers, I would get behind that.
Sure Kevjam, and trading Hughes would crater ticket sales in Vancouver. But the fear the Canucks have is that Hughes won’t want to re-sign. Worst case scenario is therefore not trading Hughes, but having him pull a Matthew Tkachuck.
Then you hold onto him until the trade deadline. That is when you trade UFAs that won’t sign an extension. The difference in return between now and then will be minimal.
Well, look at the Sens trade with Karlsson. They ended up getting, Norris (which is now Cozens), Stutzle, DeMelo (who turned into Levi Merilinen) and Mats Soogaard. I’d say Ottawa easily won that one. Not even close.
Tought situation around Hughes, but he is signed this year and through next and lacks trade protection. Are you kidding? Trade him now before he gets hurt. He is an elite game changing D and no one will care about his long term status- they will get a haul. He doesnt have to be traded to New Jersey
Sam you are correct. Take the best deal you will restock in a hurry. Nuks have no chance on winning the Quinn trade. But there will be more offers this year as team will be getting 2 runs with him vs 1 next year. 99% he goes ufa and signs in NJ after that. So that means less teams will pony up for him next year. Still get a haul but not as much this as this year IMHO
As for Demko. Fantasy trade offer Savoie. Skinner to help $ work. And a future pic
Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose for Ferraro, Lilligren, Ty Delandria, Quentin Musty, Oiler’s ’26 1st, Av’s ’26 2nd
Sharks young talented roster might be agreeable to Quinn and certainly could be a powerhouse of a team!!
Rutherford being proactive on the trade market should draw other GMS into the fray. O Reilly would be perfect for Montreal who have the resources to get it done. He’s a proven winner who is great for a young team figuring out how to win. His contract is excellent. Perfect role model for those young players.
Sr, Lebrun says the price is a 1st and an A prospect which is one of Hage, Engstrom, Fowler or Reinbacher. At that price, hard no. As mentioned, he is too old and slow to fit in to Montreal’s long term plans. Also, he reportedly didn’t re-sign in Toronto due to overbearing media so I’m not too sure he’d like Montreal any better. Furthermore, what Montreal really needs right now, is reliable goaltending. They will be fine when Dach, Laine, Newhook, and Guhle return but even with these players Montreal is not a Cup contender this year and adding O’Reilly does nothing to move the needle in that direction. This young core still needs another2-3 years before you start making those types of trades that rob an organization of its future prospects.
Love the way you think, Habsman67.
SensFan11, a couple of days ago you posted “With Ridley Grieg a recent healthy scratch in Ottawa could this potentially point towards an impending trade or simply starting a fire under a player?
Ottawa really needs a legit 2nd line RW as Batherson is the only one in our top 6. Problem we have next to nothing to offer up in trades. Would Grieg and Zetterlund with a 2nd get us what we need? Doubtful.”
In Greig’s case it wasn’t due to being a healthy scratch – rather, he had suffered an “upper body” injury prior to the team embarking upon their current 7-game road trip and has been day-to-day since. As of this morning, the official word remains the same with no timetable set yet for his return after what is now 10 days hors de combat. Chabot is also out indefinitely … but at least Matinpalo is back.
I agree that a RW with a scoring touch would be a great addition … but it’s highly unlikely anyone is relinquishing one of those for Greig and Zetterlund (who at least seems to have found his scoring touch again) – even with a 2027 1st round pick.
Another RW in the system who appears to be on track for at least a recall is Arthur Kaliyiev who, in 17 gp since being sent to Belleville, has potted 11 goals 7 assists 18 points. Plus, of course, Tkachuk will definitely be suiting up in the upcoming game in St. Louis. Combined with Greig’s return that could result in Perron moving over to RW somewhere.
As for the possibility of acquiring a top 4 RW, any such deal will likely have to include one of 6’ 3” 220lb RD Carter Yakemchuk (a 1st rd pick 7th overall in 2024) or 6’ 2” 200lb RD Logan Hensler (a 1st rd pick in 2025 23rd overall and still at U of Wisconsin and a projected solid stay-at-home D type), along with maybe their 2027 1st round pick depending upon the RW involved. You certainly have to give up something of at least projected quality in order to get established quality in return.
And given their current cap reserve of $2.3 to $3 mil, such a deal would need to include a salaried player off the main roster to make the money work – again depending upon the cap hit of the RW concerned coming in.
Should Winnipeg be all in on Hughes? 2 playoff runs for a team in a win now mode. My understanding Quinn does not have trade protection and I would assume he would like to go to a contending team before he signs in Jersey as UFA.
Deal could centre around perfetti, lambert, Yager plus a 1st round pick.