NHL Rumor Mill – January 14, 2026
More speculation about Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton, and the latest on the Canucks, Flyers, Senators, and Predators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST DOUGIE HAMILTON CHATTER
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported observers were caught by surprise when Dougie Hamilton returned to the New Jersey Devils lineup one day after being a healthy scratch against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).
Nevertheless, the expectation is that Hamilton will be traded, though there’s no indication that a deal is imminent. LeBrun indicated that the remaining two years on the contract with an average annual value of $9 million is a “complicating factor.”
LeBrun suggested the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs as potential destinations. Hamilton played with the Hurricanes before, but it depends on whether they want to bring him back and what the Devils want in return.
The Devils are also interested in moving winger Ondrej Palat in a separate cost-cutting deal. However, his $6 million cap hit makes it a difficult proposition.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes Hamilton could fetch the Devils a top-six forward or a third-line center. Nevertheless, management’s handling of this situation has cast the club in a bad light.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton’s contract is a stumbling block, even though the salary cap will rise significantly over the next two seasons. His 10-team trade list is another, though he’s reportedly willing to be flexible. Hamilton’s injury history is also another concern.
The Hurricanes have the cap space and the depth in tradeable assets to reacquire Hamilton, but they could be uninterested in a reunion. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are pressed for cap space and are thin in draft picks and prospects to draw on for trade bait. They’d need the Devils to retain up to half of Hamilton’s cap hit, and even that might not be enough to squeeze him into their cap payroll unless they include a player in the deal.
Some Devils fans are calling for general manager Tom Fitzgerald to be fired. However, Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.COM reports Fitzgerald’s job remains safe until at least the end of the regular season.
UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS
TSN: Darren Dreger believes the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks could be open to entertaining offers for just about everyone on their roster, including Elias Pettersson.
The 27-year-old center had been the subject of trade speculation during last season and the offseason. However, there hasn’t been any communication between Pettersson’s agent and Canucks management about waiving his no-movement clause.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Patrick Johnston of The Province recently reported that there are teams still interested in Pettersson, despite the decline in his offense and his expensive contract running through 2031-32.
If the Canucks are willing to listen to offers for Pettersson, they’ll want at least a good young NHL center in return. They could be reluctant to retain part of his $11.6 million average annual value.
FLYERS SEEKING GOALIE OPTIONS
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports a Philadelphia Flyers source claimed the club is considering alternative options to replace struggling goaltender Samuel Ersson.
There aren’t many options available in the trade market. Di Marco asked about Colten Ellis and Alex Lyon of the Buffalo Sabres. His source was open to the prospect of acquiring Lyon at the right price.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The immediate options to replace Ersson might have to come from within the Flyers’ system, given the lack of quality options in the trade market. The Sabres have been carrying three goalies this season, but their recent surge in the standings means they’re not moving anyone right now unless it’s for a return that will help them reach the playoffs this season.
WILL THE SENATORS BE BUYERS OR SELLERS?
TSN: Darren Dreger believes the next seven to 10 games will determine if the struggling Ottawa Senators become buyers or sellers in the trade market. He noted that general manager Steve Staios was in Montreal on Monday scouting the Vancouver Canucks, but felt that was Staios doing pre-scouting before his club’s match against the Canucks on Tuesday.
Dreger believes Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood could be a good fit with the Senators, but they must start climbing up the standings before Staios gets that aggressive.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch also reported on Staios’ scouting trip to Montreal on Monday. His sources indicated that the Senators GM continues to scour the trade market for a right-shot defenseman and a top-six forward.
Garrioch speculated the Senators would likely be interested in Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek and forwards such as Sherwood, Conor Garland, and Jake DeBrusk. However, Hronek has a full no-movement clause, and the Canucks could prefer to retain him. Tyler Myers has been mentioned as a possibility, but they aren’t moving him.
The Senators have also kicked tires on Calgary Flames blueliner Rasmus Andersson. However, he’d have to be willing to sign an extension before Ottawa would make that move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators’ most pressing need is goaltending, given Linus Ullmark’s struggles, his recent absence, and the lack of backup depth. However, the market is thin on reliable goaltending options.
Staios will become a seller by the end of this month if the Senators remain on their current path.
PREDATORS NOT IN SELL MODE
THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports the anticipated player sell-off by the Nashville Predators isn’t likely to happen this season, if at all. After a poor start, they surged into wildcard contention in the Western Conference.
They’re also not going to be buyers. General manager Barry Trotz could hold onto assets as “own rentals” if a suitable deal cannot be found.
Daugherty noted that four of the Predators’ trade-worthy assets (Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Haula, Michael McCarron, and Michael Bunting) have contributed to the club’s recent improvement. He also noted that all but O’Reilly would likely fetch mid-round picks, which the Predators already have plenty of in the next two drafts.
What makes the Sens poor play
Worse is they gave up their 1st in this supposedly stacked draft Gotta hurt if they don’t make the dance
Yup. Hindsight is always great – but a lot of people told Staios to push that another year. He’ll twist in the wind for that one when all the teams below them in the draft move up a spot.
I’m just about done with Ullmark. Fan favorite and all. Nice guy and all. But just play goalie.
If all parties agreed to wave clauses.
Ottawa Sends Ullmark, Tyler Boucher and Steven Halliday to Van. for Lankinen and Marco Rossi.
or
In fantasy land. Ottawa sends Ullmark to Van for Petterson yes the 11mill one, straight up. Nothing retained. Sens roll the dice with Merralainen, and a gaggle of back ups and hope Elias finds his scoring touch helping the Sens with their other big problem—scoring goals.
I highly doubt Vancouver wants two expensive keepers, one constantly injured, the other, well ullmark with all his warts.
Doubt they give up Rossi for Halliday either, they just got him as a big piece for Hughes.
Lyle, re your post above that “Staios will become a seller by the end of this month if the Senators remain on their current path.” from now to the end f January they have 9 games: at NYR tonight; home to the Habs Saturday; @ Detroit Sunday in another back-to-back; @ Columbus Tuesday Jan 20; @ Nashville Thurs Jan 22; home to Carolina Sat Jan 24; home to Vegas Sun Jan 25 (another back-to-back); home to Colorado Wed Jan 28; home to New Jersey Fri Jan 31.
The only reason I mention the back-to-backs is due to their shaky goaltending situation.
Bottom line, they need to come out of that with something like a 6-3, or 5-2-2 record or their season is toast.
Then let the sales begin. If on the other hand they do as well as I think they need to, there could be a more judicious roster-improving deal (or two) down the line.
Well they got a gift second in the next draft thanks to the Sabres.
A gift. I don’t know about that. Cozens isn’t lighting it up and has been pretty gross defensively so far. Sure, Norris has been injured, but since he’s been back, Buffalo has bee very good. Don’t think it’s a coincidence. I think Buffalo got the better player, hence the second, but Norris health was the gamble.
Owen – I don’t think they needed to include a 2nd rounder in a deep draft. Ou am puzzled as to why Cozens has fallen off.
Call me an idiot but how would nj get a top 6 forward for a guy they don’t want anymore and HEALTHY scratched? Post 32 yr old
Am I missing something?
Wouldn’t teams be doing them a favor giving them cap relief?
Thinking a 2nd and mid tier prospect for taking on that cap
Maybe I played too much EA Sports
George
Ottawa stands Pat trade deadline
Off season move to fill Ned for top 6 and rd
Make offer to nyr for Schneider and laffy
What do ya offer? Do they fit present and long term need?
Perron and giroux UFA season end clearing 6m plus cap goes up
Laffy actually gets to play LW top 6 not stuck behind kreider bread and miller
ihatecrosby, the more I see of Lafreniere the more I see the second coming of Alexandre Daigle.
To this stage, Lafreniere has played 427 games with 101g 116a 217 pts for 82-game averages of 19g 22a 41 pts. And while those may not be horrible stats, they’re not what you want from a 1st overall pick costing $7,450,000 off the cap to 2032. Nor do I buy into coaches being so stupid over the years as to “ignore his potential” and deliberately play him down in the line-up. With 427 games under his belt, there is clearly something about his game that has had different coaches taking that approach.
As for the much-maligned (and rightly so) Daigle, also a 1st overall in his day (and way before the big bucks started to materialize). at roughly the same stage of his career (401 gp) he had a quite similar 92g 123a 215 pts for 82-game averages of 19g 25a 44pts. But other aspects of his game just never seemed to get better.
Schneider, a late 1st round pick, would be an OK pickup at RD … but I don’t see a huge improvement over what they have there now … Zub, Spence and Matinpalo, and their own 1st round picks developing in the system in Yakemchuk and Hensler.
If they’re going to try and land a RD now I’d prefer a bigger deal involving a C like Cozens or Pinto.
George has already agreed to send Brady T to NyR for Schneider, Laf, Cuylle and a 1st. I’ll even throw in Dylan Garand.
LOL to the thinking that Hamilton will be able to fetch a 3rd line center or capable defender
considering his contract has a $9M AAV through 2026-27 the best the Devils will get back with either a low pick (with the Devils picking up 25-30% of this contract) or having to take a bad contract back.
Beggers can’t be choosers, Fitz will have to take the best (of the worst) offer just to get Hamilton off the roster.
Same goes for Palat.
Fitzgerald is at fault for handing out so many No trade and no movement clauses to players on high AAV clauses. He was in over his head in negotiating these deals, probably threw these in to convince the players to even sign in NJ.
Palat was on the downside in TB before getting a ridiculous 5 year $6M AAV deal. That is an anvil of a contract
Hamilton was known to wear out his welcome in all his previous teams yet still got a $9M AAV AND a no trade contract.
now Fitzgerald has a messed up cap that prevented him from making the move for Quinn Hughes (word is if they could have cleared space they would have acquired Quinn and not MIN)
Was thinking the same about Hamilton and what he might fetch in a deal. Just take a bag of pucks and be happy to get the contract off the books.
and good luck to VAN for getting helpful for Pettersson. He was struggling BEFORE VAN gave him that aweful contract with a $11.6M AAV. He isn’t playing anywhere close to a #1 center.
VAN is going to have to pick up 1/2 the AAV and probably even throw in a prospect in order to get anything decent back. Otherwise expect VAN to have to take back a bad contract or two
I would be VERY surprised if Rasmus Andersson isn’t wearing a Leafs jersey by the deadline, considering how the Leafs GM had him in CGY
But you are forgetting about all the good players that wanted out of Cal. They lost what 7 solid players and 4 were stars? Nobody wants to play in Tor yet all we hear is this guy and that guy all going to Tor lol plus Tor doesn’t believe in good stay at home D or goaltending
I don’t know if Philly is looking for a potential number 1 goalie or not. If not then I’m sure they could get Pickard for no more than a 4th round pick.