NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2026
Are the Wild planning another big trade? What’s the biggest need for the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin isn’t done making moves following last month’s blockbuster acquisition of Quinn Hughes.
Russo and Smith believe Guerin wouldn’t have given up four huge pieces (Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, 2026 first-round pick) for Hughes if the Wild weren’t trying to win right now.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).
They believe Guerin will take another big swing in the trade market, “probably for a center”, drawing on their draft picks and prospects as bait. The Wild also has an estimated $12.9 million in trade-deadline cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild haven’t won a playoff round since 2015. The furthest they ever went in the playoffs was the Western Conference Final in 2003. Their current roster has the potential to become a Stanley Cup contender for the next few years, making this an opportune time to bolster their depth accordingly.
Finding a good center won’t be easy in the current trade market.
Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames, Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators are the most notable centers mentioned in trade rumors this season.
However, the Flames insist they’re not interested in moving Kadri, the decline in Schenn’s performance this season could make him less enticing than he was last season, and O’Reilly’s reported unwillingness to be traded could force Guerin to shop around.
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes the Detroit Red Wings must bolster their defense before the March 6 trade deadline.
They have a strong first pairing with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Meanwhile, Ben Chiarot has played well this season on the second pairing along with rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
However, Sandin-Pellikka has been playing somewhat sheltered minutes. He might not be up to the task of being a second-pairing defenseman in postseason action when the play becomes more physical.
Bultman suggested adding an experienced No. 4 or 5 defenseman before the deadline. Possibilities could include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Brett Kulak of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rasmus Anderson of the Calgary Flames is the biggest name for defensemen in the trade market. However, the Red Wings aren’t likely to get into a bidding war for an expensive postseason rental player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are currently flying high in the standings, sitting first in the Eastern Conference. GM Steve Yzerman isn’t under any pressure right now to make a move, but he could go shopping for a blueliner by the deadline.
Yzerman caught flak from Detroit fans, pundits, and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin for his inactivity at last season’s trade deadline. It’s doubtful he’ll sit on his hands this season.
A minus in goal differential at this stage of a season is usually an indication that a team needs a shoring up in either D or G – possibly both in the extreme cases.
Out West, 11 of the 16 teams are reflecting a minus plus one Even, ranging from Edmonton’s -1 to a ridiculous -42 for St. Louis. In the East, 6 are in the minus category, with 3 Even, ranging from the NYI’s -1 to a -13 for Columbus.
Detroit, although sitting 1st overall, are one of the 6 with a -4 at just over half the season, and that can eventually catch up as the season progresses and teams begin to really focus on their overall D structure. So Max Bultman, who “believes the Detroit Red Wings must bolster their defense before the March 6 trade deadline” has likely hit the nail on the head there.
How the teams compare in terms of +/-
EAST
those on the plus side
Tampa +28
Washington +15
Carolina +13
Philadelphia +5
Buffalo & Florida +3 each
Ottawa +2
those Even
Montreal, Pittsburgh, Toronto
those on the minus side
Columbus -13
New Jersey -11
NYR -7
Detroit & Boston -4 each
NYI -1
WEST
those on the plus side
Colorado +71
Dallas +30
Minnesota +21
Utah +8
those Even
Vegas
those on the minus side
St. Louis -42
Vancouver -24
Nashville -19
Chicago -18
San Jose -15
Seattle -13
Winnipeg & Calgary -9 each
L.A. -5
Anaheim -4
Edmonton -1
Wings have needed a 2nd pair defender for years. It is amazing how well they have done without this year! It is gonna be expensive no matter who they look at.
Y signed 2 guys that were rejected from their past teams this summer for 3rd pair in Jacob Bernard Docker and Travis Hamonic, but no quality D-man. JBD has been a pleasant surprise, but he is still just a fill-in.
I know 1 player Guerin won’t be looking to add: Adam Fox!
George, Rangers goal differential is totally due to lack of scoring. They’re Galway to setting record for being shutout.
If he needs centers, maybe Guerrin should look at 2 guys he put on the Olympic squad that didn’t earn it this year: JT Miller and Trocheck.
Let’s make a deal!!
They are certainly among the league’s lowest goal-scoring teams, Slick62. Fixing that won’t be easy, though, as they won’t get much for the most unproductive players they’d probably like to move. What’s weird is that the 3 lowest in the East are NYI, NJ and NYR! Don’t drink the water! LOL
Goal Scoring showing GP – Goals
EAST
Montreal 40gp 136
Carolina 40gp 135
Tampa 40gp 135
Toronto 40gp 134
Washington 41gp 133
Boston 41gp 130
Detroit 42gp 130
Ottawa 39gp 129
Florida 39gp 126
Pittsburgh 39gp 126
Buffalo 39gp 124
Philadelphia 39gp 119
Columbus 39gp 118
NY Islanders 41gp 116
New Jersey 40gp 109
NY Rangers 42gp 109
WEST
Colorado 39gp 159
Dallas 41gp 143
Anaheim 40gp 137
Edmonton 41gp 137
Minnesota 41gp 129
Utah 41gp 126
San Jose 40gp 124
Vegas 38gp 119
Nashville 40gp 114
Winnipeg 39gp 113
Vancouver 39gp 112
Chicago 40gp 112
Calgary 40gp 108
Los Angeles 39gp 102
St. Louis 41gp 101
Seattle 38gp 99
Guerin spent most of his draft capital in the Hughes trade. What does he have left to offer? Veteran centers won’t come cheap.
Still wondering what’s going on with Tuch. Sign or trade? Trade now when the team is winning?
Toronto St Pats, I guess the answer to your Wild question is, how close Guerin thinks his team is to winning it all, and so what he’d be prepared to relinquish for any top C that might be available – especially from teams in various stages of a re-build?
To that end he could put together a package that would include, from among his more solid prospects, C Charlie Stramel of Michigan State, a 1st round pick 21st overall in 2023, roster player C Yakov Trenin, taken 55th in Round 2 in 2015 and currently with 2g 10a 12 pts in 41gp and, as the real sweetener – and depending upon the quality of the target C – one or two from among 6’ 1” 180lbs left-shot RW Danila Yurov, a 1st round pick 24th overall in 2023, currently with 4g 9a 13pts in 34gp, 6’ 1” 195lb LD Carson Lambis, drafted in Round 1 26th overall in 2021 with 2g 4a 6pts in 30 AHL gp so far this season, and/or 6’ 4” 205lbs RD David Jiricek, taken in Round 1 6th overall by Columbus, who has 0 pts in 18gp with Minnesota this season but 1g 2a 3 pts in 12 AHL gp.