NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2026
The latest on Artemi Panarin and Evander Kane, plus updates on the Flames, Maple Leafs, and Predators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ARTEMI PANARIN RUMORS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports hearing that New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin seeks a contract extension worth $50 million before signing off on a trade.
“He is going to try and hit a contract home run, even though he’s 34 years old,” Friedman said. Panarin is earning an annual average value of $11.6 million on his current deal, which expires on July 1.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).
Friedman said several teams reportedly have varying degrees of interest in Panarin. The Colorado Avalanche are interested, but not in an extension. Ditto the Dallas Stars unless they pivot away from re-signing RFA-eligible winger Jason Robertson.
The Los Angeles Kings are wondering if this is the right time to give up future assets. Panarin would love to join the Florida Panthers, but Friedman doesn’t know if they’ll move heaven and earth to get the playmaking winger.
The Minnesota Wild made a big splash by acquiring Quinn Hughes and might be willing to make another, but Friedman wondered how much they have left in the bank to do so.
Friedman believes the Washington Capitals are a serious suitor, citing their willingness to sign Panarin to an extension. He also mentioned the Seattle Kraken, who seek a high-end forward and are reportedly willing to move young center Shane Wright.
Other clubs with potential interest include the San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked if the Canadiens should kick tires on Panarin. He believes they should and will, pointing out that Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton signed the winger to his current contract when he was general manager of the Rangers.
Cowan believes Panarin’s age and the Rangers’ asking price would be concerns. Nevertheless, he thinks the playmaking winger could be a good fit on the Canadiens’ top line.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin turns 35 in October, the first season of his new contract. It’s doubtful he’d get anything longer than five years, meaning he’d get $10 million annually on that type of deal. Even with the salary cap rising significantly over the next two seasons, spending that much on a winger heading into his late-thirties is not a wise investment of salary-cap dollars. That will likely scare off most of the rumored suitors.
Based on recent reports, the Avalanche, Ducks, and Stars are out unless Panarin is willing to be a rental player. It’s unlikely that the Rangers will trade him to the Islanders. This isn’t the same thing as sending a depth defenseman like Carson Soucy to the Isles.
The Golden Knights recently acquired Rasmus Andersson and want to re-sign him as a replacement for the permanently sidelined Alex Pietrangelo, so it’s unlikely they’ll have sufficient cap space or tradeable assets to land Panarin. The Wild seek a scoring forward, but their preference is a first-line center.
Panarin is the type of player a Stanley Cup contender acquires. The Flyers and Canadiens aren’t there yet. He’s too old and too expensive for those rebuilding teams, and he might not be interested in joining them.
The Capitals might be willing to do it if this season proves to be Alex Ovechkin’s last, but it would still be a risky investment, given his age and the associated expense. Understandably, the Kraken would be interested, but surely they can find young and more affordable options elsewhere.
The Mammoth could be intrigued by Panarin because he’s a superstar who could generate excitement in their new market, but his asking price could be a deal breaker. The same applies to the Sharks, who have some rising young stars that will soon require new contracts.
COULD THE STARS ACQUIRE EVANDER KANE?
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos recently cited reports claiming the Stars and Colorado Avalanche have inquired about Vancouver Canucks winger Evander Kane.
The Stars are seeking a top-six left winger. Kane has a history with Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan. It’s also believed the Canucks could be willing to retain part of Kane’s $5.125 million AAV.
However, Kane’s character could come into question given his off-ice issues in recent years. They also wouldn’t have the cap space to acquire him without salary retention by the Canucks.
Assimakopoulos believes Calgary Flames winger (and Plano, Texas native) Blake Coleman might be a better option for the Stars.
WHO COULD THE FLAMES TRADE NEXT?
CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson looked at which Flames players could be next on the trade block after the club recently shipped out Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Wilson believes Nazem Kadri could draw interest despite the recent decline in his production. The 35-year-old center could want to be moved to a contender, though his age and his contract could be sticking points. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million.
Winger Blake Coleman and recently-acquired defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be highly coveted. They both have Stanley Cup experience and have term left on their contracts. It could take a strong offer to pry them away from the Flames.
MCMANN, LAUGHTON COULD DRAW INTEREST
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday could send the club into sell mode in the trade market. The loss left the Maple Leafs sitting second-last in the Eastern Conference.
Friedman believes talks about Maple Leafs players will intensify, but doesn’t know if there will be any movement before the Olympic trade freeze goes into effect on Feb. 4. Forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton could draw interest in the trade market. Both are UFA-eligible on July 1.
Some observers might wonder about Auston Matthews’ future with the Maple Leafs. He’s eligible for UFA status in 2028. Friedman doesn’t believe the Leafs are at the stage yet where Matthews could request a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann and Laughton could bring in draft picks that help the Maple Leafs restock their prospect pool.
THE LATEST ON THE PREDATORS
SPORTSNET: During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported the Nashville Predators are open to trading forwards Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron, and defenseman Nick Perbix.
Friedman stated that the New York Islanders attempted to acquire Bunting, but a deal couldn’t be reached. They opted instead for winger Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wondered if the Oilers might look at acquiring one of those players.
Yesterday, in the Panarin discussion, Dino Rondelly posted – re the Oilers as a landing spot – “They have $12mill in cap space with almost all the team signed, you could make it a 6 year deal to bring down the cap hit.
With the cap for 2026-27 at $104,000,000, when I look at Puckpedia I see them committed to 9 F (McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Frederick, Mangiapane, Janmark, Podkolzin, Samanski and Savoie) at a total cap hit of $50,836,666 (the last 2 are on ELCs of $975,000 and $886,666 with minor league options) – 6 D (Bouchard, Nurse, Ekholm, Walman, Emberson and Regula) at a total cap hit of $32,825,000 (Regula is also on an two-way ELC of $775,000) – and 1 G (Jarry at $5,375,000). They also have dead cap of $2,600,000 for the Jack Campbell buy-out).
Counting Samanski, Savoie and Regula, and factoring in the buyout, that’s a total of 16 players committed to at a total cap hit of $91,636,666, leaving $12,363,334 with which to sign 7, including a back-up goalie.
Panarin’s expiring cap hit is $11,642,857 and the consensus seems to be that he’ll have to settle somewhere in the range of $10 to 12 mil on a new deal. Let’s say, as Dino suggests, the Oilers could get him for a combination of Savoie and top prospect Howard plus picks, and for a 6 year deal sign him at $10 mil per. That drops their cap reserve to $2,363,334 … and now 8 to sign.
Even if none among their 6 pending UFAs are brought back – Henrique ($3 mil), Roslovic ($1.5 mil), Kapanen ($1.3 mil), Lazar ($775,000), Ingram ($1,150,000) and Pickard ($1 mil) – they still have to find replacements as good or better, and they are nearly deep enough in the system to elevate ELCs to fill all the vacancies. There is also RFA Spencer Stastny (expiring $825,000 E:LC) to consider.
Unless I’m missing something obvious, I just don’t see how they could possibly swing a deal like that without hurting their bottom 6 F and/or D depth – not to mention getting a quality back-up goalie signed.
above should read “… and they are NOT nearly deep enough …”
The oilers aren’t trading Savoie and Howard for an old Panarin. End of story
I hope you did notice that that was not my suggestion. You can argue that point with Dino – lol.
As I pointed out yesterday, unless Drury is lying through his teeth, I don’t believe NY is looking for raw prospects in returns for any of their rumored players. Specifically Panarin , Trocheck.
Trading these guys for unproven prospects signals a rebuild, not a retool.
How do you rebuild around a handful of players like Fox, Zibanejad, Shesterkin and Miller who all have NMC’s , likely won’t waive and have long term / expensive contracts?
Here’s to hoping Drury isn’t lying!
Moving that boat anchor of a contract for Nurse would solve a lot of problems. He’s obviously got a low hockey IQ because he’s still making the same bad reads and mistakes from his rookie season.
The only Flame I’d like to see on the Habs is in the dog-house in Calgary, Brayden Paschal.
As for the NYR, I’m not crazy about Panarin but if it included Braden Schneider I’d be interested.
HF30: You might be interested in Panarin, as part of a package but his profile is just what Hughes said publicly the Habs don’t want: an aging player on an expensive contract.
Consider that having moved Slavkovski to Kapanen’ line, which is doing well, the Habs have been looking for a big winger who can forecheck and help the finesse of Suzuki an Caulfield.
Texier showed promise but his play has dropped off and I expect Dach will get an audition. Panarin does not fit the needed size and skill to compliment them.
I have always found Stu Cowan is good on reporting what has happened, but not what should happen. It is as if he’s completely disregarded Hugh’s very recent comment:
“If you’re bringing somebody in that’s in their mid-to-late thirties, you’re not looking at that player growing with you. You’re looking at that player, just based on data, regressing due to age.”
I know I frequently push back on your comments, HF30. Not trying to be a wet blanket. At the least, you make me think and I appreciate that.
That so, why are you so keen on Schneider? I don’t know anything about him, but based on stats I struggle to see where he would fit in the Habs top 4, and why you see Ghule as expendable.
I don’t believe the Panarin deal will be including any type of sweetener outside of salary retention.
Schneider has been fantastic in his development. Much like Skjei, he’s been forced into a larger role. Ny decided to prematurely trade Skjei. Hopefully, they don’t make that same mistake again.
Outside of this year, which the entire team looks awful most nights. He’s still a +6 overall in his career. He’s been around for 5 years and just turned 24 years old.
Not sure I’d use yahoo as a good gauge of analyzing players.
This kid is fine. Not a piece I’d be throwing in as a freebie that includes the #1 guy on the trade market.
I don’t see Montreal making a trade for Panarin, but out of curiosity. What do you see a return for in that trade proposal?
I am not advocating Yahoo as the premier source, Captain. It’s what came up on a search.
Schneider’s stats, this year – and last – do not indicate a basis to trade for, particularly having to swallow Panarin as well to get him. One can argue the +/- is a team stat, but his results show no offensive upside. How would he fit in the Habs’ top 4? And if not there, why bother?
If you have something from a legit source that says otherwise, I am listening/
Let me add this, and tell me if you think this is a fair assessment, via Yahoo Sports:
“Through his first three NHL seasons, Schneider showed flashes of potential in a third-pairing role.
In 2024, Schneider signed a two-year, $4.4 million bridge deal with the Rangers. The hope was that he would eventually blossom into a reliable top-four defenseman for the Blueshirts.
Similar to Miller, Schneider hasn’t taken that next leap that the organization had anticipated, specifically this year where he’s struggled in a top-four role when the opportunity has been presented, while his defensive woes are becoming more and more prevalent, indicative of his -15 plus/minus rating (the worst of his NHL career).”
Thoughts?
Trocheck and Schneider to the Wings for 2 1sts (top 10 protected), JT Compher, and goalie Carter Gylander (24yo, 6′ 5″, .943 S% in 7 games in Grand Rapids, .913 S% in Toledo earlier this season in 15 games)
Hmm, make that a 2026 1st and a 2028 2nd , 2027 3rd, Compher and Gylander for Trocheck and Schneider
This trade proposal reeks of rebuild. Not retool. The best player coming back is 30 yo Copher? A guy playing 3rd line center?
I’d prefer they keep Trocheck and Schneider. This looks like desperation / rebuild. A trade for the sake of making a trade.
I also wouldn’t package Schneider in any trade involving Panarin or Trocheck as suggested today. That reeks of JT Miller / Mcdonagh to the bolts.
It’s amazing how fast fan (and media) angst and concern leading to trade speculation can disappear following a couple of wins – especially when they come against two top teams like Vegas and Colorado (and I include myself 🙂 ). But with 28 teams in action today/tonight, 13 of them Eastern teams, including New Jersey in Ottawa, and followed for the Senators next week by a tough back-to-back in Pittsburgh and Carolina, any steps back – especially game-altering goaltending inconsistencies – will re-set the angst and concern and spike up trade talk instantly.
And that applies to all teams. Right now, the full-court press is on in Toronto as a result of their current funk .. but a win tonight in Vancouver, followed by back-to-back wins Tuesday/Wednesday in Calgary and Edmonton, and that will blow over … at least until after the Olympic break. But 3 losses … whoa.
Treliving pulling the same crap as he did in Calgary . Over paying on everything. I like Laughton but a first. I like Carlo even with his injury history Mitten and a first ?
He gets fired sooner rather than later and likely Bérubé as well. To have a “play off” team you gave have to make in the first place.
I am not a fan of Panarin for the play offs . Regular season no question . He has eliminated the rental option so likely headed to a lower ranked team . Could he sit until March 6th or the unthinkable beyond ?