NHL Rumor Mill – January 5, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have an update on the trade speculation about Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, plus the latest on the Senators.
THE MAPLE LEAFS AREN’T TRADING AUSTON MATTHEWS
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan recently dismissed the trade speculation swirling around Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews before the club’s current improvement.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Koshan considered that notion to be “crazy,” pointing out that Matthews still has two more seasons left on his contract with a full no-movement clause. The 28-year-old center’s performance has improved in recent weeks, resulting in a reversal of the once-struggling Maple Leafs’ fortunes.
Matthews could face some heat if the Maple Leafs fail to make the playoffs. However, Koshan believes general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube will face most of the scrutiny. He thinks Treliving would be more likely to move this season than Matthews.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Matthews trade chatter was idle speculation, nothing more. The only way he moves is if he wants out. Otherwise, the Maple Leafs have no reason to peddle him at the March 6 trade deadline or this summer.
SENATORS STILL SHOPPING FOR HELP
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios continues to be aggressive in the trade market. He’s searching for a right-shot defenseman and a depth forward.
Defense remains the priority. Garrioch claimed that league executives said the Senators may have revisited their interest in Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. He also noted that the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, and the Maple Leafs have also been linked to the 29-year-old Andersson.
Garrioch indicated that teams have asked about prospects Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. However, Staios has no interest in moving those promising youngsters.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators lack the trade capital to win a bidding war for someone like Andersson. They don’t have their 2026 first-round pick or a deep prospect pipeline to draw on for trade bait, especially since they’re not parting with Yakemchuk and Hensler.
Finding a depth forward before the March trade deadline could be an easier task. They could dangle one or two of their three third-round picks in this year’s draft.
Where Ottawa is concerned, there are a couple of potential hurdles when it comes to any pursuit of RD Rasmus Andersson.
Starting with, if Ottawa is on his 6-team no go list would he be willing to waive, and if the answers are “no” and “yes” respectively, would he be willing to re-up here as a pending UFA?
With those assurances I just don’t understand any perceived reluctance to move Yakemchuk. No, they don’t (yet) have a 1st round pick this year – which Calgary apparently wants as part of the return – but they do have one in 2027 and maybe that would suffice with the inclusion of 1st round pick (7th overall) Yakemchuk – who is well-known in Calgary – and someone like 6′ 2″ 212lbs left-shot RW Arthur Kaliyev who, in 33 AHL gp this sason to dat, has 21g 16a 37pts.
Being a 6′ 1″ 205lbs RD who only turned 29 in October, he’d be a solid presence on that Ottawa D, joining Zub, Spence and Matinpalo on the right side of Sanderson, Chabot and Kleven.
In any trade of significant proportions the basic rule is, you have to give up something of value to get something of value in return, and with RD Logan Hensler (also a 1st round pick) eventually making his way to Ottawa and considered much better grounded in basic defensive capabilities, Staios can afford to part with the more offensively-talented Yakemchuk. IMHP (lol).
Calgary needs help in centre too. Would they be willing to ship Greig as part of that deal. I’m still holding out hope that the league rescinds their decision. Perhaps they make it after the trade deadline so that the Sens can’t use it as part of any negotiations.
I’m not holding my breath on Andersen though
No, neither am I Owen. Although Staios has shown that he can make a bold, significant move at the right opportunity when he dealt Norris for Cozens.
Greig could be in the package if Eller is expected back soon, plus 6′ 4″ 215lbs C Stephen Halliday looks like he’s ready for a full-time bottom 6 role.
agree with you on Halliday, George. With a pretty thin farm, Halliday is a bright gem too. He’s played sheltered minutes, but that new fourth line with Halliday, Cousins and Perron has looked pretty good.
Very new look to the Red Wings lines today at practice
DeBrincat Copp Kane
Kasper Larkin Söderblom
JVR Compher Raymond
Finnie Rasmussen Appleton
Danielson
Edvinsson Seider
Chiarot ASP
Johansson JBD
Hamonic
From “Max Bultman” via Octopus Thrower and
Bob Heyrman
New approach to the fact that the Wings lost 2 in a row to the Pens. I bet these lines get reshuffled a bit.
To Ottawa: Schneider, Lafreniere, Cuylle and a 1st
To NYR: Tkachuk and Boucher
Sens get big, young top 4 D man. 2 top 6 wingers.
Rangers get Brady, who if Ottawa falters before Olympics, might start thinking along the lines of his former US teammate Quinn Hughes. Couple weeks in Italy with JT and Trochek? Sorry George. A man can dream.
Heh. Absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming Slick62. And the way you describe events as possibly unfolding is not that far-fetched.
Right now one single game – and the Ullmark situation (i.e., how long is e expected to be hors de combat and is Merilainen capable of cponsistently solid performances?) – can start the wheels in motion on some significant deal.
And that one game is tonight in Ottawa with the Red Wings in town … a 4-pointer with many consequences. Right now Ottawa trails the Red Wings by 7 points, but with 3 games in hand. An Ottawa win puts them 5 back and still with 3 in hand, while a loss pushes them 9 back – again still with 3 in hand.
If Merilainen has an off-night and the (secret) news on Ullmark’s return isn’t encouraging (and we’ll likely never know one way or another until he suddenly re-appears – at which point will he need a re-tuning in the AHL?). the move to make changes could be set in motion.
Not bad, but no thanks. Schneider is a posession black hole, and Cuyle and Laf don’t move the needle. Brady is an absolute UNICORN! He scores, fights, hits and is clutch. If I were the Sens, I’d only trade him if he refused to sign. Not there yet.
Ya.
If IF Brady is ever traded ( a couple years from now) he’s not staying in the Eastern Conference and there will be a poison pill attached to any trade that sends him west.
I’d do Ridley Greig for Dylan DeMelo and Winnipeg’s 3rd rounder. Let the sell of begin. We know mello….he should have been signed here except we had a cheap owner at the time. He’s smallish but doesn’t make mistakes.
Yakemchuk looking more and more like a bust but who knows.
If Matthew’s were to be moved one day, the two teams at the helm to land him would be LA and Utah. Would Leafs fan prefer a package of either Guenther and perhaps Iginla or Q Byefield.
Why would anyone even speculate about trading Matthews? Folks in Toronto need to stop churning up the waters, hoping they’d be clearer in the end. Are we better without Marner?
Why with all the chatter surrounding Ottawa and yet not one mention of a possibility of trading Cozens. At 7.1 Mill until 2029-2030 and with the amount of teams willing to overpay for a Centerman. We have Pinto who can easily slide into the 2nd line Center position. Grieg could hold down the 3rd line and Halliday looks set to take over the 4th line Center position. A package of Cozens, Zetterlund and a 3rd would bring in the 2 peices Ottawa currently is seeking.
Yeah, I’ve always wondered if Cozens (Norris before him) and Pinto would both stay on the roster long term together.
With Grieg best suited for a 3C slot, there is opportunity to do something with Cozens or Pinto around that 2C role.
And dangling a Center seems to make other GMs overpay for a chance to grab them.
The Senators need to address 2C longer term. Cozens is not getting the job done since being acquired from the Sabres. Inconsistent point production and lack of work ethic, discipline, and character could make Cozens expendable.
Knight, you have to assume that, if Cozens does indeed lack work ethic, discipline and character, the rest of the league knows that as well.
So, at $7.1 mil for 4 more years after this, finding a taker … especially one prepared to give up anything of significance to get him … might be a bit of a problem.
But for the record, I don’t believe he lacks those qualities.
No, he’s not among the elite Centres in the league, who can cost $12 to $14 mil per season off the cap (the likes of Draisaitl, Matthews, MacKinnon, McDavid at the top end followed closely by those like Elias Pettersson, Nylander and Barkov. but over 403 career games to date he has established 82-game averages of 23g 37a 60 points. and this season is on pace for 24g 38a 62 pts.
And at 6′ 3″ 210lbs he’s no shrinking violet in the tough areas.
SensFan11
Some good points there. As foleyd7 stated I was always suspicious of how we would keep Pinto out of the 2nd line Center position. When we originally traded Norris I was quite surprised it wasnt for a top line Winger instead. Sens are lacking that game breaking winger. IMO
Cozens…..third on the Sens in Points, behind Bath, and Stuz, since being acquired…..What does that say about the rest of the players production?
The stats when Cozens, Pinto and Stutzle all play together is pretty crazy…can’t remember the exact number, but when we are healthy down the center we win at a very high number. The only place I’d be worried is in the goaltending position until Ullmark gets back, but do you really want to spend there for a short term fix.
RD is the other place you could use help. I honestly like our center depth…our team is built a lot like Canada with natural centers who can also play wing (at least with Greig).
Looking at team stats, Sens biggest black holes are defensive giveaways (first in the league) and save percentage (last). Our scoring and expected goals are both top five.
If I was going to make a trade, it’d be in the defensive or goaltending area. Personally, I’d let Levi show what he can do at the helm with a healthy team in front of him before pulling the trigger on any move.
Agree with the strength down the middle is how to build a good team Owen. Easier said than done as look at the cost to acquire one and how many teams are looking for one.
I think the Sens will be fine, if Ullmark is fine. I have no idea what the issue is he is dealing with, and none of our business I suppose. Bottom line is the guy can play net at a high level and has repeatedly. Hopefully for Sens fans and Ullmark he get back and it works out for him.
The Sens underlying #’s are good, and while it doesn’t always lead to success, it sure does the majority of the time. Tending being the big question mark when it doesn’t.
A solid RD seems to be the biggest need IMO, another tough position to fill with quality.