NHL Rumor Mill – January 8, 2026
The Rangers are linked to Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, the Flyers might be willing to move defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and the latest on the Flames and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
RANGERS INTERESTED IN SHERWOOD
THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reports a league source claims the New York Rangers have been pushing hard to acquire winger Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. The asking price for the 30-year-old winger is believed to be a first-round pick and maybe more.
Sherwood carries an affordable $1.5 million cap hit. He’s in the final season of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
However, recent injuries to starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox could dampen the Rangers’ interest in Sherwood. Their focus could shift from buyer to seller, depending on how long Shesterkin and Fox are sidelined.
The Rangers could peddle multiple players if they become sellers, including UFA-eligible winger Artemi Panarin. Contract extension talks with the 34-year-old Panarin haven’t gotten far, and he could be willing to waive his no-movement clause if this season slips out of reach for the Blueshirts.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston confirmed the Rangers’ interest in Sherwood. The Canucks have renewed contract talks with the winger’s camp, but they’re no closer to reaching an agreement.
Johnston believes Canucks management shouldn’t dally or be fooled by the club’s four-game win streak following the Quinn Hughes trade last month. He thinks they should move Sherwood for the best possible return to continue the rebuild that began with the Hughes trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks might be interested in keeping Sherwood, or at least willing to gauge his interest in staying in Vancouver. They’ve received plenty of calls about him, and could be waiting to see if his value rises further before pulling the trigger.
FLYERS COULD ENTERTAIN OFFERS FOR RISTOLAINEN
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports a Philadelphia Flyers source told him that Rasmus Ristolainen remains a trade candidate. The 31-year-old defenseman returned from injury last month and has two assists in nine games.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (NHL Images).
The Flyers aren’t actively shopping Ristolainen, but Di Marco indicated that they’re open to the possibility for the right price. A source suggested a return comparable to what the Montreal Canadiens received from the Florida Panthers in the Ben Chiarot trade four years ago would be along the lines of what they’re looking for. The Canadiens got a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder, and a prospect.
A right-shot, all-around defenseman, Ristolainen is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.1 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen won’t be going anywhere if the Flyers remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race by the trade deadline, especially if he continues to boost their blueline. It could be a different story if they tumble down the standings between now and March 6.
THE LATEST FLAMES AND OILERS SPECULATION
CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson believes it’s time for Flames general manager Craig Conroy to decide if he’ll be a buyer or a seller in the trade market. Their last significant trade was on Jan. 30, 2025, when they acquired Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from the Flyers.
Wilson acknowledged the Flames’ improvement through December, but pointed out that they remain in a transitional phase with a roster that isn’t close to being a Stanley Cup contender.
If Conroy decides to sell, he has two quality trade chips in defenseman Rasmus Andersson and two-way winger Blake Coleman. Andersson is UFA-eligible in July, while Coleman is signed through next season. Wilson noted that the Flames and Andersson have had months to hammer out a contract extension, suggesting that it’s unlikely they’ll get one done by the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Conroy could be waiting to give his players enough time to see if they can play their way into a playoff berth. Had their early-season struggles carried over into December, he might’ve pulled the trigger by now.
Their performance in January could determine which lane Conroy takes. Based on their recent games, he could be leaning toward selling.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Gerry Moddejonge believes forwards Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic could be reaching the end of their tenures with the Oilers.
Both players haven’t met expectations this summer, and were both healthy scratches during the Oilers’ 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Moddejonge observed that Mangiapane has been the subject of recent trade rumors. As for Frederic, he thinks his story in Edmonton could end with a contract buyout.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mangiapane is signed through next season with an average annual cap hit of $3.6 million and a full no-trade clause for this season. Frederic is in the first season of an eight-year deal with an annual cap hit of $3.85 million and a full no-movement clause.
The Oilers are reportedly working with Mangiapane’s agent to find a suitable trade destination. Given Frederic’s dreadful performance this season, it’s doubtful anyone will be interested in his contract.
Buying out Frederic’s contract when the buyout window opens in June will cost the Oilers over $2 million annually through the first seven years of the buyout, dropping to over $800k annually for the remaining seven years. It won’t be an expensive dent in their salary cap payroll during that time, but it’s still a long time to be carrying dead cap space.
Can’t see oil buying out Frederick. More likely they write his season off as worst it could be and hope for a rebound next year Or maybe waivers and save a million on cap. Hope someone claims him but doubt it
Totally agree, but would add that giving a guy an 8 year deal that you soon would considering buying out is in my opinion a firing offence. How is it even possible?
He cannot be waived for 4 yrs. You gonna wait for that?
JZ
Yes. I forgot that he had the NMC.
I still think the ankle / foot injury Frederic had last season is a factor. It has to be.
I think he gets another season with the Oil before a buyout occurs. It feels similar to Connor Brown’s 1st season with the oilers actually who also didnt look himself until late that 1st season.
Obviously the injuries were different. And Brown found ways to be involved moreso than Frederic who is generally invisible but it feels similar to me
It would seem to me that the Oil have deeper problems than spend all that time discussing a 4th line player.
The last thing the Rangers need to do now is trade a first round pick for a rental. Especially someone like Sherwood who will likely ask for at least $4m. AAV and 4-5 years and whom I doubt will carry his current play over the long term. The Rangers should be selling and not buying.
I’m not in disagreement with Sherwood, but I think NY should stand pat until at least late January.
They currently have SIX starters on LTIR / IR and one “out” ( Laffrienere) and are still in the mix.
Miller is due back today, and it appears Shesterkin isn’t as serious as it looked originally.
If they can just manage through this month to just keep their head above .500 they probably won’t be sellers and make a push when Fox returns.
If Fox’s injury keeps him out past his eligible return date of 1/31, and or Shesterkin suffers any setbacks, then it’s definitely time to sell.
Ny isn’t exactly in a bad spot considering the injuries that have plagued them since before the season even started.
I see the Rags in the same category as my Bruins. While look like they are “still in it” by the standings, in reality they aren’t contenders for the cup. No chance.
Ask every GM at the start of the year what their goal is, and its “to win the Stanley Cup”. If that were true, both Sweeney and Drury would be lining up deals right now to move players that they don’t feel are part of their future when they actually are contenders.
To quote an article I read recently about this very topic “the GM’s are either lying to themselves that they can actually win this year, or they are lying to their fans”, or something to that effect.
Agree with him 100%.
Maybe 12 teams, max, in the NHL should consider themselves contenders? FLA and OTT of the mushy middle maybe have a chance if they get healthy. And BUF needs to try and get in for their long suffering fans.
For the B’s – move Arvidsson, and Peeke (unless he signs a reasonable deal). Even Zacha if the return is right and you don’t think you can keep him.
To quote this guy again, teams can sell 2 things – winning and hope for the future. Time for hope mode in Boston, and most fans know it.
Andrew Mangiapane, not Anthony
Why the heck would you even give a 4th line guy a no trade clause? Guess NHL GM’s hand them out like candy
I agree with you 100%…4th liner with an eight year no trade contract…The owner must be out of it for letting a GM dance like this…beyond comprehension
Bowman initially signed him with the expectation of playing as a top 9 power forward then can play on either wing or centre. Kinda like Nugent-Hopkins that can do everything except he can also play on the RW where Nugent-Hopkins can’t.
Naturally, he came nowhere close to being that and he can’t even keep pace at the NHL level.
I agree that it’s most likely due to the ankle injury but there is also a good chance that he may never get it back.
Maybe rangers would be interested in Nylander. Maybe some how work out a trade that includes Fox and Lafrenière. Leafs could offer Reilly or maybe Carlo. No trade clauses could be a problem.
Fox spurned 2 teams to find his way to NY. I don’t think he’s waiving his NMC to go anywhere.
Years ago Boston made a huge trade with the Rangers. The main players were Phil Esposito for Brad Park. How about stirring up the pot and have Mcavoy and Zacha to the Rangers for Fox and Trocheck?
Personally, I’d do Fox for McAvoy straight up. I like Mcavoys overall game.
But honestly, I don’t see Fox waiving at this point to go anywhere.
And not sure NY would trade Trocheck. He’s in a pretty friendly deal and a big part of why Miller came to NY.
14 years. Ouch.
The Oil won’t buy out Frederick, that would be incredibly stupid. They are already paying Jack Campbell till 29/30, add 2 more mill and you’re at Fredericks cap hit. at that point you just keep him and hope you find him some chemistry.
Drury trading a 1st and/or prospect for a 30 year old, 3rd line banger with 120 career points in 8 years (yeah, that’s 15 points a year) would be malpractice, especially when he’s going to want a shiny new multi-year contract after this season.
The Rangers roster is littered with 3rd and 4th liners. Adding another does not put this team into contender status.