NHL Rumor Mill – February 13, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest Oilers speculation and a list of contenders lacking first-round picks to use as trade bait.
WHAT WILL THE OILERS DO AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell recently looked at what the Edmonton Oilers can do to improve their lineup at the trade deadline with a limited budget.
Mitchell doesn’t see the Oilers making any further attempts to upgrade their goaltending. They lack the trade chips to pursue someone like Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild.
Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).
The Oilers could use a right-shot defenseman on their second pairing and a suitable third-line center. Mitchell suggests Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators as a possibility to address the latter.
Their cap constraints could also force them to look within their system if suitable options cannot be found in the trade market.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples referenced NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who recently said the Oilers aren’t focused on acquiring another defenseman as they believe fixing the blueline will take care of itself. Staples disagrees, believing that’s the area that needs the most attention.
Staples noted that most insiders believe the Oilers need another forward, but he points out that Kasperi Kapanen has recently returned from injury to provide depth on the wing. He also noted that Josh Samanski looked good in the third-line center role since being called up from Bakersfield. They also have promising wingers such as Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard in their system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever moves the Oilers make will depend on whether they can get struggling winger Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6 million annual cap hit through next season off their books. Maybe they can swap him for another player with a comparable salary, or peddle him in a cost-cutting move for assets that can be used in the trade market to bolster their roster.
WHICH CONTENDERS LACK FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN THIS YEAR’S DRAFT
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston recently listed several NHL teams that could be without their first-round picks in this year’s draft. Among them are several contenders that won’t have one to use as trade bait before the March 6 trade deadline.
The Vegas Golden Knights shipped their 2026 first-rounder to the Calgary Flames in the Noah Hanifin trade two years ago.
Sitting third overall in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are virtually guaranteed to send their 2026 first-rounder to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of last year’s Mikko Rantanen deal. The pick was top-10 protected, but the Stars are unlikely to slide that far in the standings over the remainder of this season.
Speaking of the Hurricanes, they will be sending either their 2026 first-rounder to the New York Rangers as part of the return from last summer’s K’Andre Miller trade or the first-rounder they received from the Stars, whichever is the better, in the event both picks are outside the top 10, which they currently are. Their pick was top-10 protected, but the Hurricanes are tied for first in the Eastern Conference.
The Minnesota Wild traded their 2026 first-rounder (no conditions attached) to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return for Quinn Hughes in December.
Another Eastern Conference leader won’t have their first-round pick. The Tampa Bay Lightning sent theirs to the Seattle Kraken last year for Oliver Bjorkstrand. It is top-10 protected, but they’re currently tied for first with the Hurricanes.
The league-leading Colorado Avalanche will be sending its pick to the New York Islanders. It is top-10 protected, but all but certain to belong to the Isles by the end of the regular season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a trade rumor, but I felt it was worthwhile to note this since contenders almost always tend to part with their first-rounders to bolster their rosters for a Stanley Cup run.
The Oilers’ belief that “fixing the blueline will take care of itself” is kind of like a certain politician asserting that a “budget will take care of itself.”
That hasn’t turned out so well.
George O – not sure about the budget lol but from my eye test it is structure and coaching of the team that seems to be the achilles and not much the personnel on the ice.
They need to play more as a 5 man unit moving up and down the ice together, too much looking for stretch passes with forwards too high to effectively backcheck. It leaves the d vulnerable and they seeming gift a breakaway and a couple 2 on 1s every game.
If you listen to the Edmonton goalies about giving up too many Grade A chances, the team definitely needs to upgrade their defence.
Connor Murphy from Chicago would be a nice fit. With Edmonton tight to the cap, the Hawks would have to retain or take back a player with a salary close to Murphy’s $4.4M
Since EDM does not have their first pick this year and their 2nd would likely be a late round pick if they have another deep playoff run, they may have to sacrifice one of their top prospects to facilitate a trade.
I think Murphy will be in high demand. A big stay at home RD. Surely Hawks could get bettter than a second rd pick? Maybe not though if many teams already traded away their firsts.
Not every team would necessarily want a 1st from the 2026 draft – perhaps they’d be content with a 2027 1st based on the chance that the receiving team might not finish as high next season.
That wont be saying much seeing the Oiler prospect pool was recently ranked around 30th in the league. The price of contending is like the cycle of life lol.
Laine 50% retained for Mangiapane
If the Canadiens are moving Laine, it’s to get his salary off the books and clear up cap room for better additions than Mangiapane. Your proposed move wouldn’t improve them cap-wise or on the ice.
IMO if the Oil find a market for Mangiapane it won’t be a playoff team.
I have been suggesting Chicago as they could use another veteran F next year, or someone like them.
And they’ll basically give him away, or even throw in a 3rd or something.
I’m with adding to the D for the Oil.
3rd pair RD, that can move up in case of injury.
I thought the Canes/Rangers trade for Miller stated that the Rangers will get either the 2026 Dallas #1 (owned by Carolina) or the 2026 Carolina #1 whichever is lower.
GP: Here’s some clarification via Johnston’s article:
“The conditions call for New York to receive the “better” of those first-rounders in the event both are outside the top 10, which is by far the most likely outcome based on the current standings.
If one of those picks falls inside the top 10 and the other does not, the Rangers would receive the lower pick.
In the event both picks wound up inside the top 10, which is incredibly unlikely, the Rangers would receive the “better” of Carolina’s 2027 first or Dallas’ 2027 first.”
According to puckpedia, the NYR get the better of CAR or DAL 1st rounders (both of which are top 10 protected), but given how CAR and DAL are performing, neither of them should be protected this year.
For the 1st round picks that are “top 10 protected”, is it correct that those teams (like Dallas and Carolina) cannot trade them in any way?
They won’t know if the pick will be in the top 10 until the season is virtually over, so at the trade deadline I’m assuming they are prevented from trading those, is that correct?
Similarly regarding the teams on the supposed receiving end of those picks, I’m assuming they are also prevented from leveraging those picks because they aren’t officially theirs until the season is over?
Is that all correct?
So basically the giving and receiving teams are blocked out of leveraging any “protected” picks at the deadline?
If traded, the other team would get the “lower” of the 2 picks. What is wrong with that?
But who gets to trade the pick? NYR can’t trade a pick that CAR or DAL “might” have to give them. And I would think CAR or DAL are not allowed to trade a pick that is conditionally owed to another team.
That’s kind of my question. It seems these picks are in limbo until the season is over and therefore none of the teams would be able to use them.
Not a 100 % sure there is a goalie improvement out there for the Oilers that they can afford. When it’s suggested they need to move an Akey or Howard- Oilers fan they get defensive.. A 2nd round pick worthy player isnt impacting your team. They may have to sacrifice one to get a couple of players…
Isn’t Henrique coming off ltir after Olympics?
To NYR: Savoie and Howard
To Edm: Braden Schneider (50% retained)
You are dreaming!!!
Pick one of them and a minor pick.
Slick62 – That is preposterous, hope you are joking.
The oilers are hoping both Howard and Savoie are long term solutions to their top 6. They are not untouchable but they are not trading both anytime soon.
And schnieder – how does he fit in? As an rfa looking to make probably over 4m on his contract next year how does that work?
Thats a lot for Schneider Slick62.
IMO he’s like Carlo, but not as good and his upside is that maybe one day he gets there. But he’s already 24, so probably not. And Schneider is a Sask guy, where I’m from. I root for those guys.
Is he better than playing Walman on his off side on the 2nd pair? I would say no.
No offense to Ranger fans but after your top 2 D their blueline ain’t all that which is why Schneider is playing 20 minutes.
So as a 3rd pair RD on a contender, absolutely, but 3rd pair guys don’t get you Savoie and Howard. So Rags would need to add.
How about the Rags take Mangiapane, and send the Oil the Carolina 2nd rd pick.
On second thought, Mangiapane and one of Howard or Savoie for BS