NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2026
Could the Kings target Canucks forward Elias Pettersson as a replacement for sidelined forward Kevin Fiala? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
KINGS COULD SEEK A REPLACEMENT FOR SIDELINED KEVIN FIALA
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kevin Baxter reports winger Kevin Fiala’s season-ending injury could force Kings general manager Ken Holland to pursue additional deals before the March 6 trade deadline.
Fiala, 29, is the Kings’ third-leading scorer this season with 40 points in 56 games. He suffered a fracture to his lower left leg while playing for Switzerland in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala (NHL Images).
Kings president Luc Robitaille believes his club will have to adjust to Fiala’s absence. He believes general manager Ken Holland is “pounding the phone right now.”
Earlier this month, the Kings acquired superstar winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers to bolster their offence. Losing Fiala could have Holland seeking another scoring forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fiala has a $7.875 million average annual value. The Kings have a projected $15.7 million in trade deadline salary-cap space. They don’t have to put Fiala on long-term injury reserve unless they’re taking on significant salary in a blockbuster, multi-player move.
MORE SPECULATION OVER THE CANUCKS PLANS FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports trade speculation continues to dog the Vancouver Canucks as their players resume practice for the return of NHL action following the 2026 Olympic Men’s hockey tournament.
The Los Angeles Kings are expected to scour the trade market in search of a replacement for the sidelined Kevin Fiala. Kuzma believes their recent acquisition of Panarin and long-time center Anze Kopitar’s looming retirement have them in “go-for-it” mode.
They could have an interest in Elias Pettersson. They have the cap space to absorb his $11.6 million contract. The 27-year-old center would be reunited with former Canucks linemate Andrei Kuzmenko.
Pettersson carries a full no-movement clause. However, Kuzma thinks a move to Los Angeles might pique his interest, especially since his wife lived there for 13 years. However, the Canucks would want a center in return, and the Kings aren’t parting with Quinton Byfield.
Kuzma noted that the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, and Chicago Blackhawks could use a No. 2 center. However, the best returns they could offer are prospects and draft picks, which won’t provide an immediate solution for the Canucks at center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Pettersson could be a move that occurs in the offseason if teams are willing to part with a promising young center.
Kuzma also suggested that forwards Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland could be moved by the trade deadline. They seem more likely to go than Pettersson at this stage.
THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance recently suggested some distressed trade targets for the Canucks. Those would be underperforming players on rival clubs that might respond well to a change of scenery.
Dayal and Drance suggested Los Angeles Kings forward Warren Foegele, Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome, and Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton as potential candidates. They also included wingers Andrew Mangiapane of the Edmonton Oilers and Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Tampa Bay Lightning on their list.
They also examined some prospects from rival clubs that could help accelerate the Canucks rebuild. Options could include Conor Geekie of the Lightning, Jiri Kulich of the Buffalo Sabres, and Ivan Miroshnichenko of the Washington Capitals.
i almost spit out my coffee when I read that the Kings would have to trade Byfield in a trade for Pettersson.
Lol and good luck with that to VAN management, they’ll be lucky to get a player from the ECHL for him, unless VAN decides to pickup at least 1/2 of his cap hit (doubtful)
Maybe they should have kept PLD.😉
I don’t think Van is retaining any more than a million in any deal for Petey.
Wouldn’t Garland make more sense to the kings, in terms of position, contract and acquisition cost?
I dont see anyone interested in EP without a problem going back Vancouver’s way, now or in the off season. The locker room nonsense and lackluster offensive numbers of late is an obvious a buyer beware sign right?
DeBrusk would make even more sense!
Johnny Z – I forgot about Debrusk! Guess i still think of him as a ruin…idk
It blows my mind how much “value” is placed on players by us here.
Way, way over in my opinion.
T
Happy Mardi Gras if any of you are celebrating. Every where else it’s just Tuesday but here laissez les bons temps rouler.
Thanks Snold.
And Gung Hai Fat Choi to everyone.
I don’t get the love for Peterson. He is 6’2″ but listed as 176 pts. Is this type of frame up to an 82 game schedule and then playoffs? Certainly not the past couple of seasons.
Yes, I know Lane Hutson is built like a humming bird and somehow does well so smaller players can prosper, but … I just don’t see an 11 million/year player, nor one that you can build a franchise around.
What am I missing?
Ya LJ, not a big dude. I think folks are looking at the 22/23 season and seeing what is possible. But those days seem long gone IMO.
But he did have a remarkable season that year. 102 pts in 80 games. And he had more takeaways than giveaways for 2 consecutive seasons. That is rare, and not many players do that, like ever. Bergeron did consistently, so has Barkov. And a really good argument to be made that they are 2 of the best 2 way C’s the league has had for the last 15 years.
Hence he got plenty of Selke votes. So 102 pts, and elite level defensive work, and you have yourself an all star #1C.
And then it started going to sh*t, slowly at first, and then down fast. Why? I have no idea, but if it’s just because he’s bummed out, then he needs to get it together and make it better for himself. Grow up, man up, suck it up, whatever term you want to use.
So super risky move, with an $11.5M cap hit, for 6 years after this one. I wouldn’t touch it until there was some evidence he has turned it around.
Ray, I had a look at what others have said about Petterson, and you seem to be correct about his glory days being gone.
Here is an article evaluating his play at the Olympics, calling it inconsequential:
https://canucksarmy.com/news/will-vancouver-canucks-elias-pettersson-elite-again-wagners-weekly
His Swedish coach had praise, but a former team mate did not:
https://canucksarmy.com/news/will-vancouver-canucks-elias-pettersson-elite-again-wagners-weekly
So the area of agreement between you and HF30 that he is too much of a gamble. And yet, the Canucks chose to keep him over Miller and Horvat …
Pittsburgh has the cap space and draft capital
I’m sure he may learn from Crosby
Van can flip draft capital to find their center
Think Pittsburgh would do well with petey as their 2c
Send Ryan greaves back their way too
Pettersson is a great player who consistently improved his game to a great 2022-2023 and a very good 2023-24 to be top of the hill.
Nobody questioned his size or lack of meat on his bones.
The wheels fell off last year and he’s having a similar season this year, this guy has terrible +/- numbers these last two years despite being a ‘plus” player till now in his career.
Despite all this he is still tops in scoring on an awful Canucks team. He didn’t suddenly forget how to play and he’s in his prime years, just turned 27 a few months ago.
He’d probably return to form anywhere else where he’d get his head on right but at $11.6m for 6 years after this one is too big a gamble for anybody to take.
Maybe the Blackhawks who have trouble reaching the cap floor would bite.
I’d sure be gathering as much info on him as I could before pulling the trigger, no matter where you are in your competitive window.
I would talk to ex Canuck coaches, players, etc. Even current players. Have a buddy reach out in the off season.
None of us know what went on in that room, but the narrative around him seems to be that he isn’t a highly motivated guy, and he seemed to pout when Miller tried to light a fire under him.
The last thing any team needs in the room is a Debbie Downer.
Again, I sure as heck don’t know what reality is, so I would sure try to find out before making a deal like that.
I would possibly take a swing for him. Something like this
Panthers 1st in 27. Mittlstadt.
Eyssimont And a prospect in providence not named Brunet
Can make cap work by moving pending ufas Peeke and Arvi. For futures
The only problem MB 4 is that the Bruins have so many young potential centers at that position!
Kills me how Rutherford and his side kick keeps their jobs. They had Hovart. Miller, Hughes and the player he decides to build around is pettersson. Pettersson’s play instantly declined after he signed the big contract. I believe Carolina was interested in Pettersson prior to signing the contract and if I remember correctly the potential return was Necas. I wonder where the Canucks would be if they kept thier captain Hovart. I think they would be at least in the playoff conversation.