NHL Rumor Mill – February 20, 2026
Check out the latest on the Sabres and Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: With the Buffalo Sabres holding the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, Matthew Fairburn examined some potential trade-deadline targets that could help them clinch their first postseason berth in 14 years.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).
Pursuing Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues would be a major move by the Sabres. The Blues are in seller mode, and it would take a major offer to land him. Fairburn suggests that it seems more like an offseason move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas carries a full no-movement clause. He might not want to waive it to join the Sabres.
Fairburn included Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, and Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs. All of them lack no-trade protection.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are reportedly trying to re-sign Jenner. They’re also trying to chase down a playoff berth and could be unwilling to sell if they’re still in the hunt by the March 6 trade deadline.
O’Reilly’s three-year tenure with the Sabres was an unhappy one. It’s doubtful he’ll want to return. Despite his lack of a no-trade clause, the Predators are treating him like he has one.
McMann seems a more realistic possibility if the Leafs become sellers. They reportedly seek a first-round pick for McMann, but will likely end up accepting a second-rounder by deadline day.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators will continue their search for the right fit on their blueline once the Olympic trade freeze is lifted at midnight on Feb. 22.
General manager Steve Staios is reportedly trying to find a right-shot defenseman and possibly a top-six forward. However, the trade market is thin, and prices for defensemen remain high.
Garrioch claimed the Senators expressed an interest in Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. The Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth have also been linked to Weegar.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Weegar is in the third season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. He also has a full no-trade clause, which limits the trade destinations he would find acceptable.
The Senators are also believed to be interested in Zach Whitecloud, who was acquired by the Flames from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Rasmus Andersson trade last month.
Other defensemen believed to be available include Brandon Carlo of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch noted the Senators’ lack of a first-round pick in this year’s draft to use as trade bait. They’re also not interested in moving top prospects Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. That could hamper their efforts to address their trade-deadline needs.
From a Hab perspective, the only players supposedly available mentioned in today’s rumor mill are, in order”
Connor Murphy
Boone Jenner
Robert Thomas
I’ve said previously I think that the Sens should avoid Weegar and if anything Murphy fits better as does Whitecloud who is cost efficient and more mobile with a little term.
Jenner is not available. Ignoring that Boone is practically Mr Blue Jacket, GM Don Waddell has said that he wants to resign Jenner, plus the Jackets are in the chase for the playoffs and are more likely to be buyers at the TDL instead of sellers.
If he’s not signed by the end of break I’d be miffed as a jackets fan.
Paul Bowles,
I happen to agree with you, which is why I said supposedly available.
Between now and trade deadline, if CBJ look like they are out of it, 32y/o not in the playoffs for the last six years he might want to go to the dance.
Tomas Plecanec, a lifelong Hab was traded to TML in his UFA season at trade deadline to get a shot at the playoffs. ( that trade planted the seeds for trade tree what brought Lane Hutson)
The schedule gets insane in March so teams need to stockpile players to get through the push. As an example Boston plays 15 games the month of March. Seems impossible to make it through the month unscathed. With the trade deadline ending the 22, I wonder what activity there will be!Interesting options out there in the trade market,but you wonder how many will be put off to the off season.
habfan30
If you were the Canadiens GM, would you put a package together for Thomas?
Would he be an ideal 2C behind Suzuki?
I think Montreal has the assets to make this trade.
1st 2026, 2nd 2027, Struble, Kapanen, Laine (to make the money work)
Would you pull the trigger?
Thomas is the same age as Suzuki and Caufield.
Depends on what you view Kappy’s upside as.
Would also depend on if you are ok upsetting the chemistry that “kid line” has enjoyed since Slaf joined it.
The age fits, the price is reasonable… I’d probably do it personally, but I can see the fans hesitant to move Kapanen AND a 1st… but that’s the price you need to pay to acquire talent of this level and age.
You don’t get a Thomas without a hage or richenbacher or something that hurts. It’s going to hurt at Louis to trade him. It’ll hurt the receiving team to obtain him.
Acquiring Robert Thomas should be approached as a “buyer aware” scenario due to his injury history, specifically lower-body injuries and a recent ankle fracture which present a significant risk to any high acquisition cost. Yes, he is an elite play-maker, but his lengthy career injury history has CAUTION written all over him.
And even though it would seem he’s probably THE player the Blues should be thinking of retaining as they enter a re-build, the fact they’d be willing to move him for what they would perceive as a ”haul” should have any possible pursuer thinking twice, since that “haul” may be regretted in short order. Unless it’s a team that can easily afford risking it. And how many of those are out there – at least in terms of where he might be willing to go.
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/26558/Robert_Thomas/transactions
Chrisms
If Reinbacher is the part that hurts to acquire a top young C, include him. He can’t seem to stay healthy. Better yet if they don’t have to make a subtraction from their current roster.
Montreal has enough depth on D to absorb that loss. If not, they definitely have assets to address it in the future.
I wouldn’t do it Daryl.
Struble, Dach, Newhook, Texier, Laine are my trading pieces and they don’t bring Thomas.
As Chrisms says, you don’t get Thomas without giving up something that hurts and while I’m not saying Kapanen is as good as Thomas, this season he is.
If the Habs are to make a move, I, for one, would prefer a player with more size and grit, and preferably a lefty.
Thomas is essentially the same player as Suzuki. Also, word is that the Blues ask for the equivalent of three top-15 assets. Two late 1sts and Kapanen probably wouln’t do.
My preference would be for Hughes to stand pat. Go with Kapanen, see how it goes. Keep the firsts, to keep talent coming.
(and, speaking of talent, Michael Hage is coming soon…)
Finding a big centre with grit will be a tough task for any team.
No contenders are trading that type of player and rebuilding teams would be holding on to them or demanding a king’s ransom.
Kadri fits the description of what you’re describing. He’s a physical player and he’s won a Cup. Calgary already has 2 – 1st round picks this draft so they’d likely want younger players/prospects.
Montreal has quite a few good assets that they can afford to give up that wouldn’t affect their current roster. Reinbacher can’t seem to stay healthy so I’d dangle him in a trade.
Nashville is rumoured to be listening on O’Reilly but I’m not sure he would like the bright lights of Montreal.
Schenn may be available in St. Louis but not sure he’s a fit. Would be amusing if the Habs were to trade for the Schenn brothers to be reunited in Montreal
Couldn’t agree more Patrick.
Welcome aboard Patrick.
I will seize the tv remote from the next person who suggests the Habs need Kadri.
I really don’t think any move made by Ottawa between now and the trade deadline will be enough to get them into a playoff spot in the East, where 97 points appears to be the likely cut-off.
Right now they sit 11th in the Conference, tied with the Leafs in points with 63 – a .563% pace – with 25 games to go, meaning they’d need to rack up 34 of a potential 50 points by going something like 15-6-4 or, in terms of % pace – .680. Possible? Sure. Probable? No.
The only 2 teams in the East currently holding down playoff spots that could conceivably drop enough in their % paces to fall out are Boston (currently .605) and the NYI (currently .595) and they’d only need to fall to .540 and .563 respectively over their remaining 25 and 24 games. But at the same time, both Ottawa and Toronto would need to climb over Washington, Columbus and one of either Boston or NYI to get there.
So, why give up assets for a Weegar or a Faulk at this stage when the chance is remote at best? Heading into next season at RD, with UFA Jensen unlikely to be re-upped, they’d still have Zub, Spence and Matinpalo (who’s been strong in the Finns’ Olympic push to this point, gaining valuable experience while doing so), with Yakemchuk and Hensler in the pipe. And all summer to assess and still make some sort of move to shore up there if that is management prognosis.
As for a top 6 F addition through a trade now, something like that MIGHT make the difference in jumping .117 in their % pace to .680 … but again, not probable. And not worth depleting what’s left of the farm.
George, do you think missing playoffs could trigger Brady into wanting out this offseason? I can see Drury being all in for him. As Michael Corleone said to Mo Greem. “Think of a price”. I think NY could start with Schneider and Lafreniere
Slick62, I don’t get the impression that Tkachuk is a quitter … he may get frustrated if they come up just a few points short, and will likely want to hear and see what Staios has in mind with regard to strengthening the back-up goalie situation (THE biggest single reason they are where they are right now), and perhaps the RD structure, both of which HAVE to be addressed.
But having said that, and as confident as he may be in his own abilities and leadership qualities, I doubt very VERY much he’d see those as THE difference in elevating the NYR from their own deep hole as better than helping Ottawa overcome what will likely be a 4 or 5 point shortage.
I think 97 is optimistic. You may need 100 to make it in the east.
Jeff, I’m basing that on the % paces developed over 3/4 of a season continuing over the remaining games. Even with slight fluctuations, it keeps coming out to 97. But, you could be right if both the Bruins and NYI experience slight up-ticks in their pace.
I think it makes sense to make a move for someone with term. Jensen probably won’t be there, so RD will need to be addressed for next year and there isn’t a lot on UFA this summer. So if Staois makes a move for someone with term, I won’t mind that.
Weegar is an Ottawa boy and could be gotten for cheaper than expected as he could veto his NMC for his hometown.
But I’d like Murphy the most, but only if he’s keen to resign.
Insider Nick Kypreos said on the Real Kyper & Bourne Show that he feels that Knoblauch is “not long for” the Oilers bench.
“I don’t see a world where Knoblauch’s long for this job. Think about it… Your player (Leon Draisaitl) calls you out. And then maybe you’re told that you gotta go get Paul Coffey back on your bench. You got to turn this thing into a Stanley Cup winning season here, or I don’t see a world where Knoblauch’s back.”
What say you?
I can see Bowman and Jackson canning Knoblauch if it doesn’t go well in the playoffs and rest of the season.
And it will be total BS, as he will be the fall guy for the mistakes they have made themselves.
Jackson – put himself in a box by signing UFA’s and exposing Broberg and Holloway to offer sheets as they were unable to match. How good would Broberg look on that blueline right now? No need for Walman and could have kept the assets used to get him to address other areas.
Bowman – Skinner for Jarry trade was a joke because he included Kulak, who is also missed big time on the D core. I said it when the trade happened.
So hire Coffey to paper over the mistakes Jackson and Bowman have made.
And if that doesn’t work turf the head coach.
These guys are panicked because sooner or later Katz is going realize what the real problem is, and who caused it.
All of this when they had an experienced, proven GM in Holland. I would bet my truck none of the issues I mentioned would have happened with Holland running the show.
Ray Bark,
You’re bang on with every item that you listed.
The only thing missing is that when Knoblauch arrived he established some defensive structure to the Oilers which was sorely needed.
True that HF30.
Pretty sure he hasn’t forgotten how to coach.
He won’t be unemployed for long if he decides to get back in. His contract runs through 28/29, so maybe he takes a break and hangs out in Imperial for a bit.
It is a fair take for sure…accurate take who knows?
Knoblauch had a choice…he accepted Coffey back. Now the choice may have been getting fired…but it is still a choice he made.
Maybe the tension and differences between coffey and knoblauch that get whispered about is exactly what brings out the best in this roster.
Who knows. Knoblauch is a fine coach. With a great record. He has done enough to warrant some time and barring a collapse of epic proportions i suspect he will still be the coach heading into next season
Feb. 20: Crosby will not play in today’s semifinal matchup against Finland, Hockey Canada announced. As IIHF rules stipulate a captain must be named for each game, Connor McDavid will wear the ‘C’ in his absence.
Armstrong is asking to much for his players. I hope GM S call his bluff and leave his players in his lap. Remember where they are in the standings ,and that with the Team Canada all world goaltender!
It is nice to see Buffalo looking to add rather than subtract from their roster. Thr problem, it will still be some time, and take some doing to shake the stink of the Adams era off
DeBoer helping with Team Canada would be a nice fit behind a bench somewhere . A lot of coaches should be looking over their shoulders
Silver Seven how about Totorella and the USA team!
Sportsnet must be down. All of the Luke Fox, Kypreos, Bourne and “insider” Friedmans everybody to the Leafs annual scribbles seem to be missing, lol.
Wonder why that is? Lmfao
Go Canada!!!!
Ron, that thinking out of the Toronto-based media is, was and always will be a natural sort of wishful-thinking whenever the team is within hailing distance of a playoff spot, or in one and hoping to see them shore up in key areas. And, really, that likely applies to local media all over the league. We just don’t see it as much.
But I think the lack of such talk now simply stems from the fact that, identical to Ottawa, they realize their chances of moving up from their current 12th position to a WC slot past 4 teams is, at best, remote. That and the fact that, like Ottawa, they really don’t have the resource depth to compete for the better trade baits – not without denuding themselves somewhere else on the roster.
LJ
That comment about Kadri and the TV remote was awesome!
Here is my take as a Leafs fan about Montreal at the TDL.
If they were to acquire a player like Kadri, I think back to when Pittsburgh had the HBK line. One of the reasons the Pens were able to win a Cup was the depth they had down the middle. Adding Kadri without subtracting Kapanen would be excellent depth down the middle for the Habs.
In Calgary, Kadri faces top defensive players. With Montreal, Suzuki gets that attention. Kadri would be very effective against 3rd line defensive players. Imagine him out there with Anderson and Gallager?
There will be very few Centres available at the TDL that can actually make a difference. Kadri may be that player for Montreal.
The East is wide open this year. Toronto, Florida, and Ottawa are not going to make the playoffs. I understand not wanting to use assets but when the opportunity to make your team harder to play against comes up, you need to act.
I’m not saying Kadri is the answer. However, who else is available that can deal with being under that scrutiny, agitate other teams, and put the puck in the net?