NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2026
What’s the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin? Will the Blue Jackets be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Could the Penguins add to their roster before the trade deadline? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL ARTEMI PANARIN BE TRADED BEFORE THE OLYMPIC TRADE FREEZE?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports there doesn’t seem to be any eager takers for Artemi Panarin as the Olympic trade freeze (Feb. 4-22) approaches. He indicated that the 34-year-old New York Rangers winger seeks a four-year contract extension at roughly $11 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman last Friday said he’d heard that Panarin was seeking a $50 million contract.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).
Panarin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He carries a cap hit of $11.6 million this season and a full no-movement clause. The Rangers are holding him out of their lineup as they attempt to find a suitable trade partner.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes last week reported that 14 clubs were interested in Panarin. They included the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars in the Western Conference, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Islanders in the East.
Dreger’s colleagues Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston believe the Capitals and Hurricanes are among the more legitimate suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Capitals, Kings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings were believed to be willing to discuss a contract extension with the Panarin camp. He also indicated that the Ducks, Avalanche, and Stars were only interested in the Rangers winger as a playoff rental. The Hurricanes were said to be flexible regarding a contract extension, but it depended on how much they were willing to pay him.
The Golden Knights are probably out of the bidding given their limited cap space and recent acquisition of Rasmus Andersson. The Maple Leafs are sellers, not buyers. The Lightning would probably be interested in him as a rental. Ditto the Mammoth. It would be quite a swerve if the Rangers traded Panarin to the Islanders, but it’s unlikely to happen given their rivalry and the fact that they are in the same division.
WHAT WILL THE BLUE JACKETS DO IN THE TRADE MARKET?
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports that Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell faces a tough decision regarding pending forwards Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Mason Marchment.
The trio is due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, which could make them trade bait if Waddell became a seller by the March 6 trade deadline. However, the Blue Jackets have won nine of their last 10 games and are surging up the Eastern Conference standings.
Waddell said that he won’t make any substantive moves before the Olympic trade freeze begins at 3 PM ET on Wednesday, Feb. 4. He will try to use the three-week break to get those three players under contract.
RG. ORG: James Murphy reported Waddell intends to reassess his club’s position during the Olympic break and into early March. He also indicated that the Blue Jackets GM would like to re-sign Coyle, but acknowledged a trade could happen if the club falls out of playoff position.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are seven points out of a wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference. They still have some time over the remainder of the season to gain ground, but a losing skid could prove fatal to those playoff hopes.
Portzline pointed out that Waddell can’t wait until March 5 to become a buyer or a seller. Those contract talks with Jenner, Coyle, and Marchment will factor into his decision.
LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will keep his focus on the future as the March 6 trade deadline approaches. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make a move that provides more immediate help for his retooling franchise.
Yohe suggested keeping an eye on right-handed defensemen in the trade market. The Penguins are thin on the right side of their blue line.
Panarin is a good player but I wouldn’t pay 11 times 4
I am in agreement with you Kent no way should anyone pay 11m for Panarin let him go to Russia and by the way why in the world are Waddell and Rutherford still GMs in this league apparently making decisions for NHL teams
Rutherford isn’t a gm.
Teams, when looking for a GM or a coach, rarely look past the individual’s resume, and in Rutherford’s case they see almost 20 years worth of experience in Hartford-Carolina (1994-2014), 7 more years in Pittsburgh – winning Stanley Cups at both stops. He has been in Vancouver going on 6 seasons.
The choice always boils down to taking a chance on someone who has never held the position before (as Nashville did with Trotz), someone who has held the position before but never won the big prize, or someone like Rutherford.
While NYR would like to deal Panarin before the Olympic break, they aren’t really at risk by waiting.
Panarin/Russia is not playing in the Olympics, so an injury to him during the break is virtually eliminated. This takes pressure off Drury to trade him before the cutoff tomorrow.
And in theory, it could give Drury additional leverage holding off for now to see if a player on another team gets hurt, thereby increasing the demand to acquire Panarin after the break.
Yeah, but who wishes to pay Panarin for the next 3 weeks for no reason? Let NYR foot that bill.
JZ and Foley. Trading him before the break would be most beneficial for all players involved as far as getting settled in new cities. As far as salary, I’ve mentioned many times here that Panarins salary this season was only 1 million after his bonus was paid in July. Figuring more than half season has been played and NY could be retaining salary, 3 weeks pay really not a factor.
About time Pens have entered the rumors. 90% chance of being in playoffs. Why not them?
I agree. Schneider would certainly be an interesting option for rd depth. Buy low option.
Panarin is still a point-a-game F at age 34.
Over his career to date he has played 804 games with 321g 606a 927pts, for 82-game averages of 33g 62a 95 points.
So far this season – despite playing on one of THE most dysfunctional teams in the entire league, he has 19g 38a 57 pts in 52gp, and is on a pace for a season of 29g 60a 89pts. Not very far off his career 82-game averages.
I’m sure there are teams ready to welcome him aboard …with the only concern being his wish for a 4-year extension. While he could very well remain in the 80+ points range to the end, there is also that nagging worry about production fall-off.
The one thing that makes it logical for a team to grab him now is something I believe either CaptainObvious or Slick62 mentioned the other day – sign him before he hits his 35th birthday next October so they’re not stuck with the entire length of the deal should h e decide to hang them up before the end.
Chrisms. Not sure trading Schneider would be a good idea. Maybe get Borgen to waive or wait till summer when is ntc becomes partial. Schneider almost 5 years younger. I don’t think an extension would be more than Borgens deal, unless they locked him up long term. Panarin in your top 6 makes you a contender.
I think the trades will come after the break. Why trade for a guy and then pay him for sitting around during Olympics?
Rangers in last in the East – wondering how much longer Drury has before they pull the plug?
The Rangers should have pulled the plug on Drury after the 2024-2025 season.
The Rangers are playing as the Penguins did from 2022 through 2025. The roster remains the same. The coaching staff moved from Pittsburgh to New York.
I agree Knight –
Still not sure why anyone looks at Drury as an upper tier GM.
Maybe, Toronto St Pats, it’s because teams that nickel and dime themselves that way lose out to teams that look first and foremost at acquiring a quality F.
As the old saying goes “you snooze you lose.”
Lyle, am I missing something obvious (wouldn’t be the first time – lol). You write above that “The Blue Jackets are seven points out of a wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference” – like that was their only hope for a playoff spot/
That may be so insofar as Buffalo and Boston sitting in the 2 WC spots as of this morning are concerned – but Columbus is also just 4 below the NYI in their Division … and hold 2 games in hand on the Islanders.
That is certainly an easier path to the playoffs.
They do have an “easier path” if the Isles fail to bank more points. However, my point remains that a lot will depend on those contract talks with Jenner, Marchment, and Coyle. And as I also noted, a losing skid could prove fatal to their playoff hopes. They have little room for error. A loss combined with an Islanders win puts them further back.
While it’s very true that a Blue Jackets loss, combined with an Islanders win, puts them further back in the Division, the same can be said of a loss combined with Buffalo and Boston wins and so their hope for a WC spot … and since Boston and Buffalo are 3 and 4 points ahead of the Islanders. that would seem to make that combination even more problematic.
I really like these playoff races – makes just about every regular season game a “playoff games”.
No team can afford to go on a losing skid.
Good catch, George. Yet, it’s still up in the air whether or not Bowness can lead them to the playoffs.
While many of us Jackets fans hope that Coyle and Marchment sign extensions, I think the odds are that only one of them will. Jenner is a special case. He’s repeatedly hinted that he wants to retire a Blue Jacket. Considering that he and Waddell agreed to wait to negotiate a new contract during last off-season, it’s difficult seeing him playing elsewhere. But the Jackets have a number of RFAs and Zach Werenski needing new contracts, with raises, in the next few years, Jenner might “take one for the team” and agree to be traded. I don’t think so and Waddell would be run out of town if he trades Jenner against his will, but it could happen.
Paul, with $63,644,999 committed to 14 players (7F – Monahan, Voronkoff, Marchenko, Olivier, Wood, Johnson, Lundestrom – 6D – Werenski, Provorov, Severson, Fabbro, Christiansen, Mateychuk and 1 G – Merzlikins), and the cap rising to $104,000,000, they have $40,355,001 with which to sign 9.
They have 4 RFAs at an expiring total cap hit of $5,012,500: lsC Cole Sillinger who turns 23 in May
$2,250,000 and has 6g 18a 24pts in 53gp; lsC Adam Fantilli who turns 22 in Oct $950,000 and has 13g 22a 35pts n 54gp; LD Yegor Zamula, $1,000,000 who turns 26 in March and has 0g 1a 1pts in 10gp, and G Jet Greaves, $812,500 who turns 25 in March and has a 2.99gaa 0.928 save % in 36gp.
Together they should re-up at no more than $11 mil total which would leave them with around $29 mil with which to sign 5. That should be more than enough to re-sign Coyle (who turns 34 in March), Marchment (who turns 31 in June) and Jenner (who turns 33 in June) and plenty left over.
Good grief
please dont let Tulsky make another bone head trade. Panarin isnt worth much, old and getting slower. Maybe a 3rd rounder and no extension.
Nadeau is ready for the league now. Hes younger faster has a better shot and hes cheaper
As a Ranger fan, I’m hoping they trade Panarin for Nadeau! 🙂
There is absolutely no way you are getting Panarin for a 3rd. He has been a top 10 (top 5 most years) LW in the league for the last several years. He is still producing at an amazing level and would help any contender take the next step. His value will only increase as the deadline gets closer
so who do you think he replaces in the Hurricanes lines?
Hes doesnt make them any better. He probably cant keep up
Hes for sure not worth a first or second. I dont see any of the young players that are stashed in the AHL
The guy is over a ppg. I’m sure he could keep up.
Panarin. For a 3rd????
Not even in fantasy league. He is a star still at 34. I would re up at 11. But he could easily get 3or 4 times 10
He has also said he is not going anywhere without an extension. The Rangers do not need to give anybody away, and they sure do not want to starting giving the impression that you can get anyone off their roster at a reduced rate.
This should not be considered a fire sale.
ol 82nd Airborne guy, Panarin easily replaces Hall or Blake on the 2nd line. Most likely Hall, because Blake is a better puck retriever.
Leafs are selling but I would still be in on Panarin. They will have cap space with no other big name UFAs coming. Why wouldnt they try to add him if he is available for next to nothing. Rangers can eat half this year and they will surely move out some salary for picks and prospects..
Sam
The Leafs should absolutely avoid Panarin unless he’s a UFA.
Stripping them of what little youth/prospects they have is a horrible idea.
They’re highly unlikely to make the playoffs and all evidence supports they should try to finish in the bottom 5 to keep this year’s 1st round pick.
They should be sellers…
Pittsburgh needs a RHD…Brandon Carlo to the Pens?
Gone should be McMann, Laughton, Domi,and Jarnkrok.
Somebody may pay good assets for OEL…1st + prospect
Agree Daryl, Leafs don’t seem like a team that is going to go on any type of playoff run.
If I was the GM, I would look at fixing the blue line if a quick turnaround is the goal. Which sounds like it is. They need a puck mover, possession driver on the back end. Easier said than done.
I dunno, the bigger question to me is quick “retool”, or fundamental changes to the roster. Meaning core guys and rebuild. Tough to do when you have guys like Matthews, Tavares and Nylander up front.
Just can’t see them throwing in the towel for next season, I think they try to improve in the offseason and see how next year goes.
Those are all good suggestions for the Leafs. Especially OEL – he stood there like a statue last night on the Flames’ second goal.
So we get rid of Laughton and Carlo, then have to give up the 1st round picks needed to acquire them in the first place.
All fair points be a seller but how will you re tool with no one to sign, You are paying very little for panarin….and he wont get to UFA. Then how do you affect change next year?
You can do both – this has nothung to do with making playoffs – its getting retool started when the player is available
You can’t be serious. Rangers may not get full value if Panarin uses his NMC to limit teams he will accept in a trade. However, you’re not buying yesterday’s bread.
Ray Bark
Agreed.
Rielly isn’t the answer on the back end. If he won’t leave the team perhaps it’s time to try something that the Leafs have done previously with success…move him to the Wing.
They should be able to translate some of their UFAs to pucks or prospects and open up spots on this year’s roster for Marlies or newly acquired youth.
Toronto has 3 salary retention spots available. Use them all to bump up the price of their UFAs
McMann with 50% retained should garner a 1st
Laughton with 50% retained should garner a couple 2nds or a 1st
Retaining 50% on OEL would absolutely garner a 1st + A prospect. Especially if the Leafs take back a contract
Try to get as many 2026 picks as possible.
Resign Stecher as #3RD he has heart and would likely sign at a reasonable number for 3 years just to have some stability
I think you are quite overly optimistic on the returns there Daryl. I mean. There are only so many 1sts to go around. One less this year actually. Non playoff teams won’t move them. Take a third of the 1sts away. Bubble teams probably won’t move them for the players you listed. Take another third away. And several competitors don’t have them. Then there are the other sellers, many who will be peddling their rentals many who have the same or more value than tho player’s you listed. You might want to readjust your expectations there.
Chrisms
I appreciate your reply.
I looked up how many playoff teams still had their 2026 1st round picks. 12 teams currently in a playoff position still have their 1st round picks. NYI and SEA have two each.
There are also 4 teams just outside the playoffs that have 5 – 1st round picks with SJ having two.
I can see one of SEA or NYI offering up the lowest of their two picks for McMann.
EDM doesn’t have a 1st this year but they need cheap depth talent and McMann fits that bill.
As for Laughton…if they retain 50% of his salary they may get a 1st for him. The Oilers paid a 1st for Adam Henrique in 2024. They’re both defensively responsible centres with good face off win percentages, kill penalties, and chip in with a bit of offence.
OEL is having a good year on a bad Leafs team. He’s also signed for two more seasons at a reasonable cap hit. Tough to find a #4 D-man at his salary.
WASH, LA, CLB, and SJ are knocking at the door for the 8th spots…they may be active too.
I think the Leafs need to be sellers at this TDL. It can be a re-tool if they take sentiment out of the equation.
Trading all UFAs should get them at least one 1st and a couple 2nd rounders which will kickstart the re-tool of this roster.
They have 3 salary retention spots. They even have a bit of cap room to take back a poor contract.
Daryl, I’m not sure I see the attraction of Troy Stecher. He might indeed have “heart” but I’m not so sure about effective defensive ability.
I mean, if he did have that steadying quality in his own end, why is he on his 8th team in 10 seasons and why did the Oilers – searching for their own buffering of their D – put him on waivers back on November 15 instead of trading him somewhere for some asset?
And to top it all off, as a member of that elusive RD club, his nomadic career stands out even more.
George O
You could say the same thing about a lot of players. Sometimes they just don’t get it together in one spot for some reason.
Look at Gustav Forsling…was drafted by VAN. Went to CHI for 3 seasons. Was waived by CAR and has now won two Cups with FLA.
Teams make mistakes all the time. Stecher is playing well. Certainly better than Myers and Benoit.
Yeah .. I suppose – and you’re right, teams have made mistakes on “reading” players many time over the years. But in his case 7 teams have made a mistake? I think that’s a bit of a stretch.
You know… depending on the time frame drury is looking at to retool, a trade to isles might really work out. If drury is eyeing a 2-3 year plan then panarin would be closer to 40 than 30 and making 11 mil off the isles cap. Not only could the rangers get assets but they might actually kinda sabotage the isles. If the isles put the best offer on the table I’d consider it for sure from the rangers side.
Well its obvious to me Drury is really no better than Bergevin was in Montreal…important markets that get overwhelmed by the media and really not very smart when it comes to assessing talent without getting personal but albeit Drury is a bit more educated than Bergevin,,,but still jocks
Not sure being good at sports, or not, is the best barometer for measuring intelligence.
Guys Boston has so far survived a retool by moving many pieces that were with them for years. You have to move top 6 forwards or top 4 Defensemen if you want to retool. Bottom 6 forwards and third pair defensemen have become a dime a dozen and really Don t move the needle!
This Panarin plan with him sitting out. I question or maybe a great idea. Leafs sit out Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Woll and Knies til the deadline, therefore losing every game and get into the top 5 of the draft.
Doing it for one player who is a lock to get traded is one thing. Doing it for your top 6 is another. The league would certainly come down on Toronto and the season ticket holders should rightfully sue the team for false advertising.
But after sitting all those core players till the deadline…what happens to the leafs if they win all those games!!!????…and they probably would
Some twitter chatter linking Dallas to Panarin as a place he wants to go.
Maybe go big and send Robertson and Seguin to NYR and Panarin and Trocheck to Dallas.
This gives NY the #1 wing they need and Seguin replaces Troch for 1 more year.
Dallas gets Troch at a lower salary than Seguin for 3 more years and has cap space to resign Panarin.
Seguin sez NO.
Anthony Cirelli To Miss Olympics
Bennett too?
Mark Scheifele and/or Bedard should be called in.
Bennett already named Cirelli’s replacement. His injury is said to be day to day and he’ll be OK or olympics.
If Point can’t make it, then I think Bedard get the call.
I would go with Hyman if it was my call.
I keep quoting Cooper – “if you don’t check, this is not the tournament for you”.
Hyman does, very well actually, Bedard still a work in progress in that part of his game.
Mr.bruin4, Sir, Pittsburg has a decent team, who would you think they would be willing to give up for Panarin and, who pn your stating lines would he replace?
Pittsburg doesn’t have a hockey team.
O’Reilly To Bruins would be a helper .. get a DMan and let’s play some hockey
Neither does Winnepeg .. or Winniepeg
Hab fans don’t like the idea of Panarin but I think they are short sighted, hung up on not signing older players.
Panarin hasn’t slowed down, he’s still better than a ppg player. he costs peanuts till the end of the year.
He’d be tied for 2nd in scoring, 3rd in goals on the team and he’s playing in a dumpster fire.
playing at his level means he’s a committed pro’s pro and ideal mentor for the young guns.
As for future contract there are all kinds of creative ways to handle 35 plus players.
He makes the Habs contenders this year and unlike the potential sell off players to get him, Panarin rarely gets hurt,
A rare let’s not languish in perpetual rebuild post. Nice.
Contenders for what, HF30? The Habs are playoff contenders now and have an excellent chance of making it. Panarin won’t turn them into Cup contenders, and he is asking for as much $ and term as possible part of ok-ing his trade.
The Habs don’t need to be saddled with an expensive, aging player. I don’t make categorical predictions but if Parnain is looking for term with Montreal I will eat my shoes and socks if the Habs agree.
Hfan30,I m surprised at your outlook on Panarin. All year you have stayed in support of hab management and supporting the team culture and rebuilding process using and growing with their young core players.
Contenders for the Stanley Cup.
Like I said, Panarin hasn’t slowed down and he’s producing at a level putting him on top of Hand scoring.
There is no kid in the system who can produce at Panarin level for many years.
The rebuild is over and there’s no sense in staying on the brink like Sens , Wings, CBJ and not going over the hump.
If Panarin was sliding for a couple of years it would be different.
SR while I believe in the youth movement and the Habs prospect pool there’s nobody breaking through this or next year it makes more sense to get upgrades by package at this point.
Standing still is falling behind
well, in your previous post you wanted Schneider, and would “reluctantly” accept Panarin as the price to get him.
Now you want Panarin all by himself ….
And while it is perfectly acceptable to make suggestions you think are good independent of what Hughes has said, this is another one that flies in the face of what Hughes says he wants.
Just saying.
LJ,
I still feel that the best option is to get both Panarin and Schneider.
Panarin for the reasons I gave above, and Schneider for reasons I have previously stated.
Lori Bennet of Hab At Her stated it well:
“Schneider, a big and mobile two-way defenseman, leans more toward the defensive side of the game. He’s physical and knows how to use his size. Some have described Schneider as Guhle with a right shot.
At 24, Schneider has 337 NHL games under his belt. Compare that to Guhle, who was drafted three spots earlier, and has played just 180 NHL games. Schneider is in the second year of a two year contract, has a $2.2M cap hit, and is a pending restricted free agent. “
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet has published an updated trade board on its website and it has some interesting names on it. Along with the usual suspects (Panarin, Kadri, O’Reilly) there are also a few surprises among players that have recently surfaced in trade rumors. Among them are Robert Thomas of St. Louis as well as Shane Wright and Matty Beniers of Seattle. Anyone who gets one of those players will surely be seen as a Cup favorite. As a Leaf fan, I’m still crossing my fingers to see if a rumored Bobby McMann for Andrew Mangiapane trade will go through. It doesn’t sound like much, but it will be a nice upgrade over what they have now. Finally, what will it take to get Morgan Rielly on a new team? I’m willing to hand him his airport tickets right now.