NHL Rumor Mill – February 5, 2026
What’s next for the Predators after Barry Trotz announced he’s stepping down as GM? Could the Red Wings pursue Blues defenseman Justin Faulk? What’s the latest on the Canucks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL’s Olympic trade freeze began on Feb. 4 and lasts until 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, Feb. 22. That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill. Follow along for the latest.
HOW WILL THE PREDATORS NAVIGATE THE TRADE DEADLINE?
SPORTSNET: Josh Beneteau looked at what’s next for the Nashville Predators after Barry Trotz announced earlier this week that he was stepping down as general manager.
Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).
Trotz is remaining in the role until a suitable replacement can be found. In the meantime, he must decide if he’ll be a buyer or a seller by the March 6 trade deadline. While his club is close to a playoff berth, Trotz still intends to listen to offers.
Beneteau’s colleague Elliotte Friedman has reported that teams are making pitches for forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos. Other trade candidates could include Jonathan Marchessault, Erik Haula, Michael McCarron, Michael Bunting, and Nick Perbix.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are treating him as though he has. Trotz recently said he hasn’t received any offers yet that would convince him to approach O’Reilly about a trade.
Stamkos is well ahead of last season’s disappointing offensive numbers, which could improve his value in the trade market. However, he’s got a full no-movement clause, making it unlikely that he’ll be playing for another club anytime soon.
COULD JUSTIN FAULK BE A FIT WITH THE RED WINGS?
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports the Detroit Red Wings’ most pressing need is for a second-pairing defenseman. He believes Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues could address that issue.
Faulk, 33, has one more season left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million. He also has a 15-team no-trade list.
Khan pointed out that Faulk no longer fits within the Blues’ long-range plans. A right-shot defenseman, he could replace rookie Alex Sandin-Pellikka alongside Ben Chiarot on their second pairing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have plenty of cap space to take on Faulk’s remaining contract, and lots of promising young players and prospects to use as trade bait to entice the Blues. However, it could come down to whether Detroit is on his no-trade list, and if so, whether he’d be willing to waive it.
THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes that the Vancouver Canucks didn’t make any trades before the Olympic roster freeze because the players’ mothers were on their recent road trip.
Canucks forwards Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger are UFA-eligible and thus considered trade candidates. Management must also decide whether to retain or trade winger Conor Garland, whose new contract begins on July 1. He lacks no-trade protection on his current deal.
Nashville is only 4 pts b/o both Anaheim and Seattle in the Western Conference, all with 56gp, and 5 b/o Utah in the Central Division, with a game in hand.
But that situation, while seemingly not out of the question for Nashville to accomplish, has developed to some degree over the past 10 games played by each – Anaheim 8-2-0 16pts; Utah 7-3-0 14pts; Seattle 6-4-0 12pts, while Nashville (4-3-3 11 pts) has lost ground to each. And L.A., with 1 more point than Nashville and game in hand, are 4-2-4 12 pts in their last 10, and have just added a potential difference-maker in Panarin.
This is one of those tricky situations where a GM has to decide what is the best course of action for his team … make moves towards getting into a playoff spot and ride the “once there anything can happen” bandwgon … or realize that, since age has taken its toll and so precludes any long playoff run, it’s best to solidify the future and get the best deals they can NOW for the organization.
Unless Nashville can hire a replacement within the next few days who has some idea as to the best course of action, with all due respect to Trotz, who is badly out of his depth as a GM, leaving it in his hands to the end of the season almost guarantees a failure in getting to the dance.
George you are good with your analytics. Why don’t you apply to take over for Trotz??
You provide logicAl insight
Who are ya trading first? Stamkos ? To who and for what?
Stamkos and March to NJ for Mercer and Hamilton?
LOL. Nah IHateCrosby. It’s fun speculating and judging, but I’m was older than even Lamoriello. And while I will pinpoint players a team should deal in order to obtain positional needs, seldom do I get involved with specific “this guy for that guy” or multiples thereof.
In Nashville’s case, the best immediate return would probably be from a trade of the one guy with no trade protection clauses and who would get you the best immediate return – O’Reilly, who turns 35 on Saturday and who costs a bargain $4.5 mil off the cap for just one more season before becoming a UFA.
IF Stamkos and Marchessault would waive their NMC – and that would involved finding takers where they’d agree to report – then those two next.
But at $8 mil per off the cap for two seasons after this for Stamkos – who’ll be pushing 38 when it ends – and $5.5 mil off the cap for 3 more seasons in the case of Marchessault, who’ll be approaching 39 when it expires, those will be easier said than done cases.
George, before you leave Ottawa for Nashville, we need to finalize our Tkachuk trade to NYR.
LOL. My bags aren’t packed yet, Slick62.
But as I’ve often said, as an owner or a GM I would never label anyone as “untouchable” … if the price is right.
Where Tkachuk to the Rangers is concerned, the names Gabe Perreault (RW) and RD Schneider would certainly pique my interest.
Tkachuk trade?
Sure.
Chabbot, Yakemchuk, Boucher to Florida for Matthew Tkachuk please.
George and his armchair Analytics.
😉
nashville will be buyers
George, that’s a fair start to a deal. I’d rather include Lafreniere instead of Pereault for cap purposes. Willing to add what’s necessary.
Faulk to the Wings should happen. Stevie Y has to win something, sometime – even Wings’ management will eventually run out of patience. Legendary status only buys you so many chances.
Call me crazy but what about Stevie making a pitch with all his prospects picks and cap space and goes after Roman Josi?
Josi plays both sides
That’s a bigger bolder play ROI to show fans and the locker room no?
You’re crazy. Lol
Schneider name been in rumors but, if NYR are truly retooling, I would look to move Borgen instead. Has a full ntc but with everything going on he’d probably waive to go to Detroit. Solid 2nd pair. Cost controlled for 4 more years
Slick I was looking at Borgen for TML as the cap rises and it gives them better depth. I’ll take two 3rd picks
Schnieder rather than Borgan to the Wings, Schneider is younger and has more upside whereas Borgan is OK but he is older and “he is what he is”.
Johnny Z, all the reasons Rangers should be keeping him.
Only in the NHL can mothers stop the machine from rolling. If any team is ready to trade Vancouver is certainly at the top of the list.
Sr, the Blues traded Bjugstad in the middle of the dad’s trip and his dad was on it. So much for equality, dad’s get the short end again. 😉
“Calgary Flames star winger Jonathan Huberdeau has played in his final game of the 2025-26 season. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Huberdeau “needs hip surgery,” and will miss the rest of the year as a result.”
Brutal news for Flames in a brutal season.
Man, has that trade continued to blow up in their face. Sad times in Calgary.
Van needs to move garland while he is playing well
Boeser is enough veteran for their locker room
They should have moved demko this past off season when teams really needed a goalie
Van needs to clear cap
Then strategically fill certain holes with vets that actually won something if not then keep going youth
There are two generational coming from Russia in the 27 draft class. I am starting to get the word out in Canucks forums, about this particular class. Sergei Skvortsov, Nazar Privalov, could very well be franchise changing talents. Add Pierre Joseph the French kid in the same 27 class.
It seems to me the value for NYR received for Panarin seems light. NYR retained salary, panarin signed a reasonable extension and is still playing at a very high level and considered a difference maker.
Does this affect the return for other players expected to be traded? More specifically O’Reiley and Kadri.
Jeff. Nyr was hog tied similarly to how Buffalo was with Hall a few years back. Both NMC. Both said this one team only. So return will always be undervalued vs is many teams in on trade