NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2026
The Olympic roster freeze is in effect, but that hasn’t stopped the trade speculation. Check out the latest on the Canucks, Senators, and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE CONOR GARLAND?
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance reported the Vancouver Canucks had been active in trade talks leading up to the implementation of the current Olympic roster roster (Feb. 4 – 22). However, the club didn’t feel any pressure to make a move before then.
The Canucks won’t execute a trade unless their price is met for one of their pending unrestricted free agents. They include Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, and David Kampf, or one of their veterans with term remaining on their contracts.
Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (NHL Images)
Of the latter group, Drance thinks Conor Garland and Brock Boeser should be considered the most likely who could be realistically traded by March 6. However, the Canucks aren’t proactively pursuing deals to move one of them.
THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman believes the biggest trade question facing the Canucks is whether they’ll move Garland at the deadline. The 29-year-old forward lacks no-trade protection on his current contract, but his new deal ($6 million annually with a full no-movement clause) begins on July 1.
Chapman indicated that teams like Garland’s style of play. However, they aren’t fond of the six-year term on his next contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garland seems more likely to be moved than Boeser, who is in the first year of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million with a full no-movement clause. However, that six-year deal could scare off contenders with limited cap space for next season.
SENATORS TO CONSIDER THEIR OPTIONS DURING THE OLYMPIC BREAK
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports league executives claim Senators general manager Steve Staios continues to seek a right-shot, top-four defenseman and a top-six winger.
Acquiring a right-shot defenseman and a scoring winger are difficult because of the asking prices and the number of teams seeking them. The list of sellers is short, with the Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames in the Western Conference, and only the New York Rangers thus far in the East.
Garrioch claimed the Senators have spoken with the Flames about defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. It’s believed they’d want a second-round pick and a top prospect in return. The Detroit Red Wings could also be pursuing Weegar.
The Senators are hoping to string some wins together coming out of the Olympic break to close the gap on the teams they’re chasing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. However, they could go from buyers to sellers if they fail to gain ground in the standings, meaning they’ll face decisions about pending UFAs such as Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Weegar, 32, is signed through 2030-31 with an AAV of $6.25 million and a full no-trade clause. Assuming he’s willing to move, the Flames can afford to wait patiently for someone to meet their asking price, which could be higher than what Garrioch cited if enough teams get into the bidding. If they don’t find any suitable offers by March 6, they’ll wait until the offseason.
BLACHAWKS TRADE CANDIDATES
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers, Mark Lazerus, and Chris Johnston examined which Chicago Blackhawks players could be moved by the March 6 trade deadline.
Connor Murphy is considered their best trade chip. He’s eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1 with an affordable $4.4 million cap hit. While the Blackhawks don’t need to trade him, he has value as an experienced defenseman with a right-hand shot.
Like Murphy, Jason Dickinson is UFA-eligible with a cost-effective cap hit ($4.25 million). He can fill a third or fourth-line center role on a playoff team.
Winger Ilya Mikheyev, left-shot defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, and team captain Nick Foligno could also become trade candidates. They’re also UFA-eligible players with affordable cap hits.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy would have the best value in the trade market, but he’s also made no secret of his desire to stay in Chicago. The Blackhawks could trade him and attempt to bring him back this summer as a free agent.
Weaver would fit in nicely with bruins 2nd pair
Who’s Weaver?
LOL I think he means Weegar. :->
Potlicker nailed it. Dam auto correct. Need to read b4 pushing send. lol
Lol. I hear Ya … believe me.
Garland to OTT ? their investment would be secured because of his 6 yr deal. If OTT falls too far out of a playoff spot by the deadline they could still trade their pending UFAs like Giroux and not miss much
Garland would provide more punch to their lineup, throwing hits and replacing Giroux for his playmaking. But in no way should OTT be trading Greig or Yaremchuk for CG
Garland is not the top 6 winger the Sens seek.
“Move along”
Agreed, LJ.
Mikep, then who are you going to give up? You have to give something to get somethinp!
Wondering how much longer Garland’s body can take the way he plays before his overall play falls off.
I think Ottawa needs to solidify their goaltending position.
It is rumoured that MIN is dangling Walstead in search of a Centre.
Would they sacrifice Cozens or Pinto to solidify their goaltending for the foreseeable future?
No
George, very much like Ford, seems to over-value their “Pinto”! 😉
Just add a 3rd to Wally.
Heh Johnny Z. No way am I trading a C who would be quite capable of being a Top 2 on a host of teams right now for a goalie who’s “showing promise.” The Senators have been down that path with both Merilainen and Sogaard who have joined a host of other “can’t miss” goaltenders who did.
Malcolm Subban, when drafted by the Bruins, was widely hailed as a coming starter, just as Petr Mrazek, actually considered “elite” early on with Detroit, proceed to fall off the proverbial cliff. Michael Neuvirth was outstanding early on with Washington, including the playoffs, but his play also nosedived after moving to the Flyers. Another along the same lines was Tommy Soderstrom who had an eye-opening rookie season with Philadelphia, but headed south in his sophomore year. Then there were the “can’t miss” prospects who did and went nowhere in their NHL attempts – Justin Pogge, Ari Ahonen and Zach Fucale.
I am NOT saying Walstedt will follow that same pattern. But what I AM saying is, there is a far greater risk of that transpiring within that weird NHL fraternity known as Goalies than there is that 6’ 3” 210lb C Shane Pinto, who in 257 career games has 82-game averages of 21g 22a 43pts skating primarily to this stage on the 3rd and 4th lines, with comparatively little pp time and with wingers not exactly top-drawer, will suddenly stop getting better at age 25 and on the top 2 lines.
I can see both sides of this. George point about goalies being voodoo is valid. But unless you draft and develop or stumble into one à la Bussi you usually have to trade for one. I think the value is fair to both sides.
Ha. Maybe get creative and have minny include a conditionsl first in 28 based on games played and wins or something like that. If Jesper crsps out it’s not a total wash.
Nah chrisms. There’s just no way you go after a goalie “with promise” for an established 2-way C with size and ever-improving offensive stats.
What has to be kept in mind, as well, is that Walstedt has compiled his promising stats with a pretty darn good league-top-4 team in front of him. Playing back of one currently ranked in the bottom half may not result in anywhere near those stats.
I bet you might think about it if it is Wally + Jiresek for Pinto. 🏁
🤔
Heh. If you mean that 1st Round RD pick who’s been up and down between Columbus and their AHL team in Cleveland, and now Minnesota and their AHL team in Iowa – where he is now – you;d lose that bet.
I would pass on Garland. Who does he beat out of the current lineup. Only thing Id trade for is a legit top winger.
I don’t think Ottawa gives up either cozens or pinto for a young goalie with not much experience. They’ve been bitten by that already. I think Staois will wait for the summer to make any move on a goalie, but I could be wrong.
I’d say RD is the most critical position. The team is playing great, but Jensen has unfortunately lost a step. I don’t mind Weegar, but it depends on the ask.
I actually think Connor Murphy could be a decent target and would be a good pairing for Chabot. A big stay at home RD., but don’t like that he’s an upcoming UFA. Wondering what his Blackhawks would want.
I’d like to add a RD to the team and have three in mind.
Braden Schneider 24y/o 6’3 206
Brayden Pachal 26 y/o 6’2 202
Nick Perbix 27y/o 6’4 206
All 3 are out of favour with their respective teams and could be had for undervalued price.
It would allow Hutson to go back to his natural Left side
Hf30, any interest in Whitecloud?
Sr….Zack Whitecloud would be a nice fit in Pittsburgh. He is 29, signed to a decent contract, he is big, solid defensively, and a perfect fit as a 3rd pair RHD. He would be valuable insurance for the brittle Letang and Erik Karlsson.
Penguins at the break second in the Metro, just need a shrewd move or two and the Penguins will be a strong playoff candidate..
Dubas – He continues to make some quiet, smart, under rated moves like
Anthony Mantha
Justin Brazeau
Ben Kindle
BrettKulak
Stuart Skinner
Igor Chinakov
Avery Hayes recent call up fiery two goals first game
should be an intense two weeks for GMS after the Olympics.
I think Whitecloud would be a nice 4D fit on about 1/2 the teams in the league.
Sr,
I like the other three more and Paschal is more readily available from the Flames than Whitecloud.
Teams will be hesitant to give up their first and seconds this year, since this is a pretty deep draft.
Pinto for Weegar otherwise they should just keep him .Flames Desperately need a clear. It 1 or 1b centerman. If they win the lottery McKenna is a winger and half dozen of top 10 are D men . Trade down don’t trade Kadri ? Maybe resign Backlund
Or they can just draft Stenberg S7.
Some sites have him ranked ahead of McKenna right now. Including both guys on Sportsnet.
He’s on his way to breaking the scoring record for draft eligible players in the SHL, and that’s a pretty good list of players he will surpass.
Almost a point a game against men in a quality pro league is impressive.
So Steve Staios seeks a right shot, top four defenceman.
That should be easy; they’re everywhere aren’t they?
No, they sure aren’t. lol. But there ARE a few reportedly available and it only remains to be seen who feels the greatest need and so is prepared to up the ante.
I’ve liked Pinto for a few year and felt the Sens have never treated him right.
I’d love to have him but the Sens would be foolish to trade him unless they intend to keep him at 3C for which he’ll be way overpaid.
If and that’s a big if he gets traded, it won’t be for a rookie goalie, a position loaded with rookie year wonders that never replicated their start.
It’ll have to be a bona fide roster player or a 1st round pick this year. Considering the Sens had one 1st round last year and then a 3rd, it might be enticing.
Don’t really understand why the Senators never treated him right….The Sens stuck by him and were patient with his suspension so they went out of their way to treat him very well
Nobody will want 6 years of Garland at that price and No Trade….sounds like salary retained and sweeteners will be needed to move him.
A bunch of these names are possible, but the returns are likely to go up or down in the next few weeks.
Nope, not at all
LOL I think he means Weegar. :->