NHL Rumor Mill – February 9, 2026
What kind of moves could the Maple Leafs make by the March 6 trade deadline? Will the Wild use Jesper Wallstedt as a trade chip for a first-line center? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently took note of speculation linking the Oilers to Toronto Maple Leafs center Nicolas Roy and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine.
According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there were rumors circulating in Edmonton before the Olympic trade freeze claiming the Oilers had spoken with the Maple Leafs. While there has been plenty of rumors lately regarding Leafs winger Bobby McMann, Pagnotta believes the Oilers were more interested in Roy and Ekman-Larsson.
Staples also pointed out that Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos recently speculated about the Oilers making a move for Laine.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann (NHL Images).
Insiders such as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Bob Stauffer of “Oilers Now” claim the Oilers seek a third-line winger. Friedman and Stauffer believe McMann’s size, speed, and affordable $1.35 million cap hit would be a good fit for the cap-strapped Oilers. However, Staples believes other clubs will also be interested in McMann and will likely outbid the Oilers.
Staples dismissed the possibility of the Oilers pursuing Laine, who carries an $8.7 million cap hit this season. He noted that the 34-year-old Ekman-Larsson carries an average annual value of $3.5 million for two more seasons, suggesting it’s a coin flip whether he’ll remain a solid NHL defenseman over that period.
The Oilers must move winger Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6 million AAV through next season. Staples suggested sending Mangiapane to the Maple Leafs for Roy and his $3 million cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers must move out salary if they intend to make any significant acquisitions by the March 6 trade deadline. They have reportedly been trying to move Mangiapane since December. It’s unlikely the Leafs would take him for Roy, McMann, or Ekman-Larsson without a significant sweetener attached.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen wondered if the Avalanche should target Roy or Scott Laughton of the Maple Leafs to center their third line.
Laughton is 31, and accounts for just $1.5 million of the Maple Leafs’ salary cap. He’s on an expiring contract, while Roy is signed through next season.
Deen believes Roy would be a better fit, especially on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could hang onto Roy for another season if they believe they can bounce back from their current disappointing performance. Nevertheless, they’ll likely be open to offers. Whether the Avalanche could outbid other clubs remains to be seen.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos observed that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh is playing well in his contract year and is set to cash in. He believes the 29-year-old right-handed defenseman with the booming shot would be a perfect upgrade to the Maple Leafs’ power play.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh is in the final season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $975,000. He had a 33-point performance in 2023-24 and 37 points last season, but has exploded into a scoring star with 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points.
Raddysh is playing with more confidence this season, partly because he stepped up when team captain Victor Hedman was sidelined. He’s poised for a substantial raise, which the Lightning can afford if they wish. He might not be available for the Leafs (or anyone else) when free agency begins on July 1.
WILL THE WILD TRADE JESPER WALLSTEDT FOR A CENTER?
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith recently responded to questions from their readers regarding the possibility of the Minnesota Wild trading Jesper Wallstedt for a center.
Wallstedt, 23, has paired with Filip Gustavsson to give the Wild one of the better goaltending tandems in the league this season. He leads this season’s rookie goalies with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and four shutouts.
With Gustavsson signed through 2030-31, Wallstedt could be expendable. Trying to acquire a first-line center without including him in the deal would be difficult because of the limited trade chips the Wild have left.
It would reportedly take more than Wallstedt for the Wild to land someone like Robert Thomas. That’s because the St. Louis Blues have set a high asking price for the 26-year-old center.
Russo and Smith don’t believe the Wild could land Jack Hughes by using Wallstedt in a package deal. It’s hard to imagine embattled New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald trading his franchise player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild GM Bill Guerin is preaching patience, but it’s no secret he’s in the market for a scoring forward, preferably a first-line center. A deal involving Wallstedt by the March 6 trade deadline is possible, but it’s more likely that kind of blockbuster occurs in the offseason when teams have more cap room and a willingness to make big trades.
Scott Laughton almost out the door before the Leafs have even paid the price to acquire him!
If Laughton would re-sign for the $1.5M the Leafs are paying him, keep him.
Don’t dwell on a mistake because you spent a long time making it.
The Leafs need to be honest about their situation. They’re highly unlikely to make the playoffs. Trade whoever isn’t in future plans and sit guys with nagging injuries, finish bottom 5 and make a 1st round pick
Daryl, in order for the Leafs to finish bottom 5 in the league they’d have to openly and brazenly throw games over their final 25, and that would go over like a lead balloon within NHL HQ. Right now they sit 20th overall, 11 and 12 points up on Chicago and Winnipeg & Calgary, who hold down the first 3 positions among the bottom 6, while the Rangers, Blues and Canucks would need miracles to escape being the bottom 3.
They could, however get into the upper level of the bottom 10 minor lottery-chance group as they are just 3 to 5 points up on L.A., Nashville, San Jose and New Jersey, currently sitting in the top 4 spots of the bottom 10.
But I’m afraid that, like Ottawa, Philadelphia and Florida, they are doomed to be drafting somewhere in “no-man’s land” – out of range of the best of 2026. but at least picking in in the middle of a fairly deep group (except Ottawa, of course, who have had to forfeit their 1st Rounder).
Make a trade with Boston to get that 1st back? Give them OEL and McMann for the Leaf 1st, a 4th and take back Peeke as well?
I like Laughton, good honest player. I do not think $1.5M annually won’t get him back. $2-3M might do the trick.
Lesson to be learned here. So not give up a future first for a bottom 6 forward, even a center.
Guys, right now the Leafs sit 5th in the league in terms of pk success rate @ 83.7, and considered a very main cog in that structure is Laughton with his face-off ability in defensive zone draws which allows them to clear the puck and kill off time. If they really want to move him, I’d hope Ottawa gets into the picture, as the pk is one of their glaring weaknesses.
He just won’t command a 1st round pick.
Having said that, I have no clue as to what Toronto would want from Ottawa.
JZ.
Offer panthers 1st in 27 and a 4th this year
With Essymont. Maybe .
Patrik Laine is the last player the Oilers need right now. They need players who would help them tighten up defensively.
George O
That’s what I’m afraid of. Finishing just high enough to give Boston a pick much higher than necessary.
This little three game winning streak isn’t helping. Hoping they will finish in the lottery and move up to a Top 5 would be fantastic.
Howard
I explained why I can still see Laine as a productive Hab, but I agree he’d be dead weight in Edmonton.
I can see him as part of a package to a team like St. Louis.
Maybe the Flyers, Laine and Struble for Tippett
Habs want a 1st line winger:
Hab’s 1st, Laine, Alexander Zharovsky and a 6th for Kyrou.
For taking all of Laine’s salary, STL gets a very good, upgraded prospect and the 6th
Bruins … need to go get Robert Thomas .. he can fill their #1 center position for years something they haven’t had since #37 left .. need to fix their PK since they want to lead the league in penalties taken this year .. go get a right Dman and it’s on to the playoffs …
Joe I Don t think the Bruins have enough of a package to get Thomas.I would give up one of their first round picks but who else goes. I am not giving up 2 1st round picks under any circumstances.
Would you move Geekie
That’s a 1st rd pick and Geekie
Joe,Don t think it makes sense to move Geekie with his production and team friendly contract. Maybe Minten as part of the package.
And you think Boston isn’t frustrated enough with players frequently going on IR
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/26558/Robert_Thomas/transactions
I know … I know … all that would change as soon as he joined X … yeah. right. lol
SR
The ask for Thomas is supposed to be 2 1st rd pics a top prospect and an nhl player. That is a hard pass
Would Sweeney offer a 1st a top prospect in Ahl and roster player. I would think he would
Joe I would look for an old veteran RHD that can kill penalties and play on the 2nd or third pair. Those guys are around at the deadline for 4,5,6 draft picks.
Sr
Don’t tell that to the Leafs.
They gave up a 1st and Minten for one of those last TDL
George who was it that said that the pick isn’t forfeited UNTIL they actually forfeit it?
I thought they had made a decision already and informed the league but I’d love the details on that…
Dark G, when the league imposed the penalty they had, I think it was, their choice of the next 4 drafts as to which to forfeit. When they chose to keep that 23rd overall last year, t hat was their last option, and so automatically forfeited this year’s. The only thing that can change that now is a suddenly-benevolent Bettman. And I ain’t holding my breath.
I just double-checked – it involved 3 drafts not 4 – see in this column
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7031347/2026/02/09/nhl-draft-first-round-trade-conditions/
two thoughts
(1) Mangiapane has disappointed after his (30g) year, and the Oilers were foolish for giving him a 2 year deal. good luck to them finding a taker unless the Oilers retain 1/2. Otherwise I see the Oilers putting Mangiapane on waivers before the deadline, to see if another team foolishly claims him
(2) there is no change the Devils will trade Jack Hughes to MIN to play with his brother, as the Devils ownership thinks they can sign Quinn to play with his brothers in NJ in the summer of ’27. I just don’t see that happening, with how much the franchise has been struggling. Think there is a much better chance Quinn signs long term with MIN (or another team) and then Luke/Jack sign there in 3 years when there contracts expire
NJ is in desperate needs of an organization shakeup, getting rid of the GM, coach and probably a roster shakeup by trading one of their top players. it just isn’t working this year, everything has gone stale. can’t blame it on injuries because the same issues were happening with Jack/Luke in the lineup