Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup (Part 2) – March 1, 2026
Check out the latest on the Rangers, Red Wings, Golden Knights, Sabres, and Blackhawks in Part 2 of the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR RANGERS’ ADAM FOX & BRENNAN OTHMANN
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reported Friday that Adam Fox offered up a noncommittal comment about his future with the Rangers following the club’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (NHL Images).
When asked if he wanted to stay with the Rangers as they retool their roster, Fox said he was just trying to focus on this season. “That’s really all I can do right now…That’s a conversation for when we’re done playing.”
Walker believes it’s been difficult for Fox and his teammates to deal with the Rangers’ decision in January to retool, which included trading superstar Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings last month. She indicated there is uncertainty about what the team will look like in the foreseeable future and how long it’ll take to return to contender status.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury met with the Rangers’ leadership group (including Fox) and those locked into long-term contracts. At the time, it seems all of them were willing to see it through, which was contrary to Fox’s comments on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox’s remarks have already rippled around the league. No one is suggesting that he’s available at the trade deadline or that he wants out of New York, but his comments leave the door open for speculation about his future with the Rangers. It could be something to monitor during the offseason.
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh believes it’s time to accept the reality of Brennan Othmann’s situation with the Rangers. The 23-year-old has bounced between the Blueshirts and their AHL affiliate since 2024. He has one goal in 17 games this season, and his play away from the puck has drawn criticism from head coach Mike Sullivan.
Baugh reports the Rangers are open to trading Othmann. They have a logjam of bottom-six forwards, and it would be best for everyone if he were moved by the March 6 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Baugh pointed out that Othmann is the latest in a long list of recent developmental letdowns for the Rangers, a problem that predates the current management. Of the nine first-rounders they selected from 2017 to 2021, only Alexis Lafreniere and Braden Schneider are still with the team, and both of them are considered trade candidates.
PROPOSED DEFENSE TRADE TARGETS FOR THE RED WINGS
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen recently listed Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, MacKenzie Weegar of the Calgary Flames, Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Braden Schneider of the Rangers as potential blueline trade targets for the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allen’s list was published before last Thursday’s news that the Red Wings have an offer on the table for Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers.
If Myers declines to accept a trade to Detroit, perhaps the Red Wings will shift their focus to those defensemen listed by Allen.
WHAT COULD THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS AND SABRES DO AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster believes the Vegas Golden Knights could attempt to acquire a top-nine forward before the March 6 trade deadline, preferably one who can add scoring among their middle-six.
The Golden Knights can’t do anything unless they place William Karlsson on season-ending long-term injury reserve. Karlsson hasn’t played since Nov. 8, and there are varying reports suggesting he could be done for the season or might return in time for the playoffs.
Putting Karlsson on season-ending LTIR would free up $3.5 million in salary-cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights always seem to surprise us around this time of year with their salary-cap gymnastics to make moves that bolster their roster. They’ll definitely do something if Karlsson hits SLTIR for the season.
THE ATHLETIC: With the Buffalo Sabres on the verge of ending their 14-year playoff drought, Matthew Fairburn recently examined what would be an ideal trade deadline for the club.
Retaining Alex Tuch tops that list. The 29-year-old forward is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s still unsigned, but Fairburn believes it would be a mistake to trade such an important core player. Both sides have plenty of time before July 1 to negotiate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch’s not going anywhere at the trade deadline. While they would risk losing him to free agency on July 1, moving him now could jeopardize their chances of ending their long playoff drought. It would send the wrong message to his teammates, and to the club’s long-suffering fans.
Fairburn also believes the Sabres must add another defenseman and a forward. Given their limited salary-cap space, he recommends affordable additions such as Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs, or Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a long time since the Sabres were deadline buyers. They won’t go crazy, largely because of their salary-cap limitations, but they could attempt to add an affordable rental or two.
THE LATEST BLACHAWKS SPECULATION
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Jack Bushman cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who reported the Blackhawks attempted to work out a contract with UFA-eligible forward Ilya Mikheyev. However, they’ve been unsuccessful thus far, and he’s “out there” in the trade market.
Friedman also wondered about promising defenseman Kevin Korchinski. The Blackhawks have a lot of young blueliners. The 21-year-old Korchinski has spent the past two seasons in the minors, and Friedman speculated he could become available for the right price.
On Sabres….
Their current line up looks like
Benson- Thompson- Tuch
Zucker-McLeod- Quinn
Ostlund- Norris-Doan
Dunne- Krebs- Malenstyn
Kozak
Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power- Byram
Metsa- Kesselring
Bryson
uPL
Lyon
Ellis
IR— greenway, Danforth, Kulich, Timmins
Timmins could be activated from fractured leg after TDL. Greenway might go on LTIR.
I don’t know the rules on converting IR to LTIR relief because the Sabres I think are near top 5 in man- days on IR utilizing a few million in cap space for call ups.
Their clear need is adding depth on defense.
Ideally it would be a RD.
If you look at Rochester they have 4 LD players who have 40+ games in nhl experience but none on RD. When Metsa is send down ( waiver exempt) he would have game experience in RD.
When it comes to forward—- who gets removed from top 9? Ostlund is waiver exempt so he could be sent down if needed. He’s played well and doesn’t deserve that.
They have a few other players who can be called up. Helenius pre Olympic did 9 g so next game burns his 19 yr old slide yr on his ELC. Rosen is in his final ELC yr.
They might want a strong face off specialist but at what cost? They have young players in Kulich, Ostlund, and Helenius who all can play center so they aren’t in the market for Thomas/ Kadri/trochek
The deadline as a whole is weird this year.
Right now only 7 teams are out of the playoffs. 2-4 others could be included.
Usually at deadline trades you don’t see players with 2+ full yrs of contract get traded. These trades are more common around the draft or in early in the season ascac5+ player team shake up trade,
You also have teams who feel they are confident in making the playoffs have already traded their 1st. The rest of the clubs are too close to be outside the playoffs to risk trading a 1st. Thus these teams might only trade a 1st if it’s more of a long term player trade than a rental.
If you recall about a decade ago a bunch of players weren’t moved because things were based on a top player getting moved thst didn’t happen or it was last minute.
I see parallels between Thomas available and Trocheck and Kadri getting traded because the teams that want a center would go for Thomas first before going for Kadri/trovheck.
After Anderssen got traded, there isn’t much out there in terms of true top D guys on D to acquire. Yet many are asking for 1sts in return. Historically these dmen were traded for 2nd or 3rd+ pick/ prospect
Kings Fire Jim Hiller, Name D.J. Smith Interim Head Coach
The elephant in the room is “What does FLA do??”
I bet Lyle tackles this tomorrow.
Johnny: We’ll see what the ol’ rumor mill has in store. Personally, I have a difficult time seeing the Panthers as sellers after going to three straight Finals and winning two straight Cups, especially with Barkov hoping to return from knee surgery in time for the playoffs. On the other hand, Zito is reportedly preparing for all possibilities, and his team is eight points out of a wild-card spot in the East.
My thought is … what do the Oilers do?
While they have had more playoff success than the Leafs, their cap construction is similar to the Leafs of the past few years: most of their cap space on 4 players. That cap hit includes a gift from McDavid so the Oil could get more talent.
And they have played a lot of hockey in the past three years so that has to be factored in. Not sure how Ray or other Oiler fans feel right now, but I cannot imagine they are brimming with confidence.
LJ
As a Leafs fan it’s very frustrating to see what this team has become.
The Oilers have played a lot of hockey over the past several seasons and had more playoff success. Unfortunately, shaky goaltending likely has cost them at least one Cup. Perhaps it is due to poor defensive zone coverage as well.
It is rumoured that the Oilers are interested in a couple Leafs players but they have $11K in TDL Cap space.
The big elephant in the room is Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6M cap hit. They’ve tried to trade him with no takers. Perhaps Bowman should call Treliving and ask him what deal the two teams could work out with Mangiapane heading to TOR and OEL or Carlo, and Laughton as 3C heading to EDM.
Carlo and Mangiapane have nearly the same cap hit. They can retain 50% on Laughton.
I honestly think the two teams could improve each other’s fortunes with a deal.
After last night’s heartless effort, no Leaf should feel safe.
Step One:
Oilers Place Andrew Mangiapane on Waivers
Thanks Lyle, for posting all this TDL info and your thoughts on all this in one spot.
👍
Hope they do not trade away players on the Leafs that bring 100% every game:
Knies, Stecher, Tanev, McCabe, Laughton, OEL
Other than these all others should be shopped for return.