In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on Canucks forwards Lukas Reichel and Kiefer Sherwood, and an update on the Senators.

THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Luke Reichel’s brief tenure with the Vancouver Canucks could be ending. According to CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, the 23-year-old forward is an option to be moved if another club is interested in him.

Vancouver Canucks forward Lukas Reichel (NHL Images).

Reichel was chosen 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Projected to become a scoring winger, he struggled to play up to expectations. The Canucks acquired him from the Blackhawks for a fourth-round pick on Oct. 24.

In 13 games with the Canucks, Reichel has one assist. He was a healthy scratch from Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars. With sidelined Canucks forwards Teddy Blueger and Nils Hoglander returning soon, Reichel will be the odd man out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries are mounting for several teams around the league. Reichel could be a cheap pickup for a club seeking a forward with NHL experience as a stopgap. Maybe he’ll finally blossom with the right club.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there haven’t been any contract talks between the Canucks and forward Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old winger is in the final season of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million.

Sherwood enjoyed a career-best performance last season with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 78 games. He’s currently on pace to exceed those numbers, with 12 goals and 16 points in 22 games.

Dreger believes contract discussions will eventually occur between the two sides. However, the Canucks’ depth on the wings means there’s no guarantee they’ll reach an agreement. He suggested that Sherwood could become a trade candidate, most likely by the March deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are a team in transition right now. If they’re out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, they’ll likely peddle Sherwood while his trade value is high this season.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported Senators general manager Steve Staios has been studying the trade market, seeking some help for another playoff push.

Garrioch claimed the Senators have been in the market for a top-six winger since last May, preferably a physical scorer. They’d also like to bolster the right side of their defense corps.

The St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames are the few clubs believed to be willing to entertain trade offers. It’s believed Flames winger Blake Coleman is one name that is out there in the trade market, prompting Garrioch to ponder if he’d be a good fit with the Senators.

Garrioch noted the Senators don’t have many tradeable assets. They don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and their prospect cupboard isn’t overflowing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The belief is that Staios should make a bold move or two this season while core players such as Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Drake Batherson are still under contract. Tkachuk and Chabot are UFA-eligible in 2028, and Batherson in 2027.

The main problem is that there aren’t many sellers right now, and those that are willing to listen to trade offers are setting high asking prices. Staios might have to wait until the March 6 trade deadline to address his roster needs.