Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup (Part 1) – March 1, 2026
The annual trade deadline is March 6. Check out the latest on Robert Thomas, Vincent Trocheck, Ryan O’Reilly, Nazem Kadri, Elias Pettersson, Bobby McMann, Tyler Myers, and more in Part 1 of the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE CENTERS OF ATTENTION
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports centermen are drawing a lot of attention in the rumor mill, referring specifically to Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames.
Friedman admitted being skeptical about the Thomas trade rumors when they first appeared, but now believes it could happen before the March 6 trade deadline. He thinks the Utah Mammoth is among the interested teams, pointing out that Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong drafted Thomas when he was working for the Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco reports sources say Thomas is a player the Boston Bruins really like. The Blues have set a high asking price for the 26-year-old center, but Di Marco indicates the Bruins have four first-round picks in the next two drafts and are willing to part with prospects such as Matthew Poitras and Dean Letourneau.
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)
Friedman mentioned that Trocheck’s preference is to stay in the Eastern Conference. A couple of far-west teams expressed interest in the 32-year-old center, but were told he’s not going out there. The Minnesota Wild have been linked to Trocheck. Friedman thinks “they’re a maybe.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic reported Friday that the Wild are considered the favorite to land Trocheck. However, his colleague Michael Russo wondered if general manager Bill Guerin is willing to part with the necessary assets to get it done after giving up so much to acquire Quinn Hughes in December.
Mercogliano also noted the Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings have also been rumored to be interested in Trocheck, but he’s not sure if they’ll part with their top assets.
Friedman said O’Reilly has no desire to leave the Predators in the middle of a playoff race. Nevertheless, he thinks teams will still try to tempt the Predators into moving O’Reilly. The veteran center lacks no-trade protection, but he’s been told he’ll have the final say over his situation.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Score’s Josh Wegman observed that Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic recently reported the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars were among the clubs believed to be interested in O’Reilly.
As for Kadri, Friedman believes the Flames have been waiting patiently for a good offer to come.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco believes the Bruins like Kadri, but they’re not keen to take on an aging player with a $7 million average annual value through 2029. He also claimed the Bruins like Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, but the remaining term of his contract ($6.25 million through 2030-31) does cause some trepidation on their part.
Meanwhile, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun believes the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche could be among the interested parties. It’s doubtful that the Canadiens will add a 35-year-old center carrying that much term to their young roster. However, the Avalanche recently freed up some cap space by trading Samuel Girard to Pittsburgh for Brett Kulak, raising speculation that they could attempt to reacquire Kadri.
THE ATHLETIC: Cory Lavalette recently listed Trocheck, Thomas, and O’Reilly as potential trade targets for the Carolina Hurricanes. Of these, he considers O’Reilly as the most cost-effective move, provided he still has enough left in the tank to be effective for the playoffs.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports teams have been calling the Vancouver Canucks about Elias Pettersson. The 27-year-old center has six years left on his contract with an AAV of $11.6 million and a full no-movement clause.
Nevertheless, teams are still seeing if Pettersson might be available. Garrioch noted that the Detroit Red Wings are seeking a second-line center, and they have the tradeable assets and cap space to take on Pettersson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It still seems like a Pettersson trade is something more likely to happen in the offseason rather than the trade deadline. Moving that hefty salary isn’t easy during the regular season, and there could be better options in the summer when teams have more cap space to work with.
THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs are considering moving players with term remaining on their contract, as well as pending unrestricted free agents. That doesn’t mean they’ll trade core players such as Auston Matthews or William Nylander, but perhaps someone like defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Friedman believes Ekman-Larsson is on the Edmonton Oilers’ radar. He thinks they’re looking at adding a right-side defenseman (which Ekman-Larsson has done) or potentially a third-line center. They have to move on from Andrew Mangiapane.
As for UFA-eligible winger Bobby McMann, Friedman said it could go either way. He’s been told there is an extension that both sides know could happen. The fact that the 29-year-old winger remains a Maple Leaf suggests there’s nothing in the market that they would currently trade him for.
UPDATE ON TYLER MYERS AND MORE CANUCKS SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports he believed (as of Saturday night) that the Detroit Red Wings’ offer for Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers remains on the table. He thinks everyone involved was expecting a decision by Monday, but he doesn’t know where it currently stands. Friedman also doesn’t believe that the Canucks have a firm offer from another team for Myers.
Friedman also said things are quiet right now on Elias Pettersson. He stated that the Canucks are not interested in retaining any salary to facilitate a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s because six years is a long time to be carrying dead cap space, even with the salary cap rising. It can still hamper efforts to retain key players or add to the roster as salaries rise.
BRUINS LINKED TO THE BLUES AND FLYERS
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reported the Boston Bruins were interested in St. Louis Blues defensemen Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk. Parayko has a full no-movement clause and carries an AAV of $6.5 million through 2029-30. Faulk is signed through 2026-27 with the same AAV as Parayko and a 15-team no-trade list.
Di Marco reports the Bruins have moderate interest in Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. However, they’ve checked in several times on Flyers winger Owen Tippett, who has six years left on his deal with an AAV of $6.2 million. The Flyers aren’t looking to move the 27-year-old Tippett, but are believed to be open to discussions, though their asking price could be significant.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins GM Don Sweeney tipped his hand with his failed attempt to acquire Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames before he was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights in January. Parayko and Faulk would be expensive additions, though Faulk would cost less than Parayko.
As for Ristolainen, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported last week that the Flyers’ asking price would have to start with a first-round pick for GM Daniel Briere to consider it. Briere is looking at what the Boston Bruins got from the Toronto Maple Leafs last year for Brandon Carlo, which was a prospect (Fraser Minten), a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-rounder.
Don Sweeney takes alot of heat with Bruin fans. but you have to admit that he has done a good job of acquiring assets while fielding one of the most surprising teams in the league this year. Four firsts the next two years, both drafts are strong. Or use the picks to acquire a player that can help them now. Poitras is no longer a strong prospect.
I never liked Sweeney because of some very expensive mistakes such as Jeaneau but I have to admit that last years deadline deals really set the team up for the future.
Barry.
I think you mean Jeannot and he is having his 2nd best pro season this year. So not that big of a mistake and he okays playoff style hockey. There are a lot of Sweeney haters as Bruin fans are spoiled from so many good teams under his watch He rarely looses on his trades. His drafts could be better And please. Forget about 2015 ancient history. He only went rogue on Hamil. Trying for out of box homer. Since then has had many top pics as always going for cup. That is a GM I want for my team.
The Carlo trade is working out well for Boston. Both immediate and future returns.
I never could understand why people talk down Don Sweeney. The Bruins always manage to stay relevant.
As for my Habs, I am totally confident, with Hughes and Gorton at the helm. I’m pretty certain they won’t give a 1st for a UFA fourth liner . Or a 3rd pairing, oft injured RD . What a joke, Treliving is.
I expect a wise depth move, like getting Whitecloud for Struble and a 3rd. But then, with Kent Hughes, expect the unexpected.
Patrick if Hughes can get Whitecloud for Struble and 3rd I hope he does it. But I suspect it’ll take more than that. He’s got 2 years left on his contract so the Flames can be patient
Right on👌
Rangers have 6 picks in 1st 3 rounds this year. If they trade Trochek, who replaces him and how is that a retool if you’ve traded your top scorer? And where does that leave his best friend JT Miller? I’m skeptical of Drury and if he has any idea what he’s doing. If he trades Trochek and doesn’t get back some young roster players capable of stepping into lineup next year, then it’s a rebuild and I’m not sure how that sits with vets.
**. Should’ve read already traded top scorer, meaning Panarin. They got a prospect for him that may or may not be NHL ready. Trading another top scorer for futures makes them even weaker next season. I’m ok with not bringing back Panarin, but Trochek is younger, cheaper, and a better all around player.
I am sure Y would have to give Kasper or Danielson, a 1st, and maybe Augustine, or another young prospect, as well as Rasmusen or Copher (salary back)
I like Vinny, but the competition is going to be too much!
The Leafs need to clean house.
Hearing they “may consider” moving players with term is laughable.
They should be considering moving nearly everyone on this roster.
Having a listless performance against a division rival at this point in the season is inexcusable.
As for tradable assets, they need to use all 3 of their salary retention spots to maximize the value of their UFA trades.
They will also need to consider who will remain to fill the roster for next year. Trading OEL while his value is high sounds good but will leave a big hole next season. Same goes for Carlo. Realistically, what could you get for these two D men? Would you get one 1st and a three good young players/prospects?
Would Nic Roy get a good return? He’s a big RH Centre and a Cup winner.
Could the Leafs help the Oilers with their need for RHD and 3C with a trade centred around Carlo and Laughton?
Can the Leafs use their depth in goal to acquire a good young NHL player?
This team needs a major shake up. Hopefully Treliving doesn’t screw it up even more.
Daryl,
You asked me yesterday why there’s only 2 something left on Laine when the AAV is $8.7m
Cap space accrues during the year based on a 192 day season.
Laine has not been on LTIR this season so there was no cap relief.
The calculation for the team trading for Laine is:
$8.7m divided by 192 days equals the daily cap hit and as of today there are 45 days.
As of March 6 there will be 40 days left.
8,700,000/192×40= $1,812,500.00 cap hit.
habsfan30
Thanks!
I actually looked it up today and tried to figure it out. I got the same number as you did.
For teams with a ton of TDL cap space it may be worth the risk as long as the return isn’t much.
You think MTL would claim Regula from EDM as their 3rd pair RHD?
Daryl,
Regula isn’t the type of player the Habs need, the player put on waivers that does interest me is Luke Kunin of the Panthers.
I am not in favor of Stevie rescuing Petey from the Nucks. If having to take on that albatross contract, a 1st and a prospect, but not one of the top 3 prospects should suffice.
Most of these rumored returns for marginal players are way out of line. Weegar is about the only defenseman that will really make a difference. I bet he ends up in Colorado.
I don’t see the Avs being interested in Weegar. Part of trading out Sam Girard was to free up cap space for next year, with Sam Malinski getting a new contract. They’re probably looking for a #6 or #7 D, preferably a left-handed shot – another Kulak.
If the Avs are looking for any upgrade bigger than a 3C, I’d guess they’re looking for a top-line LW. Lehkonen is better as a 2LW, and being able to move Landeskog down to 3LW would make them pretty tough.
Not really convinced the Bruins would make Dean Latourneau available. Center, 6’7″ 230 lbs, sophomore at Boston College, elevated his game this year to pt/gm player.
Ak bender,I wouldn’t trade Letourneau ,I would continue the draft route, look what it has done for Boston this year.If they trade I would rather use a roster player in Boston or Providence!
Johnny Z,
I agree, Stevie needs to stand pat and continue to work in studs from Grand Rapids. No bad trades leveraging assets for trash. Pettersson is not the type of player we need, at least for the cost. Bring up John Leonard again. He was on fire before the break.
Right now, it doesn’t look good as they have fallen to the first wildcard slot, but scoring should pick back up and the team should be relatively healthy going into the final stretch.
I would like to see Cossa get some games in wirh the Wings, but now that we have slipped a bit, there’s almost no room for error. Gibson needs to continue to be huge for us, bottom line.
Been a reader for years, this is my first post in the comments. I appreciate all the takes from you guys and the stats from George or whomever it is that does them, I can’t remember right now.
Cheers!