NHL Rumor Mill – March 3, 2026
As the trade deadline draws closer, check out the latest on Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, and Robert Thomas, plus updates on the Oilers, Bruins, and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATES ON VINCENT TROCHECK AND ADAM FOX
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Vincent Trocheck confirmed that West Coast teams are on his 12-team no-trade list. The 32-year-old New York Rangers center has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.65 million.
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)
Trocheck said it was no secret that those teams were on his list, saying he wants to stay as close to the East Coast as possible for family reasons. He also acknowledged that a trade could be coming, and if it does, he wants it to be to a team where he has a chance to win, rather than joining a club that’s in the same situation as the Rangers.
Walker noted that Trocheck has been linked to the Minnesota Wild. If he wants to remain in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes could be suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sarah McLellan of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune believes Trocheck would “fit the bill” for the Wild, who are in the market for a center. However, they could have difficulty meeting the Rangers’ asking price after trading away several top assets to the Vancouver Canucks for Quinn Hughes in December.
THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported a league source claimed there were multiple meetings in recent weeks between Rangers defenseman Adam Fox and general manager Chris Drury.
Another source said Fox wants to see how Drury handles the coming months and assess the roster this summer before making a full commitment to sticking it out with the rebuilding Rangers. That doesn’t mean he’s unwilling to endure a transition period, but he wants evidence that management has a path out of its current plight.
Mercogliano dismissed the possibility of Drury using Fox as a trade chip, pointing out he has a full no-movement clause through 2026-27, after which it drops to a 16-team no-trade list. The Rangers must avoid another situation where a player with a full no-movement clause limits where he can be moved, as Artemi Panarin did last month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be surprising if Drury attempted to trade Fox by Friday’s deadline. As I mentioned over the weekend, that’s a move that seems more likely during the offseason. Nevertheless, Fox’s NMC would complicate things.
THE LATEST ROBERT THOMAS SPECULATION
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Montreal Canadiens are among a handful of teams interested in Robert Thomas. However, they’re wary of the St. Louis Blues’ high asking price for the 26-year-old center. He’s under contract for another five seasons with an AAV of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause.
D’Amico’s sources claim the Blues covet the Canadiens’ top prospect Michael Hage. They’re also interested in defenseman Kaiden Guhle and several of their young blueline prospects. One source said they’re seeking a return comparable to what the Vancouver Canucks received in the Quinn Hughes trade, which was the equivalent of four first-round picks.
The Utah Mammoth and Detroit Red Wings are also believed to be among the other interested parties and could be better positioned to acquire Thomas. The Wings are said to be openly shopping high-end prospects for a top-six center, while Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong knows Thomas from his days with the Blues organization. They also have the depth in prospects to make a competitive bid.
TVA SPORTS: The Canadiens won’t part with Hage. Tony Marinaro would be fine with the Canadiens parting with prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky as part of the return for Thomas. He also suggested adding Oliver Kapanen to the deal to make room for Hage.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Thomas could accelerate the Canadiens’ rise into Stanley Cup contention, but it could also come at the expense of their top assets. That’s assuming he’ll waive his no-trade clause to go to Montreal.
Canadiens management has patiently built this roster largely with their promising young talent. They did make a bold move last summer by acquiring Noah Dobson, but that didn’t put much of a dent in their prospect pipeline. Moving Hage seems like a non-starter for them.
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford and Cory Pronman looked at what a deal for Thomas with the Mammoth might look like. They believe it’ll cost the Mammoth “two A-level assets” and one or two B-level assets, with one of those being a current player.
They don’t see the Mammoth parting with Logan Cooley or Dylan Guenther because they’re already difference-makers for the Mammoth. Caleb Desnoyers and Dmitri Simashev are unlikely to move.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Andrew Knoll believes the Anaheim Ducks are well-positioned to be buyers at the trade deadline. They’re poised to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years and carry plenty of depth and draft capital to make a splash.
Knoll suggested Thomas as a big-name target for the Ducks. He noted they have plenty of salary-cap space for this season and beyond, and a nice stock of future draft picks, including their first-rounder and three second-rounders in this year’s draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks are my dark horse approaching this trade deadline. They haven’t popped up much in the rumor mill, but that doesn’t mean GM Pat Verbeek isn’t quietly shopping around. He could prefer adding a good player in their twenties with term remaining on their contract.
MORE TRADES COULD BE COMING FOR THE OILERS
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports Oilers insider Bob Stauffer believes the club might not be finished making moves in the trade market after acquiring Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Stauffer speculated the Oilers could make two more trades, suggesting a player could be moved out to create more salary-cap flexibility. Meanwhile, Frank Seravalli believes winger Andrew Mangiapane could be traded, despite clearing waivers and being demoted to the AHL affiliate. Staples colleague, Jim Matheson, raised the possibility of the Oilers pursuing Toronto Maple Leafs center Nicolas Roy.
Staples also noted that NHL insider Brian Lawton thinks the Murphy acquisition is the prelude to a bigger move by the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers had to demote Mangiapane and Alec Regula, place forward Mattias Janmark on long-term injury reserve, and get the Blackhawks to retain half of Murphy’s $4.4 millon AAV to pull that deal off. They’re still pressed for cap space, meaning they’ll have to move more than Mangiapane if they’re planning another significant addition.
BRUINS WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEIR ROSTER A BUMP
NESN: Keagan Stiefel reports Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney said he’d like to give his roster a bump as they jockey for a playoff berth. He indicated that such a move would be an eye on the present and for the future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Sweeney wants a player signed beyond this season instead of a pending UFA who could walk this summer.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Bruins have been tracking Vancouver Canucks wingers Conor Garland and Brock Boeser. Multiple sources suggested Garland is more likely to be dealt, given that the no-movement clause on his new contract begins on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are reportedly open to offers for Garland and Boeser, but they’re not actively shopping them. It’s been said that teams like Garland’s style of play, but not his new six-year, $36-million contract. If the Canucks aren’t willing to retain salary on Elias Pettersson’s contract to facilitate a deal, they probably won’t do so for Garland. Six years is a long time to carry dead cap space, even with the salary cap rising.
CAPITALS LOOKING TO ADD BUT NOT AT ANY COST
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently reported Washington Capitals GM Chris Patrick would like to add a scoring winger. However, he’s not keen to part with his young players or prospects, and isn’t going all-in on a short-term rental player.
Robert Thomas might be a good add for the Habs but truth be told rookie Oliver Kapanen is having as good a season as him.
Why would the Habs trade away so many assets for what amounts to a sideways move today paying $8.1m on the level of a guy costing $900k?
I’d rather see the Habs stand pat than go for a top 6 forward. Scoring goals is no longer a problem, team defense and pk is.
Habs need a 3rd pairing RD who is old school, a shot blocker, penalty killer, heavy hitter and a bottom 6 player with bite.
Neither has to be a big splash player , they need to fit the empty spots in the puzzle.
HabFan the Habs still need another top 6 forward. Preferably a winger with bite who can play with Suzuki and Caufield. With Kapanen’s emergence and Hage coming up, they have possibilities at center.
Thomas would be a great player to have. He’s certainly a much stronger player than Kapanen. But the cost would be far too high.
I agree that the most likely pickup given potential cost would be a physical RD.
I can’t help but wonder why all this interest in Robert Thomas never seems to pause and reflect on his lengthy … and consistent … injury history.
I realize injuries are “part of the game” and all that … but this guy certainly seems to be more of a frequent visitor to the IR than your average player!
And just because he changes venue doesn’t mean that this tendency will magically disappear. As a GM, you give up a boatload for a player like that and you’re playing with fire.
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/26558/Robert_Thomas/transactions
Howard, the right winger with grit you mention is already here : Kirby Dach.
He’s been exactly that, since he came back.
I know, the injury bug…but this guy had all the bad luck in the world. Many freak accidents. He could be back for good. 3rd overall…
Howard,
Reality is that Caufield/Suzuki keep rolling along whether it’s been, Slafkovsky, Bolduc, Texier or now Dach. The line consistently plays well and scores in crunch time.
The second line is almost as good with Slafkovsky but to be fair they were just as hot with Newhook.
There’s no need to make a big investment for a top 6 player, just a role player. A healthy Kirby Dach is proving his value now on the top line.
Now that Murphy is gone I want Brayden Pachal and either A.J. Greer or Luke Kunin.
I totally agree, HF30. Kapanen is way too good to be a throwaway in a trade for Thomas; he’ll probably end up as a very, very high end 3C. With Hage and Zharovski, we’ll have enough fire power for years to come. We’re set in goal with Fowler and Dobeš.
Too bad we missed on Connor Murphy. A decent 3RD is all we need. And it won’t cost four first rounders.
Why add a RH3D when the issue is that they don’t have a LH3D that will get more than 7 minutes tops in the playoffs
We’re on the same page this morning, HF30. How’ d that happen – LOL.
George: One writer wondered if the noise about trading Thomas is a sly way of attracting calls so other players might be offered. Maybe not so far fetched?
Howard: You cannot have been watching Dach on Suzuki’s line since his return. He has been surprisingly good. Yes, I hold my breath re injuries, but anything close to his level of play going forward solves the problem for Suzuki and Caulfield.
So if the cost to replace Kapanen is too high, where is the need for another top 6 forward?
I will say again they need a bottom 6 winger with size and grit. Anderson can’t be the only one.
Bottom 6 RHD? Sure, I’d trade Struble for a dependable RHD.
Yeah, LJ, that is a plausible scenario … but the fact remains, IF teams are indeed calling inquiring about Thomas it indicates they are prepared to offer what … or maybe something close to … what the Blues are demanding.
And if Armstrong suddenly said “yes” they’d be getting – IF healthy and beyond his tendency to always seemingly come down with something – a bona-fide 1C with 80+ point potential (he did pot 81 points in 70 games in 2024-25), solid defensive metrics, and long-term security.
IF healthy and beyond the myriad of injuries etc that have plagued him over a number of seasons now.
After relinquishing as much as a top-6 F, a 1st-round pick and a top prospect, the GM concerned had better damned well hope so.
I wouldn’t touch him with a the proverbial 10-foot pole.
LJ,
We’re on the same page because I’m not calling for a trade, well not a big one 🙂
Seems we agree on what is needed, I just put names to it.
Kunin is on waivers because they have no room on the roster till after TDL.
Pachal could be had for a 3rd or 4th, Flames have younger guys with higher ceilings, we just need him as 3rd pairing.
Kapanen is doing fine but my personal eye test says that Owen Beck will be battling for the 2C on this team. I know most find him expendable but in my opinion they are selling him short which is another way of saying Habs don’t need a 2C anymore.
LJ – habfan30
How about the Leafs send you Carlo and McMann or Laughton for your 3rd RD and bottom 6 winger?
Leafs receive Owen Beck and Laine. Add an additional player/pick for taking Laine at full value..
Daryl,
I have no interest in Carlo, he isn’t the style of D that the Habs need.
Your offer is kind of confusing.
You ask for a 3D and bottom 6 winger then say it would be Owen Beck and Laine.
I’ll take McMann for Laine , you keep Carlo and I’ll keep Beck.
George: You may have noticed my exchanges with HF30, which are oil and water. I am way more cautious.
Principally this is because I view this year as a developmental year for players Demidov, Kapanen, Hutson (you will notice his game has changed from last year). No one addition will change the habs into legit Cup contenders, and the price of acquiring a high impact player will of course come at unknown but as you note high cost.
It may well be that Kapanen will not reach Thomas’ level of production, but Hage is coming and I share some of HF30’s enthusiasm for Beck. So no to Thomas.
Daryl: McMann would give the Habs the grit and fiest they need, but the Habs don’t have a 3rd RHD in their line up to return to the Leafs. Carlo is the right size but at 4.6 per to expensive as a 5/6 F, RH though he is. Would the Leafs want Laine under any scenario?
I know Columbus is still in the playoff hunt, but what might it take for the Habs to get Marchment? Wouldn’t he be a good fit next to Suzuki and Caufield? A roster player (Bolduc, Dach, Newhook, Texier, Struble, maybe?) and a conditional 3rd (becomes a second if the Habs reach the ECF and/or Marchment resigns with the Habs)? Thoughts?!? And yes, I agree, the Habs could use an old-school RD.
I really think the Blue Jackets want to resign Marchment. Plus, look at their record since acquiring him – he’s become a core player.
LJ
Carlo has money retained by Boston and is signed for next season as well. His cap hit is $3.85M
Only reason the Leafs take Laine is at full value to acquire a good C prospect in Beck without the Habs having to retain salary.
habfan30
You said MTL needs a 3RHD and bottom six winger. I offered you both. Well, Laughtonnis a centre. He’s also a good PK guy.
Only reason Leafs take Laine is to flip him for another asset. Leafs are thin at C, especially RH.
MTL is set at C at the NHL level and they have Hage coming up.
Thomas might get traded during the offseason. I doubt a good team, one that is winning, will give up assets and disrupt their team chemistry at this time.
Pass on garland contract will not age well he only passed 20 goals once in career and never hit 60 pts. Not worth the outgoing assets. For 3rd line forward Sweeney needs to stick to plan. Add if it makes sense long term with a difference maker or hold those top prospects and picks no waste on ufas
Agree MB4.
We’re not in the hunt for the top seed in the conference, we’re in the last WC spot with both CLB and OTT playing well. So not even a lock for that.
Not a fan of trading assets of quality in an attempt to just get into the playoffs. A smaller move to show the team your helping will suffice.
Not the time for a big swing. Unless the ask for Thomas is a lot less than what is being reported. Which is unlikely as why would STL do that?
Keifer Sherwood should fit your bill.
Mangiapane as a trade piece will cost EDM to move. He has not played up to his salary. I would expect a team to demand at least a third to make him part of a trade. I suspect Bowman demoting him is in hope of convincing jim to terminate the contract now and latch on rlsewhere as a free agent.
A 3rd seems about right Dr Dave.
My guess is Chicago, for just about anything including future considerations or a 7th rd pick.
With the better part of 4 days left before the 3:00 pm ET Friday trade deadline, I think there’ll be a flurry of deals involving teams currently on the outside that think they have even a remote chance at a playoff spot, and those clinging to playoff spots by the thinnest of margins and desperate to hang on.
These teams, with absolutely no chance, will also likely be involved in deals as well, but in their case probably not for term, roster players, but rather picks and prospects as they are resigned to their fate this season and will be “content” with finishing in the area of decent to good draft lottery chances:
Vancouver, NY Rangers, St. Louis, Chicago and Calgary.
Winnipeg SHOULD be included in that group – but it’s always difficult to get a handle on Cheveldayov’s thinking. Hell, I don’t think he knows from one day to the next .
Seems like not as much action early in this year’s TDL season George. Maybe that means prices are still too high, or teams want to see another game or 2 before they make a decision.
Oh, exactly Ray. Whether or not, as ne example, Staios tried to get involved before or on the final day will, as I posted yesterday, largely depend upon how the Senators fare tonight in Edmonton and in Calgary on Thursday. Two wins – or at least 3 of the 4 points – and they’re at 69 or 70 points and, depending upon how the teams they need to jump over do in any games they play before Friday, they could be within a point or 2 of a WC spot with still 21 games (42 points) left in their schedule. Two losses, however, and they could be as much as 9 points out on deadline day.
And a lot of teams are in almost the exact same sort of position.
Hi George, agreed regarding the Jets. Locked on Sens guys proposed trying to trade for Demelo. Would be an interesting move, as he’s gelled with Chabot in the past. Not sure he’s the type of guy the Jets want to move though.
What do you think?
That’s a tough one to assess, Owen. He has two years to run after this at $4.9 mil per off the cap and when that expires he’ll be approaching his 35th B-day. He also has a 10-team no trade list, and after being shunted off to Winnipeg just before trade deadline day in 2020 for a 3rd round pick, Ottawa could well be on that list.
And even assuming they’re not on his list of no-go sites, and the Jets are willing to deal him, I have no clue what they would want in return.
On a personal basis he’s not having a bad season with 3g 14a 17 pts and, on a team that is a collective -18 in goal differential, he’s a +9.
So, if Cheveldayov thinks his team is capable of a Boston-like turnaround with some tinkering, and being a RD, he is one guy he probably would want to keep around – unless he’s blown away by a trade offer. Which I don’t see Demelo commanding.
Ticket sales are a big part of Winnipeg’s financial picture. If they are truly sellers with no hope of making playoffs, then ticket sales may suffer.
I am an outsider to Winnipeg, so I am not sure all that is true.
One thing is for sure – since leaving Atlanta, the Jets have been a very competitive team. Jets’ fans have not endured some of the bad teams that played in Atlanta.
Drew O´Connor should be a good fit with Montreal, cap is fine, can really skate and is big and good on forecheck
Perhaps, Kent. I’d be more keen were his cap hit not 2.5 for next year. Maybe straight up for Textier.
Bruins …. Would like to see Owen Tippett added to roster although cost would be high he would fit right in to the Bruins style of play … #4 of the NYR would also be a nice add top 2- 3 Dman also high cost… no 30 year old rentals please
He would suit the team.
Joe I would look at Tippett, Garland, Kyrou,Bunting if I was looking for another top 6 forward. That would enable them to trade Ardvisson and Peeke who are UFA s.
It seems the Leafs are gung ho on getting a 1st rounder for McMann. Unless they allow a team to negotiate with him ahead of time, I am not sure if they will get that 1st.
McMann, as a pure rental for the last 2 months of the season and playoffs might be worth a 2nd. (Sherwood got 2 seconds, but there are rumours he might get moved again if he doesn’t resign before the TDL).
McMann is a nice player, but on a contender, he would be an energy third line guy. Third line guys don’t make $4-$5M per season.
Just my two cents.
McMann should get the Leafs a 2nd or a 3rd and some B/B- prospect. Can’t see a team offering up a first for him.
OEL might fetch a first. Stolly (buddy of mine) may fetch an OK return for a goalie. Leafs fans need to be realistic on some of these returns.
Well done Kinger made me smile lol.
A first of McMann was 4-5 years younger
I’ve read a couple places that it’s going to be a buyers market. A 2nd for possibly the best rental rhd seems to support that to some extent
Chrisms
I’m quite surprised CHI couldn’t get more for Murphy. Was Davidson doing Bowman a favour?
I guess if rumours are true that TOR has a 1st on the table for OEL they should jump on it.
Hell, yes Daryl. They have to start piling up draft picks and, ultimately, their prospect pool, somewhere. Keeping Ekman-Larsson around for two more seasons at $3.5 mil per, and at at the end of which he’ll be 37 y/o, makes absolutely NO sense. It’s not like keeping him is going to be a major part of any upswing in fortunes next season.
I agree with you two guys on OEL, but I think the Leafs have a different opinion of next season and think they have a chance to turn it around next season.
And if that’s the plan they would just have another hole to fill with OEL gone, and it would likely cost more cap $’s.
Not sure if that’s possible, but they do have some quality players up front so plan to give it a go IMO.
If it doesn’t work out, then get busy selling next TDL.
I think they move pending UFA’s and that’s it, unless somebody overpays significantly for a guy like OEL.
If they do blow it up and rebuild, my guess is it won’t be Treliving steering the ship, he likely knows that too.
Why pay all those exorbitant prices, come on down to the Nuck’s bargain basement sale starting on Wednesday at noon! 😁