NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2025

by | Mar 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2025

A look at the potential offseason plans for the Hurricanes, Flyers and Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HURRICANES TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN THIS SUMMER’S FREE-AGENT MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: In an interview with Pierre LeBrun, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky indicated that his club intends to use its salary-cap space to be aggressive in this summer’s free-agent market.

Tulsky also said that he’d be willing to gamble again on acquiring a big-name rental player without assurances of a contract extension. He made a splash two months ago in the trade market by acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche, only to trade him to the Dallas Stars before the March 7 trade deadline because he wouldn’t commit to an extension.

TSN: LeBrun said he expects the Hurricanes will pursue Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger heads to the free-agent market on July 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Before trading Rantanen to Dallas, the Hurricanes offered him to the Leafs straight up for Marner. Leafs management took the offer to Marner, stressing their priority was to re-sign him but there was an opportunity to send him to the Hurricanes if he wasn’t sure about staying with the Leafs. Marner decided not to waive his no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes won’t be the only team to pursue Marner this summer if he tests the market. However, they could be the only playoff contender with deep enough pockets to land him.

WHICH PLAYERS SHOULD THE FLYERS TARGET THIS SUMMER?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: A reader recently asked William James which players he believes the Philadelphia Flyers should target in free agency this summer.

James believes they need a reliable backup goaltender, suggesting Alex Lyon of the Detroit Red Wings as an option. He also thinks they should consider signing Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun to upgrade their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What do you think, Flyers fans? Which players would you like to see your club add via free agency or trades this summer? Let me know in the comments section below.

WILL THE CANUCKS USE TRADE OR FREE AGENCY TO ADD A FORWARD?

THE PROVINCE: A reader asked Patrick Johnston if he felt the Vancouver Canucks would use this summer’s free-agent market to add a top-tier or second-tier forward to their roster.

Johnston cited Mitch Marner as the top potential unrestricted free agent but wondered if he’ll even make it to market. Nikolaj Ehlers is the next most exciting player out there but questioned if the Canucks need to add another small forward.

Ultimately, Johnston thinks they’ll go the trade route this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks have a projected cap space of $14 million for next season with 20 active players under contract. Brock Boeser and Pius Suter are their notable pending UFAs this summer. They won’t have enough to land Marner and could consider more affordable options besides Ehlers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2025

by | Mar 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2025

A milestone for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Golden Knights center Jack Eichel sets a franchise record, the latest on next season’s schedule, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his 424th NHL regular-season win as he and his teammates nipped the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots and Sam Bennett scored twice for the Panthers, who’ve won seven of their last eight games and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. John Tavares and Max Domi replied for the Leafs, who sit four points behind the Panthers in second place in the division.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky holds sole possession of 10th overall among goalies for career wins. He’s 13 wins behind Jacques Plante, who holds ninth place. Martin Brodeur is the all-time leader with 691 victories. Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev returned to action after missing six games with an upper-body injury.

The Vegas Golden Knights blanked the Columbus Blues Jackets 4-0, extending their points streak to seven games. Adin Hill turned in a 27-save shutout performance while Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Nicolas Roy each collected two points for the Golden Knights, who sit first in the Pacific Division with 85 points. The Blue Jackets hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 70 points, but they’ve lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel collected an assist to set the single-season franchise points record with 79.

A four-goal first period carried the Ottawa Senators to a 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins. Drake Batherson scored twice and collected an assist while goaltender Linus Ullmark made a highlight-reel glove save as the Senators hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 75 points. David Pastrnak tallied his 34th goal for the Bruins, who sit two points behind the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk sat out the final minutes of the game with a hip injury. Head coach Travis Green said Tkachuk tweaked his hip but expects he’ll be all right.

An overtime goal by Braden Schneider lifted the New York Rangers over the Minnesota Wild 3-2. Igor Shesterkin turned aside 26 shots as the Rangers sit behind the Blue Jackets with 70 points. Wild captain Jared Spurgeon collected two assists as his club holds the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev left the Rangers during this road trip to undergo further evaluation and testing for an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Brett Pesce had a goal and an assist as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 47th goal to extend his points streak to 16 games. The Oilers cling to third in the Pacific Division with 78 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have been in a funk of late with just three wins in their last 11 contests.

Meanwhile, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman filed a motion to quash a subpoena for him to be deposed in the case of John Doe vs the Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman and other former Blackhawks employees have been issued subpoenas to sit for depositions from John Doe’s attorneys.

Bowman claims he was not properly served the subpoena because his home is in Edmonton, not Chicago, and the court doesn’t have any personal jurisdiction over him for several reasons, including that he is a resident and citizen of Canada.

The former Blackhawks player is suing the franchise for failing to act when informed of sexual assault allegations against former team video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bowman was general manager at the time.

Los Angeles Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper had a 21-save shutout to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-0. Quinton Byfield scored to extend his goal streak to five games and Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who’ve won four straight and vaulted over the Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division with 79 points. The Capitals slipped into second place in the overall standings with 94 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals are tied with the Winnipeg Jets but the latter holds first overall with 45 wins.

The Philadelphia Flyers snapped a five-game losing skid with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bobby Brink had two goals and an assist in regulation and Owen Tippett netted the winning goal for the Flyers. Jonas Johansson stopped 26 shots for the Lightning, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning recalled Cam Atkinson from their AHL affiliate in Syracuse to replace ailing winger Nikita Kucherov. Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry kicked out 33 shots in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust each had a goal and an assist as the Penguins collected their third straight win. Blues netminder Jordan Binnington was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots. With 69 points, the Blues sit two points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild card.

The San Jose Sharks ended a three-game skid by doubling up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Collin Graf tallied twice and Will Smith had a goal and an assist. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks center Connor Bedard received a 10-minute misconduct for abuse of officials. No explanation was given by the referee and Bedard looked confused when the call was made. After the game, the Blackhawks star said it was for something he said to the official regarding an uncalled trip by Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the 2025-26 NHL schedule is tentatively slated to open on Oct. 7 with the 2026 Stanley Cup Final end around June 21-22 at the latest. The schedule is to accommodate the Winter Olympic break plus the All-Star Game.

Meanwhile, the 2026-27 season could see an 84-game regular season with a shortened preseason, with the regular season beginning in late September with the playoffs ending in late June. It would better accommodate breaks for the Olympics and World Cup of Hockey while reducing the number of back-to-back games that teams currently face.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes to the regular season and playoff formats are expected to be part of the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires in September 2026 but a new agreement is expected to be in place well before then, avoiding the possibility of another work stoppage.

Removing the requirement of playing at least one game in every NHL arena doesn’t appear very popular. Some teams don’t want to go two years without seeing a superstar like Connor McDavid or a popular draw like the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens.

Canceling the All-Star Game has also been discussed. It won’t happen next year as the New York Islanders have already been announced as the host team for the 2026 game. However, the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off has prompted talks about changing course. LeBrun wonders if they’ll consider scrapping the ASG during Olympic years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL All-Star Game has been a pathetic joke for four decades. Only the team hosting the event sees any benefit. It’s a ratings dud, and those fans who tune in seem to be “hate-watching” so they can dump on the event in real time on social media.

I’d like to see an Olympics-4 Nations-World Cup-4 Nations format.

CALGARY SUN: Flames center Connor Zary received a two-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for a late, retaliatory hit on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson on Wednesday.

ROTOWIRE: Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov will miss Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings with an undisclosed ailment.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2025

by | Mar 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2025

A glimpse at what the offseason could hold for the Flyers, Blackhawks and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reported Philadelphia Flyers fans are still waiting for general manager Daniel Briere to take a big swing at acquiring a major name. That could happen as early as this summer.

That move could take the form of a major trade. However, Briere didn’t dismiss the possibility of wading into free agency, given their ample cap space next season.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the salary cap reaches $95.5 million, the Flyers will have over $27.5 million with four young restricted free agents (Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster, Jakob Pelletier and Cam York) who should be affordable re-signings. That’ll leave sufficient room to make a significant addition via trade or free agency.

The Flyers also have seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, three of them being first-rounders. They also hold two first-rounders in 2027. Some of those picks could be used as trade capital to add immediate help to their roster.

BLACKHAWKS

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Greg Boysen believes Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson has set himself up for a big summer.

During Davidson’s trade deadline press conference, he indicated it’s time to start making “hockey trades” by acquiring more players rather than draft picks and prospects. He didn’t rule out using some of his stockpiled draft capital to pursue some big-name talent this summer, indicating he’ll seek acquisitions that fit the team’s picture going forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Davidson spent the past two seasons acquiring veterans via trades and free agency. However, most of them were past their prime, doing little to improve the Blackhawks or take pressure off franchise player Connor Bedard, who confessed to frustration at times this season about the club’s performance.

Davidson’s trade or free agent targets should be players in their mid to late-twenties in their playing prime, including someone who can play well alongside Bedard.

The Blackhawks have seven picks in the first four rounds of this year’s draft (including two first-rounders), and five picks in the first two rounds of next year’s draft (including two more first-rounders). Some of those picks could be part of a trade package deal that fetches some established young talent this summer.

KRAKEN

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Tim Booth looked ahead to what could be a busy summer for Kraken GM Ron Francis.

Winger Eeli Tolvanen has a career-high 18 goals this season and could be of interest to another club this summer. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak could have been moved at last Friday’s trade deadline and could be a trade target this summer.

Booth wondered if Francis might move a cornerstone player like winger Jared McCann or defenseman Vince Dunn. He also speculated that goaltender Philipp Grubauer and winger Andre Burakovsky could become buyout candidates if no trade partners can be found.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Francis focused on adding younger players to the roster this season, most notably his acquisition of winger Kaapo Kakko from the Rangers in December. He could continue that trend during the summer.










Notable NHL Trades – March 7, 2025

by | Mar 7, 2025

Notable NHL Trades – March 7, 2025

The Boston Bruins traded Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers for a conditional 2027 second-round pick. The Bruins retained half of Marchand’s $6.13 million cap hit.  

Boston Bruins traded Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Fraser Minten and a first-round pick. 

Toronto Maple Leafs trade Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar to the Pittsburgh Penguins. More to follow. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire Luke Kunin from the San Jose Sharks for a 2025 fourth-rounder. 

The Ottawa Senators acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins and a fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Noah Gregor, Zack Ostapchuk and a second-round pick. 

Philadelphia Flyers trade Erik Johnson to the Colorado Avalanche for Givani Smith.

The Buffalo Sabres shipped Henri Jokiharju to the Boston Bruins. Details to follow.  

The Dallas Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Logan Stankoven and two first-round picks. The Stars sign Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $12 million. More details to follow.

New Jersey Devils acquire Cody Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third-round pick.

The Boston Bruins Trade Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, prospect Will Zellers and a second-round pick.

The Detroit Red Wings Acquire Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Joe Veleno.

The Philadelphia Flyers trade Scott Laughton, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-rounder to the Toronto Maple Leafs for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick.

The Buffalo Sabres trade Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

The Winnipeg Jets acquire Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Jets also acquire Brandon Tanev from the Seattle Kraken for a 2027 second-round pick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Anthony Beauvillier to the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick in 2025.

The Philadelphia Flyers traded Andrei Kuzmenko to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Flyers retain 50 percent of Kuzmenko’s $5.5 million cap hit. 










NHL Rumor Mill – March 6, 2025

by | Mar 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 6, 2025

The trade deadline is 3 PM ET on Friday, March 7. Check out the latest speculation on the notable trade candidates and the status of the notable buyers and sellers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HURRICANES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Carolina Hurricanes are conducting due diligence on Mikko Rantanen, checking out potential returns as a rental player or if he signs a contract extension with the acquiring team before July 1.

Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings are among a long list of suitors. If the Hurricanes agree to retain half of their share of Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit ($4.625 million), the acquiring team would get him at the bargain rate of just over $2.3 million.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

If the Hurricanes don’t like the offers, they can retain Rantanen for the rest of the season and make a run for the Stanley Cup.

TSN: Darren Dreger believes the New Jersey Devils could kick tires on Rantanen. They reported yesterday that superstar center Jack Hughes underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out a Rantanen trade because of his offensive skills. However, the Hurricanes probably won’t move him if they don’t get a return that improves their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

DEVILS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports the Devils contacted the Hurricanes about Rantanen. He expects they could also be in the mix for notable trade candidates like Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks, among others.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils have Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler on LTIR, giving them over $11 million in salary cap flexibility to pursue one or two of this season’s notable trade candidates.

ISLANDERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports sources said New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was still trying to hammer out a contract extension for Brock Nelson. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll remain an Islander, as some teams interested in acquiring him could also want to sign him.

Staple lists the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings as clubs that would make pitches to Nelson if he doesn’t re-sign with the Isles. Some of those clubs could also be interested in Isles winger Kyle Palmieri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello could take this situation with Nelson up to Friday before deciding whether to sign or trade him. It could increase Nelson’s trade value, but there’s also a risk of waiting too long and finding out that other clubs have moved on.

PENGUINS

TSN: Darren Dreger doesn’t rule out the Pittsburgh Penguins trading Rickard Rakell. However, he thinks it will take a significant offer to tempt them into moving the 31-year-old scoring winger.

Chris Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if they flip recently acquired defenseman Luke Schenn to another club by the trade deadline.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports Rakell has been made available in the trade market. He also believes it would take a substantial return to pry him away from the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rakell leads the Penguins with 29 goals and is second in points with 53. He’s signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $5 million. Pens GM Kyle Dubas will want a return that includes a first-round pick and a good young player who can join the roster immediately.

MAPLE LEAFS

TSN: Darren Dreger believes the Toronto Maple Leafs trade targets include St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, and perhaps Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They are too expensive for the cap-strapped Leafs unless GM Brad Treliving can free up salary or swing a three-team deal to make the dollars work. They could pursue Rantanen if the Hurricanes agree to retain half his remaining cap hit but he won’t address their need for a third line center and another defenseman.

FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz cited a report on Tuesday claiming as many as eight teams have called the Philadelphia Flyers about Scott Laughton. However, only a handful may have engaged in serious trade discussions. He speculates they could include the Maple Leafs, Devils and Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers remain reluctant about moving Laughton because of what he brings to the team in experience and leadership. Nevertheless, they could trade him if someone agrees to meet their high asking price, which could include a first-round draft pick.

BRUINS

TSN: Chris Johnston reports hearing that Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo’s name is out there in the trade market.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that teams talking trade with the Bruins have shifted their focus from sidelined captain Brad Marchand to players like Carlo and Morgan Geekie. However, they won’t be moved unless the Bruins receive offers that “knock their socks off.” It’s expected they’ll be peddling pending UFAs like Justin Brazeau.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand was unlikely to be moved by the deadline, given his leadership role with the Bruins and his close relationship with GM Don Sweeney. His upper-body injury should silence that trade chatter.

CANUCKS

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Vancouver Canucks have gauged the market on pending UFA winger Brock Boeser. They could also elect to hang onto him. He also indicated that any moves the Canucks make will be with an eye on next season.

CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens are willing to trade pending UFAs David Savard or Joel Armia but not both. They don’t want to take away too much from their roster as they push for a wild-card spot. They could attempt a hockey trade to bring in a player who can help them for the long term. So far, nothing is imminent.

TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie doesn’t expect Armia to be traded. He believes the checking-line forward might fetch a second-round pick but he’d be more effective to the Canadiens now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have played their way back into playoff contention since the 4 Nations Face-Off ended two weeks ago. GM Kent Hughes could prefer keeping his roster intact to allow them to battle for a wild-card berth.

Lavoie was the only pundit insisting the Canadiens had a path to signing Jake Evans to a contract extension, which they did earlier this week.

JETS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports that finding a second-line center is the priority for the Winnipeg Jets. Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders could be a really good addition here. They could also consider adding a bottom-six player who could play in the top six, like Montreal’s Joel Armia.

OILERS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun acknowledged the calls for the Edmonton Oilers to acquire a goaltender, but he doesn’t believe that’s their priority. He thinks they need another defenseman.

FLAMES AND SENATORS

TSN: Chris Johnston doesn’t see the Calgary Flames or Ottawa Senators making significant moves at the deadline. The Senators are hampered by salary-cap constraints. Meanwhile, the Flames seem intent on keeping their current group together as they try to nail down a playoff berth.

BLUE JACKETS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun doesn’t fully rule out the Columbus Blue Jackets trading Ivan Provorov. However, he thinks the 28-year-old defenseman will be staying put. The two sides remain apart in their contract extension talks but they’ve agreed to resume the discussion after the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are jockeying for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Provorov is a key member of their blueline. Moving him could disrupt the solid team chemistry that has this club defying the odds this season.

DUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes John Gibson will remain with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Edmonton Oilers need goaltending but they don’t see the 31-year-old Gibson as an improvement over their tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. The Carolina Hurricanes had spoken with the Ducks about Gibson this season but Frederik Andersen’s return to action and the Ducks’ asking price likely rules out a possible deal there.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 3, 2025

by | Mar 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 3, 2025

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Schenn, Erik Karlsson and John Gibson, plus updates on the Flyers, Blue Jackets, Senators, and Wild in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TEAMS STILL CALLING ABOUT MIKKO RANTANEN

TSN: Darren Dreger considers it “not very realistic” that the Carolina Hurricanes will trade Mikko Rantanen. Nevertheless, he thinks “there’s always the potential” that they’ll move the 28-year-old winger by the March 7 trade deadline.

Dreger believes it would “take something silly,” like an offer that Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and general manager Eric Tulsky weren’t expecting. He thinks they’ll hang onto Rantanen, hope for a deep playoff run, and convince him that Carolina is a good long-term fit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We didn’t expect Rantanen to be traded by the Avalanche, but Tulsky swung a creative three-way deal to get him. It’s unlikely another club will swoop in with a mind-blowing offer, but we can’t dismiss that possibility.

UPDATE ON BRAYDEN SCHENN

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (NHL Images).

Dreger also said that it looks unlikely that Brayden Schenn will be traded with the St. Louis Blues in the mix for a Western Conference wild-card berth. He noted that they don’t have to trade the 33-year-old center this season because he’s got three more years left on his deal. They could revisit this in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s also been reported that the Blues set a high asking price for Schenn, making a move by the trade deadline unlikely.

PENGUINS HAVEN’T ASKED ERIK KARLSSON TO WAIVE HIS NMC

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Seth Rorabaugh reports that Erik Karlsson said he hasn’t been approached by Penguins management about waiving his no-movement clause.

Karlsson acknowledged it’s been a stressful time for his teammates with the trade deadline approaching and the Penguins considered to be sellers. “As for my situation, like I said, I’ll deal with that if it, and when it, comes. Until then, I’m not.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s strong performance for Sweden in last month’s 4 Nations Face-Off prompted some observers to suggest rival general managers could take an interest in him. However, his contract remains a big hurdle in the path to a trade.

The Penguins carry $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual salary through 2026-27, plus his NMC gives him complete control over the situation. A rival team could pitch an offer to the Penguins’ liking that would make Karlsson agree to waive his clubs. However, it will take a creative proposal to do so.

THE FLYERS COULD HAVE A QUIET TRADE DEADLINE

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz wouldn’t be surprised if Scott Laughton and Rasmus Ristolainen remain with the Philadelphia Flyers after the March 7 trade deadline. The Flyers aren’t in any rush to move two players considered integral parts of their roster. Their asking price for Laughton could be too expensive for most suitors, while Ristolainen hasn’t generated much interest in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laughton is signed through next season and Ristolainen through 2026-27. There’s no need to move them to cut costs because they already did that by trading Joel Farabee to Calgary in January. Laughton and Ristolainen will remain in Philadelphia unless someone makes a significant offer this week. 

THE LATEST ON JOHN GIBSON

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens noted recent reports indicating John Gibson is open to being traded by the Anaheim Ducks, but he wants to go to a team where he’d have a clear path to being the starting goaltender. It’s believed the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers are among the clubs on his list of trade destinations.

The Ducks prefer not retaining any portion of Gibson’s $6.4 million average annual cap hit, but they aren’t ruling it out completely. They also have the cap space to take on an expiring contract if it’ll enable them to move Gibson’s full contract. That would keep cap space clear down the road to re-sign their promising young players when they are due for new contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson’s been in the rumor mill for a while now with no indication that a trade is in sight. A move seems more likely in the offseason unless a contender with goaltending issues steps up with a suitable offer by March 7.

BLUE JACKETS BECOME TRADE DEADLINE BUYERS

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports the Columbus Blue Jackets’ push for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference makes them increasingly look like buyers as the trade deadline approaches.

A source told Biringer that the Jackets are looking at adding depth to their forward lines. They were active in talks with the Nashville Predators about forward Gustav Nyquist before he was shipped to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After overcoming front-office turmoil and the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau last summer, the Blue Jackets are the feel-good story of the season. General manager Don Waddell has no reason to be a seller now. He’ll likely keep an eye open for a player in the trade market who can help the Jackets maintain their current momentum.

ARE MORE MOVES COMING FOR THE WILD?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith report the Minnesota Wild don’t have much cap space after acquiring forward Gustav Nyquist from the Nashville Predators on Saturday. GM Bill Guerin is keeping an open mind leading up to the trade deadline. However, it would have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out move and the Wild don’t have many tradeable pieces on their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Russo and Smith suggest such a move would require salary retention or a three-team deal.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie reports Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios continues working the phones but we shouldn’t expect his club to be a big player in the trade market. They lack sufficient cap space to make a major move.

If Staios makes a trade, it’ll likely be for an affordable veteran forward. Options could include Seattle’s Brandon Tanev, Chicago’s Ryan Donato, and Boston’s Trent Frederic.