Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup (Part 2) – March 1, 2026

by | Mar 1, 2026

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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2026

by | Feb 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov reaches an assists milestone, Artemi Panarin collects his first points with the Kings, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville gets his 1,000th win, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists, including his 700th career regular-season assist, as the Tampa Bay Lightning doubled up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Gage Goncalves also had a goal and two assists, and Brayden Point scored twice and picked up an assist for the Lightning (38-14-4), who have won six straight games and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 80 points. John Tavares and Matthew Knies replied for the 27-22-9 Maple Leafs, who remain six points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper missed this game due to the death of his father earlier this week. Kucherov also reached the 30-goal plateau for the ninth time in his NHL career and sits second in the scoring race with 94 points. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews picked up an assist in this game.

Artemi Panarin collected his first points with the Los Angeles Kings, but his new club fell 6-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals while Tanner Laczynski collected three assists for the Golden Knights (28-16-14), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 70 points. Quinton Byfield netted two goals for the 23-20-14 Kings, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights played without Olympians Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, and Shea Theodore. All five played in Sunday’s gold-medal game. Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said they were left behind to give them a break. It’s expected they’ll rejoin the team for Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

Anaheim Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville got his 1,000th regular-season win as his club nipped the Edmonton Oilers 6-5. Leo Carlsson had a goal and two assists, and Cutter Gauthier potted the game-winner with 1:14 remaining in the third period for the Ducks (31-23-3). Matt Savoie had a goal and two assists while Connor McDavid had two assists for the 28-23-8 Oilers, who have lost four straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quenneville is only the second coach in NHL history to win 1,000 games. Scotty Bowman is the leader with 1,244. Ducks forward Mikael Granlund missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche improved to 38-9-9 (85 points) with a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Martin Necas and Parker Kelly each had a goal and an assist while Brock Nelson tallied his 30th goal of the season for the Avalanche. Dylan Guenther tallied both goals for the Mammoth (30-24-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon missed this game because of maintenance, according to a team spokesman. MacKinnon appeared to be dealing with an injury during the Olympics. Mammoth center Logan Cooley picked up an assist as he returned to action for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 5.

An overtime goal by Cole Perfetti lifted the Winnipeg Jets over the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Mark Scheifele had two assists, and Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the 23-26-8 Jets. Drew O’Connor and Evander Kane scored for the Canucks (18-33-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks held Tyler Myers out of this game for “roster management purposes”, which means the 36-year-old defenseman could be traded if he agrees to waive his no-movement clause. He’s signed through next season with an average annual value of $3 million.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice, including his 30th goal of the season, in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to seven games for the Stars (35-14-9), who have won seven straight games. Ryker Evans replied for the 27-21-9 Kraken.

The Buffalo Sabres held off the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2-1. Tage Thompson and Peyton Kreb scored for the Sabres, who improved to 33-19-6. Timo Meier scored, and Jack Hughes collected an assist for the 28-28-2 Devils.

Third-period goals by Trevor van Riemsdyk and Aliaksei Protas lifted the Washington Capitals to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Protas also picked up an assist, and goaltender Logan Thompson made 23 saves for the 30-23-7 Capitals. Noah Cates replied for the 25-21-11 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Capitals placed forward Sonny Milano on waivers as they activated Connor McMichael off injured reserve.

HEADLINES

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during the Olympics. He’s been placed on injured reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a significant test for the retooling Penguins, who have exceeded expectations this season to sit second in the Metropolitan Division. They’ll look to long-time star Evgeni Malkin to step up as he’s done in the past whenever Crosby has been injured. This will also be an opportunity for young Penguins such as Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Avery Hayes, and recently-acquired defenseman Samuel Girard to show what they can do.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov remains upbeat and happy with the pace of his recovery from knee surgery last September. He was expected to miss the entire season, but he’s hoping to return for the playoffs.

Barkov’s recovery period also inspired him to make a donation exceeding $1 million to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which named its sports medicine program after him. Since 2019, the Panthers captain has regularly made annual donations totaling $420,000 to the hospital.

SPORTSNET: St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas has taken a leave of absence due to a personal matter. Out of respect for Thomas’ privacy, the club won’t provide any further comment at this time.

ESPN: Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight said a widely circulated comment from President Donald Trump about the US Women’s Olympic hockey team was a “distasteful joke”, and she is more focused on celebrating the women’s accomplishments at the Milan Games.

During the US men’s post-game dressing room celebration of their gold-medal win over Canada, Trump invited them to Washington for the State of the Union address. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, adding with a laugh that he could be impeached if he didn’t include the women’s team.

Several of the players laughed at Trump’s joke, generating criticism when the video went viral. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, and Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars subsequently insisted that they and their USA teammates respected the women’s team and had a great relationship with them.

Knight echoed that sentiment, saying she believed there was a genuine level of support and respect from the men’s team. “I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”

Boston Bruins goaltender and Team USA backup Jeremy Swayman said, “We should’ve reacted differently” to Trump’s joke. He added that he and his teammates were excited for the women’s team when they won gold. “We have so much respect for the women’s team.”

In a statement through a spokesperson, the women’s team declined the invitation to the State of the Union, citing logistics and scheduling concerns. The statement also said that they were honored to be included and grateful for the acknowledgement.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 13, 2026

by | Feb 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 13, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest Oilers speculation and a list of contenders lacking first-round picks to use as trade bait.

WHAT WILL THE OILERS DO AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell recently looked at what the Edmonton Oilers can do to improve their lineup at the trade deadline with a limited budget.

Mitchell doesn’t see the Oilers making any further attempts to upgrade their goaltending. They lack the trade chips to pursue someone like Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

The Oilers could use a right-shot defenseman on their second pairing and a suitable third-line center. Mitchell suggests Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators as a possibility to address the latter.

Their cap constraints could also force them to look within their system if suitable options cannot be found in the trade market.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples referenced NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who recently said the Oilers aren’t focused on acquiring another defenseman as they believe fixing the blueline will take care of itself. Staples disagrees, believing that’s the area that needs the most attention.

Staples noted that most insiders believe the Oilers need another forward, but he points out that Kasperi Kapanen has recently returned from injury to provide depth on the wing. He also noted that Josh Samanski looked good in the third-line center role since being called up from Bakersfield. They also have promising wingers such as Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard in their system.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever moves the Oilers make will depend on whether they can get struggling winger Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6 million annual cap hit through next season off their books. Maybe they can swap him for another player with a comparable salary, or peddle him in a cost-cutting move for assets that can be used in the trade market to bolster their roster.

WHICH CONTENDERS LACK FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN THIS YEAR’S DRAFT

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston recently listed several NHL teams that could be without their first-round picks in this year’s draft. Among them are several contenders that won’t have one to use as trade bait before the March 6 trade deadline.

The Vegas Golden Knights shipped their 2026 first-rounder to the Calgary Flames in the Noah Hanifin trade two years ago.

Sitting third overall in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are virtually guaranteed to send their 2026 first-rounder to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of last year’s Mikko Rantanen deal. The pick was top-10 protected, but the Stars are unlikely to slide that far in the standings over the remainder of this season.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they will be sending either their 2026 first-rounder to the New York Rangers as part of the return from last summer’s K’Andre Miller trade or the first-rounder they received from the Stars, whichever is the better, in the event both picks are outside the top 10, which they currently are. Their pick was top-10 protected, but the Hurricanes are tied for first in the Eastern Conference.

The Minnesota Wild traded their 2026 first-rounder (no conditions attached) to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return for Quinn Hughes in December.

Another Eastern Conference leader won’t have their first-round pick. The Tampa Bay Lightning sent theirs to the Seattle Kraken last year for Oliver Bjorkstrand. It is top-10 protected, but they’re currently tied for first with the Hurricanes.

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche will be sending its pick to the New York Islanders. It is top-10 protected, but all but certain to belong to the Isles by the end of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a trade rumor, but I felt it was worthwhile to note this since contenders almost always tend to part with their first-rounders to bolster their rosters for a Stanley Cup run.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2026

by | Feb 6, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2026

Recapping the final games before the Olympic break, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is named to Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their fifth straight win by taming the Florida Panthers 6-1. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pontus Holmberg had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Kucherov picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games for the Lightning (37-14-5), who lead the Eastern Conference with 78 points. Mackie Samoskevich scored for the 29-25-3 Panthers, who have lost five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning-Panthers feud continued as multiple fights occurred in the third period, highlighted by a spirited tilt between Brandon Hagel of the Lightning and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers. Florida head coach Paul Maurice was ejected as the two teams combined for 114 minutes in penalties, with nine players receiving 10-minute misconducts.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Adin Hill made 32 saves, and Mark Stone had a goal and two assists for the 27-16-12 Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 68 points. Trevor Moore replied for the Kings (23-19-14), who are 1-3-1 in their last five games.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings captain Anze Kopitar picked up an assist on Moore’s goal, becoming the 39th player in league history to reach 1,300 career regular-season points. He needs eight more points to break Marcel Dionne’s franchise record of 1,307.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi made 16 saves to shut out the New York Rangers 2-0. Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes (36-15-6), who are 8-0-2 in their last 10, and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Jonathan Quick kicked out 41 of 42 shots for the 22-29-6 Rangers, who have lost seven of their last eight contests.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut in a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Rookie Ben Kindel also tallied two goals for the Penguins (29-15-12). Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres (32-19-6), who are 1-2-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins called up Hayes with forwards Blake Lizotte, Rickard Rakell, and Noel Acciari out of this game for various reasons.

Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois returned from a 47-game absence (abdominal surgery) with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators. Logan Thompson made 27 saves after missing four games with an upper-body injury as the Capitals (29-23-7) have won four of their last five contests. Jonathan Marchessault and Michael McCarron replied for the 26-24-7 Predators.

An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Nick Cousins also scored for the Senators, who have won five of their last six games to improve their record to 28-22-7. Jamie Drysdale tied the game late in the third period for the Flyers (25-20-11).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators’ backup goalie James Reimer filled in for starter Linus Ullmark, who was a late scratch due to illness.

Speaking of the Senators, top prospect Carter Yakemchuk remains focused on becoming a full-time member of their defense corps. He said that he was drafted to one day become a defense partner for Jake Sanderson. It’s expected that Yakemchuk could be called up from their AHL affiliate in Belleville following the Olympic break.

The New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Bo Horvat scored the winning goal and collected an assist while Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves for the 32-21-5 Islanders. Nico Hischier scored for the Devils (28-27-2), who have dropped five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL schedule is now on its’ Olympic break until Wednesday, Feb. 25.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis will replace Tampa Bay Lightning center Braydon Point on Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Point suffered a knee injury on Jan. 12 and hasn’t fully recovered in time for the Olympics. Jarvis played for Canada in last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Point is the second member of the Lightning forced to miss the Olympics due to an injury. Teammate Anthony Cirelli was also selected as a member of Team Canada, but he was replaced earlier this week with Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, who also played in the 4 Nations tournament.

THE SCORE: cited a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, claiming Artemi Panarin rejected a $56 million contract offer from the Seattle Kraken before agreeing to be traded to the Los Angeles Kings earlier this week, where he signed a two-year, $22 million deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited Friedman saying that Panarin’s agent was telling teams that his client was going to the Carolina Hurricanes, but that seemed to have been posturing to try and get other interested club to raise their offers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken have been seeking a scoring star for years, but offering up a 34-year-old winger a four-year deal worth $14 million annually is ridiculous. Panarin turns 35 in October, and his production has declined since his career-high of 120 points in 2023-24. That contract would’ve aged poorly for the Kraken.

SPORTSNET: Details are emerging regarding the incident that led to Penn State forward Gavin McKenna facing charges of aggravated and simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct.

A police affidavit stated McKenna was caught on video punching a man in the face twice, resulting in the victim requiring surgery for a fractured jaw that had to be wired shut.

The alleged assault occurred as McKenna and several of his teammates were coming from a pub after Penn State had hosted Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. He allegedly punched the victim after words were exchanged between the two men.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna, 18, is considered among the top prospects in this year’s NHL Draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2026

by | Feb 5, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2026

A big game for the Blue Jackets, a hat-trick performance by the Wild’s Matt Boldy, the Blues and Devils make a trade, top prospect Gavin McKenna charged with assault, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets won their seventh straight game by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Jet Greaves stopped 21 shots as the Jackets won their second straight game via shutout. Zach Werenski scored his 20th goal of the season, and Charlie Coyle collected two assists for the 29-20-7 Blue Jackets. Spencer Knight stopped 16 of 19 shots for the Blackhawks, who slipped to 22-26-9.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski leads all NHL defensemen in goals this season and sits second to Edmonton Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard with 62 points. Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko missed his second straight game due to illness. Meanwhile, Blackhawks forwards Wyatt Kaiser and Colton Dach left this game with injuries.

Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy cracked the 30-goal plateau with a hat trick, and Jared Spurgeon scored in overtime for a 6-5 victory over the Nashville Predators. Boldy also collected an assist for a four-point game, and Quinn Hughes had two assists for the 34-14-10 as they extended their win streak to five games. Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each had three points for the Predators (26-24-3).

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the game with 23 seconds remaining in the third period to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-4. Benn also had an assist while Jason Robertson tallied his 200th career NHL regular-season goal for the 34-14-9 Stars as they picked up their sixth consecutive victory. Jimmy Snuggerud and Jordan Kyrou each had a goal and an assist for the 20-28-9 Blues, who’ve dropped eight of their last nine games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin returned to action after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Teammate Lian Bichsel is expected to return to the lineup following the Olympic break. He’s been out of action since Nov. 30 with a lower-body injury.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has two assists, including his 700th career NHL regular-season assist, as his club doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice, and Valeri Nichushkin picked up three assists for the 37-9-9 Avalanche, who lead the league with 83 points. Timothy Liljegren and Philipp Kurashev replied for the Sharks (27-24-4), who are 0-3-1 in their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are 4-6-1 in their last 11. Before that slide, they were sitting third in the Pacific Division. They’ve since slipped to sixth, sitting five points out of a wildcard berth in the Western Conference.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson each had a goal and two assists, and goaltender Sam Montembeault kicked out 36 shots for the 32-17-8 Canadiens, extending their points streak to five games (4-0-1). Kyle Connor replied for the Jets, who dropped to 22-26-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Big win for Montembeault, who bailed out his teammates during their sluggish first period. Following the game, he revealed that he had gone through an emotional time recently, with his grandmother passing away on Jan. 27 and the Canadiens firing goalie coach Eric Raymond, who had coached Montembeault since 2021.

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins. Matthew Tkachuk and Uvis Balinskis each had a goal and an assist, and Brad Marchand tallied the winning goal in the shootout for the 29-24-3 Panthers, snapping a four-game losing skid. Michael Eyssimont tallied twice for the Bruins (32-21-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was fortunate to avoid a serious injury after receiving an illegal hit to the head by Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis midway through the first period. McAvoy left the game but returned in the second period. Vilamanis received a two-minute minor penalty but left the game with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley stopped 36 shots, and Ryan Lomberg snapped a 3-3 tie in a 4-3 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist for the 23-27-6 Flames. Leon Draisaitl scored twice, and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers (28-22-8), who have lost three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl was not impressed with his club’s recent performance. Following the game, he blasted everyone (himself included), from the coaches to his teammates. His remarks fueled comments on social media suggesting head coach Kris Knoblauch is in danger of losing his job.

It was a sour end to what had been a good day for Draisaitl, as he learned he was named one of the flagbearers for his native Germany in the opening ceremony for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Utah Mammoth got a goal and an assist each from Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz to lead their club over the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Karel Vejmelka stopped 29 shots for the 30-23-4 Mammoth. Dylan Larkin scored for the Wings (33-19-6).

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Mark Stone picked up two assists for the Golden Knights (26-16-14), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 66 points. Teddy Blueger collected two assists for the 18-33-6 Canucks.

Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Joey Daccord stopped 25 shots for the Kraken (27-20-9). Andrei Kuzmenko scored both goals for the Kings (23-18-14).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings will be looking forward to Artemi Panarin’s production. They acquired the playmaking superstar yesterday in a trade with the New York Rangers.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The St. Louis Blues traded center Nick Bjugstad on Wednesday to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sell-off begins in St. Louis as this move could lead to more deals involving more notable Blues players before the March 6 trade deadline. Goaltender Jordan Binnington, defenseman Justin Faulk, and forwards Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou have been mentioned as trade candidates.

The Devils were seeking experienced depth at center. Bjugstad could skate on the third or fourth line.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Devils, there’s no certainty that sidelined center Jack Hughes will be in their lineup for Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders. He remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to play for Team USA in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

DAILY FACEOFF: Top NHL prospect and Penn State forward Gavin McKenna faces a felony assault charge stemming from an alleged altercation on Saturday. He was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault and two offenses for disorderly conduct and harassment.

A conviction of a first-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in a downtown bar in State College, Pennsylvania, following Penn State’s 5-4 loss to Michigan State in the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. The unidentified victim suffered a broken jaw.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is important to remember that McKenna is innocent until proven guilty. Nevertheless, this incident casts a cloud of uncertainty over his future.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program.

In a statement, Jones indicated he was receiving exosome therapy for a documented injury from an outside provider. He believes his positive test result was related to a contaminated substance associated with the treatment, adding that he didn’t intentionally use the prohibited substance. Nevertheless, he apologized for his actions.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2026

by | Jan 31, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2026

The latest on Artemi Panarin and Evander Kane, plus updates on the Flames, Maple Leafs, and Predators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ARTEMI PANARIN RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports hearing that New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin seeks a contract extension worth $50 million before signing off on a trade.

“He is going to try and hit a contract home run, even though he’s 34 years old,” Friedman said. Panarin is earning an annual average value of $11.6 million on his current deal, which expires on July 1.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Friedman said several teams reportedly have varying degrees of interest in Panarin. The Colorado Avalanche are interested, but not in an extension. Ditto the Dallas Stars unless they pivot away from re-signing RFA-eligible winger Jason Robertson.

The Los Angeles Kings are wondering if this is the right time to give up future assets. Panarin would love to join the Florida Panthers, but Friedman doesn’t know if they’ll move heaven and earth to get the playmaking winger.

The Minnesota Wild made a big splash by acquiring Quinn Hughes and might be willing to make another, but Friedman wondered how much they have left in the bank to do so.

Friedman believes the Washington Capitals are a serious suitor, citing their willingness to sign Panarin to an extension. He also mentioned the Seattle Kraken, who seek a high-end forward and are reportedly willing to move young center Shane Wright.

Other clubs with potential interest include the San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked if the Canadiens should kick tires on Panarin. He believes they should and will, pointing out that Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton signed the winger to his current contract when he was general manager of the Rangers.

Cowan believes Panarin’s age and the Rangers’ asking price would be concerns. Nevertheless, he thinks the playmaking winger could be a good fit on the Canadiens’ top line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin turns 35 in October, the first season of his new contract. It’s doubtful he’d get anything longer than five years, meaning he’d get $10 million annually on that type of deal. Even with the salary cap rising significantly over the next two seasons, spending that much on a winger heading into his late-thirties is not a wise investment of salary-cap dollars. That will likely scare off most of the rumored suitors.

Based on recent reports, the Avalanche, Ducks, and Stars are out unless Panarin is willing to be a rental player. It’s unlikely that the Rangers will trade him to the Islanders. This isn’t the same thing as sending a depth defenseman like Carson Soucy to the Isles.

The Golden Knights recently acquired Rasmus Andersson and want to re-sign him as a replacement for the permanently sidelined Alex Pietrangelo, so it’s unlikely they’ll have sufficient cap space or tradeable assets to land Panarin. The Wild seek a scoring forward, but their preference is a first-line center.

Panarin is the type of player a Stanley Cup contender acquires. The Flyers and Canadiens aren’t there yet. He’s too old and too expensive for those rebuilding teams, and he might not be interested in joining them.

The Capitals might be willing to do it if this season proves to be Alex Ovechkin’s last, but it would still be a risky investment, given his age and the associated expense. Understandably, the Kraken would be interested, but surely they can find young and more affordable options elsewhere.

The Mammoth could be intrigued by Panarin because he’s a superstar who could generate excitement in their new market, but his asking price could be a deal breaker. The same applies to the Sharks, who have some rising young stars that will soon require new contracts.

COULD THE STARS ACQUIRE EVANDER KANE?

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos recently cited reports claiming the Stars and Colorado Avalanche have inquired about Vancouver Canucks winger Evander Kane.

The Stars are seeking a top-six left winger. Kane has a history with Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan. It’s also believed the Canucks could be willing to retain part of Kane’s $5.125 million AAV.

However, Kane’s character could come into question given his off-ice issues in recent years. They also wouldn’t have the cap space to acquire him without salary retention by the Canucks.

Assimakopoulos believes Calgary Flames winger (and Plano, Texas native) Blake Coleman might be a better option for the Stars.

WHO COULD THE FLAMES TRADE NEXT?

CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson looked at which Flames players could be next on the trade block after the club recently shipped out Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Wilson believes Nazem Kadri could draw interest despite the recent decline in his production. The 35-year-old center could want to be moved to a contender, though his age and his contract could be sticking points. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million.

Winger Blake Coleman and recently-acquired defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be highly coveted. They both have Stanley Cup experience and have term left on their contracts. It could take a strong offer to pry them away from the Flames.

MCMANN, LAUGHTON COULD DRAW INTEREST

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday could send the club into sell mode in the trade market. The loss left the Maple Leafs sitting second-last in the Eastern Conference.

Friedman believes talks about Maple Leafs players will intensify, but doesn’t know if there will be any movement before the Olympic trade freeze goes into effect on Feb. 4. Forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton could draw interest in the trade market. Both are UFA-eligible on July 1.

Some observers might wonder about Auston Matthews’ future with the Maple Leafs. He’s eligible for UFA status in 2028. Friedman doesn’t believe the Leafs are at the stage yet where Matthews could request a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann and Laughton could bring in draft picks that help the Maple Leafs restock their prospect pool.

THE LATEST ON THE PREDATORS

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported the Nashville Predators are open to trading forwards Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron, and defenseman Nick Perbix.

Friedman stated that the New York Islanders attempted to acquire Bunting, but a deal couldn’t be reached. They opted instead for winger Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wondered if the Oilers might look at acquiring one of those players.