NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2026

by | Jan 2, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2026

Are the Wild planning another big trade? What’s the biggest need for the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin isn’t done making moves following last month’s blockbuster acquisition of Quinn Hughes.

Russo and Smith believe Guerin wouldn’t have given up four huge pieces (Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, 2026 first-round pick) for Hughes if the Wild weren’t trying to win right now.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).

They believe Guerin will take another big swing in the trade market, “probably for a center”, drawing on their draft picks and prospects as bait. The Wild also has an estimated $12.9 million in trade-deadline cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild haven’t won a playoff round since 2015. The furthest they ever went in the playoffs was the Western Conference Final in 2003. Their current roster has the potential to become a Stanley Cup contender for the next few years, making this an opportune time to bolster their depth accordingly.

Finding a good center won’t be easy in the current trade market.

Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames, Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators are the most notable centers mentioned in trade rumors this season.

However, the Flames insist they’re not interested in moving Kadri, the decline in Schenn’s performance this season could make him less enticing than he was last season, and O’Reilly’s reported unwillingness to be traded could force Guerin to shop around.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes the Detroit Red Wings must bolster their defense before the March 6 trade deadline.

They have a strong first pairing with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Meanwhile, Ben Chiarot has played well this season on the second pairing along with rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

However, Sandin-Pellikka has been playing somewhat sheltered minutes. He might not be up to the task of being a second-pairing defenseman in postseason action when the play becomes more physical.

Bultman suggested adding an experienced No. 4 or 5 defenseman before the deadline. Possibilities could include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Brett Kulak of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rasmus Anderson of the Calgary Flames is the biggest name for defensemen in the trade market. However, the Red Wings aren’t likely to get into a bidding war for an expensive postseason rental player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are currently flying high in the standings, sitting first in the Eastern Conference. GM Steve Yzerman isn’t under any pressure right now to make a move, but he could go shopping for a blueliner by the deadline.

Yzerman caught flak from Detroit fans, pundits, and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin for his inactivity at last season’s trade deadline. It’s doubtful he’ll sit on his hands this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 22, 2025

by | Dec 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 22, 2025

Check out the latest speculation on the Avalanche, Islanders, and Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak believes the first-overall Colorado Avalanche will “almost certainly” add another defenseman before the March 6 trade deadline. However, adding a third-line center is a more pressing need.

The Avalanche could stick with Ross Colton in that role. Bednar recently praised Colton’s efforts in his first game in that role. They could stick with him if the cost of finding other options proves expensive.

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

Masisak suggested former Colorado centers such as Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames as possibilities. However, the cost for both makes them unlikely trade targets for the Avalanche.

Other options include Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks, Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks, and former Av Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly reportedly isn’t considering a trade at this time. Kadri’s contract and the Flames’ asking price are too expensive. The Sharks won’t part with Wennberg if they remain in playoff contention.

Dickinson and Coyle could be more affordable if the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets go into sell mode. However, the Avs could be forced to overpay if other clubs get into the bidding, and they’ve already sacrificed future assets in recent years.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders have a steady, left-shot defenseman and a top-six winger near the top of their Christmas wish list to replace sidelined blueliner Alexander Romanov and winger Kyle Palmieri.

If the Islanders become buyers, they could get salary-cap relief by placing Romanov and Palmieri on long-term injury reserve. San Jose Jose Sharks defensemen Mario Ferraro and former Islander Nick Leddy could be blueline targets, while Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks or Matias Maccelli of the Toronto Maple Leafs might make sense as a replacement for Palmieri.

Sears doesn’t see general manager Mathieu Darche parting with a first-round pick to get any of those players.

For now, it’s too early to tell which path Darche might choose. Sears noted that a couple of bad weeks could knock them out of playoff contention in the tightly packed Eastern Conference.

If Darche buys early, he could be parting with future assets that he’ll need to recoup if things go sideways. If he waits too long, he’ll end up in sell mode with UFA-eligible forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Darche will remain patient for now, especially given how few sellers there are in the trade market. The Isles’ performance in January will likely determine which path he takes, especially if more teams become sellers.

The Sharks aren’t likely to part with Ferraro and Leddy if they remain in playoff contention. Sherwood is available, but the Canucks’ asking price could be too high for Darche. Maccelli should be an affordable addition, but his struggles this season don’t make him an enticing trade target.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes the Los Angeles Kings have more work to do after trading center Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. He noted they didn’t get a roster player back in the deal, and the club continues to struggle offensively.

Stephens pointed out that the draft pick they got in the Danault deal would look good if the Kings were rebuilding. However, the club is built to win right now, and they still believe they can reach the playoffs and make some noise.

That second-round pick will only be valuable if it can be turned into a player (like Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators or Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues) who makes the Kings better.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings GM Ken Holland probably isn’t done making moves. Stephens pointed out that they shed Danault’s $5.5 million cap hit for this season and next, giving the Kings $9.2 million in current cap space, and a projected deadline cap space of $26 million.

As mentioned earlier, O’Reilly isn’t prepared to consider a trade right now. Meanwhile, the Blues intend to seek full value for any player they trade, meaning they’ll want a young NHL player for Schenn instead of draft picks.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 17, 2025

by | Dec 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 17, 2025

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is drawing more interest, the latest on the Maple Leafs, an update on Alex Tuch’s contract situation following the Sabres’ change in management, the Flyers seek a center, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

GROWING INTEREST IN FLAMES DEFENSEMAN RASMUS ANDERSSON

CALGARY SUN: In the wake of the Vancouver Canucks trading defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild last Friday, Kent Wilson recently examined the implications of that deal for the Flames.

With Hughes off the trade block, the Flames’ Rasmus Andersson becomes the best defenseman available. He’s not on the same skill level as Hughes and won’t fetch a comparable return. The Wild shipped three promising young players (Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Ohgren) and a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver.

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (NHL Images).

The Hughes trade could also raise interest in Flames forwards Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman. Potential suitors include the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Calgary Flames received an increase in calls about Andersson after the Quinn Hughes trade.

Andersson, 29, is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July. LeBrun wonders if the Flames will move him as a rental player or attempt a sign-and-trade scenario in order to get a better return.

The Toronto Maple Leafs attempted to acquire Andersson at last season’s trade deadline. LeBrun said they’ve circled back on him. They are believed to be among the teams that Andersson would consider with, if a trade can be worked out between the two clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson’s rumored willingness to sign with Toronto is likely tied to his relationship with Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, who was GM of the Flames for most of Andersson’s tenure in Calgary.

LATEST MAPLE LEAFS SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving would like to add one or two top-six forwards. However, the Leafs’ lack of depth in their prospect pool could hamper those efforts.

Dreger later said that the Maple Leafs have continued interest in Rasmus Andersson or another top-four defenseman in the trade market. He also mentioned that they could use a top-line winger to skate alongside center Auston Matthews.

NESN: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Boston Bruins attempted to acquire Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth last summer before he was traded to the Maple Leafs.

Maccelli hasn’t been a fit with the Maple Leafs, who would be open to moving him. Friedman isn’t sure if the Bruins would still be interested in the struggling winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As with Andersson, any attempt by the Leafs to land one of the bigger names in the trade market will be hindered by their limited number of tradable assets on their roster and within their prospect pipeline.

Treliving will wait and see if the asking prices go down or if more players become available as more teams drop out of the playoff race. However, that might not come soon enough to bring in the help the Leafs need.

UPDATE ON ALEX TUCH’S CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE SABRES

TSN: Contract extension discussions with Alex Tuch’s representatives are among the issues facing Jarmo Kekalainen, who replaced Kevyn Adams on Monday as the Buffalo Sabres new general manager.

Kekalainen told reporters on Tuesday that he intends to take charge of the situation. He said the teams appreciate and like Tuch, and want to get him signed. The 29-year-old winger is UFA-eligible next summer. He’s completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

Pierre LeBrun reports Kekalainen had a pretty good feel for what his predecessor discussed with the Tuch camp. According to LeBrun, the previous negotiations fizzled because the Sabres weren’t willing to go double digits on the AAV (over $10 million annually).

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek believes the Dallas Stars could be a good destination for Alex Tuch. He thinks the Stars are going for it again this season and believes Tuch would fit in well with them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch will depart via free agency next July unless Kekalainen can somehow talk him down from $10 million annually. If so, expect the veteran winger to become available leading up to the March 6 trade deadline.

FLYERS SEEK A CENTER

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports the Philadelphia Flyers are seeking another center, specifically for their fourth line. It might also make sense for them to add a middle-six center, given Noah Cates’ struggles in the faceoff circle.

If UFA-eligible centre Christian Dvorak opts to head to market next summer, Kurz wondered if the Flyers might get more aggressive and pursue a higher-end option like Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues or Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators.

Kurz doesn’t see the Flyers dangling their high-end young players or top prospects as trade bait. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to part with some of their future assets for a player who could help them make a playoff push.

KINGS CENTER PHILLIP DANAULT REPORTEDLY REQUESTS A TRADE

RG.ORG’s Marco D’Amico reports sources indicating that center Phillip Danault has requested a trade. His camp hopes to secure a deal sooner rather than later, perhaps before the upcoming NHL holiday roster freeze (Dec. 20-27).

D’Amico said the Kings are willing to wait it out because they seek a player-for-player trade. The Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Carolina Hurricanes are among the teams reportedly interested in Danault.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Over the weekend, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Kings aren’t inclined to move Danault without a good reason because good centers are hard to come by in this season’s trade market. A trade request could be the inclination they need.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 11, 2025

by | Dec 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 11, 2025

Recapping Wednesday’s games, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin talked about his future, injury updates, ongoing concerns about the slow construction of the 2026 Winter Olympics rinks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat scored twice and collected an assist as his club held off the Calgary Flames by a score of 4-3. John Gibson made 34 saves for the Red Wings (17-11-3), extending their win streak to three games as they moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with 37 points. Nazem Kadri had two assists for the Flames (12-16-4) as their three-game win streak ended.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Down 4-0, the Flames got three unanswered goals in the third to make it interesting, but they ultimately came up short. Speaking of Kadri, he donated $50,000.00 to a food bank in his hometown of London, Ontario.

The Chicago Blackhawks got a 21-save shutout from goaltender Spencer Knight to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who improved to 13-11-6. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots for the 15-13-4 Rangers, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Rangers placed sidelined center Adam Edstrom (lower body) on injured reserve.

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell scored with 52 seconds remaining in the third period to lift his club to a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Sam Bennett had two goals and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 27 shots for the Panthers (15-12-2), who picked up their third consecutive win. Dylan Guenther tallied two goals as the Mammoth lost its third straight game, slipping to 14-15-3.

An overtime goal by Vince Dunn capped his three-point performance as the Seattle Kraken nipped the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Matty Beniers scored with 24 seconds left in the game to force overtime for the Kraken (12-10-6) as they snapped a six-game losing skid. Alex Laferriere and Kevin Fiala scored for the 14-8-8 Kings.

HEADLINES

RG.ORG: Alex Ovechkin discussed his future in a recent interview with Andrew Knoll.

The Washington Capitals captain is in the final season of his contract. He isn’t thinking beyond this season, but hasn’t ruled out bringing his career full circle by returning to the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow in a ceremonial or competitive role.

Having surpassed 900 NHL regular-season goals, Ovechkin has shifted from chasing scoring milestones to the Capitals’ resurgence as they jockey for first place in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season.

ESPN.COM: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concern about the delays plaguing the construction of the hockey rinks for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He pointed out that constructions of rinks for previous Winter Games had never stretched on this long, calling the delays “disappointing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Once the arenas are completed, the league will be sending its experts to determine that the ice surface is safe for its players. There are no alternate venues if the ice isn’t up to the standard expected by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated the players won’t participate if the ice surface isn’t suitable.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers’ blue line will soon get a boost when sidelined defensemen Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen return to action. Ristolainen has been recovering from surgery in March to repair a ruptured triceps tendon. York has missed the past five games with a lower-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi is sidelined again with a lower-body injury.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans will miss Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins for personal reasons.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Dakota Mermis (lower body) on injured reserve.

DAILY FACEOFF/TSN: The St. Louis Blues announced that center Nick Bjugstad is out for at least five days with an upper-body injury. They also signed forward Robby Fabbri to a one-year, two-way contract, and signed forward Dillon Dube to an AHL professional tryout contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

by | Nov 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 28, 2025

The latest on the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Chris Johnston said the Vancouver Canucks still want to add a center, but if they can’t fill that position immediately, they’d like to add another forward.

Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, likes to get the jump on the trade deadline. Johnston wondered if it would be wise to move pending unrestricted free-agent forward Kiefer Sherwood now or wait until the March 6 trade deadline, when he might fetch a first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood’s team-leading 12 goals have him on pace for a career-best 40. If he maintains that production, a contender could overpay for him by the trade deadline.

Johnston believes management is trying to make their changes as palatable as possible to put themselves in a good position to sell superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes on their long-term plans.

Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he has an excellent relationship with Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin. Despite management’s willingness to become a seller in the trade market, the Canucks captain isn’t giving up on this season. Whether he’s willing to sign a contract extension after this season remains to be seen.

The struggling Calgary Flames prefer to hang onto Nazem Kadri, but Johnston thinks the veteran center must decide if he wants to consider a move elsewhere at some point. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson is a pending UFA who will get increased attention in the trade market. Winger Blake Coleman has a year left on his deal, and he’s drawing some interest around the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coleman said he’s heard the trade rumors but shrugged them off as part of the job. His Stanley Cup pedigree and gritty two-way style could make him a valuable trade chip by the deadline, but the number of trade partners will be limited by his 10-team approved trade list.

Johnston also noted the rumors linking the Edmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. He acknowledged Jarry’s bounce-back performance this season and his ties to Edmonton.

Whether it’s Jarry or somebody else, Johnston believes the Oilers must address their goaltending situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That somebody else could be Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, who was also linked to the Oilers this week. However, there is no indication that the Blues are shopping him, and the Oilers could be on his 10-team no-trade list. The same can also be said of Jarry and the Penguins.

Even if Binnington were available and willing to go to Edmonton, the Oilers lack the cap space to take on his $6 million AAV through 2026-27. It would require a significant sweetener to get the Blues to retain half of Binnington’s cap hit, and to take on a salaried player from the Oilers in the deal.

Turning to the Canadiens, Johnston said they’re trying to add a top-six forward, but they’ve encountered difficulty in a trade market with little activity. Unless they can find some external help, they’ll have to look within.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TVA Sports’ Marc de Foy noted the recent rumors claiming the Canadiens are interested in Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, but he considers the reported asking price of a first-round pick and a top prospect to be too expensive. However, his colleague Jean-Charles Lajoie believes the Canadiens should overpay “a little” to get O’Reilly, suggesting they offer up defenseman Kaiden Guhle.

It’s been noted that O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but it’s also been reported that the Predators will treat him as though he does. All this chatter linking him to the Canadiens could be a moot point if he has no interest in going to Montreal.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has a well-earned reputation for being patient and not overpaying for talent. It would be surprising if he changed tactics now. Rather than pursue an aging veteran like O’Reilly, Hughes could have his sights set on Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 24, 2025

by | Nov 24, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 24, 2025

Check out the latest on the Flames, Senators, and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis recently reported that Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney pushed back on the idea that his club should trade Nazem Kadri. The 35-year-old center has been at the top of most pundits’ lists of veterans that the Flames could trade to accelerate a rebuild.

“I think we need more Kadris, not less,” Maloney said. “We need more of that winning.”

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Maloney also said that the Flames aren’t giving up on his playoff dreams. He also rejected the idea of tanking the season to secure a top-three pick in next year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since the summer of 2024. The Flames’ struggles this season added fuel to the media speculation, with pundits suggesting trade destinations for the veteran center.

Earlier this month, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Flames ownership wasn’t interested in trading Kadri. Maloney is the first member of the club’s front office to speak against the notion of moving the veteran center.

Maloney’s remarks should put a damper on the Kadri trade rumors for now. If the Flames remain at the bottom of the standings heading into the new year, don’t be surprised if the Kadri rumors rekindle, especially by the March 6 trade deadline.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau examined possible trade partners for the Ottawa Senators as they look to take a big swing in the trade market.

Proteau observed that the Senators need help on the blueline, sitting among this season’s 10 worst defensive clubs. He speculated that the Flames, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues could become sellers. More clubs will join them as the trade deadline approaches.

The Senators have around $1.4 million in current cap space, but that will rise to over $5 million in accrued space by the March 6 trade deadline. They don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but they do possess their first-rounders in 2027 and 2028 to draw on for trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given their limitations in terms of cap space and trade capital, the Senators could have a difficult time winning any bidding wars by the deadline.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski suggested the Penguins draw upon their goaltending depth for trade bait to land some scoring help.

The Penguins will soon have three healthy goaltenders, including promising Sergei Murashov. He pointed out that there are five NHL teams with save percentages below .885, six if you include the Maple Leafs’ .886.

With Murashov playing well in tandem with Arturs Silovs, and veteran Tristan Jarry due to return soon from an injury, the Penguins could have two expendable goalies in Silovs and Jarry.

Kingerski believes Jarry’s desirability is dubious, especially after coming off another lower-body injury. He believes Silovs could fetch a better return like a second-round pick, which could be flipped to acquire a middle-six forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The most likely scenario is the Penguins will return the waiver-exempt Murashov to their AHL affiliate, then gauge the performances of Jarry and Silovs before deciding if they’ll peddle the latter.