NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 18, 2026

Could the Wild make a big offseason move? What’s the latest on Stars winger Jason Robertson? Will the Maple Leafs trade a goalie this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE WILD MAKE A BLOCKBUSTER MOVE THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo speculated that Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin could attempt to make another major move in the offseason.

Guerin made headlines in December by acquiring superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Russo thinks the reason the Wild GM didn’t use up his trade capital at the recent March 6 trade deadline is that he could use it to pursue another superstar this summer.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin (NHL Images).

Russo wondered if Guerin might pursue Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, or St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Matthews and Tkachuk have full no-movement clauses, while Thomas has a full no-trade clause.

Guerin has multiple assets to draw on for trade bait this summer. They include goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, rookie winger Danila Yurov, prospect forwards Charlie Stramel and Adam Benak, and his 2027 first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin’s acquisition of Hughes was a bold move that has improved the Wild’s performance this season. A deep playoff run by the Wild could turn them into a favorable destination for stars on struggling teams itching to move on to a potential Cup contender.

We don’t know if Matthews, Tkachuk, or Thomas wants to move on. Thomas was the subject of frequent rumors leading up to the March trade deadline, but he said he was never asked to waive his no-trade clause, has never requested a trade, and remains committed to the Blues.

Nevertheless, if any of those guys are available this summer, Guerin will likely go after them.

STARS MAKE RE-SIGNING JASON ROBERTSON A PRIORITY

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars GM Jim Nill told NHL Tonight that he’s making the re-signing of Jason Robertson a priority.

Robertson, 27, is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. He’ll also be a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility, depending on the outcome of his negotiations this summer.

“He’s a big part of our team,” Nill said. “He’s one of the leading scorers in the league, he’s really in the prime of his career. He’s a big part of our team, so a priority for us is to get him signed this summer, and move on.”

Robertson leads the Stars with 80 points and is second on the team in goals with 36.

Nill said the two sides started discussions last summer but decided to table them for now. Robertson has also changed agents since then.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s contract negotiations will be worth following during the offseason.

The Stars have a projected $14.9 million in salary-cap space next season with 18 active roster players under contract. Robertson is their most notable pending free agent, but they must also ensure they have enough space to re-sign RFA Mavrik Bourque (who also has arbitration rights) and team captain Jamie Benn, who is a UFA this summer.

Robertson is earning an AAV of $7.75 million and could seek between $10 million and $11 million annually on his next contract. That won’t leave much room for the Stars to fill out the rest of their lineup for next season without making a cost-cutting move or two.

The threat of an offer sheet could become a concern if negotiations drag on unless one side or the other files for arbitration.

COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS SHOP A GOALIE THIS SUMMER?

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox noted the Toronto Maple Leafs have four goaltenders in their system for at least the next two seasons. They signed Artur Akhtyamov over the weekend, joining Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby.

Fox believes something has to give. Carrying more than two goaltenders is problematic, and the Leafs don’t want to risk losing one of them to waivers. He believes that’s why there were murmurs about Stolarz and Woll before the March trade deadline.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving can take his time addressing this issue. The free-agent market is thin on goalies, which could push teams seeking help between the pipes into the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming they don’t move the recently signed Akhtyamov, Woll and Hildeby would be the easiest to move as they have affordable contracts and lack no-trade protection. Stolarz’s four-year contract extension kicks in on July 1 and carries a 16-team no-trade list. He also has a 16-team NTC on his current deal. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has a five-point game, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is out for the rest of the regular season, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied his 40th goal of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored a hat trick and collected two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (41-21-4), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Bobby McMann and Jared McCann replied for the 31-27-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 71 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov overtook Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for second place in the scoring race with 111 points, sitting four points behind Edmonton Oilers captain Nathan MacKinnon.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3. Max Jones scored the tie-breaker, and Zach Hyman netted the insurance goal for the 34-26-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (32-28-6), who sit one point behind the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers announced that center Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Draisaitl sits second among Oilers scorers with 97 points and fourth among NHL scorers, so his absence will be a significant test for the Oilers as they attempt to nail down a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield lifted the Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins 3-2. Caufield and Nick Suzuki each finished with a goal and an assist, while Jakub Dobes stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens (37-20-10) as they continue to hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. Pavel Zacha scored both goals for the 37-23-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time that Caufield has reached the 40-goal plateau, making him the first Canadien to do so since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. Caufield also holds second place among NHL goal scorers this season, five goals behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Before this game, the Canadiens announced that winger Kirby Dach would be sidelined for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to 10 games with a 5-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Charlie Coyle had a goal and three assists while Jet Greaves turned aside 27 shots for the red-hot Blue Jackets, who improved to 35-21-11 and sit one point behind the Bruins and the idle Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes (42-19-6) as they cling to first place in the East.

Speaking of red-hot teams, the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 to pick up their 10th win in their last 11 games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season while Josh Doan and Josh Norris were the goal scorers as the Sabres (42-20-6) remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Adin Hill stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 31-23-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead before downing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mats Zuccarello. Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists, and Brock Faber picked up three assists for the 39-18-12 Wild, who are in third place in the Central Division with 90 points. Frank Nazar and Louis Crevier each had a goal and an assist while Connor Bedard collected two assists for the 25-30-12 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to remain sidelined for at least two more games.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had three assists while Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brayden Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired by the Islanders (39-24-5) at the trade deadline. The Isles sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. Steven Lorentz replied for the 29-28-12 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders announced the signing of defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to a three-year entry-level contract. Aitcheson, 19, was chosen 17th overall by the Islanders in last year’s draft. He has 70 points in 54 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The New York Post reports he’ll likely only play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport once his junior season ends.

The Nashville Predators got a 36-save performance from goalie Juuse Saros to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on a shootout goal by Ryan O’Reilly. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the 30-28-9 Predators (69 points), who sit two points behind the Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot. Kyle Connor had three assists for the Jets (28-28-11), who are four points back of the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson tallied twice to snap a 20-game goalless drought in a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser each had three points for the 21-38-8 Canucks. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett replied for the 33-31-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson also reached the 200-goal milestone in this game.

HEADLINES

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury has NHL stars such as Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Matthews’ teammate John Tavares pushing for change in the NHL’s department of player safety.

Matthews was injured following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. A repeat offender, Gudas received a five-game suspension from the league, which Matthews’ agent called “laughable and preposterous”.

Department head George Parros defended his staff on Tuesday. He stood by the five-game suspension, expressing confidence in the hard work his staff puts in to reach their decisions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t excuse the fact that the DOPS got it wrong, very wrong, by handing Gudas what amounted to a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season with a blatant cheapshot.

The on-ice officials made the right call by handing Gudas a major penalty and a game misconduct. However, Parros and his group made the latest in a long series of confusing decisions that have amounted to growing frustration and calls for change around the league. Whether anything will come of it remains to be seen.

ESPN.COM: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him back the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls**t that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” Hughes said, adding that he wants to give the puck to his father.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has begun displaying Hughes’ “golden goal” puck and that of Megan Keller, whose overtime goal won gold for Team USA’s Women’s hockey team. “I don’t see why Megan Keller or I shouldn’t have those pucks,” Hughes said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a good look for Hughes. Those pucks represent two great moments in hockey history and are on display for all hockey fans to enjoy.

Keller hasn’t made a similar comment, leading one to assume that she has no issue with her golden goal being displayed in the Hall.

Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” from the 2010 Winter Olympics has been on display in the HHoF for years. Crosby has never asked for it to be returned to him.

TSN: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Blake Lizotte will miss the last four weeks of the Penguins’ season with an upper-body injury.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed prospect center Cole Knuble to an entry-level contract. The 21-year-old is the son of former NHL forward Mike Knuble.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2026

by | Mar 15, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2026

Check out the latest on the future of Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and the latest Blues speculation in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT AUSTON MATTHEWS’ FUTURE WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury could “start the clock” on how the 29-year-old Maple Leafs captain feels about things in Toronto from the time the two sides touched base in February about his future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday from a knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks. A repeat offender, Gudas received what amounted to a slap on the wrist from the league in the form of a five-game suspension.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Friedman believes Matthews will now have more time to think about his situation. He expects the two sides to meet over the next couple of months to determine how everyone feels about Matthews’ overall future in Toronto.

The lack of reaction to Gudas’ hit on Matthews from the latter’s teammates drew plenty of criticism in Leafs Nation. Friedman believes that will have ramifications for the franchise’s future direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews is signed through 2027-28. Whatever the Leafs do this summer will determine if he’s still with the franchise before that contract expires.

Matthews’ injury represents the lowest point in what’s been a miserable season for the Maple Leafs. Change is expected in the front office and behind the bench, and there could be more trades. However, their captain’s future will be the biggest question hanging over this team in the offseason.

THE LATEST BLUES MUSINGS

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently examined how a Robert Thomas trade could affect the growth of the St. Louis Blues’ young players.

The Blues entertained trade offers for the 26-year-old center before the March 6 deadline. He is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause.

Rutherford expects the Blues could revisit the situation in the offseason, when they could find a suitable offer and eventually ask Thomas to waive his NTC. However, he wondered what effect moving Thomas might have on young wingers Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, whose upward development is crucial for the club’s future.

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek and Steve Peters recently discussed what the Blues’ plans might be for the offseason.

Marek believes a lot depends on what strides their young players make. How quickly promising Dalibor Dvorsky becomes a legitimate second-line center will determine a lot of what management does in the offseason. He also wondered what would happen to Pius Suter if Dvorsky proves himself as a top-six forward.

Jordan Kyrou was among the Blues believed to be available. Marek pointed out that there had been talk linking him to the New York Islanders. Marek wondered if the Washington Capitals might be interested.

The Blues still require a right-shot defenseman. He thinks the Montreal Canadiens would’ve made sense for any type of Robert Thomas deal, because they have the right-shot blueliners that the Blues would covet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doug Armstrong will be handing over the general manager role to assistant Alex Steen at the end of this season, though he’ll remain as president of hockey operations. Armstrong will have input, but it will be Steen’s show.

Thomas said he remains committed to the Blues, that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, and doesn’t want to be moved. He has full control over this situation. Management can continue listening to offers, but we don’t know what it will take to convince Thomas to waive his clause.

Kyrou is in the same situation as Thomas. He’s in the first season of his eight-year contract with the same AAV and a full NTC.

Nevertheless, we can expect to hear their names floating around in the offseason rumor mill. The same applied to goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has a year left on his contract with a 12-team no-trade list.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2026

by | Mar 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2026

The Kings defeat the Islanders, the Blues upset the Oilers, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is done for the season as Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas is suspended, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored to move within one point of Marcel Dionne’s franchise points record in a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe also scored, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots for the 27-23-15 Kings, who moved into the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 69 points. Emil Heineman scored both goals for the 37-24-5 Islanders, who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dionne has 1,307 regular-season points while Kopitar has 1,306. Kopitar leads the franchise with 1,504 regular-season games and 858 assists. With 17 games left in the regular season, Kopitar has plenty of time to set the Kings’ points record.

The St. Louis Blues overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on an overtime goal by Robert Thomas. Cam Fowler had a goal and an assist while Joel Hofer kicked out 36 shots for the 27-29-10 Blues, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven contests. Kasperi Kapanen and Connor McDavid replied for the Oilers (32-26-9), who sit third in the Pacific Division with 73 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed this game for personal reasons. The Oilers placed Colton Dach on long-term injury reserve.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will miss the remainder of this season with a Grade 3 tear of his medial collateral ligament in his left knee, the result of a knee-on-knee hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas on Thursday.

The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Gudas for five games.

THE ATHLETIC: Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, called Gudas’ suspension “laughable and preposterous.”

“This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players,” Moldaver said. “Players and fans deserve better. The player safety department should be suspended.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moldaver is correct. Gudas went out of his way to deliberately injure an opponent. He had been suspended four times before this incident, and he received a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season.

The so-called “department of player safety” has been a joke for years. Players like Gudas contribute nothing to the league. He and his ilk are an embarrassment, and have no place in a supposedly professional league.

Sadly, this is just more of the same from a league with a “player safety” department that lets perpetrators off lightly for deliberately injuring opponents.

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2026 NHL Global Series in Germany. The two-game regular-season series will be played in Dusseldorf on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns tied Keith Yandle for the second-most consecutive games with 989. Burns, 41, reached that mark during Thursday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Phil Kessel holds the NHL Ironman record with 1,064 regular-season games.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres winger Alex Tuch (day-to-day, lower-body injury) could return for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could miss that game with an undisclosed injury.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens made a minor-league trade that will have implications for their goaltending. On Friday, they acquired goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Riley Kidney.

Shepard will be reporting to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval. That means that recently recalled goalie Jacob Fowler will likely remain with the Habs for the rest of this season.

RATINGS.COM: Speaking of Fowler, he had an interview with Marco D’Amico before the Canadiens recalled him. The 21-year-old netminder spoke about his 10-game tenure with the Habs earlier this season and was hoping to return to the club as soon as he could.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Samuel Montembeault struggling and no help coming from the trade market, the Canadiens need someone reliable to share the goaltending duties with Jakub Dobes. Fowler played well in his return on Thursday with a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The San Jose Sharks recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit from their AHL affiliate. Starter Yaroslav Askarov suffered a lower-body injury before Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins. The injury isn’t considered serious or long-term, but it’s uncertain if he’ll be ready to return for Saturday’s game against the Canadiens or Sunday’s matchup with the Ottawa Senators.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Speaking of the Sharks, they signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a two-year, $3.25 million extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2026

by | Mar 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2026

Lightning stars Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy reach notable career milestones, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is injured by a knee-on-knee hit, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to reach the 1,100 regular-season points milestone in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Jake Guentzel and Gage Goncalves each scored twice for the Lightning (40-20-4, 84 points), who moved within two points of the Buffalo Sabres for first place in the Atlantic Division. J.T. Compher replied for the 36-23-7 Red Wings, who’ve dropped four of their last five games and cling to the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy became the second netminder in NHL history to record nine consecutive 30-win seasons. Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur holds the record with 12 consecutive seasons.

The slumping Red Wings were without Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. Both centers will be sidelined by injuries for at least the next two weeks.

Speaking of the Sabres, their eight-game win streak ended as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Washington Capitals. Jakob Chychrun snapped a 1-1 tie late in the third period while Logan Thompson stopped 29 shots for the 33-27-7 Capitals. Sam Carrick scored for the 40-20-6 Sabres, who sit second in the Eastern Conference with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres winger Alex Tuch missed this game with a lower-body injury. He’s considered day-to-day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks was overshadowed by an injury to Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs captain left the game in the second period following a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct.

Matthew Knies had a goal and three assists, and winger Matias Maccelli had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (28-27-11). Cutter Gauthier tallied his team-leading 33rd goal of the season for the 36-26-3 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 75 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gudas could receive supplemental discipline for that hit on Matthews, who may have suffered a serious injury to his left knee. The Ducks blueliner has had four suspensions in his NHL career, with the last being in 2019.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored twice and collected two assists in a 7-2 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers. Wyatt Johnston had a goal and two assists, Miro Heiskanen collected three assists, and Jamie Benn scored two goals for the Stars (41-14-10), who hold second place in the Western Conference with 92 points. Evan Bouchard and Jason Dickinson scored for the Oilers (32-26-8), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars extended their points streak to 14 games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to lead his club over the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Martin Necas tallied his 30th goal of the season, and Nazem Kadri scored his first goal with the Avalanche since being acquired from the Calgary Flames last Friday. Ryker Evans replied for the 29-26-9 Kraken, who’ve lost four straight games and slipped out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 67 points. The Avalanche (44-11-9) holds first place in the overall standings with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the league announced it had rescinded the game misconduct penalty handed to MacKinnon during Tuesday’s game against the Oilers.

The San Jose Sharks vaulted over the Kraken into the final Western wild card by doubling up the Boston Bruins 4-2, handing the latter its first home loss since December. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic kicked out 39 shots while William Eklund, Tyler Toffoli, and Michael Misa each had a goal and an assist for the 31-26-6 Sharks, who sit one point ahead of the Kraken. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (36-23-6), who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 78 points.

An overtime power-play goal by Sam Reinhart gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sam Bennett also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for the 33-29-3 Panthers. Adam Fantilli scored for the 33-21-11 Blue Jackets, who extended their points streak to eight games, sitting one point behind the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantilli was unhappy about being whistled for tripping Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk in overtime. He and his teammates believe Tkachuk dove after losing control of the puck to draw the penalty.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice and collected an assist while Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist for the 30-22-14 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 74 points. Rickard Rakell and Ben Kindel replied for the Penguins (32-18-15), who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights captain Mark Stone returned to action after missing the last five games with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, Marner told reporters that Penguins captain Sidney Crosby suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain while playing for Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Crosby remains sidelined but is expected to return to action before the end of March.

St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud tallied two goals while Jordan Binnington turned aside 31 shots for a 3-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Pavel Buchnevich also scored, and Dylan Holloway collected two assists for the 26-29-10 Blues, who are 5-0-1 in their last six games. Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes (41-18-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon sold a portion of the club to three new minority owners. One of them is former NHL winger Bobby Farnham, who had eight goals and 10 points in 67 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and Montreal Canadiens from 2014-15 to 2016-17. He went on to Harvard Business School and co-founded the investment group Fourth Line Capital.

The Philadelphia Flyers nipped the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on a shootout goal by Travis Konecny. Owen Tippett tied the game for the Flyers (31-23-11) with a shorthanded goal. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov scored for the 38-16-17 Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild’s Quinn Hughes collected two assists, becoming the first defenseman to collect 60 assists in 60 games since Hall of Famer Paul Coffey in 1992-93.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard scored in overtime to defeat the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi each had a goal and an assist for the 25-29-11 Blackhawks. Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka scored for the 34-26-6 Mammoth, who hold the first Western wild-card spot with 74 points, but are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).

The Vancouver Canucks nipped the Nashville Predators 4-3. Jake DeBrusk scored the shootout winner, Marco Rossi had a goal and two assists, and Brock Boeser and Filip Hronek each had a goal and an assist for the 20-37-8 Canucks. Tyson Jost scored twice for the Predators (29-27-9), who remain one point out of the Western wild-card berth with 67 points.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere scored for the third straight game as his club downed the Winnipeg Jets 6-3. Gabe Perreault had his third straight multipoint game with a goal and an assist for the Rangers (27-30-8). Isak Rosen scored his first goal with the Jets (26-28-10) since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last Friday.

The Calgary Flames nipped the New Jersey Devils 5-4. John Beecher scored twice for his first NHL multi-goal game while Dustin Wolf made 28 saves for the 26-32-7 Flames. Jack and Luke Hughes each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (32-31-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators will receive the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after the league modified the disciplinary sanction originally imposed on the club for a botched trade involving Evgenii Dadonov by former Senators management in 2022.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2026

by | Mar 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2026

The trade deadline is over, but the fallout remains. Check out the latest on Vincent Trocheck, Sergei Bobrovsky, the Canadiens’ efforts to make a big move, and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHY DIDN’T THE RANGERS TRADE VINCENT TROCHECK?

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers general manager Chris Drury stuck by his asking price for Vincent Trocheck, which is why the 32-year-old center wasn’t moved by Friday’s trade deadline. He told reporters it didn’t make sense to do something just to say they did something.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

Trocheck is under contract for three more years, so the Rangers can try again down the line. Whether Drury will have better luck moving him in the offseason remains to be seen. A league source said several teams other than the Minnesota Wild checked in on Trocheck.

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported that the Wild were believed to have offered up prospect forward Charlie Stramel, a likely future first-round draft pick, and a possible third piece. The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins were believed to be in the mix.

Mercogliano believes Drury could be taking a big gamble hanging onto Trocheck and hoping for better offers in the offseason. Other centers could be available, including Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, and perhaps even Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A more crowded offseason market for centers could work against the Rangers. Nevertheless, Trocheck being under contract beyond this season allowed them to try again, rather than being forced to accept a lesser return at the trade deadline if he’d been UFA-eligible in July.

CANADIENS STAND PAT, BUT A MAJOR DEAL COULD BE COMING IN THE SUMMER

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont reports Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said his club had the framework for a potential trade in place before the deadline, but it fell through in the final moments.

“We spent a lot of time on one case in particular,” Hughes said. “And it went down to the wire, but that doesn’t stop us from revisiting it in the summer.”

Dumont speculated that the Canadiens may have been interested in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas or Rangers center Vincent Trocheck. Both players will still be available in the offseason.

Had the deal gone through, Hughes indicated that other moves may have taken place. “We had some things that would have happened if we concluded the deal we were working on,” he said. “Yes, it was a significant trade for us.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That should keep fans and pundits in Montreal buzzing for a while. It will be entertaining to see what speculation emerges in the coming days.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reports Hughes said the Canadiens would’ve made a trade if they had found a deal that made sense for the right price.

Hughes also reminded fans who may have been upset over the club’s lack of deadline movement of the acquisitions they made since last summer. Those include defenseman Noah Dobson and forwards Zach Bolduc, Phillip Danault, and Alexandre Texier.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Critics believe Canadiens management is too much in love with their prospects to part with any of them for a significant return. A quick look at their recent trade history should dispel that myth. The Canadiens tend to be patient in their search for a return that addresses their short and long-term needs.

Given the Canadiens are ahead of schedule with their rebuild, Arpon Basu of The Athletic believes management has earned the benefit of the doubt for their inactivity at this year’s trade deadline. However, he thinks this will be the last trade deadline where they will have that benefit. Expectations will be much higher after this season. 

PANTHERS WORKING TO RE-SIGN SERGEI BOBROVSKY

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports the Panthers didn’t bother to move Sergei Bobrovsky before yesterday’s trade deadline. Instead, they’re focused on signing the 37-year-old goaltender to a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Panthers GM Bill Zito said he had to listen to offers for his players, but he’s glad Bobrovsky is still there. “Sergei is a part of our franchise, a part of our core,” Zito said. “We want to try and keep him. I am glad he is here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two sides will likely try to reach a short-term deal. Bobrovsky will have to accept a significant pay cut from the $10 million AAV of his current deal. He’s earning $5 million in actual salary this season, so that might be what he gets as an AAV on his next contract.

POST-TRADE DEADLINE TIDBITS

SPORTSNET: In his post-trade deadline “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said there was a lot of noise about Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews this week. He thinks there was no chance of him being traded, but believes Matthews and Leafs management will have to talk during the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported that the Matthews camp informed management that their client has no issue with returning with the Maple Leafs next season. What Friedman seems to be alluding to is where Matthews sees his future beyond the end of his contract in 2028.

Friedman said that Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies was mentioned in the trade market. He thinks it’s because Knies would fetch the type of assets that would help management show Matthews the direction of the team.

One of the players Friedman wondered about for Knies was New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec. He doesn’t think a one-for-one swap would make sense for the Maple Leafs, but it may have been the kind of thing the two teams discussed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman recently speculated that the Maple Leafs may have floated Knies in the market to see if a rival club would make them an irresistible offer.

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have been in on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, but he didn’t think they were willing to meet the Blues’ asking price.

Friedman wondered if there was a chance that New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton would’ve wound up in Toronto, with the Maple Leafs taking a sweetener to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming that the Maple Leafs weren’t on Hamilton’s 10-team trade list. If they’re not, why would he waive it to go from one struggling team to another?

According to Friedman, the Vancouver Canucks considered acquiring Jesperi Kotkaniemi, but decided against it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I felt that Kotkaniemi could be packaged in a larger deal by the Hurricanes at the trade deadline. Maybe they’ll try to peddle him in the offseason.