NHL Rumor Mill – February 6, 2026

by | Feb 6, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 6, 2026

The latest on Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault, Flames center Nazem Kadri, Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KINGS WERE INTERESTED IN VINCENT TROCHECK

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Los Angeles Kings’ recent acquisition of winger Artemi Panarin doesn’t diminish their need for a center. They reportedly tried to get Vincent Trocheck included in the deal with Panarin, but his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference. Kings general manager Ken Holland is also looking to move winger Warren Foegele, who’s been a healthy scratch lately.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

Friedman also mentioned that the Detroit Red Wings attempted to sign Trocheck when he was an unrestricted free agent, but the Rangers beat them to it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck is going to draw plenty of attention leading up to the March 6 trade deadline. The 32-year-old center is signed for three more seasons with an average annual value of $5.625 million and a 12-team no-trade list. Most of the teams on that list could be from the Western Conference.

COULD THE PREDATORS SHOP MARCHESSAULT AND O’REILLY?

Elliotte Friedman believes Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault could be a trade candidate. He has a full no-movement clause, but could waive it to go to a place with a good minor hockey infrastructure for his children.

Friedman believes the Montreal Canadiens are interested in Ryan O’Reilly, but it’s unknown if the Predators center will be traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault could be available, but his stock is down from two years ago because of the decline in his production. He’s 35 and carries a $5.5 million average annual value through 2028-29.

As for O’Reilly, Predators general manager Barry Trotz said he hasn’t received an offer suitable enough to take to the 34-year-old center. That could change as the trade deadline approaches, but he could be content to stay in Nashville.

THE LATEST ON FLAMES FORWARDS KADRI AND COLEMAN

Elliotte Friedman believes one of the reasons Nazem Kadri’s market slowed is the availability of Trocheck and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. He said the Utah Mammoth checked in with the Calgary Flames and believes this could pick up. There is a slight concern about the remaining term in Kadri’s contract, but the Flames are willing to be flexible.

Friedman also mentioned there has been a lot of talk linking winger Blake Coleman to the Montreal Canadiens, but he doesn’t think that’s feasible.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames are facing pressure to move Kadri and Coleman because the duo is signed beyond this season. Nevertheless, one of them could be on the move by the March 6 trade deadline.

Coleman seems the most likely candidate because of his versatility, experience, and affordable $4.9 million cap hit.

OTHER TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes some teams will use the Olympic break to engage in contract extension discussions.

He wondered how the Winnipeg Jets and center Jonathan Toews might feel about another year. Meanwhile, there’s been some discussion between the Buffalo Sabres and winger Alex Tuch, but they’re not close to a deal. He noted that the Sabres aren’t interested in making their team worse, which suggests they’re not going to move Tuch. Friedman also thinks they might add a “beefier blueliner, if possible.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are in a good position to end their 14-year playoff drought. They won’t risk upsetting that by moving Tuch even if they can’t agree on a new contract. They’ll hang onto him and revisit those discussions in the offseason.

The Toronto Maple Leafs seek a first-round pick for winger Bobby McMann. What makes it challenging is that several possible suitors, such as the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights, traded away their 2026 first-rounders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could end up settling for a second-round pick bundled with another pick or a prospect.

The Edmonton Oilers need to move Andrew Mangiapane.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Easier said than done thus far. They have reportedly trying to trade him since December without success.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 5, 2026

by | Feb 5, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 5, 2026

​What’s next for the Predators after Barry Trotz announced he’s stepping down as GM? Could the Red Wings pursue Blues defenseman Justin Faulk? What’s the latest on the Canucks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL’s Olympic trade freeze began on Feb. 4 and lasts until 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, Feb. 22. That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill. Follow along for the latest.

HOW WILL THE PREDATORS NAVIGATE THE TRADE DEADLINE?

SPORTSNET: Josh Beneteau looked at what’s next for the Nashville Predators after Barry Trotz announced earlier this week that he was stepping down as general manager.

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

Trotz is remaining in the role until a suitable replacement can be found. In the meantime, he must decide if he’ll be a buyer or a seller by the March 6 trade deadline. While his club is close to a playoff berth, Trotz still intends to listen to offers.

Beneteau’s colleague Elliotte Friedman has reported that teams are making pitches for forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos. Other trade candidates could include Jonathan Marchessault, Erik Haula, Michael McCarron, Michael Bunting, and Nick Perbix.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are treating him as though he has. Trotz recently said he hasn’t received any offers yet that would convince him to approach O’Reilly about a trade.

Stamkos is well ahead of last season’s disappointing offensive numbers, which could improve his value in the trade market. However, he’s got a full no-movement clause, making it unlikely that he’ll be playing for another club anytime soon.

COULD JUSTIN FAULK BE A FIT WITH THE RED WINGS?

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports the Detroit Red Wings’ most pressing need is for a second-pairing defenseman. He believes Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues could address that issue.

Faulk, 33, has one more season left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million. He also has a 15-team no-trade list.

Khan pointed out that Faulk no longer fits within the Blues’ long-range plans. A right-shot defenseman, he could replace rookie Alex Sandin-Pellikka alongside Ben Chiarot on their second pairing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have plenty of cap space to take on Faulk’s remaining contract, and lots of promising young players and prospects to use as trade bait to entice the Blues. However, it could come down to whether Detroit is on his no-trade list, and if so, whether he’d be willing to waive it.

THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes that the Vancouver Canucks didn’t make any trades before the Olympic roster freeze because the players’ mothers were on their recent road trip.

Canucks forwards Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger are UFA-eligible and thus considered trade candidates. Management must also decide whether to retain or trade winger Conor Garland, whose new contract begins on July 1. He lacks no-trade protection on his current deal.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

by | Feb 3, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2026

Recapping Monday’s action, Barry Trotz to step down as Predators’ general manager, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Steven Stamkos scored the tying and winning goals as the Nashville Predators erased a 5-1 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-5. Ryan O’Reilly also tallied twice, and Roman Josi collected four assists for the 26-23-6 Predators. Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and an assist while Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours each had three points for the Blues, who dropped to 20-27-9.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has 27 goals in 55 games, matching last season’s output in 82 games. He also moved into the top-20 among the all-time regular-season goal scorers with 609, sitting third among active scorers.

The Washington Capitals netted four unanswered goals in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Nick Dowd had a goal and an assist, and Clay Stevenson made 29 saves for the 28-22-7 Capitals, who picked up their third straight win. Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders (30-21-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had an assist to reach 1,670 career-regular-season points, putting him in fifth place among NHL players with the most points with one franchise. Gordie Howe is the leader with 1,809. Meanwhile, Capitals defenseman Matt Roy returned to action after missing three games with a lower-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz had a hat trick and collected an assist to lead his club over the Vancouver Canucks 6-2. John Marino had three assists for the Mammoth (29-23-4). Teddy Blueger had a goal and an assist as the Canucks have one win in their last six games (1-4-1), dropping to 18-32-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Filip Chytil left this game after the second period.

The Buffalo Sabres got 38 saves from Alex Lyon in a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Peyton Krebs had a goal and two assists for the Sabres (32-18-5), who’ve won six of their last seven contests. Sam Reinhart collected two assists for the 28-24-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Sam Bennett left this game with an upper-body injury. After the game, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk acknowledged his injury-ravaged club is in trouble as they try to remain in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. With 59 points, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are eight points out of a wildcard berth.

The Sabres didn’t emerge unscathed from this game, as forward Zach Benson departed in the third period with an upper-body injury.

Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux scored the winning goal to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Drake Batherson had two assists as the Senators (27-21-4) extended their win streak to four games. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves, and Egor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist for the 28-15-11 Penguins as their six-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins disputed Giroux’s goal, claiming it was goaltender interference as the Senators forward crashed into Silovs after the latter made the save, dislodging the puck and knocking the net off its moorings. Following a lengthy review, it was determined to be a goal, and Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was penalized for tripping Giroux.

The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Colorado Avalanche 2-0. John Gibson got the shutout with 21 saves while Marco Kasper and Lucas Raymond scored for the 33-18-6 Red Wings, who ended a three-game winless skid (0-2-1). Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 36-9-9 Avalanche, who lead the league with 81 points, but have one win in their last four games.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Wild (33-14-10), who picked up their fourth straight win. Brendan Gallagher, Ivan Demidov, and Kirby Dach replied for the 31-17-8 Canadiens, who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.

An overtime goal by Thomas Harley lifted the Dallas Stars over the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 to extend their win streak to five games. Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, and Miro Heiskanen each had two points for the Stars (33-14-9). Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist for the 22-25-8 Jets.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev each had four points in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy each collected two points for the 22-25-9 Blackhawks as they ended a five-game winless skid (0-3-2). Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (27-23-4) as they’ve gone 0-2-1 in their last three games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the 26-21-9 Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist for the Flames (22-27-6) as they are 1-4-2 in their last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly missed this game with an upper-body injury and will also sit out their next game against the Edmonton Oilers.

HEADLINES

THE TENNESSEAN: Barry Trotz announced Monday that he will be stepping down as general manager of the Nashville Predators. He will remain in his position until a successor is chosen.

Trotz said he made this decision for family reasons and has no plans to return to coaching. He stated that he informed the Predators’ ownership that he was contemplating retirement when his contract expired at the end of next season.

Predators majority owner Bill Haslam said they were not pushing Trotz out of the job. “He came to us (in December) and said he wanted to retire after his contract,” Haslam said. “After some back and forth, we decided to go ahead and be transparent about it.” He also indicated that the decision was not a reflection of Trotz’s job performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has his priorities in order. Family should always come first.

Trotz is one of the greatest coaches in NHL history. He won the Jack Adams Award twice and coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. However, the Predators’ record since he took over as GM in 2023 has been uneven.

The Predators reached the playoffs in 2024 following a late-season surge but were eliminated in the opening round by the Vancouver Canucks. Trotz made a big splash in the 2024 free-agent market, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, but they failed to qualify for the postseason last year.

After stumbling through the opening two months of this season, they’ve moved to within three points of a wildcard berth in the Western Conference.

NHL.COM: Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny are the league’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 1, 2026.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard cleared waivers on Monday and will report to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

SPORTSNET: Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 1, 2026

by | Feb 1, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 1, 2026

Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Blues center Robert Thomas, plus updates on the Maple Leafs and Red Wings in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

UPDATE ON ARTEMI PANARIN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Artemi Panarin still prefers to be traded to a team willing to sign him to a contract extension.

The 34-year-old New York Rangers winger is in the final season of a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $11.64 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, giving him full control over this situation. The Rangers are holding him out of their lineup as they attempt to find a suitable trade partner for Panarin

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Friedman believes the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings could be interested in doing the contract extension. However, he indicated there is some question over how the cap-strapped Panthers might pull this off.

The Carolina Hurricanes are interested in Panarin and are willing to be flexible regarding an extension, but it depends on how much they’re willing to pay him.

Friedman indicated that the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars are trying to convince Panarin to join them as a playoff rental. He believes that as long as the Stars remain committed to re-signing Jason Robertson, they’ll remain interested in Panarin solely as a rental.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals and Sharks have sufficient trade-deadline cap space to acquire the remainder of Panarin’s contract, though they’re likely to move some salary to the Rangers or request that they retain some of his cap hit to make it happen. The Kings, Red Wings, and Hurricanes have more than enough to take him on.

The Panthers have over $2.562 million in cap space, which might not be enough to absorb the remainder of Panarin’s contract without the Rangers retaining salary in the deal.

Complicating things is the possibility of team captain Aleksander Barkov returning to the lineup before the end of the regular season or in the first round of the playoffs. He was supposed to be out for the season with a knee injury, but has been skating recently with his other sidelined teammates. If it appears that Barkov might return later this season, the Panthers might not be able to pull this off.

INJURY TO ROBERT THOMAS MIGHT SLOW TRADE TALKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted that St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas underwent a minor procedure on one of his legs and will be sidelined until after the Olympic break.

That might slow down any trade conversations involving the 26-year-old center. Friedman said there are “a bunch of teams” that believe there aren’t many clubs that could meet what the Blues want to do here.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas is the Blues’ top center. Given the lack of depth of quality centers in this year’s trade market, they’re going to set a high asking price. His contract is also an issue. He carries an average annual value of $8.125 million through 2030-31, and has a full no-trade clause through 2029-30.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs management had a conversation with Auston Matthews’ camp regarding his future. He reiterated that nothing has changed, that the Maple Leafs captain remains committed to the club despite its struggles this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews has two years left on his contract, which understandably has some Maple Leafs followers concerned about whether he’ll remain part of their long-term plans. There’s no certainty as to whether he’ll still be with the Leafs by the time his current deal expires in 2028, but if the club rebounds from this disappointing performance, the odds improve that he could stay.

Friedman reports the Maple Leafs have started conversations around the league to gauge what other teams think of their roster and what they might be interested in. So far, there’s nothing that Friedman could consider “earth-shattering” being discussed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, the Leafs aren’t shopping their core players such as Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, or Matthews Knies. Players most likely to be discussed include UFA-eligible players such as Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok, and Troy Stecher, and players due to become restricted free agents like Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson.

COULD A DEAL BE BREWING BETWEEN THE JETS AND RED WINGS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: On Friday, Jake Tye noted that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman made mention of a possible trade between the Winnipeg Jets and Detroit Red Wings.

During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,” Friedman said a source informed him that the Jets and Red Wings could have a match when it comes to a potential trade. He said that he didn’t know what the framework of the deal would be, but it could involve a Jets defenseman such as Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are eight points out of a playoff berth in the Western Conference and struggling to gain ground. They could start selling pending UFA players such as Schenn or Stanley if they’re no longer part of the club’s plans beyond this season.

Tye observed that the Red Wings have lots of cap space and can draw on their significant draft capital and deep prospect pool for trade bait. A lot could depend on whether they get seriously into the bidding for New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.










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.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 28, 2026

by | Jan 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 28, 2026

The Senators could be pursuing Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, plus the latest on the Oilers, Red Wings, Jets, Canadiens, and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE SENATORS PURSUE MACKENZIE WEEGAR?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reported league executives claim the Senators and Calgary Flames may have had discussions about Flames right-shot defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

The Senators have been shopping for a right-side defenseman. Garrioch noted the 32-year-old Weegar is an Ottawa native. He carries an AAV of $6.25 million through 2030-31.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames forwards Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman have frequently popped up in recent media trade chatter, but this is the first time Weegar has been mentioned.

Flames GM Craig Conroy is reportedly examining all of his options, but he’s not tearing everything down to the studs. He has been retooling his roster since 2023-24 and would prefer to retain some of his veterans to help the development of the Flames’ promising youngsters.

Weegar carries a full no-trade clause through 2026-27. He has full control over whether he’ll accept being traded and the potential destinations.

THE LATEST OILERS SPECULATION

YARDBARKER: Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman discussed possible moves by the Oilers. Both of them suggested Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann might be a great fit in Edmonton.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no indication that the struggling Maple Leafs are ready to sell, but their recent tumble in the standings is putting them closer to becoming sellers. McMann, 29, is UFA-eligible this summer and could draw attention in the trade market if the Leafs make him available.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers continue to have trade discussions with teams regarding Andrew Mangiapane. They’re being open-minded about the return for the 29-year-old winger, who has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $3.6 million.

So far, the Oilers haven’t found a fit. Nevertheless, LeBrun wondered if the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, or St. Louis Blues might be interested.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun also indicated that the extra year on Mangiapane’s contract has complicated the Oilers’ efforts to move him. However, the biggest sticking point likely remains the decline in his performance over the past couple of years.

RED WINGS SEEKING A CENTER

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Detroit Red Wings are buyers as they jockey for first place in the Eastern Conference. He indicated that GM Steve Yzerman seeks a second-line center and a right-shot defenseman. He would prefer if both players had terms remaining on their contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have plenty of projected trade deadline salary-cap space and tradeable assets to address at least one of those areas by March 6.

LATEST ON THE JETS

TSN: Darren Dreger addressed speculation suggesting the Winnipeg Jets and Seattle Kraken were discussing a deal involving Kraken center Shane Wright. He claimed, “There’s been no conversation between these two clubs about the potential availability of Shane Wright.”

If the Jets become sellers by the March 6 trade deadline, Dreger believes defenseman Logan Stanley could become a player of interest. The 27-year-old Stanley is UFA-eligible this summer, and there have been no contract extension talks between the two sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wright has recently surfaced in the rumor mill amid speculation the Kraken could seek a “dynamic scoring forward”. The fourth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, he had 44 points last season, but his production and playing time have decreased this season.

NO BIG DEADLINE DEALS FOR THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has no plans of sacrificing assets for quick fixes before the March trade deadline. In a recent podcast, Hughes said he intends to be prudent in the trade market.

LeBrun believes the Canadiens still want to make hockey trades. He cited their creativity in the trade market, and will be on the lookout for a deal that could improve their top-six forwards.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes could also be in the market for an experienced penalty killer. The Canadiens are 27th in that department.

BLUE JACKETS STILL DETERMINING IF THEY’RE BUYERS OR SELLERS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets have improved under new head coach Rick Bowness, but they’re still six points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Jackets could decide by the upcoming Olympic break in February if they’ll be buyers or sellers. If they sell, pending UFAs such as Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, Charlie Coyle, and Erik Gudbranson would draw interest.