NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2025

by | Dec 9, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2025

The latest on Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and winger Kiefer Sherwood in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Darren Dreger said that the Vancouver Canucks got calls from rival clubs after they sent out their memo indicating they were willing to entertain offers for their pending unrestricted free agents. Some of those teams, such as the New Jersey Devils, also inquired about their non-UFAs like Quinn Hughes, but not much more than that.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Pierre LeBrun believes the big decision facing the Canucks is whether to move Hughes before the March 6 trade deadline, or wait until the offseason and attempt to re-sign the 26-year-old superstar defenseman, or peddle him at the draft.

LeBrun thinks it would be a cleaner process for the Canucks to move Hughes before the trade deadline. That means the blueliner’s agent doesn’t have to get involved, and they wouldn’t have the Hughes camp basically picking their team in July. A selling point in moving him by the trade deadline is that a team would have him for two playoff runs.

Chris Johnston said the Canucks don’t want to trade Hughes. However, their struggles this season will make it difficult for them to convince him to stay. With the standings compressed, there’s still time to save their season, but that means trying to bolster their roster.

SPORTSNET: During his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he believed the Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings discussed Hughes. He thinks that there could be a deal to be made if they want to do one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of these clubs seemed to be conducting due diligence regarding Hughes. The Canucks don’t appear to be shopping him at this point, and it doesn’t seem like they’re open to offers for him.

That could change later in the season if the Canucks fail to improve and Hughes is noncommittal about signing an extension next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Meanwhile, Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported the Minnesota Wild have “significant interest” in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Canucks winger is UFA-eligible in July.

The Wild reportedly offered the Canucks a good young prospect to suit their asking price, but the cost has been raised. They now want a good roster player and are also seeking a first-round pick.

It’s rumored the Canucks remain interested in sidelined Wild center Marco Rossi, but Russo and Smith don’t see them trading Rossi for Sherwood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A roster player and a first-rounder is a high price for Sherwood. It’s doubtful that any club will pony up that much to get him.

The Canucks were interested in Rossi during the offseason. During his podcast on Monday, Elliotte Friedman said the Wild asked about Aatu Raty, but the Canucks didn’t want to move him because they wanted to give him a chance.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Canucks asked the Philadelphia Flyers about Owen Tippett in a return for Sherwood. However, he thinks the Flyers want to hang on to the 26-year-old winger. The trade rumors may have bothered Tippett, and Friedman thinks they’re trying to tell the winger that it’s not their doing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett’s been the subject of trade conjecture since the summer. However, the Flyers believe the three-time 20-goal scorer has 30-goal potential. He’s got another six seasons remaining on his contract, so they think he can elevate his game to another level.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 9, 2025

by | Dec 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 9, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s action, the three stars of the week are revealed, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson kicked out 39 shots to shut out the Vancouver Canucks 4-0. James van Riemsdyk scored to extend his goal streak to four games as the Red Wings vaulted into first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 16-11-3 (35 points). The Canucks dropped to 11-16-3, losing five of their last six games.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks winger Nils Hoglander made his season debut after missing 29 games with a lower-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 2-0 blanking of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews were the goal scorers as the Maple Leafs (14-11-4) have won four of their last five contests. Jonas Johansson stopped 22 of 23 shots for the 16-11-2 Lightning, who’ve dropped four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning forward Gage Goncalves was ejected early in the third period for kneeing Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis. Shortly afterward, Leafs winger Bobby McMann received a match penalty for slashing Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point returned to action after being sidelined by injuries. Earlier in the day, the Lightning moved starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to injured reserve.

Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson was a healthy scratch for this contest. Head coach Craig Berube said his play had dropped off recently.

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1. Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and two assists, and Filip Gustavsson turned aside 23 shots for the Wild, who improved to 16-9-5. Jordan Eberle replied for the struggling Kraken (11-10-6) as their losing skid reached six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kraken announced that rookie forward Berkly Catton is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He’s unlikely to be joining Canada for the 2026 World Junior Championship.

Los Angeles Kings winger Joel Armia tallied twice in a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist for the 14-8-7 Kings. Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth (14-14-3), who’ve dropped six of their last eight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the struggling Mammoth announced that first-line center Logan Cooley is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

The Calgary Flames defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists, and Yegor Sharangovich tallied twice and picked up an assist for the improving Flames (12-15-4), who’ve won three straight and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist for the 11-14-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After struggling through the opening weeks of this season, the Flames have been red-hot of late (pun intended), sitting only three points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, and Florida Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe are the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 7, 2025.

THE SCORE/SPORTSNET: The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) downplayed concerns over the smaller ice surfaces at the two arenas in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Both rinks will be 60 meters long by 26 meters wide, or approximately 196.85 feet by 85.3 feet. The standard NHL rink is 200 feet by 85 feet (60.96 by 25.908 meters).

The IIHF stated the dimensions of the two rinks are fully consistent with its regulations and the NHL’s requirements for its Global Series rink specifications, adding that the differences are “insignificant.”

Meanwhile, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is optimistic that the main rink will be completed on time and to league standards. His main concern is with the quality of the ice surface.

Daly said that if the players felt the ice was unsafe, they wouldn’t play. Nevertheless, he doesn’t see anything insurmountable that would prevent the main rink from being completed in time for the Games.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks have sent forward Landon Slaggert and rookie defenseman Sam Rinzel to their AHL affiliate in Rockford.

NHL.COM: Center Craig Smith announced his retirement after 14 NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, and Detroit Red Wings.

In 987 regular-season games from 2011-12 to 2024-25, Smith tallied 220 goals and 232 assists for 452 points. He also had 23 points in 83 playoff games.

OTTAWA CITIZEN: The Senators have hired a firm to lobby the provincial and federal governments to help pay for the team’s planned new arena at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sports teams make enough money to pay for their own arenas, but most have convinced provincial and state governments to pick up a larger chunk of the tab. The Senators’ efforts will likely sway the Ontario government to pay part of the cost.

THE ATHLETIC: surveyed 120 NHL players, in which over 86 percent believe playing in a no-tax state matters. Many cited how teams in Florida convinced many of their best players to sign team-friendly contracts.

Some also suggested that teams in higher-tax states should have a higher salary cap, and those in lower or no-tax states should have a lower cap to balance things out. Some believe it is advantageous to sign in no-tax states because their dollars will go further.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Playing in a warm-weather state with no state tax on a good team is an obvious enticement for players. However, the state has to make money somehow, which means high property taxes, sales taxes, cost-of-living expenses, and fees that can offset some or most of those financial benefits.

Some pundits and fans believe that teams in no-tax states have an advantage over others when it comes to building and maintaining a Stanley Cup contender or champion, citing the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. However, it hasn’t worked so well for the Seattle Kraken and Nashville Predators.

Speaking of the Panthers, their no-tax advantage didn’t help them from 1997-98 to 2018-19, when they only made the playoffs three times and struggled to retain their best players. It wasn’t until they finally brought in good management and coaches that they turned themselves around.

That’s when being in a no-tax state made it possible for the Panthers to retain most of their key players. It’s easier to convince them to take team-friendly contracts when you’re a winner or a contender.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2025

by | Dec 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2025

Are the Devils interested in Predators forward Steven Stamkos? Could the Stars pursue Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood or Flames forward Blake Coleman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

STEVEN STAMKOS LINKED TO THE DEVILS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils are believed to have internally discussed Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos, among several other trade targets.

Stamkos, 35, is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-movement clause. LeBrun doubts that he’s going anywhere this season, but indicated that the Predators “would definitely listen to calls on him.”

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

The Devils were among the suitors for Stamkos when he was an unrestricted free agent in 2024. LeBrun suggests this is something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Stamkos’ production since 2023-24 likely means the Devils won’t have to put together a significant offer to pry him away from the Predators, assuming he’ll waive his NMC.

Cap space will be a sticking point. The Devils have a projected $3.6 million in trade deadline cap room. Even if they convince the Predators to retain salary (which will raise their asking price), they still must free up more cap space to acquire Stamkos.

HOW WILL THE STARS REPLACE TYLER SEGUIN?

TSN: Chris Johnston believes the recent injury to Tyler Seguin could turn the Dallas Stars into more aggressive buyers by the trade deadline.

Seguin suffered what could be a season-ending knee injury earlier this week. The Stars currently have just over $3 million in cap space, but that’s with sidelined forwards Matt Duchene and Adam Erne and defenseman Nils Lundkvist on long-term injury reserve (LTIR)

If Seguin is out for the season (including the playoffs), he’ll go on season-ending long-term injury reserve (SELTIR). That would enable the Stars to spend up to the entirety of his $9.85 million cap hit to exceed the cap to another player.

On the other hand, if Seguin is expected to return later in the regular season or during the playoffs, the LTIR benefit is limited to last season’s average league salary, which was just over $3.8 million.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos goes into greater detail regarding the changes to the LTIR policy and how it would affect the Stars’ efforts to replace Seguin.

If Seguin’s gone for the season, she speculates the Stars could trade for a forward with an expensive cap hit to replace him on the roster. If he is to return later this season, the Stars will have to be more conservative in their efforts to add to their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston noted that the Stars were reportedly among the clubs interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. His $1.5 million cap hit would make him a very affordable trade option.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs are showing a strong interest in Blake Coleman. The 32-year-old Calgary Flames winger is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade list.

Murphy claimed the Utah Mammoth, Minnesota Wild, and Carolina Hurricanes have also been linked to Coleman. He believes the Flames winger could be a cost-effective option who could move earlier than more expensive teammates such as Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Seguin goes on SELTIR, the Stars will be in a better position to pursue Coleman than the cap-strapped Leafs. The Mammoth, Hurricanes, and Wild would be in an even better cap position and could have more tradeable assets to work with.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 3, 2025

by | Dec 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 3, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, a growing number of clubs are interested in Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, plus the latest on the rumor linking Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry to the Oilers.

CANUCKS WINGER KIEFER SHERWOOD DRAWING INTEREST IN THE TRADE MARKET

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there is plenty of interest in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. He has a team-leading 12 goals and carries an affordable $1.5 million cap hit.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

LeBrun said the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, and Dallas Stars were among a long list of clubs to express an interest in Sherwood. The Canucks aren’t rushing into this, as they intend to take their time evaluating the trade market. LeBrun wondered if some of those teams might be willing to sign Sherwood to a contract extension, which would increase his trade value for the Canucks.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at what impact Sherwood could have for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Flyers could seek a short-term replacement for sidelined winger Tyson Foerster, while the Islanders could do the same for winger Kyle Palmieri. The Bruins need more secondary scoring, and the Lightning could use a little more experience with relative unknowns such as Gage Goncalves, Curtis Douglas, and Dominic James scattered throughout their lineup.

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen believes the Columbus Blue Jackets have a realistic shot at acquiring Sherwood. They’re in the hunt for the playoffs and could benefit from adding his gritty two-way game to their top-nine forwards. He also suggested Sherwood could make sense for the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline confirmed that the Blue Jackets were among the teams to contact the Canucks about Sherwood, who is a Columbus native. He also doesn’t rule out the Bruins as a suitor, pointing out that Sherwood and Bruins forward Sean Kuraly are long-time friends.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood is the current standout in a thin trade market thus far. It’s understandable why the Canucks are taking their time as they’re hoping his value will improve. However, there is a danger that his performance (especially his offense) could drop off as the season progresses, as well as the risk of injury.

WOULD THE OILERS BE INTERESTED IN PENGUINS GOALIE TRISTAN JARRY?

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen was asked what level of interest the Edmonton Oilers could have in Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Rosen believes the only way the Oilers make a move for Jarry is if they think he’ll backstop them to the Stanley Cup. He pointed out that they don’t know if he’d be worth the risk over the remaining two years of his contract, while they at least know what they have in current starter Stuart Skinner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry can blow hot and cold like Skinner, but the latter has carried them to two straight Stanley Cup Finals. Jarry also has an injury history that would be a concern for the Oilers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2025

by | Dec 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2025

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt collects his fourth shutout in six starts, Steven Stamkos, Jamie Benn, and David Perron reach notable career milestones, the three stars and the rookie of the month for November are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves for his fourth shutout in his last six games to blank the Edmonton Oilers 1-0. Jonas Brodin scored the only goal as the Wild improved to 15-7-5. Stuart Skinner made 23 saves for the Oilers, who slipped to 11-11-5.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wallstedt became the second-fastest goaltender in NHL history to record five career shutouts, doing so in 15 games. Frankie Brimsek holds the record with nine games.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored to reach his 1,200th career NHL regular-season point in a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots, and Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist for the Predators (9-13-4). Morgan Frost replied for the 9-15-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos is the sixth active player to reach the 1,200-point milestone, joining Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Detroit Red Wings forward Patrik Kane, and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar.

Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt scored his first NHL goal. He pointed skyward to honor his late brother Orca Wiesblatt, who died in a car accident in September.

An overtime goal by Vladislav Gavrikov lifted the New York Rangers over the Dallas Stars 3-2. Artemi Panarin had two assists for the Rangers (14-12-2), who have three wins in their last four games. Kyle Capobianco and Mikko Rantanen scored for the 17-5-5 Stars as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dallas captain Jamie Benn played his 1,200th career NHL regular-season game. Meanwhile, Stars winger Tyler Seguin left the game early in the first period after injuring his right leg following a collision with Gavrikov. Earlier in the day, the Stars announced defenseman Lian Bichsel will miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury suffered in Sunday’s win over the Ottawa Senators.

The Ottawa Senators improved to 13-9-4 with a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Brady Tkachuk and Fabian Zetterlund each had a goal and an assist. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each had two points for the 13-9-3 Canadiens, who have lost two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators forward David Perron collected an assist in his 1,200th career regular-season NHL game. Tkachuk’s goal was his first of the season after missing 20 games with an injured thumb.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied twice to lead his club over the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 3-1. The league-leading Avalanche (19-1-6, 44 points) extended its point streak to 17 games. Linus Karlsson scored for the 10-14-3 Canucks, who have two wins in their last 11 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads the league with 22 goals and 46 points. Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood left this game in the second period for precautionary reasons with tightness in his back. Meanwhile, teammate Valeri Nichushkin returned to action after missing eight games with a lower-body injury.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Boston Bruins 5-4, snapping a four-game losing skid. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat each had a goal and an assist for the 14-11-2 Red Wings. Hampus Lindholm had three assists, and Alex Steeves tallied two goals for the Bruins (15-13-0).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger David Pastrnak missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be sidelined for the rest of this week. Meanwhile, winger Viktor Arvidsson returned to action after being out since Nov. 15 with a lower-body injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got their third win in their last four games by downing the Florida Panthers 4-1. Troy Stecher and Dakota Joshua each had a goal and an assist, and Joseph Woll turned aside 26 shots for the 12-11-3 Maple Leafs. Sam Reinhart got the only goal for the Panthers (12-12-1), who’ve dropped three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo will be sidelined longer than expected with a lower-body injury. He’s been out since Nov. 13 and recently suffered a setback in his recovery.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots to nip the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Bo Horvat and Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders (14-10-3) as they ended a three-game losing skid. Dominic James scored for the 16-8-2 Lightning, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 34 points.

A shootout goal by Shea Theodore gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Carter Hart made 27 saves in his season debut with the Golden Knights (12-6-8). Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-6 Blackhawks, who have one win in their last seven games.

The Washington Capitals picked up their fifth straight win by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Alex Ovechkin collected two assists for the Capitals (16-9-2). Adrian Kempe scored for the 12-7-7 Kings.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard are the league’s three stars for November 2025. Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is the Rookie of the Month for November.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers forward Tyson Foerster will be sidelined for two to three months with an upper-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier (upper body) was placed on injured reserve

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The NHL is sending a memo to its 32 teams reminding them about its rule requiring players to wear helmets during warmups. This comes after the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils violated that rule in recent games. Neither club is expected to be punished beyond a warning.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 30, 2025

by | Nov 30, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 30, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Oilers, Maple Leafs, and Blackhawks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

RUMORS FROM SPORTSNET’S SATURDAY NHL HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman felt there might be a quick trade involving Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Friedman noted he’s “a really good player,” carrying an affordable salary ($1.5 million). However, there’s nothing imminent, and it may not happen fast.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

Winger Conor Garland didn’t play in last night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. However, that is injury-related and not because he’s being held out of the lineup for trade purposes.

Friedman believes teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in some of the Canucks’ veterans who are on expiring contracts. Nevertheless, the Canucks aren’t in a hurry and are willing to take their time and see what the trade market looks like.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports a NHL source close to the situation said the Boston Bruins had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood and Garland. They’re in the market for more scoring depth. Murphy also indicated that the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings have expressed an interest in Sherwood.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner wondered if Canucks blueliner Filip Hronek might be in play. The 28-year-old has five seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Rosner believes Hronek could be a good fit alongside rookie star Matthew Schaefer, which in turn could help the Islanders become a Stanley Cup contender. He wondered if a package offer of the 2026 first-round pick that originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche, a conditional third-round pick, and a depth player would be enough to get the job done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current Canucks management has a reputation for making moves well ahead of the annual trade deadline. However, that doesn’t mean they’re going to pull the trigger in late November or early December, especially when teams aren’t as willing to meet their asking prices at this time of year.

The earliest they’ll make those moves will likely be January, which was when they shipped J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers last season.

As for Hronek, Friedman stated last week that he’s unlikely to be available. The Canucks are only looking to move pending UFAs or those with less than two years on their contracts, with superstar Quinn Hughes excluded from that list. Any club wanting Hronek must offer up more than draft picks and a depth player, assuming he’ll waive his no-movement clause.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports struggling goaltender Stuart Skinner has not sought a trade from the Edmonton Oilers. He also said the Oilers won’t make a trade just for the sake of doing so or to make a lateral move. They’d rather not make a move than a bad or a panic move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s because there are slim pickings for goalies in the trade market. Friedman indicated there are teams with spare goalies (Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo) but the Oilers don’t consider what’s available to be an improvement over their current tandem of Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

Friedman indicated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking around in the trade market. However, he doesn’t believe there are any major organizational changes on the horizon.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit is on a conditioning stint with the club’s AHL affiliate as he continues to work his way back from knee and hip surgeries that have sidelined him since last April.

The Blackhawks no longer have room for Brossoit. Friedman said they have permitted teams to speak with the 32-year-old netminder. He carries a $3.3 million cap hit, which not many clubs can currently afford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: David Staples of the Edmonton Journal pointed out that Friedman recently speculated about the Oilers being one of those teams. However, his comments on Saturday about their unwillingness to make a lateral move with their goaltending suggest Brossoit might not be of interest to them.