NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2026

by | Jan 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2026

What’s the latest on Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad? Could the Wild make another bold move before the March 6 trade deadline? What are the Capitals seeking in the trade market? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary recently listed five potential landing spots for Artemi Panarin.

The 34-year-old New York Rangers winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1, and was informed by Rangers management that they wouldn’t be offering him a contract extension. He has a full no-movement clause this season, giving him full control over possible destinations before the March 6 trade deadline.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

O’Leary suggested the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, acknowledging their limited cap space but also noting they have the assets to tempt the Rangers. The Washington Capitals could use another skilled scoring winger, but they won’t part with top prospect Cole Hutson.

The Vegas Golden Knights were O’Leary’s third choice, but he made that pick before they acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. The Los Angeles Kings have the cap space, but lack sufficient trade assets.

O’Leary suggested Panarin could be what the Carolina Hurricanes need to put them over the top as a Stanley Cup champion. They possess more cap space than the other clubs on this list, and the trade capital to make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito has made bold moves to bolster his roster. He’ll have the cap space if sidelined team captain Aleksander Barkov remains out for the entire season, including the playoffs.

The Golden Knights are always sniffing around for the best available talent and usually get it, but their acquisition of Andersson may have taken up what little trade bait they had left. As for the Kings, they could have their eye on more affordable trade options, if a recent rumor linking them to Vancouver’s Evander Kane is anything to go by.

That leaves the Hurricanes as the most likely option, provided they’re interested and if Panarin is willing to join them.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad said he hasn’t been approached by management about waiving his no-movement clause. He maintained that he remains committed to the club, though Walker felt he left his intentions somewhat open-ended, saying he couldn’t say for certain what would happen in the future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful that Zibanejad gets moved by the March 6 trade deadline. Their focus is on moving Panarin. Given he’s signed for four more years with an AAV of $8.5 million, trading him might be an offseason move if he’s open to the possibility.

THE WILD MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith still believe that Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin isn’t done in the trade market after acquiring Quinn Hughes last month.

They believe the Wild are “a scoring winger or first-line center away from true contender status.” Guerin is in “win-now” mode and could make another big swing by dealing draft picks and prospects for a center.

Russo and Smith raised the possibility of Guerin using promising goaltender Jesper Wallstedt as trade bait. They pointed out that netminder Filip Gustavsson is under contract until 2031, reminding us that young defenseman Zeev Buium was considered untouchable before he was shipped off to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return in the Hughes deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Wallstedt would certainly be a bold choice by Guerin. It’ll depend on which first-line center or scoring winger becomes available.

That player would have to be someone who could truly turn them into Cup contenders. It’s unlikely he’d move Wallstedt for a rental player, so it’ll have to be someone with at least another year left on their contract, or a pending UFA willing to sign an extension.

CAPITALS SHOPPING FOR HELP UP FRONT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently reported that Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick is closely watching the trade market.

Patrick said he’s “definitely actively pursuing an addition” that will likely be for his forward lines. He believes the Capitals’ biggest need is for a “higher-end skilled winger”, acknowledging that those types of players usually aren’t available by the trade deadline.

The Capitals GM prefers finding a winger who can be a good short-term addition with the potential to stick around beyond this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cue the “Artemi Panarin to the Capitals” speculation. A more affordable option could be Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames, provided they’re on his list of preferred trade destinations.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2021

by | Oct 11, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2021

The Rangers sign Mika Zibanejad to a lucrative contract extension, Zdeno Chara and Zach Parise officially sign with the Islanders, a large number of players hit the waiver wire, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers yesterday announced Mika Zibanejad signed an eight-year contract extension worth $68 million. The annual average value is $8.5 million. This deal will keep Zibanejad with the Rangers until he’s 36. By keeping his AAV under $9 million, it provided the Blueshirts with some cap flexibility to re-sign key players such as Adam Fox in the near future.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Post’s Larry Brooks indicated Zibanejad’s new deal is a little longer than Rangers’ management preferred. However, it was necessary to reach that $8.5 million cap hit as he likely would’ve received up to $10 million annually on the open market. As per Cap Friendly, they now have over $62 million invested in 16 players for 2022-23 with Fox, Ryan Strome, Kaapo Kakko and Alexandar Georgiev among the notables slated for new contracts next summer.

Zibanejad thrived since being traded to the Rangers in 2016, including a career-best 41 goals and 75 points in 57 games in 2019-20. He had a slow start last season following a bout of COVID-19 but finished strong with 50 points in 56 contests.

This signing should also take the Rangers out of the Jack Eichel sweepstakes. I’ll have more on that in today’s Rumor Mill. Brooks believes the only way it happens is if the Sabres retain 40-50 percent of Eichel’s $10 million AAV which isn’t going to happen.

DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Islanders officially announced the signings of Zdeno Chara and Zach Parise. They’re both on one-year, one-way contracts with an annual average value of $1.5 million. They’ll receive a base salary of $750K plus $750K in bonuses.

Frank Seravalli reported Erik Gustafsson has returned to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old defenseman signed a one-year deal believed to be worth $800K.

Forty-three players hit the waiver wire yesterday. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Travis Hamonic and Edmonton Oilers forward Kyle Turris are the two notable names on that list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamonic was absent from the Canucks training camp and preseason for reasons related to the NHL’s vaccination protocols. Unvaccinated players face restrictions that could prevent them from participating in road games, which could also result in them being suspended without pay.

There was talk of the Canucks attempting to trade Hamonic. He’s on a two-year, $6 million contract with an eight-team no-trade clause.

THE PROVINCE: Speaking of the Canucks, they traded defenseman Olli Juolevi to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Noah Juulsen and forward Juho Lammiko.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a trade of young players who failed to pan out with their previous teams. Injuries also hampered the development of Juolevi and Juulsen. The latter is now on his third team in two seasons.

THE SCORE: Vegas Golden Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee accused player agent Allan Walsh of attempting to sabotage efforts to trade Marc-Andre Fleury by telling other clubs his client was considering retirement.

McPhee praised Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon’s handling of the situation. While acknowledging Fleury learned of his trade to the Chicago Blackhawks on social media, McPhee said they spoke with the goalie’s camp leading up to the deal. They stopped communicating with them when Walsh started telling other clubs Fleury planned to retire.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to hear Walsh’s side of the story. The agent generated some controversy during the 2020 playoffs by posting an image on Twitter of Fleury with a photoshopped sword running through his back and head coach Pete DeBoer’s name on the blade. The suggestion was DeBoer stabbed his client in the back by giving Robin Lehner more playing time in the postseason. That image was removed at Fleury’s request.

SPORTSNET: New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood returned to practice yesterday after clearing all COVID-19 protocols. He’d received an inconclusive COVID test on Thursday. He said he “still has some things to do” before deciding one way or the other on getting vaccinated, “but I’m probably going to be getting the shot in the next couple of weeks.” He’s the only unvaccinated member of the Devils.

TSN: Speaking of the Devils, they signed forward Jimmy Vesey to a one-year, $800K contract.

NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette indicated captain Alex Ovechkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He doesn’t consider it serious, suggesting the 36-year-old winger could be in the lineup for their season opener on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.

THE DENVER POST: The Avalanche signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a one-year, $750K contract.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators forward Austin Watson is expected to be sidelined roughly four weeks with an injured ankle.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman was fined $1,812.50 for spearing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly during Saturday’s preseason game.

Former NHL forward Frans Nielsen signed with DEL club Eisbaren Berlin. The 37-year-old center tallied 473 points in 925 career NHL games with the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings.