NHL Rumor Mill – March 12, 2026

by | Mar 12, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 12, 2026

A look ahead at the Flyers’ potential offseason plans, and the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE FLYERS AFTER THE TRADE DEADLINE?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James reported Flyers general manager Daniel Briere remained firm on his asking price for Rasmus Ristolainen leading up to last Friday’s trade deadline. He claimed Briere sought a first-round pick and a prospect for the 31-year-old defenseman.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (NHL Images).

Briere stated that he wasn’t trying to dump Ristolainen or get rid of him, saying that the veteran blueliner still had a lot of value to the Flyers. He indicated there were plenty of calls from other clubs, but the offers didn’t make sense value-wise.

Retaining Ristolainen creates a logjam on the right side of the Flyers’ blueline, including Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, and the recently-acquired David Jiricek.

James believes the Flyers should’ve moved Ristolainen, as his value will never be higher than it was at the deadline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco believes the Flyers did the right thing by retaining Ristolainen, pointing out that his departure would’ve left a big hole on the right side of the defense corps, which would’ve led to rushing one of their young blueliners into the lineup.

Di Marco cited sources claiming the Flyers offered Ristolainen and a roster player to an unnamed Eastern Conference team for a prospect and a roster player, but it was rejected by the other team.

The Flyers could attempt to move Ristolainen during the summer. However, they could also retain him and re-evaluate at next year’s deadline.

Di Marco also reported that Flyers sources claim the club will attempt to address its backup goalie position in the offseason. He suggested that Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres could be interesting options.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz believes addressing their thin depth at the center position should be the Flyers’ top priority in the offseason.

Winger Garnet Hathaway’s struggles this season could result in a contract buyout this summer. They could pursue a backup goaltender, as Samuel Ersson has played his way off the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen is signed through next season with a salary-cap hit of $5.1 million and lacks no-trade protection. Unless a rival club makes a significant offer, he will likely return with the Flyers next season.

It’s expected they’ll re-sign starting goaltender Daniel Vladar to a contract extension this summer. He’s currently signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $3.35 million. They’ll likely scour this summer’s trade and free-agent markets for a reliable backup.

Hathaway has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $2.4 million. A buyout would leave the Flyers with a $1 million cap hit for 2026-27 and $700,000 for 2027-28.

IS THIS SAMUEL MONTEMBEAULT’S FINAL SEASON WITH THE CANADIENS?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the Canadiens recalling Jacob Fowler from their AHL affiliate in Laval indicates they’ve lost trust in struggling starting goaltender Samuel Montembeault.

The 29-year-old Montembeault has one season left on his contract with a cap hit of $3.15 million. Cowan believes it wouldn’t be a shock if the Canadiens attempt to trade him this summer.

Following the Canadiens’ 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators with Fowler in goal, Herb Zurkowsky suggested Montembeault’s future in Montreal appears to be in jeopardy, but he cautioned that things can change quickly in pro sports.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have been patient with Montembeault this season. They gave him playing time, they gave him time off, sent him to Laval on a brief conditioning stint, and replaced their goaltending coach. However, his ongoing inconsistency remains a nagging issue as the Habs jockey for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Fowler showed promise in his 10-team call-up earlier this season, going 4-4-2 with a 2.62 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage, and one shutout. The 21-year-old netminder has been outstanding this season for Laval, going 7-1-0 in his last eight games with a 1.95 GAA and a .926 save percentage.

The Canadiens wanted to keep Fowler in the AHL for seasoning, but Montembeault’s struggles changed those plans. If the youngster spends the rest of this season as a reliable backup for Jakub Dobes, this could indeed be Montembeault’s final season with the Habs.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2026

by | Mar 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2026

Were the Devils shopping Dougie Hamilton at the trade deadline? What would it have cost the Bruins to acquire Rangers center Vincent Trocheck? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DEVILS WEREN’T SHOPPING DOUGIE HAMILTON BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports multiple reports linked Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton to other teams leading up to last Friday’s trade deadline.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).

Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said he wasn’t shopping Hamilton before the deadline, but he acknowledged a couple of teams called about the 32-year-old defenseman.

Hamilton appeared in trade rumors in mid-January after being a healthy scratch from a game against the Winnipeg Jets. At the time, Fitzgerald said it was performance-related, but the defenseman’s camp believed the club was trying to force Hamilton to waive his 10-team trade list going back to last summer’s draft.

Since then, however, Hamilton’s performance has improved, with 17 points in his last 20 games. Fitzgerald downplayed the January incident as a misunderstanding.

Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $9 million. He is due for a $7.4 million signing bonus on July 1, which reportedly hindered the Devils’ efforts to move him in a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils will be a team to monitor in the offseason. They were reportedly listening to offers for young defenseman Simon Nemec, who is in the final season of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights. It’s believed he could seek a contract comparable to the seven-year, $63 million deal signed by teammate Luke Hughes last October.

The Devils can’t afford to shell out $27 million annually for three defensemen. They could face a choice between moving Nemec or Hamilton.

THE RANGERS’ PRICE FOR TROCHECK WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE BRUINS

THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reported Sunday about what the New York Rangers may have sought from the Bruins in exchange for Vincent Trocheck.

Dupont cited multiple sources claiming Rangers general manager Chris Drury set a high price for the 32-year-old center. It was rumored that the Boston Bruins were among the suitors for Trocheck.

Based on his sources, Dupont believed it could have had Drury asking Bruins GM Don Sweeney for Fraser Minten and a first-round pick, “or perhaps Minten, Mark Kastelic, and a first or second-rounder”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If that’s what Drury was seeking, it’s not surprising Sweeney passed. It would also explain why another club didn’t land Trocheck.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 10, 2026

by | Mar 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 10, 2026

Did the Canadiens come close to acquiring Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies? What’s the latest on Blues center Robert Thomas? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANADIENS RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN MATTHEW KNIES

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos believes the failed deal that the Montreal Canadiens attempted to make before Friday’s trade deadline was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kypreos also believes the Canadiens were trying to acquire Matthew Knies, claiming the 23-year-old Maple Leafs winger drew interest from several teams in the trade market.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).

Aside from Auston Matthews and William Nylander, Knies is the only player who could provide the Maple Leafs with a return of top-tier talent.

Kypreos stressed that he’s not confirming that it was Knies the Canadiens were after, but that’s the speculation that’s out there.

Luke Fox pointed out that Elliotte Friedman raised the possibility before the trade deadline that the Maple Leafs floated Knies’ name in the trade market. Fox noted that the big Leafs winger was surprised that he popped up in trade rumors, but didn’t look into it too much.

Fox observed that Knies is the only member of the Maple Leafs core who lacks no-trade protection. He also noted that the Carolina Hurricanes asked for Knies at the 2025 trade deadline when the Leafs were trying to acquire Mikko Rantanen. Still, general manager Brad Treliving refused to part with him.

However, the Maple Leafs need to bolster their roster to stage a bounce-back performance next season. No one player should be considered off-limits if a move can be made this summer to improve their roster.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont noted that Kypreos spoke of the Canadiens’ deep prospect pool. Knies going to Montreal could fetch a return to the Leafs that restocks their depleted prospect cupboard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was originally believed that the Canadiens were pursuing St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Going after Knies makes more sense as it could give them a right winger to play alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the top line, or on the second line at his natural left-wing position with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.

Knies to Montreal would certainly qualify as a blockbuster. The return to the Maple Leafs could’ve been a first-round pick, a prospect, and a young player, or a couple of prospects and a young player.

For now, this is an unsubstantiated rumor because Kypreos can’t say for certain that Knies was the Canadiens’ target. Nevertheless, it’ll stoke speculation about the Habs’ offseason plans. Whether it involves revisiting that mysterious significant trade they tried to make at the deadline.

ROBERT THOMAS WAS NEVER ASKED TO WAIVE HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE

DAILY FACEOFF: Robert Thomas told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that the St. Louis Blues never approached him about waiving his no-trade clause. He said that everything he heard came from media insiders and online.

“I just want to be clear: I was never asked, and nor did I ever ask for a trade,” Thomas said.

The 26-year-old Blues center has a full no-trade clause. His contract runs through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million.

Thomas admitted that it’s been frustrating that the Blues aren’t where they thought they’d be this season. However, he insisted that he remains committed to the club and loves living in St. Louis.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported the depth of the trade conversations about Thomas leading up to last Friday’s deadline suggests those talks will resume during the offseason.

LeBrun speculated the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth could revisit their interest in Thomas. He also raised the possibility of the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, or Los Angeles Kings getting involved.

The Blues reportedly set a high asking price for Thomas. Whether that softens during the offseason remains to be seen. Nevertheless, LeBrun thinks Thomas most likely gets traded this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For all the rumors about Thomas, his comments indicate that the discussions never reached the point where Blues management would ask him to waive his no-trade clause.

That could change during the summer, but that doesn’t mean Thomas will agree to it.

Remember, the Blues had a deal in place that would have sent Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres, but the defenseman nixed the trade by refusing to waive his clause.

Thomas could do the same, but that won’t stop the conjecture about his future in St. Louis.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 9, 2026

by | Mar 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 9, 2026

The trade deadline has passed, but the rumor mill keeps churning as the focus shifts toward offseason moves. Check out the latest on Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Roman Josi, and Simon Nemec in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE PENGUINS PART WAYS WITH MALKIN AND KARLSSON THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently reported that Evgeni Malkin’s contract situation overshadowed the trade deadline for the Pittsburgh Penguins and could continue to do so over the remainder of this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

Malkin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The 40-year-old center has expressed his desire to return with the Penguins for another season. He’s had a solid bounce-back performance as the Penguins jockey for a playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division.

However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas indicated contract discussions would be put off until the offseason, prompting Malkin to express his disappointment publicly. Dubas praised Malkin’s performance and acknowledged what he means to the club, but indicated that he has to do what’s best for the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This issue will likely fade over the remainder of the season as the focus shifts to the Penguins’ efforts to clinch their first playoff berth in four years. However, it will flare up again in the offseason, especially as the July 1 opening date from free agency approaches.

Speaking of aging Penguins stars enjoying bounce-back efforts, Erik Karlsson has one more year left on his contract. However, Pierre LeBrun speculated that the 35-year-old puck-moving defenseman could be moved this summer if there’s an opportunity for Dubas to recoup some assets.

LeBrun acknowledged that Karlsson carries an expensive cap hit but believes there would be genuine interest if the Penguins agreed to retain half of it. The veteran blueliner would also have to waive his no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson has an average annual value of $11.5 million, of which the Penguins carry $10 million, and the San Jose Sharks carry $1.5 million. He’ll earn $1.5 million in actual salary next season once his $6 million signing bonus is paid on July 1.

KEEP AN EYE ON SOME OF THE PREDATORS’ STARS THIS SUMMER

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun cites a source saying it might be worthwhile to keep an eye on Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi this summer.

If the Predators deepen their rebuild by trading Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Jonathan Marchessault, Josi would probably want to speak with management about the club’s direction.

LeBrun believes Josi would probably stay in Nashville. The 35-year-old defenseman is loyal to the team and has two years left on his contract. Nevertheless, LeBrun isn’t ruling out the possibility that he might consider moving on.

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reported Friday that Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz said he received calls about Stamkos, O’Reilly, and Erik Haula before the trade deadline.

Trotz indicates he told Stamkos and O’Reilly that he didn’t want to get rid of them, but if he got irresistible offers, he’d speak to them and give them the chance to decide if they want to accept a trade. He also indicated that he came “fairly close” to moving either guy, but “until it’s done, it’s not done.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators are expected to be under new management by this summer. Trotz’s successor could prove more aggressive in peddling veterans such as O’Reilly, Stamkos, and Marchessault, which in turn could prompt a conversation with Josi. It would indeed be something worth monitoring in the offseason.

DEVILS COULD CONTINUE SHOPPING SIMON NEMEC THIS SUMMER

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils were listening to trade offers for Simon Nemec. However, their asking price for the 22-year-old defenseman was a young, impact, top-six forward.

Nemec is slated to become a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract and has changed agents. LeBrun believes his camp intends to use teammate Luke Hughes’ contract (seven years, $9 million annually) as a comparable.

It would make more sense for the Devils to retain Nemec and move veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $9 million. However, it’s proven difficult to move Hamilton. Given the interest in Nemec, LeBrun believed the latter is more likely to be moved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether the Devils can get a young impact forward in return for Nemec remains to be seen. There’s a better chance of landing that type of player in the offseason, but that doesn’t mean it’s a certainty. Devils management will have to sell Nemec’s potential as a No.1 defenseman.

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: Following Friday’s trade deadline, Sheng Peng reported San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier shot down a rumor claiming he offered up winger William Eklund to the Devils for Nemec.

“I think that was more Twitter stuff,” Grier said. “It’s something where you call and see if someone’s available and then see what the asking price is. That was really about the extent of it. There wasn’t any real getting into it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s worth pointing out that the Sharks were reportedly interested in Hamilton last summer, but he declined to waive his no-trade clause.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 8, 2026

by | Mar 8, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 8, 2026

Check out the ongoing fallout from Friday’s Trade Deadline in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHY DIDN’T THE DEVILS MOVE NEMEC OR HAMILTON AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reported Friday that the Devils were open to moving Simon Nemec if the 22-year-old defenseman would fetch a return that improved their top-six forwards.

Adding a winger for Jack Hughes’ line has been a longstanding need. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that they were hoping to add a top-six center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes and Nico Hischier currently fill the top-six center roles on the Devils. Adding another top-six center doesn’t make sense unless they intend to move Hischier or Hughes.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).

Trading Dougie Hamilton proved to be a difficult task for the Devils. One reason is the $7.4 million signing bonus that the 32-year-old defenseman is scheduled to receive on July 1. He also carries an average annual value of $9 million for the next two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seemed like Hamilton and the Devils would part ways back in January as he was upset over being a healthy scratch for a game against the Winnipeg Jets. Some Toronto pundits pondered the possibility of the Maple Leafs acquiring him, but that’s assuming they’re on his 10-team trade list.

The Devils could try again during the offseason, but will likely find that any interested clubs will prefer to wait until he gets his signing bonus before agreeing to acquire him.

SENATORS TRIED TO ACQUIRE WEEGAR

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports sources claimed MacKenzie Weegar was the Senators’ top trade target. However, the Calgary Flames traded the 32-year-old puck-moving defenseman to the Utah Mammoth.

It was expected that general manager Steve Staios would acquire a right-shot top-four defenseman or some additional scoring punch. However, they lacked a 2026 first-round pick to use as a trade chip, which hampered the Senators’ efforts to bolster their roster at the trade deadline.

Teams were asking Staios for young forward Ridly Greig and top prospects Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. However, the Senators weren’t parting with those players. Staios said he was looking at all options, including his goaltending.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios added winger Warren Foegele, who could help the Senators’ offense if he can regain the scoring touch that he lost this season with the Los Angeles Kings. He scored for them in Saturday’s 7-4 win over the Seattle Kraken.

Goaltending options were few and far between for the Senators and everyone else in this trade market. The best names out there were Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers and Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. The Panthers are trying to re-sign Bobrovsky, while the Senators could be on Binnington’s no-trade list.

WHY DID THE FLAMES RETAIN COLEMAN AND WHITECLOUD?

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy admitted that he received strong offers for winger Blake Coleman and recently-acquired defenseman Zach Whitecloud. He chose to retain them because they wanted to remain in Calgary and would help mentor their younger players.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports it seemed almost certain that Coleman would be traded.

The 34-year-old winger has one year remaining on his contract. Austin considers it inevitable that his name will surface in the rumor mill again.










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.