The latest on the Blackhawks, Penguins, and Canadiens, plus updates on Dylan Larkin and Jordan Binnington in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LATEST ON THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AND PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Chicago Blackhawks have become “very active” in the trade market. They have the 2027 first-round picks that formerly belonged to the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, as well as their own first-rounder plus two second-round picks, and Friedman believes they’re in play.

The Blackhawks have also been asked about some of their prospects and some of their roster players who can play center. They’ve also got forwards Jordan Greenway and Teuvo Teravainen “out there” in the trade market.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope reports the pressure is mounting on Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson to do something to help his floundering team before the season slips away.

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson (NHL Images).

Head coach Jeff Blashill isn’t concerned about his job security, saying he believes there’s trust between himself and the players and between himself and management. However, he acknowledged the club’s upcoming four-day break needs to be significant, one way or the other.

Pope believes trades involving the roster “seem both necessary and likely, too.” Given the deep hole the team has dug itself into, he questioned whether it’s worthwhile to invest more assets into this season.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Jack Bushman reports the Philadelphia Flyers expressed interest in Blackhawks forwards Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore earlier this season. Both played center earlier in their careers.

As for potential trade targets, Bushman noted a recent report by Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli claiming they were in the market for a “shoot-first scoring winger with size.” Potential trade targets could include Philadelphia’s Owen Tippett, Washington’s Ivan Miroshnichenko, Columbus’ Dmitri Voronkov, Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell, and Vancouver’s Drew O’Connor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely Davidson will be fired because he signed an extension earlier this year. Blashill could lose his job, leaving the Blackhawks seeking their sixth coach since 2022.

Davidson is trying to find help in the trade market, but he’s dealing from a position of weakness right now. His rivals hope to poach some of his promising youngsters, and they’re not about to offer him the players he needs to right the ship.

Friedman reports the Pittsburgh Penguins want to get faster and younger. They have several players with no-trade protection, so they’re trying to determine who’s willing to do what. It’s known around the league that they’re interested in deals that will inject some youth into their lineup.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski listed the veterans he believes the Penguins are willing to move, which teams they could land with, and what they might fetch in return.

He considers it unlikely that Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will be traded, and doesn’t expect they’d fetch much of a return because they’re at the end of their careers.

The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals could be landing spots for Erik Karlsson. However, moving his hefty $10 million cap hit won’t be easy.

Kingerski suggested the Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Buffalo Sabres as potential destinations for Rickard Rakell. He believes many teams could be interested in winger Bryan Rust, partly because of his lack of no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Karlsson might have to wait until close to the March 1 trade deadline to allow interested clubs to accrue sufficient salary-cap space. Rakell and Rust are both at or just over $5 million AAV through next season, which could also help their trade value as cost-controlled assets.

NO CHANGE IN DYLAN LARKIN’S STATUS

NHL NETWORK: On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said there’s a “staring contest” going on between Detroit Red Wings management and Dylan Larkin, who continues to sit out awaiting a trade.

Friedman last week said there was an expectation that Larkin might change his 10-team no-trade list, perhaps by removing some teams and adding others. Red Wings management was hoping he would add some teams because there are some clubs not on his list who would be interested in acquiring him. However, the 30-year-old center has dug in his heels, refusing to amend his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This situation just keeps getting worse with no end in sight and no sign that either side is going to bend.

ARE THE BLUES WILLING TO MOVE JORDAN BINNINGTON?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said he’s starting to hear some noise about St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington in the trade market.

Binnington, 33, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He carries a $6 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list. He lost the starter’s job to Joel Hofer this season and has appeared in only five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington regularly surfaced in the rumor mill over the past two years. Given his UFA eligibility and declining role with the Blues, this could be the season he gets traded. Where he could end up remains to be seen. Despite his inconsistency, he has a Stanley Cup on his resume and played well for Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics. He could draw interest from contenders looking to shore up their goaltending by the March 1 deadline.

CANADIENS WAITING ON HAGE AND ZHAROVSKY

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports he’s heard the Montreal Canadiens are operating under the impression that top prospects Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky will be available to them by the end of the regular season.

Hage, 20, is a highly touted center playing for the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines. The 19-year-old Zharovsky is a promising scoring winger with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL.

Canadiens fans are excited about those two youngsters. They’ve also been part of some of the Habs’ trade talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zharovsky was rumored to have been part of the Canadiens’ failed attempts to acquire wingers Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko. It’s believed teams have been asking about Hage, but they’re believed to be reluctant to part with him.

Given the Canadiens’ recent performance, they’re not in a rush to make a significant move that would involve one or both prospects. They could be content to remain patient and see how those kids perform if they join the roster in time for the playoffs next spring.