In today’s NHL weekend rumors roundup, the St. Louis Blues could be headed for major change, the Florida Panthers could be making a move in net and up front, and several contenders are scouring the market for blue-line help as the roster freeze lifts. This weekend, there is also chatter about whether Connor McDavid might be dealing with a minor injury.
Blues Listening on Kyrou — and More
Trade speculation around the St. Louis Blues continues to intensify. According to David Pagnotta, he would be surprised if Jordan Kyrou remains with the Blues beyond this season. Kyrou, who holds a full no-trade clause, is believed to be open to waiving it for the right fit, with teams like Seattle, Montreal, and even Toronto previously linked.
Pagnotta added that Kyrou may simply be waiting to see whether a move comes before the March 6 deadline or closer to the draft.
Meanwhile, St. Louis is also listening on names like Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn, and would entertain offers on Robert Thomas if blown away. It’s clear the Blues are weighing significant options, but it’s unclear about who they are serious about moving.
Panthers Facing Goalie, Health Questions
The Florida Panthers may be one of the more fascinating teams to watch. Jeff Marek suggested he wouldn’t be surprised if Florida explored moving veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky — and if that happened, a team like San Jose could make sense as a landing spot.
At the same time, Marek raised concerns about Brad Marchand‘s health following Olympic play, wondering aloud whether Marchand looked like a player managing something significant.
McDavid Dealing with An Injury?
There is speculation that McDavid may be dealing with a hand injury sustained at the Olympics. Reportedly, McDavid has his right ring and middle fingers tapped together. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch says there is no timeline for when McDavid will return to the lineup this week.
It’s not clear when this happened or how serious it is. Some wonder if it occurred on the breakaway in the final, but that’s speculation. It could have been something from earlier than Sunday’s gold medal game.
Defense Market Heating Up
Multiple insiders report a growing market for right-shot defensemen. According to Bruce Garrioch, the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth are all searching for help on the right side.
Detroit and Ottawa have shown interest in Mackenzie Weegar, who could reportedly be open to waiving his no-move clause for the right opportunity.
Pagnotta noted that the Tampa Bay Lightning, Red Wings, and Edmonton Oilers are among clubs looking to improve their blue lines, while Tampa has also been linked to bringing back Blake Coleman. Dallas, armed with cap space, is quietly working the phones.
Maple Leafs, Kings, Penguins Eye Tweaks
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue juggling extension talks and roster needs as many expect they will be sellers over the next few days. Darren Dreger reports mutual interest in exploring an extension with Scott Laughton, though talks aren’t far advanced. Meanwhile, Pagnotta downplayed the likelihood of a Morgan Rielly trade before the deadline, suggesting offseason conversations about a move might make more sense.
Out west, the Los Angeles Kings are believed to be prioritizing forward help — ideally a scoring winger or top-two centre by next season. Some wonder if Elias Pettersson is on their radar.
In Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins may not extend both Connor Dewar and Noel Acciari, while clarity on Evgeni Malkin’s future is expected soon. The Penguins were speculated to chat with Malkin over the break, but it doesn’t sound like those conversations have taken place. If they have, they’ve been kept under wraps.
As the roster freeze ends in about an hour, insiders believe the frameworks for several deals may already be in place.
Next: Scribe Rules Out “Obvious Candidates” for Oilers Ahead of Trade Deadline
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