Latest NHL Trade Buzz: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Flames

The week-long holiday roster freeze is in full effect, but that hasn’t stopped rumors from circulating around the NHL as teams prepare for a busy stretch leading up to the March 6 trade deadline. Despite landing the goaltender they’d been searching for in Tristan Jarry, Stan Bowman and the Edmonton Oilers are far from finished. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing uncertainty across the organization, and the Calgary Flames find themselves in a tricky spot with several veterans drawing heavy interest amid the team’s recent surge.

We’ll dive into it all of it in the latest edition of NHL trade buzz.

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What’s Next In Edmonton?

Bowman made his move for Jarry, and while the newly acquired netminder is unfortunately already set to miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury, the Oilers appear comfortable rolling with Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram for now. If that tandem falters, names like Alex Lyon and Laurent Brossoit are expected to resurface as potential targets.

Beyond goaltending, Edmonton would still like to add on the blue line—specifically, a shutdown, Ekholm-type defenseman, according to insider David Pagnotta, though that’s easier said than done. One name to keep an eye on could be Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues, who insiders Jeremy Rutherford and Chris Johnston recently linked the Oilers to, as Doug Armstrong has very few untouchables on his roster.

What Shoe Will Drop First In Toronto?

Things have unraveled quickly in Toronto, and the calls for change continue to grow louder with each loss. Before getting into potential roster moves, Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that despite the dismissal of assistant coach Marc Savard, both general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube remain safe—for now.

As for changes on the ice, almost nothing seems off the table at this point. In fact, Nick Kypreos has already floated the nuclear option: trading Auston Matthews this offseason, perhaps to the Los Angeles Kings for a package of three or four quality assets.

More realistically, David Pagnotta expects Treliving to be more aggressive in revisiting the possibility of moving Morgan Rielly, something the Leafs already broached with him over the summer. Matias Maccelli and Max Domi also remain names to watch as Toronto explores shedding salary, though Maccelli has looked noticeably better since returning to the lineup.

Updates on Flames Veterans

After a disastrous start to the season, Calgary has gone 10-4-1 over its last 15 games and is suddenly back in the Western Conference playoff hunt. Even with that turnaround, the Flames’ veteran core remains very much in play on the trade market.

Rasmus Andersson continues to generate significant interest thanks to his productive start to the year, with teams like the Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Stars, and all other no-tax state contenders in the mix for his services.

Blake Coleman has also caught the eye of his hometown Dallas Stars, though Frank Seravalli reports that 20 teams have already called GM Craig Conroy to check in on his veteran winger, so the competition will be stiff.

Finally, Nazem Kadri remains a coveted target for contenders around the league, and the Flames could be willing to retain salary, which could not only aid a deal in getting done but also strengthen a potential return package.

Next: Insider Expects Trade Talk Around Morgan Rielly To Pick Up