Latest NHL Trade Buzz: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Rangers

It’s an unusual year around the NHL, with players returning to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. As a result, the schedule is more condensed than ever, and another trade freeze is looming on February 4. Not only does this make every game from here on out more important, but it could also trigger trade activity much earlier than the typical deadline bonanza.

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The Edmonton Oilers continue to work the market in hopes of finding a new home for Andrew Mangiapane. The Toronto Maple Leafs are surging despite major injuries throughout the lineup, which could force them into buying. And the New York Rangers’ season is slowly slipping away, raising questions about Artemi Panarin‘s future.

We’ll break it all down in this latest edition of NHL Trade Buzz.

Andrew Mangiapane Trade Suitors

It’s a matter of if not when Mangiapane—who’s been a healthy scratch in three of the last four games—will be traded out of Edmonton. Several landing spots have been mentioned in recent weeks, including Anaheim, Detroit, Winnipeg, and even Toronto.

Names like Ryan Strome and Matias Maccelli have been linked to the Oilers in return as they seek a player that can immediately slot into their lineup, though Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman believes Strome might not be a fit. GM Stan Bowman wants to shed Mangiapane’s full $3.6 million salary, which likely means a contract of similar size coming back to Edmonton.

Maple Leafs Trade Targets

After a sluggish, injury-riddled start, many had written off the Maple Leafs—including much of Leafs Nation—but the team has shown tremendous resilience, keeping their season alive and now playing their best hockey yet.

This success has forced GM Brad Treliving to explore the market as a buyer. Injuries on the back end—particularly Chris Tanev—have Toronto searching for help on defense, with Rasmus Andersson, Justin Faulk, Connor Murphy, and Dougie Hamilton all as right-shot options potentially available to be had. Not to mention, Luke Schenn has once again reemerged in trade rumors, so perhaps a third stint as a Maple Leaf could be in the cards.

Up front, the forward group has found a groove in William Nylander‘s absence. Could it mean he’s expendable? Nobody is ready to go there yet, although some analysts are at least willing to have the conversation, as unlikely as a move may be.

The Latest on Artemi Panarin

The new year has not started off well for the Rangers, who have seen superstars Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox both go down with injuries that sent them to the IR and LTIR, respectively. Those losses are devastating at any time, but especially for a New York team that’s on the outside of the playoff picture with plenty of work to do to get back in it.

As a result, trade chatter around Panarin has begun to pick up, and if the Rangers opt to move the pending UFA, it could come before the Olympics. The star winger just shot up to fifth on TSN insider Chris Johnston’s latest trade board, so the next few weeks will be critical in determining his future with the team.

Next: The Tables Have Turned on the Mitch Marner Toronto-to-Vegas Move