NHL Trade Watch: Teams Linked to Kadri, Rielly’s Future & Canadiens Trade Deadline Plans

Now that we’re into the Olympic break, there hasn’t been a ton of news circulating around the NHL. Which makes sense. Most front offices and players are on vacation during this time. That said, there has been some news over the last few days tied to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Most of it involves Canadian teams.

In this edition of NHL Trade Watch, we’re going to look at a few more teams that have shown interest in Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri. We’ll also touch on what the Montreal Canadiens’ plans look like as we move closer to the deadline. Lastly, we’ll explore what could be next for Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly.

More Interest in Kadri

As I mentioned in my most recent piece, 3 Biggest NHL Stories Heading Into the Olympic Break, the trade market is expected to open up now that Artemi Panarin has been dealt. For a while, it felt like there was a bit of a logjam, with teams waiting to see where Panarin landed before making any real moves. Now that he’s off the market, the focus has shifted to the next group of big names. That includes Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Elias Pettersson, and others.

In Kadri’s case, interest appears to be picking up. He’s shaping up to be one of the more intriguing targets at the deadline. He’s a centre who can move to the wing and can play in a top-six role. In addition, he still has term left on his deal. At some point, there’s going to be a team willing to pay the price to get him.

Right now, it sounds like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, and Utah Mammoth have all checked in. Elliotte Friedman mentioned on 32 Thoughts the Podcast that he expects the Kadri sweepstakes to really start moving once the roster freeze is lifted.

Canadiens’ Trade Deadline Plans

In a recent Sportsnet article, Eric Engels spoke with Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton about the team’s deadline plans. It was an interesting read, mainly because it confirmed what a lot of people suspected: Montreal feels like it’s out of the rebuild. Furthermore, they are open to being aggressive if the situation calls for it.

From a league perspective, that’s a good thing. The NHL is better when teams like the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers are in the playoff mix. Seeing Montreal in a position where they’re willing to add makes things more interesting. Gorton explained where he and general manager Kent Hughes are at right now:

“We’d like to be aggressive, and we will be, if need be. I’ve worked for a few people in hockey who always felt that if you just get in, you have a chance, and that was their philosophy. And I understand that thought process. When you have a team that you feel like is pretty good and you add a piece or two, you know what it could mean.”

He added:

“But Kent and I spend a lot of time analyzing that next thing, and we’re in a phase where whatever we do next is really important to get right. When you ask how we balance our long-term vision with not wasting the opportunity in front of us, it’s hard to answer. You don’t really know until something is presented to you. Kent’s really good at being on top of what’s out there and talking to managers. Our job is to be ready for whatever comes.”

As mentioned earlier, the Canadiens are one of the teams that have shown interest in Kadri. It’s also come out over the last week that they could be willing to move on from Patrik Laine as they look to add with the long term in mind. The next few weeks in Montreal should be interesting. However, one thing feels clear. If the right deal is there, they won’t hesitate.

Rielly’s Future with the Maple Leafs

Over the last few months, there’s been a lot of noise about what the future might look like for Morgan Rielly in Toronto. Over the last few weeks, that chatter has only picked up. Now, it feels like the direction is becoming clearer.

The Maple Leafs are at least exploring the idea of moving on from him. That won’t be easy given his contract and clause, but it’s not impossible. Especially if Rielly eventually agrees to waive and allow both sides a fresh start. The past two seasons in Toronto haven’t been kind to him. His play has slipped, and the fan base has made its frustration known.

Earlier today, HockeyBuzz published a report that hasn’t been confirmed by another reliable source. It suggested the San Jose Sharks could have interest in Rielly. That followed a tweet from Sportsnet’s Michael Amato, who pointed out that San Jose could make sense given they only have two defencemen signed beyond this season.

The HockeyBuzz report suggested the role in San Jose could be a good fit for Rielly. Moving his contract would be a win for the Maple Leafs. As of now, there hasn’t been another source to back that up. After reaching out to people close to the Sharks, we were told they haven’t heard the same thing. Still, even without confirmation, the idea that San Jose is interested makes sense.

Next: NHL Weekend Rumors: Panarin, Laine, and a Busy Trade Market Ahead