NHL Weekend Rumors: Blues Stir Trade Buzz, Kadri Links, and Canadiens Lurking

In this week’s NHL weekend rumors report, there is talk surrounding a struggling St. Louis Blues team whose GM might be growing impatient. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames celebrated one of their top stars, but are they now ready to trade him? The Montreal Canadiens are looking around the trade market, and there are other teams looking to take big swings.

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Blues’ Core Drawing Interest as Teams Circle

It’s been a busy week for the rumor mill in St. Louis. Multiple insiders — including Elliotte Friedman, David Pagnotta, and Frank Seravalli — have pointed to the Blues as one of the early-season teams to watch. Specifically, news has surrounded Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn.

Pagnotta reports that rival clubs are already “circling” around both players and Justin Faulk. Should the Blues struggle to find consistency through November, it’s hard to know how open to making a move an aggressive Doug Armstrong will be. Friedman notes that Armstrong is “testing the value” of several roster pieces, noting that Kyrou’s $8.125 million cap hit “doesn’t look as heavy as it did a few months ago.”

Seravalli went further, saying Armstrong has already been “pretty aggressive” in feeling out the market. Montreal and the Islanders were among the teams to show interest in Kyrou around the draft, according to Pagnotta.

If St. Louis continues to hover outside the playoff mix, expect the Blues to headline early trade chatter before the calendar flips to December.

Kadri Remains a Hot Trade Topic

Nazem Kadri remains one of the most discussed names in this week’s rumor roundup, even despite Calgary ownership saying they won’t be moving the forward. Both Frank Seravalli and Nick Kypreos report that half the league could have interest in the Calgary center — though Darren Dreger maintains the odds of a trade are “slim.” Kadri, who owns a 13-team no-trade list, has expressed a desire to stay in Calgary.

However, Seravalli believes Toronto, his former team, could be one of several clubs monitoring the situation if the Flames pivot toward selling.

The Predators Rumors Are Everywhere

Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators have been all over the news this week. David Pagnotta says Ryan O’Reilly could also resurface in trade discussions, with any potential move sending him to a “legitimate contender.” He stressed that O’Reilly’s leadership and playoff pedigree make him one of the most attractive veterans who could become available closer to the deadline. After O’Reilly was critical of his own play, some insiders are wondering if he’d be open to a fresh start.

Of course, Steven Stamkos has been front and center in trade rumors. The veteran star is not playing as well as he’d like and both the organization and the player seem open to exploring possibilities elsewhere. Nothing is imminent and Stamkos likes living in Nashville, but insiders like Jeff Marek believe something has to give.

Marek also brought up the idea that the Predators can’t ask goaltender Juuse Saros to go through another rebuild, and that could lead to trade talks with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that would like to know what’s going on there. The Oilers are about to make roster moves and several names are linked to trades, including Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson, Mattias Janmark and David Tomasek.

Canadiens, Mammoth, and the Big-Game Hunters

The Montreal Canadiens could be looking to take a big swing. According to Pagnotta, GM Kent Hughes is “lurking in the shadows” of multiple high-end conversations, similar to how Montreal approached the Noah Dobson deal this past summer.

The Canadiens, along with Utah, Ottawa, and Carolina, are among the teams “willing to go big-game hunting,” Pagnotta said. Montreal’s flexibility — with both cap space and assets — makes them a stealth threat if a top-six forward or second-line center becomes available.

Chris Johnston echoed that view, particularly regarding the Mammoth.

Around the League: Early Watch List

Several other nuggets rounded out the week’s insider buzz:

• Elliotte Friedman says Erik Karlsson’s strong start in Pittsburgh could open “more options,” including the possibility of finishing his contract with the Penguins.
• Anthony Di Marco noted Owen Tippett’s role in Philadelphia is being quietly evaluated, though the Flyers aren’t actively shopping him.
• In Minnesota, David Pagnotta reports the Wild have shifted from seeking a “middle-six” to potentially pursuing a “top-six” forward as their offensive struggles continue.

For now, insiders like Chris Johnston caution that the trade market remains in “wait-and-see mode” until more teams fall out of contention — but as the standings tighten, the groundwork for a busy December may already be underway.

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