As we enter the Olympic break, there isn’t much news circulating around the NHL. That makes sense. Most front offices and players are on vacation during this period. That said, there has been some news in recent days related to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Most of it involves Canadian teams.
In this edition of NHL Trade Watchlet’s take a look at a few more teams that have shown interest in Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri. We’ll also dive into what the Montreal Canadiens’ plans look like as we get closer to the deadline. Finally, we’ll explore what could be next for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly.
More interest in Kadri
As I said in my most recent piece: 3 biggest NHL stories heading into the Olympic breakThe trade market is expected to open up now that Artemi Panarin has been treated. For a while, it felt like there was a logjam, with teams waiting to see where Panarin landed before making any real moves. Now that he’s no longer on the market, the focus has shifted to the next group of big names. That includes Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Elias Pettersson and others.
In the case of Kadri, interest seems to be increasing again. He’s shaping up to be one of the most intriguing targets at the deadline. He is a center player who can move to the wing and play a role in the top six. Moreover, he still has time left on his contract. At some point, there will be a team willing to pay the price to get him.
Right now it looks like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Utah Mammoth are all checked in. Elliotte Friedman mentioned on 32 Thoughts from the podcast that he expects the Kadri sweepstakes to really get moving once the freeze on selections is lifted.
The Canadiens trade deadline plans
In one recent Sportsnet articleEric Engels spoke with Canadian president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton about the team’s deadline plans. It was an interesting read, especially because it confirmed what many people suspected: Montreal feels like it’s no longer rebuilt. Furthermore, they are open to being aggressive if the situation calls for it.
From a competition 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 are willing to add makes things more interesting. Gorton explained where he and general manager Kent Hughes are now:
“We like to be aggressive, and we will be if we have to. I’ve worked for some hockey players who always felt that if you just get in there, you have a chance, and that was their philosophy. And I understand that thought process. When you have a team that you think is pretty good and you add a few more, you know what it can mean.”
He added:
“But Kent and I spend a lot of time analyzing that next thing, and we’re at a stage where everything we do next is really important to get right. If you ask how we balance our long-term view by not wasting the opportunities in front of us, that’s hard to answer. You don’t really know until something is presented to you. Kent is really good at being aware of what’s out there and talking to managers. Our job is to be ready for whatever comes.”
As previously mentioned, the Canadiens are one of the teams that have expressed interest in Kadri. It has also emerged in the past week that they could be willing to acquire Patrik Laine as they look to add something with the long term in mind. The next few weeks in Montreal should be interesting. One thing feels clear, though. If the right deal comes along, they won’t hesitate.
Rielly’s future with the Maple Leafs
There has been a lot of buzz in recent months about what the future could look like for Morgan Rielly in Toronto. In recent weeks, that chatter has only increased. 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 ultimately agrees to stand down and give both parties a fresh start. The past two seasons in Toronto have not been kind to him. His play has failed and the fan base has made its frustration known.
Earlier today, HockeyBuzz has published a report that has not been confirmed by any other reliable source. It suggested the San Jose Sharks could have interest in Rielly. That followed a tweet from Sportsnet’s Michael Amatowho pointed out that San Jose could make sense since only two defensemen are signed after this season.
The HockeyBuzz report suggested that the role in San Jose could be a good fit for Rielly. Moving his contract would be a win for the Maple Leafs. So far there is no other source that supports this. After reaching out to people close to the Sharks, we were told they hadn’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
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