NHL Weekend Rumors: Major Blues Shakeup, Bobrovsky Buzz, McDavid Injury

In today’s round of NHL weekend rumors, the St. Louis Blues could be on their way to big changes, the Florida Panthers could make a move in net and up front, and several contenders are scouring the market for help on the blueline as the roster freeze ends. This weekend there is also talk about whether Connor McDavid may be dealing with a minor injury.

Listen to blues on Kyrou — and more

Trade speculation surrounding the St. Louis Blues continues to increase. According to David PagnottaHe would be surprised if Jordan Kyrou stays with the Blues beyond this season. Kyrou, who has a full no-trade clause in place, would be open to waiving this clause for the right fit, with teams like Seattle, Montreal and even Toronto previously linked.

Pagnotta added that Kyrou may just wait to see if a move comes before the March 6 deadline or closer to the draft.

Meanwhile, St. Louis is also listening to names like Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn, and would consider offers for Robert Thomas if he is blown away. It is clear that the Blues are considering major options, but it is unclear who they are serious about moving.

Panthers versus goalkeeper, health questions

The Florida Panthers are perhaps one of the most fascinating teams to watch. suggested Jeff Marek he wouldn’t be surprised if Florida explored veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky — and if that were to happen, a team like San Jose could be a good landing spot.

At the same time, Marek expressed concerns about Brad Marchand’s health after the Olympic performance, wondering aloud whether Marchand looked like a player managing something important.

McDavid is struggling with an injury?

There is speculation that McDavid may be dealing with a hand injury sustained during the Olympics. McDavid reportedly tapped his right ring and middle fingers together. That’s according to Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch there is no timeline for when McDavid will return to the lineup this week.

It is not clear when this happened and how serious it is. Some wonder if this happened during the breakout in the finale, but that’s speculation. It could have been something from before Sunday’s gold medal game.

Defense market is rising

Several insiders report a growing market for right-shot defensemen. According to Bruce Garrioch, the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth are all looking for help from the right side.

Detroit and Ottawa have expressed interest in Mackenzie Weegar, who could reportedly be open to waiving his no-move clause for the right opportunity.

Pagnotta noted that the Tampa Bay Lightning, Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers are among the clubs looking to improve their blue lines, while Tampa has also been linked to bringing back Blake Coleman. Dallas, armed with pet space, is quietly talking on the phone.

Maple Leafs, Kings, Penguins eye adjustments

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to juggle expansion talks and roster needs as many expect them to be sellers in the coming days. Darren Dreger reports mutual interest in exploring an expansion with Scott Laughton, although discussions are not yet far advanced. Meanwhile, Pagnotta downplayed the likelihood of a Morgan Rielly trade before the deadline, suggesting talks about an offseason move could make more sense.

The Los Angeles Kings are believed to be prioritizing forward help out west – ideally a scoring winger or a top-two center by next season. Some are wondering if Elias Pettersson is on their radar.

In Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins may not extend both Connor Dewar and Noel Acciari, while clarity on Evgeni Malkin’s future is expected soon. There was speculation that the Penguins would talk to Malkin during the break, but it doesn’t appear those conversations took place. If so, they have been kept secret.

With the roster freeze ending in about an hour, insiders believe the frameworks for several deals may already be in place.

Next: Scribe rules out “obvious candidates” for oil companies ahead of trade deadline