The holiday roster freeze is on in the NHL, but this was a busy week. NHL front offices are anything but quiet, with a couple of blockbusters involving some big names.
From Toronto’s growing sense of urgency, to Calgary gauging the market on a top defenseman, to Buffalo making organizational changes, this weekend’s rumor mill offers a clear snapshot of where things may be headed.
Here’s a look at the biggest NHL rumor threads making noise around the league as the weekend unfolds.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Pressure Is Building Fast
The noise around the Maple Leafs isn’t slowing down, and league insiders are starting to sound less patient. Elliotte Friedman summed it up when he noted the team is headed toward “very uncomfortable conversations” if things don’t get sorted out soon. That lines up with what we’re hearing elsewhere.
Brad Treliving would still love to add another top-six forward — maybe even two — but the problem is availability. The Leafs want to get Auston Matthews going, but as Darren Dreger noted, the type of high-end playmaker Matthews needs simply isn’t sitting on the market, nor can the Leafs afford him.
Meanwhile, Toronto has been linked to multiple defensemen and forwards in recent weeks, and they’re one of the teams checking in on Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson. The Leafs don’t have a deep prospect cupboard, and any meaningful addition likely means subtracting something significant from the roster.
For now, the sense around the league is that Toronto is probing, not pushing — but that could change quickly if results don’t improve.
Calgary Flames: Rasmus Andersson Drawing Serious Interest
Speaking of Rasmus Andersson, his name continues to pick up momentum around the league, and he spoke on After Hours Saturday night about the trade chatter. This no longer feels like background noise, and he said, “It takes two to tango”, when talking about a possible extension in Calgary.
Andersson said the reports out there about him are humorous. Still, according to both David Pagnotta and Chris Johnston, teams are actively calling, circling back, and trying to figure out two things: the acquisition cost and whether Andersson would be open to an extension. Dallas and Toronto are among the clubs doing due diligence, and others are lurking.
Andersson hasn’t slammed the door on staying in Calgary, but if Calgary gets the sense that an extension isn’t realistic, his value likely peaks sooner rather than later. Around the league, there’s growing belief that if the Flames move him, it’s because they decided the market — and leverage — won’t get better.
Buffalo Sabres: Change Could Come in Multiple Forms
Buffalo is quickly becoming one of the most fascinating teams to watch. With Jarmo Kekäläinen now in charge and some executive shuffling, several insiders believe this won’t be a gentle transition. Chris Johnston has openly suggested the Sabres could make bold moves, and The Fourth Period notes that names like Bowen Byram and Owen Power have been floating around trade conversations for over a year.
Jarmo Kekalainen Sabres GM
At the same time, Alex Tuch is a priority.
Both Friedman and Pierre LeBrun have reported that Kekäläinen wants to get Tuch signed, even if that doesn’t fully rule out a trade down the line. Tuch reportedly balked at a previous contract offer near what Tage Thompson signed for. Instead, he wants money in line with Adrian Kempe‘s contract in Los Angeles. It was also noted that Alex Lyon could have been moved to Edmonton, but the Sabres ultimately decided against the idea… at least for now.
The reality is Buffalo has questions everywhere — on the blue line, in goal, and behind the bench. There’s even quiet chatter about future coaching scenarios if things continue to slide. How will Kekalainen make his mark?
St. Louis Blues: Veteran Names Are Circulating Again
If the Blues don’t turn things around soon, expect veteran trade chatter to intensify. Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston have both pointed to the same group of players as ones to watch: Brayden Schenn, Jordan Binnington, and Justin Faulk. Schenn, in particular, is familiar territory — his name surfaced heavily in trade talks last season and hasn’t gone away.
The sense around the league is that St. Louis management is taking a hard look at where this roster is headed. If they decide a reset is needed, moving older players with term and value makes the most sense. Teams looking for leadership, playoff experience, or center depth will keep circling.
Next: Something Isn’t Lining Up Between Matthews and Berube
