With the Four Nations Face-off tournament scheduled from February 10-21, NHL teams are pressing to get some deals done before time runs out. NHL rumors are prevalent. While there is no ban on completing trades during the tournament, it is unlikely that league general managers will be looking to make any deals. That being said, let’s dig into the latest NHL rumors.

Edmonton Oilers – Connor McDavid contract

Rumor: Per – Dom Luszczyszyn – nytimes.com. Connor McDavid’s next contract will be seismic.

While McDavid’s current $12.5 million cap hit represented 15.72% of the Oilers’ cap when his last contract began, Luszczyszyn calls him “the league’s only blank check player” and projects him to be able to demand the maximum of 20% of the cap that a player is allowed to have. McDavid’s extension would start in the 2026-27 season when the cap is projected to be $104 million. McDavid’s 20 percent share of that is… you guessed it, $20.8 million!

McDavid would be well worth it. On the conservative side, he’s worth $21.8 million over eight seasons. On the aggressive side, his average value is $23.5 million. He will set the new standard for elite players in the NHL. The highest-paid NFL, NBA, and MLB players clear $50 million per season. The NHL is still playing catch-up on that front, and McDavid has a chance to be a pioneer by seriously raising the bar.

Even including that huge contract for one player, the Oilers will still have room to add other options to their lineup, thanks to the elevated cap limits going into effect.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Help wanted: NHL center

Rumor: Per – Darren Dreger – tsn.ca./Ryan Smitheram – mapleleafsdaily.com. NHL rumors in Toronto include the hunt for a center.

Per Dreger: “Some believe that there is potential that Brayden Schenn being traded by the St. Louis Blues. He is their captain, and he does have a full no-trade clause, so it is a complicated process,” explained Dreger.

“But we also know Doug Armstrong, the general manager, very well – how aggressive he can be. And the Blues are underachieving right now. So yes, the top contenders looking at the market, looking for a center, are interested, and that would include the Toronto Maple Leafs. The return would have to be mammoth,” he added.

Smitheram said Dylan Cozens could fill the void for the Leafs as a second-line center. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs have called the Colorado Avalanche about Casey Mittelstadt. The 26-year-old is in the first year of a three-year extension that carries a cap hit of $5.75M per year and currently centers the second line for the Avalanche. At 6′-1″ and 195 pounds, Mittelstadt provides the desired size and secondary scoring, which the Leafs could desperately use. The former first-round pick has nine goals and 32 points in 55 games for the Avs so far this season and has nine points in his last nine games.

At this point, either player could help the Maple Leafs desire to go deep into the playoffs this year.

Nashville Predators – Three trade candidates

Rumor: Per – Adam Proteau – thehockeynews.com. Three veterans the team could trade in the right circumstances.

The Predators have lost six straight games, and they’re now 18 points out of the final wild-card spot in the West. Time to sell.

  • Ryan O’Reilly – O’Reilly is in his second year in Nashville, and the 33-year-old is having a solid season, with 14 goals and 30 points in 49 games. His salary cap hit of $4.5 million for this year and the next two seasons makes him a desirable acquisition. He has no no-trade or no-move protection, so GM Barry Trotz could send him anywhere. However, the organization’s respect for him has changed his situation. O’Reilly’s Cup-winning experience and hard-nosed game make him very attractive to teams.
  • Gustav Nyquist – He is 35 years old and has had a down season with nine goals and 20 points in 51 games. The plus side is last season, he tallied 23 goals and 75 points. Teams may be attracted to his offensive skills. Nyquist has played in 77 postseason games, although he only has scored 30 points. He has a $3.185 cap hit, which may get some of the team’s attention.
  •  Colton Sissons – Sissons is a faceoff specialist with a 55.6-percent win rate and plays on the penalty kill. His cap hit is $2.85 million through next season, so he won’t be a rental if traded. He has some playoff experience, appearing in 71 games. An acceptable return may be a prospect or a mid-level draft pick.

That concludes this edition of Stadium Rant’s NHL rumors. Check again, as this series will be published every Wednesday and Sunday.

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