The 2026 NHL Olympic roster freeze runs from Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. ET through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET, during which no trades are allowed. That means NHL rumors are alive and well! This 18-day period allows GMs to evaluate rosters during the Milan-Cortina Games, followed by a 12-day sprint to the March 6 trade deadline. NHL teams are looking to improve their rosters.
Fresh off acquiring Artemi Panarin, the Kings learned they had lost a key forward to injury during the Olympic Games. Kevin Fiala had surgery on Saturday (Feb. 14) and will be out for the remainder of the season, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. He suffered a leg injury, and now the Kings will need a replacement player. One such player could be Stamkos.
Stamkos carries an $8 million AAV (average annual value), which nearly matches Fiala’s $7.875 million. He wouldn’t be a rental player because he has two more years on his contract. He also has a full no-movement clause, giving him complete control over his situation.
The Kings will have $15.7 million in deadline cap space to attract the 36-year-old Stamkos, who has 28 goals and 16 assists in 57 games this season. The offense-starved Kings could suddenly be situated with two players who can turn on the goal light with regularity. Panarin has 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games. How’s that to ignite a team’s goal-scoring woes?
It’s uncertain if Stamkos would waive his no-movement clause to relocate to Hollywood. It may depend on whether he is intrigued enough to play with Panarin.
The Rangers have made it known that they are pursuing a “re-tool” due to their cellar-dwelling performance thus far this season.
According to NHL Network analyst, Mike Rupp,
“I’m hearing that Gavrikov (is wondering) ‘Where’s the direction of this team (going)?’ This isn’t necessarily what he signed up for, you know what I mean?… They sent that letter out… But now you have some players who may have to reevaluate some things as well.”
Yes, the Rangers are looking for answers, and so are their fans. Gavrikov signed a seven-year, $49 million contract last year. Are both sides regretting that decision? In the age where NHL players are deciding their own fate more and more, one wonders what Gavrikov is thinking.
The 6’3″, 220-pound blueliner has 21 points in 57 games, with a career-high 24:04 of ice time per night. If general manager Chris Drury is serious about turning a fair part of his roster over, will Gavrikov be one of them? Drury vowed the retool would be built around “our core players and prospects.”
The question remains: Does he consider Gavrikov to be a core player? Spending $7 million per year for the next six years for a player he may consider moving is intriguing. Is he that desperate?
Even after acquiring Hughes, the Wild have $14.5 million in deadline cap space to improve their roster. Trocheck could be just what they need. He can do it all. He has been a top-20 in Selke Trophy voting twice. Trocheck has scored over 20 goals in three seasons, recorded at least 59 points, and finished with a faceoff percentage of at least 56 percent. He plays big minutes, on the power play, and on the penalty kill.
The competition will be brutal for Trocheck’s services. At least 10 teams have expressed interest in him, including the Wild. His salary is not astronomical at $5.625 million through the 2028-29 campaign. The Wild now have an open window to the Cup, and would love to acquire Trocheck to supplement their already competitive team.
The Bruins, Islanders, Penguins, and Mammoth are all hopeful of hanging on to their unexpected playoff perches at this point, and adding a player like Trocheck could go a long way to getting them to that goal.
Eriksson Ek, in the top six alongside Trocheck, could be the formula for success for the Wild.
There’s no doubt that the Kings could use Stamkos. He is a savvy veteran who knows how to score. He started slowly this season but has been on a tear recently with 10 goals and eight assists in his last 18 games. LA could use him, but does he want to go?
Gavrikov has a decision to make. Stay and collect his money, or abandon a sinking ship? He is not unlike any NHL player who dreams of hoisting the Cup. Can he do it in New York?
Trocheck seems to be in high demand, and he can weigh his options concerning his future. He is a premier player who has all the “wild” cards in his hand.
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