NHL Rumour Roundup: Could Canadiens swing for Kadri, Trocheck?

Let the countdown begin. Tomorrow afternoon, the NHL’s trade deadline will officially arrive. The rumour mill will slow, the trade market will freeze, and all focus will turn to the final sprint to the post-season.

But as the hours tick down to the March 6 cutoff, plenty of talented players remain in play, from Cup-winning goaltenders to star centremen to young up-and-coming defencemen. In our final Rumour Roundup before the 2026 deadline, here’s a look at the latest chatter from around the league.

Canadiens interested in veteran centres Kadri, Trocheck

The clock has been ticking down on two veteran centremen, Nazem Kadri and Vincent Trocheck. Given the state of both their teams — Kadri’s Calgary Flames rank 29th in the league and Trocheck’s New York Rangers rank 31st — all signs point to both clubs parting with their seasoned pivots before Friday’s deadline as they look to acquire some futures.

Per LeBrun, the Montreal Canadiens are keeping tabs on Kadri as they look to strengthen their own position heading down the stretch. The Habs rank fourth in the Atlantic Division, currently hold the top wild-card spot in the East, and have shown plenty of promise this season. But the need to strengthen their centre depth remains, and Kadri — a proven playoff performer and still an undeniable talent — could certainly help them on that front. LeBrun believes the Canadiens are taking a long look at Trocheck as well, but noted that GM Kent Hughes will take his time before Friday afternoon.

“I don’t think the Habs will force anything before the deadline — they are trying to be very patient — but if trading for a top-six forward makes sense at a price point they’re comfortable with, they will look at it,” LeBrun wrote. “I still think the Colorado Avalanche make the most sense for Kadri, but I think the Avs would need Calgary to retain [salary] on Kadri’s remaining contract (three more years after this season at a $7-million average annual value). 

“In fact, I would imagine any team thinking of trading for Kadri would want that from the Flames, and I’m not sure where Calgary would land on being willing to do that.”

Panthers ready to sell, listening on two-time champion Bobrovsky

The Florida Panthers and the man who backstopped them to two straight championships appear to have reached an impasse. 

Sergei Bobrovsky is wrapping up the final year of a seven-year, $70-million contract in Florida. And after seeing his Cats reel off extensions for a number of key contributors recently — notably fellow vets Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand — Bobrovsky and GM Bill Zito have not been able to find common ground in extension talks, opening up the possibility of a trade for the pending unrestricted free agent.

Per NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Panthers have let it be known that they’re willing to listen on the 37-year-old netminder, given the way extension talks have gone. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported as much as well.

“League sources say the Panthers are in sell mode, listening on their pending unrestricted free agents, which include A.J. Greer, Tomas Nosek, Jeff Petry, Daniil Tarasov and the big guy, Sergei Bobrovsky,” LeBrun reported Wednesday. “I don’t think the Panthers move Bobrovsky just to move him. He’s not getting dealt for a fourth-round pick, for example. It would have to be a real offer, I think, because of the respect that organization has for him.

“Still, league sources confirm that teams are already calling on him, and the Panthers are listening.”

Rewind 12 months and it would’ve seemed unimaginable that the Cats would deal the veteran given his post-season success of late. That said, beyond the age factor, Bobrovsky is also struggling this season, reaching March with a career-low .873 save percentage. In an interview on Real Kyper & Bourne Wednesday, veteran insider Andy Strickland reported that a key issue at play is the fact that Bobrovsky is seeking a “Marchand-type deal, in terms of the term.” Last June, the Panthers signed Marchand — who is the same age as Bobrovsky — to a six-year, $31.5-million deal.

Adding more fuel to the fire was Wednesday’s announcement that the Panthers have signed veteran goaltender Louis Domingue, shoring up their goaltending depth ahead of Friday’s deadline. Should Zito decide to move on a Bobrovsky deal, LeBrun highlighted Vegas and Carolina as two clubs that would make sense as potential suitors.

Canucks involved in talks with multiple teams on Garland

Elsewhere out West, the expected Vancouver Canucks sell-off continues. It began when Quinn Hughes was shipped out of town in December. Then it was Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose in January. Tyler Myers was sent to Dallas on Wednesday. Now, it appears the next name set to leave town could be Conor Garland.

According to LeBrun, the Canucks are engaged with plenty of potential suitors interested in the talented winger.

“The phone lines suddenly burned up Tuesday for the Vancouver Canucks on Conor Garland, with a half-dozen teams showing interest,” he wrote. LeBrun added that as of Wednesday morning, the club had yet to receive a firm offer on Garland, though, and could still opt to move him in the off-season.

Acquired in 2021 along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Garland has been a steady contributor over his half-decade in Vancouver, reaching or hovering around the 20-goal plateau in each of the past four seasons. The 29-year-old is in the final year of a five-year, $24.75-million deal, but is already signed to a six-year, $36-million extension that begins next season — and includes a no-move clause that kicks in on July 1.

LeBrun pointed to the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Devils as clubs currently interested in the winger.

Devils listening to offers for right-handed defender Nemec

The New Jersey Devils are assessing their own deadline plans amid what’s been a similarly disappointing season. Jack Hughes’ club has been on a rollercoaster the past few years. After a four-year playoff drought, the Devils made it back to the dance — and into the second round — in 2023. Then they missed the playoffs again in 2024. Last year, they were back in. This year, they’re back out, Jersey ranking third-last in the East at the moment.

With a clear need to shuffle the deck and take a different approach, it appears GM Tom Fitzgerald is open to offers for one of the club’s young gems.

“The New Jersey Devils, per league sources, are listening on 22-year-old defenceman Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick from the 2022 NHL draft,” LeBrun reported Wednesday. “That doesn’t mean they’re intent on moving him. But my understanding is that they’ve taken quite a few calls on him, as one would expect when a young, right-shot defenceman like that is on the market.”

Nemec has played 48 games for the Devils this season after splitting the past two campaigns between the NHL and AHL. He has nine goals and 21 points to his name in 2025-26, while averaging more than 19 minutes of ice per night.

“My sense is the Devils would only seriously consider moving him if it’s a trade that upgrades their forward group in a real way,” LeBrun added.