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NHL Weekend Trade Rumors: Flames, Canucks, Oilers, Olympics

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 2:25 AM ET

In this weekend’s NHL Weekend Rumors report, as the Olympic rosters were announced, several teams are clearly drifting toward seller territory, others are preparing for aggressive deadline moves, and the Olympic selections are already reshaping trade strategy across the league.

From Calgary’s inevitable blue-line shakeup to Vancouver’s growing list of question marks, there is more talk than just Andrew Mangiapane being traded out of Edmonton or injury returns for the Florida Panthers. Here’s what’s buzzing around the NHL.

Flames, Canucks, and the Growing Seller Crowd

According to David Pagnotta, teams like San Jose, St. Louis, Nashville, and Vancouver have largely accepted where they sit in the standings and are open for business.

Calgary isn’t fully there yet, but all signs continue to point toward defenseman Rasmus Andersson being dealt. Elliotte Friedman reported there is a clear gap between Andersson’s contract expectations and what the Flames are willing to offer. Unless that changes, a trade feels inevitable.

Dallas, Vegas, Toronto, and even Los Angeles have all been linked to Andersson at various points. Pagnotta also floated a hypothetical where the Stars could dream up a package for both Andersson and Blake Coleman. That would be a big swing.

In Vancouver, most insiders aren’t expecting movement on Jake DeBrusk (who was recently scratched). Still, Kiefer Sherwood remains a name to watch — and the Canucks have shown they can move quickly when motivated.

Oilers, Cap Space, and Andrew Mangiapane

Andrew Mangiapane continues to surface as a notable trade candidate, with the Edmonton Oilers openly shopping the winger. Reports say this isn’t about maximizing return — it’s about clearing cap space. The Oilers don’t want to have to add a sweetener to get this deal done.

Mangiapane has a full no-trade clause but is reportedly open to waiving it for the right contender, prioritizing fit and an opportunity to play over where he ultimately goes.

That cap flexibility is increasingly important for the Oilers, who will be looking at adding a forward if one of Ike Howard or Quinn Hutson doesn’t wind up being a solution for them. Edmonton’s approach has been transparent: give players an opportunity, and if it doesn’t work, seek help. When it comes to free agency swings, it’s being reported that Andrew Mangiapane knew when he signed that if it didn’t work out, the Oilers would try to make sure he landed somewhere else. That honesty may help facilitate a deal, but finding a team willing to absorb the contract won’t be easy.

Panthers, Barkov LTIR, and Aggressive Buyers

The Florida Panthers are another team to monitor closely. Despite having Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk on LTIR, they have yet to spend or even commit that cap space. Tkachuk is getting close to a return and Barkov was on the ice, though he’s not close to ready.

Seravalli expects that GM Bill Zito, who has consistently been one of the league’s most aggressive executives, will stay aggressive. With the Panthers firmly in win-now mode, a move feels more like a “when” than an “if.”

Elsewhere, the Blackhawks may surprise by adding rather than subtracting. Seravalli suggested Chicago could look to quietly bolster its lineup rather than make a splash.

Meanwhile, Seattle is thought to be future-focused and open to moving veterans if it helps long-term success, even if the Kraken remain near the wild-card picture.

Contracts, Extensions, and Olympic Timing

Contract talks are also shaping the rumor landscape. Alex Tuch’s next deal is expected to land in the eight-year, $10-plus million AAV range, comparable to Adrian Kempe’s contract. The Sabres might be forced to move him, and the Rangers have popped up as a possible option.

In Philadelphia, Christian Dvorak extension talks continue, with a multi-year deal around $5.5 million annually not far off. The Flyers are trying to be smart — and patient.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, is hunting for secondary scoring but remains reluctant to pay premium prices for rentals. They are struggling this season.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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