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Panarin’s Future & Latest NHL Trade Buzz: Canadiens, Oilers, Rangers

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Dec 4, 2025 2:10 PM ET

With how tight the NHL standings are, the importance of every single game is at an all-time high, so if teams are struggling at a position, they may be quicker to act than in years past. The Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers are both having issues in goal and want that to change, while the Rangers, thanks to their inconsistencies, are challenging to get a grasp on. What is the outlook moving forward in New York?

We’ll dive into all of that in the latest NHL trade buzz.

Montreal Scouring the Goalie Market

It’s not just the Oilers that have goaltending troubles; the Canadiens are in the same boat. Sam Montembeault has struggled mightily, while Jakub Dobes has been quite up and down. Because of that, general manager Kent Hughes has been looking around for any trade opportunities, and perhaps one of those could be Jordan Binnington?

And that’s not the only position they’re looking to upgrade, as a top-six forward remains high on Montreal’s shopping list, with Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, and Adam Engstrom among the possible chips they can push in to land that.

Goaltending Update and Darnell Nurse Rumors

In Edmonton, things are status quo; they want to improve in goal, but only if that truly moves the needle, nothing lateral to Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Binnington continues to draw plenty of chatter, though there appears to be a new roadblock in the way of a potential deal with every passing day. On the flip side, the Tristan Jarry talk has cooled off a bit, likely due to his strong play for a Penguins team that currently occupies a playoff spot.

When it comes to the group in front of the goalies, the trade rumors have been limited, though, after buzz started to grow around the Oilers’ willingness to move Nurse, insider David Pagnotta put out the fire, saying that nothing of the magnitude has even been discussed in Edmonton.

The Latest on Artemi Panarin’s Future

With so many of the top 2026 free agents having signed extensions, Panarin has emerged as the clear-cut number one player who could become available. While the Rangers want to keep their star winger, and he wants to stay himself, his desire to land a longer-term contract could stand in between that.

Whether Panarin stays or goes, insiders believe New York will be a team to watch for moving forward, especially now that next summer’s free agent class has gotten awfully thin.

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

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