In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Toronto Maple Leafs could be weighing major decisions on Simon Benoit, the Colorado Avalanche are being linked to forward help from Toronto, and the Boston Bruins are aggressively pursuing a top-four defenseman ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
The Olympic break is going to be over before we know it, and there will be quick action from several NHL contenders, many of whom are competing for the same players.
Avalanche a Fit for Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann?
If Toronto elects to move breakout winger Bobby McMann, Colorado could be a serious contender. McMann, 29, has posted 19 goals and 32 points in 56 games while carrying a bargain $1.35 million cap hit. That affordability makes him one of the more intriguing middle-six rentals available. It’s not clear if the Leafs are ready to move on, but several teams are waiting to find out.
James Mirtle of The Athletic beleives the Avalanche are among them. He writes:
“Maybe the Avs aim higher, given the season they’ve had and their recent struggles. Or maybe this is just one of multiple additions they make. But McMann’s speed and booming shot would fit in well here in the middle six, giving Colorado some secondary scoring beyond their superstars. And his super-reasonable cap hit, especially with retention, would allow the front office to add elsewhere.”
source – ‘NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 5’ – James Mirtle – The Athletic – 02-11-2026
Toronto is believed to be seeking a first-round pick, but Mirtle notes, “McMann may top out at two seconds the way Kiefer Sherwood did last month.”
Oilers, Sharks Among Teams Eyeing Simon Benoit?
The Oilers were also believed to have been looking at McMann, although talk has shifted to a focus on the blue line. Not surprisingly, their name came up when an article about defenseman Simon Benoit went live on Leafs Nation. Benoit could be an interesting trade piece for several teams.
Related: 2026 NHL Draft: Orth’s Top 32 February Rankings
His $1.35 million cap hit and extra year of term make him an appealing, low-cost solution for a team tight to the cap and looking to add some size and improve a struggling penalty kill.
Other clubs could be circling as well. The San Jose Sharks, with limited defensemen signed beyond this season, see value in term. The Anaheim Ducks, flush with cap space and draft picks, could reunite with their former blueliner (he played there from 2020-2023). The Pittsburgh Penguins and Bruins are also viewed as possible fits, especially given Benoit’s physical style and playoff utility.
Bruins Push Hard for Blues’ Justin Faulk
Speaking of the Bruins, Benoit might not be the only player they are eyeing. According to James Murphy of RG.org, Boston remains firmly in buy mode. After missing out on Rasmus Andersson earlier this season, the Bruins have reprtedly turned their attention to Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues.
Faulk, 33, has 30 points in 57 games and carries a $6.5 million cap hit through next season. Multiple teams — including the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth — are believed to be in the mix, driving up the price.
St. Louis is reportedly seeking an Andersson-type return, including premium draft capital and a strong prospect. Boston owns multiple first-round assets, including a conditional pick from Florida, giving GM Don Sweeney flexibility to make a move and potentially outbid other teams.
Author’s Added Note:
The Boston Bruins also sent out a message to the victims from the tragic shooting yesterday (February 16, 2026) at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school boys’ hockey game. They’re “heartbroken by the senseless act of violence” and “deeply saddened that a place meant for celebrating hockey and bringing people together was touched by this violence.”
The suspect was a parent who opened fire in the stands around 2:30 p.m., killing two family members and critically injuring three others (hospitalized), before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
My thoughts are with the families, players who witnessed it, and the entire group of people who were there that day and will be affected by this for the rest of their lives.
