In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Pittsburgh Penguins breathed a sigh of relief after a scary Evgeni Malkin moment, the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to flirt with seller territory, the Minnesota Wild may be dangling a prized young goalie, and the New York Rangers have set a clear — and expensive — asking price for Artemi Panarin.
Penguins Relieved After Scary Malkin Moment
Evgeni Malkin caused a brief scare on the Penguins bench after an odd-looking sequence where he appeared to injure his shoulder, immediately clutching it and collapsing in visible pain. Given Malkin’s long history of shoulder issues, concern was understandable. However, Penguins head coach Dan Muse downplayed the situation after the game, stating there was “nothing there,” and the team later indicated Malkin was fine.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic also reports that Malkin appears to be OK, noting Pittsburgh believes Malkin avoided injury. That’s significant for a Penguins team sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings and 8th in the NHL standings. Elliotte Friedman noted on Monday’s 32 Thoughts podcast that he doesn’t see the Penguins selling with the way things are going this season.
Malkin has been outstanding this season, posting 40 points in 36 games while positioning himself for another contract discussion over the Olympic break. Any lingering injury could complicate both Pittsburgh’s plans and potential trade interest, should conversations shift in that direction.
Maple Leafs’ Seller Talk Continues to Grow
With Toronto’s playoff picture becoming increasingly cloudy, league chatter suggests the Maple Leafs could approach the trade deadline as sellers — and not just with fringe pieces. Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reported:
“… there seems to be growing momentum in the market to sell. Presumably, that would include some or all of the four pending free agents on the roster: Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, Calle Järnkrok and Troy Stecher.”
source – ‘Monday Morning Leafs Report: Is this season beyond salvaging?’ – Jonas Siegel – The Athletic – 01/26/2026
McMann would likely draw the most interest, while Laughton still carries value despite Toronto unlikely recouping what it paid. Beyond that, names like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Simon Benoit, Brandon Carlo, and RFAs Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli could be considered.
Siegel even floated the idea that only Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies may be truly untouchable — and even that isn’t guaranteed.
Related: 2 Takeaways From the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 Loss to the Avalanche
Speaking of Nylander, Chris Johnston reports that the NHL is reviewing his recent on-camera gesture, though he has since apologized, calling it a “moment of frustration.” Whether discipline follows remains to be seen.
Wild Could Dangle Jesper Wallstedt in Big Swing
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin has never shied away from bold moves, and according to Elliotte Friedman, the Wild may be willing to sacrifice one of their most valuable assets to land a true No. 1 center.
On 32 Thoughts, Friedman suggested that highly touted goaltender Jesper Wallstedt could be the piece Minnesota uses if the right opportunity presents itself.
Wallstedt, 23, has posted strong numbers this season, including a .914 save percentage and four shutouts, and is under contract through next year. Trading him would signal a massive swing by the Wild, and it wouldn’t be for a marginal upgrade. Names like Nazem Kadri or Brayden Schenn likely wouldn’t justify that cost. Instead, a deal would need to involve a legitimate star center — the kind of move that may be more realistic in the offseason.
The idea that the Wild would even consider trading a goalie with such a high ceiling suggests they want that superstar center badly.
Panarin Price Set as NHL Reviews Nylander Incident
The New York Rangers have reportedly set the Brock Nelson return as the baseline for any Artemi Panarin trade, per Friedman. That means teams would need to come close to a package including a first-round pick, a quality prospect, and additional assets. Panarin, a pending UFA, has been informed he won’t receive an extension from the Rangers, though the team is willing to work with him on a destination.
Panarin is believed to be seeking a long-term deal, potentially five years, with an AAV in the $10–12 million range. Teams like Anaheim, Washington, and Los Angeles have been linked as potential fits. Reports today are that he’d prefer to be traded with an extension in place or immediately to follow versus being dealt as a rental and then testing free agency.
