In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Edmonton Oilers could face tough internal decisions ahead of the trade deadline, the Montreal Canadiens may have to let go of long-held dreams of acquiring Sidney Crosby, and the Los Angeles Kings are being linked to a bold move for Elias Pettersson. Meanwhile, there was a tense moment involving Crosby at the Olympics that had fans holding their breath.
Oilers’ “Non-Bowman” Prospects in Deadline Spotlight
As the March 6 trade deadline approaches, Oilers GM Stan Bowman faces the challenge of making moves with cap constraints and roster holes. While Edmonton remains competitive in the Pacific Division, concerns about defensive depth and secondary scoring persist.
According to farm-system analyst Brian Curlock, Bowman’s own acquisitions—Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, Atro Leppanen, and Damien Carfagna—have revitalized the Bakersfield Condors. Why does that matter? Players inherited from the previous regime (Jeff Jackson and Ken Holland) could be more expendable.
Related: How Canadiens’ Pending RFAs Could Shape the Trade Deadline
That puts names like Matt Savoie, Roby Jarventie, and Beau Akey into speculation. Savoie, a former top-10 pick, has been productive in a third-line role. He was recently placed on loan to the AHL, but the move is said to be temporary. He will play a couple of games and be back up with the NHL lineup when the break officially ends.
Canadiens’ Crosby Dream Likely Over—For Now
For years, the Canadiens have been loosely tied to Crosby amid speculation he might leave Pittsburgh to chase another Stanley Cup. With the Pittsburgh Penguins missing the playoffs in recent seasons, the chatter only intensified.
However, NHL insider Chris Johnston recently reported that those hopes should be shelved. He writes:
“There was a time when Montreal might have held out hope Sidney Crosby would become available on the trade market, but that ship has now sailed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff spot. Surveying the list of other veteran centers available, they might not get a shot to add anyone better than Kadri.”
source – ‘NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 4’ – Chris Johnston – The Athletic – 02-10-2026
The Penguins sit second in the Metropolitan Division at the Olympic break, firmly in playoff position. Crosby, now 38, continues to perform at an elite level, producing at nearly a point-per-game pace while playing a key role for Team Canada internationally.
There was also a tense moment involving Crosby during Olympic play. After taking a heavy hit from Radko Gudas, Crosby left the ice unable to put weight on his right leg. Reports indicated that his leg buckled awkwardly beneath him during the collision, and he was later seen being evaluated at the end of the bench.
Crosby left the game and was walking gingerly in the hallway. While no official update has been provided, the incident will spark immediate concern for both the Penguins and Team Canada. With Pittsburgh in a playoff spot and the postseason race tightening, any extended absence would be significant. For now, all eyes remain on Crosby’s status.
The Kings signaled they’re in win-now mode after acquiring Artemi Panarin, and with longtime captain Anze Kopitar nearing retirement, and Kevin Fiala out for the rest of the season, speculation is mounting about their next move.
Columnist Ben Kuzma floated the idea of Los Angeles targeting Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks. He wrote:
“Their interest in Elias Pettersson increased with the Swede’s two-goal game Saturday for Sweden in the Olympics, plus the Kings have $15 million in cap space. And winger Andrei Kuzmenko thrived with the Canucks in 2022-23 with a 39-goal season while mostly aligned with Pettersson, who put up 102 points.”
source – ‘Canucks: Elias Pettersson trade speculation trumps training camp 2.0’ – Ben Kuzma – The Province – 02-16-2026
The 27-year-old center carries an $11.6 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause, but the Kings reportedly have over $15 million in projected deadline cap space—making the math workable.
The challenge lies in the return. Vancouver would likely demand a young NHL-ready center, and Los Angeles is unlikely to part with Quinton Byfield. Draft picks and prospects may not get it done.
