The NHL Trade Rumor Mill: Who’s Staying, Who’s Going, and Why It Matters
By Brennan McClain | January 24, 2026
The Vancouver Canucks are at a crossroads, and the hockey world is buzzing with speculation. At the heart of it all is center Elias Pettersson, a former 102-point scorer whose future with the team is anything but certain. Multiple franchises have expressed interest in acquiring Pettersson, but here’s where it gets controversial: despite the chatter, there’s no indication he’s willing to leave Vancouver. And this is the part most people miss: Pettersson holds a full no-movement clause in his contract until the 2031-32 NHL season, giving him the power to veto any trade. Speaking on Donnie and Dhali, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted, ‘I just haven’t been given any indication that he is willing to waive at this point in time.’ This raises a critical question: Can the Canucks find a trade partner that Pettersson would actually consider, or is he destined to stay put? For now, the ball is firmly in his court.
But Pettersson isn’t the only player making waves in the trade rumor mill. Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues is another name generating buzz, but with a twist. While the Blues are perceived as sellers ahead of the trade deadline, they’ve set an astronomically high asking price for the forward. According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, the Blues aren’t actively shopping Thomas but are open to listening if an offer is too good to refuse. However, one anonymous team source revealed that negotiations were swiftly shut down due to the steep price tag. This begs the question: Is Thomas truly on the market, or are the Blues simply testing the waters? It’s a delicate balance between rebuilding and retaining talent, and the Blues seem determined to play their cards close to the chest.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche are dealing with their own set of challenges. In last night’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the team was without Ross Colton, who sat out with a day-to-day lower-body injury. Joel Kiviranta, returning from his own month-long injury absence, stepped into the lineup but failed to make an impact on the scoresheet. While this may seem like a minor adjustment, it highlights the Avalanche’s ongoing struggle to maintain consistency amidst injuries. As the trade deadline looms, will they seek external reinforcements, or double down on their current roster? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Is Pettersson’s no-movement clause a smart career move or a missed opportunity for the Canucks? Are the Blues overvaluing Thomas, or is he worth the price? And how should the Avalanche address their injury woes? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take!
