Buy or Sell NHL Rumors 1 Week After the 2026 Trade Deadline

It's been a week since the NHL trade deadline, but the media rumor mill continues to churn.

While there won't be any activity in the trade market later in the spring, pundits are already chattering about some deals that were believed to have been discussed before the deadline.

A rumored trade discussed by two Canadian teams generated considerable buzz in their respective cities. There's also speculation concerning the future of a notable member of the Nashville Predators.

Meanwhile, we're getting the first rumblings of conjecture regarding two aging superstars eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer.

Follow along as we examine which noteworthy rumors of the past week are worth buying or selling.

Šimon Nemec to the San Jose Sharks?

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The struggling New Jersey Devils were expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline. Most of the focus was on veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who regularly appeared on our NHL Trade Block Big Board. However, young blueliner Šimon Nemec also surfaced in rumors leading up to the deadline.

Hamilton and Nemec remain with the Devils as they stood pat at the deadline. Nevertheless, there is ongoing speculation over Nemec's future in New Jersey. The 22-year-old blueliner is a restricted free agent this summer, and could seek a deal comparable to teammate Luke Hughes' seven-year, $63 million contract.

On March 9, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the Devils had listened to offers for Nemec, seeking a "young, impact, top-six forward" in return. The difficulty the Devils encountered moving Hamilton prompted LeBrun to suggest that Nemec could be the more likely trade candidate.

According to Vinnie Parise of The Hockey News, the San Jose Sharks had offered up winger William Eklund before the deadline for Nemec, but the Devils turned it down.

Buy or Sell: Sell

If Nemec is traded, it likely won't be to the Sharks. Following the deadline, Sharks general manager Mike Grier denied the Eklund-for-Nemec rumor. "It's something where you call and see if someone's available and then see what the asking price is," Grier said. "That was really the extent of it."

Matthew Knies to the Montréal Canadiens?

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Following the trade deadline, Montréal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes told reporters that his club had been working on a significant trade. The deal never occurred, but Hughes said his team could revisit negotiations during the offseason.

On March 9, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos claimed the Canadiens had been talking with their long-time rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also speculated that the subject of those conversations was Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies, though he stressed that he couldn't say for certain.

Other than Auston Matthews and William Nylander, Kypreos felt that Knies could fetch the best return for the Maple Leafs if they decide to rebuild this summer. The 23-year-old winger is a big power forward who is signed through 2030-31, earning an average annual value of $7.8 million.

Knies' age, size, style of play, and contract would be a good fit among the young Canadiens' core. The Canadiens can draw on a deep prospect pool for trade bait to entice the Maple Leafs, and could also include their 2026 first-round pick in the deal.

Buy or Sell: Sell

Knies is the type of player the Maple Leafs should retain if they do intend to rebuild, especially given Matthews' free-agent eligibility in 2028. The Leafs could be under new management this summer, and their plans for the club could include Knies.

Will the Florida Panthers Re-Sign Sergei Bobrovsky?

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It's been a difficult season for the Florida Panthers. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions will likely miss the playoffs, as injuries and inconsistent play have left them 11 points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

The Panthers were reportedly listening to offers for their pending unrestricted free agents, with Sergei Bobrovsky the most notable. That earned the 37-year-old goaltender the No. 7 spot on our final NHL Trade Block Big Board before the March 6 trade deadline.

Bobrovsky and the Panthers haven't discussed a contract extension, prompting speculation he might be available before the deadline. Ultimately, he wasn't moved as management kept their roster intact for the remainder of the season.

Following the deadline, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said his teammates will "wine-and-dine" Bobrovsky to convince him to stay. Meanwhile, general manager Bill Zito called the veteran goalie "a part of our core," saying he wants to try to re-sign him.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Bobrovsky's stats aren't great this season, but that's related to the Panthers' injury-depleted roster. They believe they can bounce back with a healthier lineup next season, which includes Bobrovsky. He won't get another lucrative long-term deal, but the two sides should work out an affordable short-term solution.

Could Roman Josi Request a Trade From the Nashville Predators?

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As the Nashville Predators jockey for the final Western Conference wild-card berth, they do so with the knowledge that change will be coming in the offseason. General manager Barry Trotz will be stepping down as soon as a suitable replacement is found.

On March 9, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic cited a source who suggested keeping an eye on Roman Josi this summer if the Predators decide to deepen their rebuild. If Steven Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly, or Jonathan Marchessault are moved, LeBrun believes Josi would want to know the club's direction.

Josi has spent his entire 15-season NHL career with the Predators, becoming their captain and one of the franchise's greatest players. He's under contract for two more years, and it seems unlikely he'll want to leave the club.

LeBrun acknowledged the most likely scenario is that Josi remains with the Predators. However, he doesn't dismiss the possibility of the 35-year-old defenseman changing teams if this club initiates a roster rebuild.

Buy or Sell: Sell

Trotz's replacement could pursue a more aggressive rebuilding process, which could mean shipping out some of the recent veteran additions, such as Stamkos, O'Reilly, or Marchessault. On the other hand, they could continue the current retooling plan, leaving Josi little reason to consider a trade.

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins Part Ways with Evgeni Malkin?

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This summer's unrestricted free agent market will be a thin one. All the superstars eligible for UFA status, such as Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, signed contract extensions earlier this season.

Several notable players remain eligible, including Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. A future Hall-of-Fame center, the 39-year-old is past his prime. However, he had a bounce-back performance this season, netting 47 points in 46 games as the Penguins jockey for a playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division.

Malkin hopes to return with the Penguins in 2026-27, but told the media that contract discussions will wait until the end of the regular season. Meanwhile, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports Dubas seems noncommittal, suggesting the Penguins might move on from one of their greatest players.

Dubas has been steadily rebuilding the Penguins over the past two seasons, bringing in promising young players while also restocking the club's prospect cupboard. He could be reluctant to invest cap space in an aging star or take away a roster spot from an up-and-coming youngster.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Malkin and Dubas could agree to a bonus-laden one-year deal to allow the veteran center to retire at the same time that long-time teammate Sidney Crosby's contract expires at the end of next season. However, the Penguins GM could eschew sentimentality to continue investing in the club's future.

Stats and standings via NHL.com. Salary and contract info via PuckPedia.