Buying or Selling the Latest NHL Trade and Free-Agent Rumors

The NHL's annual holiday roster freeze goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 19 and expires at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 28. It's worth watching if any general manager attempts to make a trade before then.

It's been quiet on the trade market of late. Only nine deals have taken place since the puck dropped on the 2022-23 regular season, with six occurring in October.

There might not be much trade activity leading up to the freeze. Just three deals went down before last year's freeze, while four took place in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the 2020-21 season until January.

Things might be quiet, but the rumor mill is abuzz with speculation. There's talk that the Vancouver Canucks and winger Brock Boeser might part company. Meanwhile, pundits wonder if Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane will reunite with former teammate Artemi Panarin on the New York Rangers.

How much stock should we put in those rumors? That is what we'll determine as we examine the latest notable conjecture and classify whether it's worth buying or selling. Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments section below.

On Nov. 29, the Dallas Stars re-signed first-line center Roope Hintz to an eight-year, $67.6 million contract extension. However, they could also be in the market for depth among their top-six forwards.

The same day as the Hintz signing, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Stars would like to add a forward to play on the second line with Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment. Dreger noted it would be a "luxury" but one the club is seeking in the trade market.

With $3.5 million in projected trade deadline salary-cap space, the Stars can't take on a big-ticket player. They might have to settle for a more affordable rental option.

Dallas is jockeying with the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division. Management doesn't have to rush in to addressing this need and could play the waiting game to see who becomes available.

Verdict: Buy

The Stars possess a balanced lineup that includes veteran stars Seguin, Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski along with rising stars Hintz, Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. Nevertheless, management could look to bolster the roster for a deep playoff run.

Acquired from the Calgary Flames on Aug. 18 by the Montréal Canadiens, Sean Monahan was looking forward to a fresh start after hip issues impacted his final seasons with Calgary. He has performed solidly thus far, sitting fourth among Canadiens scorers with 17 points in 25 games.

On Dec. 1, TSN's Pierre LeBrun said it felt like a foregone conclusion that the rebuilding Canadiens would flip Monahan for an asset. However, the 28-year-old center has fit in so well that management is discussing the possibility of re-signing him.

Monahan can become an unrestricted free agent in July and is completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $6.4 million. He's unlikely to get another deal as lucrative as that given his injury history, but his bounce-back effort could help him secure a multiyear pact for around $5 million annually.

LeBrun said it's more likely the Canadiens will trade Monahan before the March 3 deadline. Nevertheless, he said it was interesting that they were considering the option of re-signing him.

Verdict: Sell

If the Canadiens were playoff contenders, re-signing an experienced center such as Monahan would make sense. However, this is a rebuilding club that isn't likely to invest a long-term deal in a veteran. Monahan's improved play could land Montréal a first- or second-round pick or perhaps a young NHL-ready player.

On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks had given Brock Boeser's representatives permission to speak with other teams about a possible move. The 25-year-old has struggled to score over the past two seasons.

On Sunday, The Athletic's Thomas Drance reported Boeser was expected to be a healthy scratch for the Canucks' Hockey Fights Cancer game against the Arizona Coyotes. Boeser's father died in May after twice being diagnosed with cancer. After an injury to Dakota Joshua, Boeser was reinserted into the lineup. Head coach Bruce Boudreau later said he was unaware of the game's theme.

Drance wrote that the situation wasn't tied to the Canucks' willingness to let Boeser's camp talk trade with other teams. He noted the club wishes to free up salary-cap space and that "it just isn't really working out for either side this season."

On Sunday, Drance and Rick Dhaliwal reported Boeser had not requested a trade. Nevertheless, their colleague Pierre LeBrun reported the winger's agent had spoken with half a dozen clubs and could talk to more during the week.

Verdict: Buy

It appears the sides will part ways. It could take time to move Boeser, who lacks no-trade protection but carries a $6.7 million annual salary through 2024-25. The number of teams with limited cap space this season, however, could mean a deal goes down in the offseason.

Rangers winger Artemi Panarin spent his first two NHL seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17 skating on Patrick Kane's line with the Blackhawks. The pair developed strong offensive chemistry, prompting pundits this year to ponder if there might be a Broadway reunion for the dynamic duo by the March 3 trade deadline.

Kane, 34, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Playing for a struggling club in the middle of a rebuild, he could waive his no-movement clause to join a playoff contender as a rental player and then test the free-agent market.

On Saturday, The Athletic's Scott Powers and Arthur Staple mused over that possibility. They reported the superstars would love to play together again but understand it won't be easy to make it happen. Kane's no-movement clause combined with his $10.5 million cap hit make him difficult to move.

Powers and Staple speculated the Blackhawks could seek a first-round pick and a prospect in return for Kane and retaining half of his remaining salary. The Rangers could use one of their two first-round picks in a trade. They're unlikely to part with the promising Brennan Othmann, but they could offer up Kaapo Kakko or Vitali Kravtsov, Powers and Staple wrote.

Verdict: Sell

The New York Post's Mollie Walker wrote that the possibility of Kane joining the Rangers could fade if they don't improve in the standings. They were Eastern Conference finalists last season but are struggling for a wild-card spot. Kane could decide his best chance to play for a Cup contender lies elsewhere.

Winners of the Presidents' Trophy last season, the Florida Panthers are jostling with several clubs for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. A depleted defense corps is a factor in their struggles after they traded MacKenzie Weegar to the Flames in July as part of the Matthew Tkachuk deal.

Perhaps the Panthers will attempt to address this issue by pursuing Erik Karlsson. On Dec. 1, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote that they could be interested in the San Jose Sharks defenseman. The 32-year-old Karlsson is enjoying a terrific season, leading all blueliners with 11 goals and 34 points in 28 games.

Friedman noted it would be "an extremely difficult puzzle to piece together." That's because of Karlsson's contract. He carries a cap hit of $11.5 million annually through 2026-27 and also has a no-movement clause.

Despite Karlsson's hefty contract, Sharks general manager Mike Grier has indicated he would be willing to listen if approached with an offer for the talented puck-mover. However, he didn't appear to be pushing for a trade, praising Karlsson's value to the Sharks.

Verdict: Sell

It's a puzzle the Panthers probably can't complete. Karlsson's no-movement clause gives him full control. Assuming he'd accept a trade, his cap hit is too expensive for the Panthers to absorb even if the Sharks retain half of it. Even then, San Jose would probably seek a sizable return that would include a good young player such as Anton Lundell.

Stats accurate through Tuesday and via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.