The NHL’s trade deadline remainsmore than a monthway, set for March 6, but the impending Feb. 4 roster freeze has heated up action around the league. TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest news and rumours ahead of the freeze and will return after for the final Countdown to TradeCentre.

Follow all the latest trades here and the most up to date signings here.

Mangiapane Still on the Block

It appears the Edmonton Oilers and Andrew Mangiapane are headed for a divorce.

Mangiapane has appeared in five straight games with the Oilers after spending the first two weeks of January in the press box, but TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun describes it as “surprising” that the winger hasn’t been dealt yet.

“It’s not for a lack of trying,” LeBrun writes in The Athletic. “My understanding is that the Oilers are having ongoing conversations with teams open-minded about a return. But there hasn’t been a fit so far.”

Mangiapane joined the Oilers this past summer on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. He has six goals and 12 points in 47 games this season, but most of that success came early in the year as he owns just two goals and three points over his past 21 games since the start of December.

The 29-year-old forward posted 14 goals and 28 points in 81 games with the Washington Capitals last season. He had spent the previous seven seasons with the Calgary Flames, posting a career-best 35 goals in 2021-22. He has never topped 20 goals in any other season.

LeBrun points to the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues as potential suitors for Mangiapane.

Edmonton is shaping up as a buyer once again of the trade deadline as the team sits second the Pacific Division. Moving Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit off their books could free the space needed to make a splash. Edmonton is without their first-round pick in 2026, but have their first- and second-rounders in both 2027 and 2028 to potentially work with.

Panarin watch is on

Artemi Panarin may have played his last game with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers elected to hold the pending unrestricted free agent out of the lineup for Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders and TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports the 34-year-old is not expected to play again before the Olympic break for asset protection.

Panarin is in the final year of a seven-year, $81.5 million deal he signed in 2019 that includes a full no-move clause and carries an $11.64 million cap hit. That cap hit could be reduced if the Rangers retain 50 per cent in a trade, but further complicating a deal is that Panarin is seeking a contract extension as part of waiving his no-move clause for a deal, according to Johnston.

Arthur Staple of The Athletic believes the need for an extension could rule out the Dallas Stars, who had previously been tied to Panarin as a rental. He believes the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are legitimate suitors, while the Washington Capitals could also be a player in the Panarin sweepstakes.

The Sharks have already been a deadline buyer, acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks last week to boost their push to make playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Kings will once again hope to get over the hump this spring after falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past four years. Entering play Thursday, the Sharks and Kings are tied for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 57 points each.

Now the #NYR, who made the first move (Soucy) and are on to the next move, with Panarin on ice (or off ice, I guess) until the Olympic break — though my sense is it won’t get that far:

— I had ranked Dallas top of my Panarin destination list last week because I figured the…

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNHL) January 29, 2026

Panarin has 19 goals and leads the Rangers with 57 points in 52 games this season, sitting second among forwards in average ice time at 20:54 per game.

He has led the Rangers in each of the past six seasons, posting a career-high 49 goals and 120 points in 2023-24.

“Obviously he’s one of the best Rangers of his generation, and he’s not an easy guy to replace,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said of playing without Panarin after Wednesday’s loss. “It forces all of us to look in the mirror and try to figure out how we can all do a better job.”

The decision to sit Panarin ahead of a likely move comes two weeks after general manager Chris Drury penned a letter to fans two weeks ago that indicated that the team would be focusing on a “retool” as a new direction for the franchise.

The Rangers traded defenceman Carson Soucy to the Islanders in the first trade since the letter earlier this week, while forward Vincent Trocheck has also reportedly been drawing trade interest.

“It’s an emotional time. Obviously I love Bread,” Trocheck said Wednesday, per the New York Post. “I’ve been lucky enough to play with him on a line for the majority of four years.

“We don’t know what’s happening yet. … But it’s an emotional time [for the team].”

Trocheck, 32, has 11 goals and 33 points in 40 games this season. He remains under contract through the 2028-29 season at a cap hit of $5.625 million.

All Eyes on the Blue Jackets?

The Columbus Blue Jackets are 7-1 since new head coach Rick Bowness took over behind the bench, leaving the team unsure on their direction as the trade deadline draws closer.

The Blue Jackets still sit six points back of the New York Islanders for the third and final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, on track to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight year. Columbus is eight points back of the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card place.

LeBrun notes that, should the Blue Jackets elect to sell at the deadline, the team could find themselves fielding a whole lot of calls on their pending unrestricted free agents. Veterans Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment and Erik Gudbranson are all playing on expiring deals and could draw the eyes of contenders.

LeBrun believes Jenner, the Blue Jackets’ captain, would be a hot target if he becomes available. The 32-year-old centre has eight goals and 25 points in 38 games this season. He also reports the Blue Jackets have already received calls on Coyle, who has 12 goals and 35 points in 52 games.