In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Buffalo Sabres are betting big on a pending unrestricted free agent, the Montreal Canadiens are pivoting after their dream trade target officially comes off the board, and the Toronto Maple Leafs may still have a path to landing a high-priced defenseman despite plenty of cap-related hurdles.
Sabres Willing to Roll the Dice on Alex Tuch
The Buffalo Sabres appear ready to take one of the bigger risks of the season by holding onto pending UFA Alex Tuch through the trade deadline. Despite ongoing contract talks, the two sides remain far apart, with Tuch reportedly seeking a deal north of the $10.625 million AAV Adrian Kempe secured in Los Angeles. Buffalo isn’t prepared to go there, yet reports suggest they’ve chosen not to trade him.
Under new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the Sabres have climbed back into the playoff mix after a rocky start. Tuch has been central to that push, and trading him would almost certainly derail Buffalo’s momentum. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the organization is effectively treating Tuch as its “own rental,” hoping that by retaining him, they make a long-awaited playoff appearance. The issue is that it means they risk losing him for nothing on July 1.
It’s a bold move, but Friedman notes, “… if I was in charge, I’d do it. There come times you have to think about the now, reward your players and your fans.”
Canadiens Shift Gears After Crosby Dreams Fade
Any lingering hope that the Montreal Canadiens might land Sidney Crosby has officially been put to rest. NHL insider Chris Johnston confirmed that the idea is now off the table, largely because the Pittsburgh Penguins remain in a playoff spot and have no reason to consider moving their franchise icon.
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Johnston 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 and James Mirtle – The Athletic – 02/10/2026
Johnston suggests Nazem Kadri has emerged as a realistic Plan B. Despite some concerns about the long-term value of Kadri’s contract, which has three seasons remaining after this one, league sources indicate he’d be open to a move to Montreal—and the Canadiens aren’t on his no-trade list.
Related: NHL Rumors: Kraken Not Done, Oilers One-for-One Swap, Rangers Friction
Having already added Phillip Danault earlier this season, the Canadiens might not be willing to spend big assets to land Kadri. Still, another proven center could raise their ceiling for a playoff run.
Maple Leafs Still Lurking in Dougie Hamilton Sweepstakes
The Toronto Maple Leafs remain in the Dougie Hamilton sweepstakes, according to at least one source. While chatter around the New Jersey Devils defenseman has cooled in recent weeks, insider James Mirtle believes Toronto is still well-positioned to land him if the Devils decide to sell low.
Hamilton, 32, carries a $9 million AAV through the 2027–28 season and has dealt with injuries, but his ability to quarterback a power play makes him intriguing for a Leafs. And, with additional chatter that Morgan Rielly could be a trade piece out of Toronto, the need for someone like Hamilton goes up.
His salary doesn’t make this a slam-dunk move by any means, but the Maple Leafs have been linked to potential trades involving Brandon Carlo, Calle Jarnkrok, and/or Bobby McMann. Those pieces out the door give GM Brad Treliving room to make the money work.