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Around the NHL: Stadium Series game for the ages, Kadri, Panarin trade talks heating up
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Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jeremy Tingly
Feb 2, 2026, 08:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 2, 2026, 07:55 EST
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Welcome back to another edition of Around the NHL, as there’s only a couple of more games before the Olympic break, which includes a roster freeze set for Wednesday. Trade talks have been heating up of late, and there’s certainly a ton of ground work being laid at the moment.
Don’t expect much movement before Wednesday. Once the Olympics wrap up, expect to see a flurry of activity. With some surprising teams in playoff spots at the moment, it sets up for an entertaining trade market and the Toronto Maple Leafs are clear sellers.
While there’s lots to talk about surrounding Leafs Nation, here’s the very latest from around the NHL.

Boston/Tampa Bay Stadium Series game for the ages

The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Boston Bruins in the NHL’s latest edition of their Stadium Series, and the two teams did not disappoint. In what was an absolute instant classic that had a little bit of everything, as the Lightning rallied to win 6-5 in a shootout, after being down 5-1 earlier in the contest.
All the talk after was about the goalie fight between Bruins starter Jeremy Swayman, and Lightning legend Andrei Vasilevskiy. There was a wild scrum halfway through the second period, with the Lightning down 5-2, and Vasilevskiy and Swayman decided to meet in the middle to drop the gloves for the first goalie fight in Stadium Series history:
Vasilevskiy got the better of Swayman, thanks to those left hands, and the best part of it all, it sparked the Lightning. Tampa Bay went on to score three unanswered goals to tie the game, and eventually sealed it, thanks to a Jake Guentzel shootout winner.

Nazem Kadri and Artemi Panarin trade talks heating up

Two of the biggest players on the trade market have been the talk of the league the past few days, as Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri, and New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin continue to be discussed in potential deals.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta confirmed recently that Kadri was open to a trade from the Flames. The veteran centre is signed through the 2029 season at $7 million AAV, and owns a 13-team no-trade list. Kadri has scored nine goals and 35 points in 54 games. There’s been a ton of speculation brewing that the Colorado Avalanche could be circling back on reuniting with Kadri, who won a Stanley Cup with the franchise before signing a long-term deal in Calgary.
As for Panarin, he controls his entire destiny as he owns a full no-movement clause, and while the Rangers have been keeping him out of the lineup the past few games, it’s highly unlikely a deal materializes before the Olympic roster freeze kicks in Wednesday. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Panarin has a strong market of interest but has already rejected a trade to the Seattle Kraken.
Potential landing spots include the Stars, Red Wings, Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, Kings, Avalanche and Florida Panthers. Friedman confirmed over the weekend that the Avalanche, Stars, Ducks, and Hurricanes are all willing to do this trade without an extension in place. Panarin’s camp prefers an extension at this time.

Quick hits from around the NHL

  • There’s brewing speculation that the Minnesota Wild are using Jesper Wallstedt as a trade chip, and will eventually sign Marc-Andre Fleury as the team’s backup goaltender down the stretch. General manager Bill Guerin is in search for an impact, top-six forward.
  • St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas underwent a minor leg procedure, and is out until after the Olympics.
  • Winnipeg Jets are receiving a ton of interest in defenceman Logan Stanley, who is having a career year, making a very reasonable $1.25 million AAV.
  • While Panarin is seemingly finished in New York, there’s a lot of chatter about Alexis Lafreniere being in play, in a potential swap for Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright. It sounded like in a perfect world, the Kraken dealt Wright for Panarin, and signed the Russian winger to a contract extension. Panarin had other ideas.
  • Edmonton Oilers waived goaltender Calvin Pickard on Sunday.
  • It’s going to come down to the wire in Nashville, as several teams have called about Predators’ centre Ryan O’Reilly, but to this point, it’s likely Barry Trotz keeps O’Reilly in Nashville, where he and his family prefer.
  • And, in the best news of the week, Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark returned to action over the weekend, and was named the first star after a a 26-save performance to top the Devils 4-1. “At the end there, also during lineup, it was really hard holding it together,” UIlmark said postgame, per Coming In Hot. “I didn’t want to hold it together, also. It’s one of the things I’ve been working on, is letting the feelings flow a little bit. There’s nothing bad about that. I was really happy that we got a win today as well.”

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