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The NHL's annual holiday roster freeze is in place, but the rumor mill didn't get the memo.
Before the freeze kicked in, two familiar names already came off the board. Phillip Danault returned to the Montreal Canadiens after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick, a move that made sense given Montreal's long search for center depth. Danault, 32, fills a role the Canadiens know well, defensive reliability and matchup responsibility down the middle.
Mason Marchment was the other domino. The Seattle Kraken shipped the 30-year-old winger to the Columbus Blue Jackets for two draft picks, marking his second trade of the year after Dallas moved him last June. Marchment's blend of size and edge remains valuable, even if his stops keep changing.
With rosters frozen until December 28, speculation has shifted to phones ringing quietly behind the scenes. One of the louder whispers involves the Edmonton Oilers and goaltending. After Tristan Jarry landed on injured reserve, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested Edmonton could circle back to Buffalo regarding Alex Lyon.
The Oilers reportedly explored Lyon before he signed a two-year deal with the Sabres and have checked in more than once this season. Still, Buffalo appears in no rush. Lyon is riding a five-game winning streak and helping pull the Sabres into the Eastern Conference wild-card mix, not exactly ideal timing to sell.
Centers and goalies dominate frozen trade chatter
In St. Louis, attention has turned toward longer-term planning. Jeremy Rutherford and Chris Johnston of The Athletic noted Jordan Binnington could surface if the Blues drift further from contention. With one year left on his contract, his name will naturally attract interest.
Defenseman Justin Faulk is another. At 33, with improved play and a year remaining on his deal, his value may never be higher. Blues captain Brayden Schenn also continues to appear in rumors, though his age and recent dip in production complicate his market despite the league-wide shortage of centers.
Nashville's Ryan O'Reilly rounds out the chatter. Pierre LeBrun reported teams have asked, but the Predators aren't ready to engage. O'Reilly lacks formal no-trade protection, yet Nashville is treating him as if he has it, at least for now.
The freeze may pause transactions, but it hasn't paused conversations. Teams are laying groundwork, not making moves.
When the calendar flips back on December 28, don't be surprised if those quiet calls turn loud.