Keep up to date on the latest rumours and speculation around the NHL beat with TSN.ca's Rumour Mill.

Forced Hand?

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray sustained a lower-body injury in Monday night and the team is awaiting further information.

UPDATE: The Penguins goaltender is expected to miss roughly two-to-four weeks.

Murray has started 20 of 26 games for the Penguins this season, posting an 11-7-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.95 goals-against average. He was replaced by Tristan Jarry Monday night, who improved his career record to 2-1-2 with the overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes the team will move forward with Jarry and will likely recall Casey DeSmith from the AHL, but any significant injury to Murray could lead general manager Jim Rutherford to make a trade.

Rutherford said in October when the team waived backup Antti Niemi that he wouldn’t rush to add a goaltender unless the situation became dire.

“We’ll just see how this situation is,” Rutherford said on Oct. 24. “We’re not in a situation now where we have to move that quick. We’re early in the year. If we get to a point where we have to change course or move quickly, then like anything, we’ll look at all options.”

UPDATE: TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie expects the team to pursue a low-cost, experienced goaltender to help cover for Murray's absence.

Jarry owns a 2-0-2 record this season with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

The Penguins currently own the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 13-10-3 record.

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Devils in the Dance?

The New Jersey Devils have been one of the biggest surprises of the NHL season, jumping out to a 14-6-4 record to lead Metropolitan Division through 24 games.

Chris Ryan of NJ.com believes the Devils could very well be buyers at the trade deadline, something few would have foreseen in September. Ryan notes the Devils won’t be going all out for a Stanley Cup run or risk any key young players, but could “add a piece or two.”

Ryan, who predicts New Jersey will land a playoff spot this season, notes Devils general manager Ray Shero has been a seller at the trade deadline in each of his first two seasons with the team. Now, however, Shero could be the one trading draft picks instead of acquiring them.

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Nuge Not for Sale

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has seen his name enter the rumour mill ever since the Oilers signed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to extensions that will eventually result in an annual cap hit of $21 million.

The Oilers have plenty of cap space left for this season since McDavid’s $12.5 million hit won’t kick in until next season, but things are expected to be tight after that.

McKenzie: Can't imagine Oilers have interest in parting company with RNH

TSN 1260 hockey insider Bob McKenzie joins Nielson to recap the Oilers 4-2 win over the Bruins and also shares his thoughts on the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins trade rumours.

Nugent-Hopkins carries a cap hit of $6 million and ranks as the organization’s third centre, behind McDavid and Draisaitl. Despite rumours around his departure, TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie said Monday he finds it hard to find a scenario where the Oilers trade the 24-year-old.

“I can’t imagine that the Edmonton Oilers have any interest in parting company with [Nugent-Hopkins], unless somebody comes with – everybody is tradable,” McKenzie told TSN Radio 1260 Edmonton, as transcribed by FanRag Sports. “If somebody came with a top-pairing defenceman, but who does that? Who would call up the Oilers and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a top-pairing defenceman here who’s going to be great for you and makes the same money and he’s the same age and let’s do a straight one-for-one swap.’ I suppose it’s possible, but I’m not holding my breath for it.

“If I were the Oilers, I’d be happy to have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup more nights than not.”

McKenzie notes the Oilers would like to see more offensive production from the centre at times, but he still ranks third on the team with 17 points this season and second in goals with eight.

McKenzie believes the only reason Nugent-Hopkins’ name comes up as often as it does is because teams around the league see McDavid and Draisaitl as untouchable.