NHL Rumor Mill – March 19, 2026
Check out the recent Penguins speculation and the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports there’s a feeling within the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization that Sidney Crosby could stick around for a while. The 38-year-old center and team captain is happy with the club’s direction. Crosby has a year left on his current deal, but no one Yohe has spoken to believes it will be his last.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have really turned things around this season under head coach Dan Muse. Meanwhile, general manager Kyle Dubas’ efforts to transition to a younger roster over the past two years have been paying off.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Crosby is in the late stages of his career but remains among the league’s elite stars. It wouldn’t be surprising if he decides to keep going past next season, and to do so with the Penguins if they continue to improve.
Yohe dismissed recent rumors suggesting the Penguins might attempt to trade Erik Karlsson during the offseason. The 35-year-old defenseman has improved after struggling over the past two seasons.
Karlsson has a year left on his contract, but Yohe wouldn’t be surprised if they extend him for a couple of years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That extension will come with a significant pay cut from Karlsson’s current $11.5 million average annual value. However, he could accept that if he feels the Penguins are heading in the right direction.
Yohe also doesn’t believe that the Penguins will let Anthony Mantha depart via free agency this summer. He expects they’ll attempt to re-sign the 31-year-old winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mantha enjoyed a fine bounce-back performance this season and seems comfortable in Pittsburgh. He will likely seek stability after bouncing around the league in recent years. If he’s not seeking too much for too long, a deal is possible.
The Penguins seem interested in bringing back Stuart Skinner next season, but likely on a short-term deal. They also want to retain Arturs Silovs, and the promising Sergei Murashov could be on his way next season. They also have Joel Blomqvist in their system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner could decide that he’d prefer a long-term deal, which could spell his departure from Pittsburgh on July 1. Much will depend on the Penguins’ confidence in Silovs and Murashov as a future tandem.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reported earlier this week that Evgeni Malkin sounds optimistic regarding a possible new contract with the Penguins.
Malkin wouldn’t go into details about his earlier discussions with management. However, he’s okay with waiting until the offseason to begin those talks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin wants to return for another season or two with the Penguins. They might be willing to do one season with a bonus-laden contract. Things could get dicey if he seeks more than that.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes explained that his comments about attempting to make a major move at the trade deadline were to address fans’ concerns that management was more interested in the future and not in its present roster needs.
Following the deadline, Hughes said his efforts to make a significant deal didn’t quite materialize. He indicated they could attempt to follow up on those efforts in the offseason.
That sparked speculation that the Canadiens tried to get Matthew Knies, Nazem Kadri, and Rasmus Ristolainen, among others. LeBrun confirmed they called the Toronto Maple Leafs about Knies, but it didn’t get close. He also indicated that whatever Hughes was working on didn’t involve any of the players mentioned as trade targets in the media.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That shouldn’t be surprising. No one saw last summer’s acquisition of Noah Dobson coming. It’ll be interesting to see if Hughes can successfully revisit that deal and who his intended target would be. Let your imagination run wild, Habs fans!
TVA SPORTS: Columnist Tony Marinaro believes Arber Xhekaj no longer has a future in Montreal. The 25-year-old Canadiens’ defenseman has been in and out of the lineup this season, playing a reduced role on their blueline.
The Canadiens have several young defensemen in their system, including Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher. That could push Xhekaj out the door. Marinaro said he wouldn’t be surprised if something happened during the draft week in June.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Xhekaj’s size and physical style made him a fan favorite in Montreal, but there’s no denying that he’s played a decreasing role over the past two seasons. Perhaps he’ll be part of that mystery trade that Hughes could revisit in the season.
I honestly can’t see Toronto parting with such a young promising player like Knies. Unless, of course, the replacement for Treliving wants to tear down the roster and start over. Even then I would imagine he’d want Knies as a player to build around. The only thing that would make a move to MTL feasible is if MTL were to load a rebuilding Toronto team the multiple draft picks they lack as well a top prospect and a young roster player.
I agree, but you cannot tear down and tank until you have access to your own first round pick.
New GM better have experience in building from the ground up.
Craig. the big question looming is – who in the Toronto hierarchy decides if the plan going forward is to re-tool or to embark upon another complete re-build?
It’s not like there’s a single owner anyone can look to for a definitive answer – and since many believe Treleving gets his walking papers soon, is it realistic to expect his replacement to have to make that decision immediately upon his hiring – or even recommend one or the other in a pre-hiring interview? So, who decides?
Someone loves hypotheticals, right? I don’t think, unfortunately for us fans, that any newly hired GM comes in and makes a bunch of moves without a closer look at what he has. As for who, well that can be summed up by asking how much are they willing to pay?
George – that question is as important a question as the who the new hire is. Who does the new person report to? How much autonomy does the GM have to build the club moving forward?
There are alotta cooks in the kitchen.
Heh, that was exactly the point of my post, Toronto St Pats. Some can choose to shrug it off as inconsequential and a “hypothetical” question. But I don’t see them coming up with even a remotely possible “hypothetical” answer. From this vantage point .. and trying to engage in a back-and-forth on Craig’s post … I think it was a legitimate question, given the current uncertain situation.
The ultimate owner of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment – the parent company of the Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Argonauts – is Rogers Communications Inc. Their current ownership of 75% of MLSE emerged following the closing of that deal in July 2025. As such they have a controlling stake and virtual monopoly over those teams.
Since I doubt very much that CEO Tony Staffieri gets personally involved in such decisions, leaving that to an appointed “committee,” the question then remains “is it the GM – whoever that will be – or the “committee” that decides whether or not to embark upon a re-tool or a re-build?
From what I can tell from the MLSE Leadership Team is Treliving reports directly to Keith Pelley, President and CEO at MLSE.
Shanahan is gone, so no buffer there anymore.
If they do replace Tre, maybe they go with a new President and GM, so 2 people. Or just one, who knows.
Guessing that any large commitment for new contracts will need sign off by ownership, like it does everywhere I would imagine.
As far as team direction, one would have to think that convo will definitely happen in an interview. The question is, is Pelley looking for someone to tell him what he wants to hear or??
Agree with Ron, new GM’s rarely go in guns blazing with major moves until they have time to fully assess what they have, and who they have.
Tough gig, whoever gets it.
Which makes me wonder, Ray – again given their current situation and at least the no less important “familiarity” of the entire structure right down to the farm-team level – if they wouldn’t be better off in the long haul to give Treleving the last year of his current deal and let him decide the best route to take.
Ok George, my point is basically how little we are privy to anything with this or any other team and what they are thinking… I guess you might be asking, if I , or anyone was Pelley what or who I’d hire if I chose to axe Tre?
Well, I would get Army in. I know he’s slated to babysit Steen but I’m sure, putting yourself in either shoes, you’d rather not being doing that. I think you mentor the upcoming GM if you home grown one like the Blues have or like what the Leafs did with Dubas and Lou….
Again, look at everything you have: a team making the playoffs every year since they picked Matthews 1st overall and was tops last season in the conference and see how and what lead you were your team is now. Hint, coaching and asset management look pretty glaring to me.
If not Army, then I’d try to poach whoever I like and back up a brinks truck to his yard to persuade him to join. I just don’t know who’s who or worth talking about because either the likelihood would be near zero of them leaving and joining the Leafs, ie contract, or just ignorant as to who is a GM (currently or upcoming or even past retreaded) worth hiring.
Would I love to see Nill or Armstrong as a Leafs GM? Duh. Will it happen? God willing. Hahaha
This entire situation is just one big gray area, until the owners (all of them) hire a real point man, a person that the GM can talk to on a regular basis. Much the same as if there was just one owner involved, talking to the GM on daily operations.
Let the point person and the GM decide on the future of the team. It is not going to impact finances much – we know the house will be full or close to it every night.
If the Leafs could survive the 80’s, for those of use that remember, then they can survive a retool or rebuild. Just don’t let it last as long as the one that has taken place in Buffalo.
Yeah, “one big gray area” sums it up pretty good guys.
It’s probably just me and my preference to one identifiable owner – as opposed to an appointed committee – hiring, and then allowing, the GM to do his job, but at the same time willing and able to step in when things go south and say “enough … I’m making a change …”
Ray mentions that Treleving answers to Pelley. OK, so is he authorized to, in fact, act as the de facto owner and either go along or not with a major decision as to re-tool or re-build, or does he have to first get the consensus of that “committee?”
Crosby will beat Howe for oldest player!😁. Karlsson has to be in talks for team mvp this year. I doubt he gets traded in the offseason but if next year goes off the rails the deadline trade possible. Mantha for 3 years and 15? Maybe. But he has never had back to back 20 goal seasons. Buyer beware. Unless skinner wants 2 years or less and has minimal trade protection I’d let him walk. Risky going with the young goalies but they look ready to handle it. Malkin dropped a hint that the lack of a deal next year is his desire for 2 years. I’d think about it if it’s a bonus laden deal with a lower cap hit. And if year two lacked full nmc.
Dubas has done a real good job in Pittsburgh. Of course, it helps any team having Crosby around and Karlsson having a year like he is having. Maybe time for Malkin to move on.
He is still a ppg player. Playing wing looks good on him. I’d definitely keep him for 1 more year. That second year is a tough call.
Chrisms- I think he wants that commitment, that includes a 2nd year. Tough call for Dubas.
He interviewed the other day and was asked about his contract. He specifically stated he would like to play 1-2 more years. So that second year could be why he has no deal yet. Another possibility is that with either 1or 2 year deal Dubas isn’t looking to give a nmc and wants to have options to move Malkin depending on the situation. I doubt it’s the money but maybe Dubas wants more incentives and Malkin wants more guaranteed money. I hope he comes back but I’d want to be able to have flexibility on year two if I was Dubas with a mntc and maybe a high signing bonus with a low actual salary that makes him tradable.
I bet it was Bob.
Dobes Pickford and Laine and a 2nd for Bob
Bobrovsky is a UFA this summer. This proposal of yours makes no sense.
It’s that other guy, Lyle. Bob, right? You know, bob who’s worth 3 roster players and a 2nd round pick.
Slow news cycle in the motor city I guess.
Lyle, I am talking the past TDL, not this summer
And “Bob” isn’t going to take a pay cut to help a team get under the cap. His current season stats are not exceptional either – .887 save percentage doesn’t even put him in the top 20 in that vital stat so far this season.
Well, he shut out the Oilers in Edmonton so that should help his save %
Kind of recall Pens fans wanting EK gone this past offseason. Now we’re talking extension. Rust and Rakell were also in the daily rumors. Pittsburgh showing the most cap space for next season. Chinakhov has been a much better player than he was in Columbus. Could get himself a nice raise on a long term deal. Will be interesting to see who else is back among several ufa’s. No reason to rebuild while Syd still playing and there’s room to sprinkle in some younger players.
Speculative trades for Habs
Habs get-Cuylle and Schneider
NYR get-Newhook and Guhle.
or perhaps
Habs get Cuylle
NYR get Beck, 2026 1st, 2027 2nd
That’s way too much for Cuylle. Especially when you consider they only got Greentree and a 3rd for Panarin. I like Cuylle, but not at that price.
Cuylle has the same value as Knies in my eyes and the missing element in the Habs top 6.
He’s the type of player worth overpaying, and while I would make either of the two trades, my preference is the first.
Pittsburgh is having a great year but I don’t think it is reasonable to assume they will be in this position next year.
If they think they have turned the page, they are making a big mistake. I trade Karlsson this offseason and hope you get something decent in return.
This year was definitely a surprise but why is it necessary unreasonable to think they could do well again next year? I wouldn’t bet my house on it but core pieces are pretty much all back except maybe mantha.
Opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one. My opinion re the Leafs is every team that wins have players that you would go to war with. I can give multiple examples but we all know who they are when the Islanders won their 4th in a row Gretzky said he walked by dressing room and nobody was partying they were to tired. Gretzky knew than they were out worked not out talented the Leafs best players are soft Nylander is embarrassing when the going gets tuff and Matthews not a lot better. I’d keep Knies and get a bundle for other two and rebuild with character players. Just my opinion.
Matthews has surgery, should be ready to train by the end of June.
Wonder why it took them so long to make that decision? As soon as we heard “torn MCL” I figured they’d do that as quickly as possible because it can take upwards of 6 months to heal sufficiently to allow for the strain of an NHL season.