NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2026
Check out the latest on Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market could generate more activity in this summer’s trade market. That’s one of the reasons the New York Rangers didn’t move Vincent Trocheck at the March 6 trade deadline. Teams reluctant to meet the Rangers’ asking price at the deadline could be more open to doing so in the offseason.
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (including me) questioned the Rangers’ decision not to move Trocheck at the deadline when his trade value was perceived to be at its peak. A more active summer trade market would give them a good chance of finding a trade partner willing to meet their asking price.
Friedman reports the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth showed serious interest in Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies before the recent trade deadline.
Everyone has denied that the Canadiens “went far down the road” pursuing Knies, but Friedman seems skeptical, saying “we’ll see”. There were rumors linking the Habs to a defenseman, or something else they could revisit this summer. He also noted that they “definitely explored moving money.” There were talks of shipping Patrik Laine to the Philadelphia Flyers or Toronto Maple Leafs, but nothing came of it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens and Mammoth were also believed to have been interested in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. The Habs also had an interest in Blues winger Jordan Kyrou last summer.
As for the Canadiens attempting to move money, Laine was likely the player they were trying to move. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he no longer fits into their plans.
It’s believed Sergei Bobrovsky’s camp at one point sought a contract comparable to what Brad Marchand signed with the Florida Panthers (six years, $5.25 million AAV). Bobrovsky is 37, the same age Marchand was when he inked that deal last year. However, the Panthers weren’t willing to do it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky is finishing a seven-year deal with an AAV of $10 million. He’s obviously not getting anything similar to that again. The Panthers are probably objecting to the length of the deal, but they could find the $5.25 million AAV acceptable. Maybe they get something done on a two or three-year contract.
A big playoff performance by Alex Tuch could force the Buffalo Sabres’ hand in contract negotiations with the 28-year-old power forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has put up good numbers during the last four seasons. The last time he was in the postseason was in 2020-21 with the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s rumored that he’s seeking a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall ($10.625 million AAV). Helping the Sabres stage a deep playoff run would probably go a long way toward convincing management that he’s worthy of a similar deal.
Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said he’ll discuss Rick Bowness’ future with the coach after this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets hired Bowness on an interim basis in mid-January, and the players have responded well. When the hiring was made on Jan. 12, they were last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-19-7 for 45 points. They’ve surged up the standings since then, moving into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 36-21-11 for 83 points.
If Bowness wants the job full-time, it’s his for the taking.
It wasn’t a certainty that the Minnesota Wild would include prospect forward Charlie Stramel in a package deal. That’s not to say they wouldn’t have done so, but the return would have to be significant. The same goes for the Carolina Hurricanes with young defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
The players I think the Habs were kicking tires on:
St. Louis- Jake Neighbours not Thomas or Kyrou
TML- Matthew Knies
NYR- Will Cuylle not Trocheck
IMO. The player NY wanted from Minnesota was Yurov. I’ve watched recent interviews with Trochek were he praised Drury for his constant communication with him. I get the feeling Drury doesn’t need to move him unless he gets what he wants. Stramel is over a point per game player this season at Michigan State. He’s a Hobey Baker nominee. His team is expected to be selected for Frozen Four field of 16 tomorrow. Once he’s done, he needs to be signed by middle of August or he becomes a FA. That might’ve affected any trade interest. Rangers might have interest but, would need commitment from player. Maybe a sign and trade in summer.
I think if Malkin isn’t back with Pens, Trochek would be a good fit there.
HF30. You seem to like Cuylle a lot. I don’t see Rangers trading him unless it’s a package for a star player with similar play style. Think B Tkachuk.
Slick62
It’s a question of timeline, the three players I named are liked by their teams so nobody is giving anything away.
A trade wouldn’t be a one for one, otherwise why bother?
In any of what I see as trade scenarios these guys would be the big fish and the return would be three assets that have long term value more than instant.
Rationale:
St,Louis puts to bed the Kyrou, Thomas talk as they are two vets with track records and Neighbors will be a big contract next year.
TML has no prospect pool or draft capital to turn things around and the player to bring in the best return is Knies.
NYR isn’t quite sure where they are going, Trocheck won’t bring back too much, the NMC vets aren’t going anywhere. They could use help on LD while there’s a surplus of RD.
A roster player, a prospect and a 1st give each team something to think about, here’s a sampler.
Roster player. Texier, Newhook, Struble, for eg
Prospect- Beck, Farrell, Engstrom, Roy
1st 2026
IDK about TML being prospect-less, they just signed 2 young FA’s with promise.
yeah right Johnny Z
A 5’8 170lb 22 y/o undrafted RD
A 6’2 200lb 23y/o undrafted LW
Talk about stocking up with hail mary’s.
Whether it be a retool or a rebuild, I can’t see any reason NY would consider moving Cullye. Unless it’s a part of a package for a better player.
They don’t need cap space, nor do they need more middling players. They have plenty on the roster already.
HF30. “NMC vets aren’t going anywhere”. Never say never. If Trochek is traded, maybe his buddy JT would want out. If you take Drury at his word, whatever moves he makes would need to make team better next year. I don’t see how trading Trochek makes that happen, unless it’s freeing up more cap space for bigger moves. As far as Cuylle goes, none of those packages interest me. Wouldn’t mind Xhekaj as a 6th/7th D. But not involving Cuylle.
habfan30
Agree that the players you mentioned from STL, TOR, and NYR aren’t guys they’re looking to move but would have to be blown away (or close to it) to seriously consider it.
Also agree that TOR needs more high end prospects. I find it strange that the Leafs signed Borgesi when they wouldn’t give Niemela a sniff of NHL action.
If the Leafs are considering trading Knies to MTL I’m not sure I want 1st round picks. I’d prefer they target guys that are on the cusp of NHL roster spots.
If I’m trading within the division to MTL it would have to be Xjekaj, Beck, and Hage for Knies. A late 1st round pick isn’t helping the Leafs anytime soon.
If there is any truth to the rumours of Matthews going anywhere this summer, I wonder if SJ would try to acquire Matthews and Knies in a blockbuster? They have exactly what the Leafs would seek in a return. Think Misa, Graf, Dickenson and EDM 2026 1st.
MTL playoff results will likely dictate what they do in the off-season. Goaltending is their big question mark.
My point is that I think that getting one of those three players is what the Habs were looking at as opposed to the names being tossed around.
If I had to guess, I’d say Jack Neighbors is the guy they were looking at the hardest.
How much of an overpay is the consideration and ultimately it depends on player/prospect redundancy.
Lyle, is there something missing before the last paragraph?
I like Tuch, but his numbers arent as good as Kempes so by that defeinition he should get slightly below. But they probably dont want to see him walk if they have a good run this year, time will tell