NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2026
Will the Blues trade Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou this summer? Are big changes coming this summer for the Canucks? What’s the latest Canadiens speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE BLUES PEDDLE ROBERT THOMAS AND JORDAN KYROU THIS SUMMER?
THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, St. Louis Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford was asked if the club’s improvement of late might affect Robert Thomas’ willingness to stay or management’s desire to trade him.
Rutherford noted Thomas has improved since returning from an injury, scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate. He also pointed out that moving Thomas could adversely affect the play of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (NHL Images).
When the Blues were engaged in trade talks, Thomas expressed his desire to stay in St. Louis. That could change if the club revisits those discussions, but the 26-year-old center sees the young talent joining the club and wants to be a part of it.
Rutherford was also asked if Jordan Kyrou will be moved this summer. He believes he will, pointing out that the 27-year-old winger’s production has dried up in recent weeks.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has been reluctant to move players for less than their value in his eyes. Rutherford acknowledged Kyrou’s skill and scoring ability, but believes the Blues must move him for the best available offer if they don’t see him as part of their plans moving forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was the focus of considerable speculation before last month’s trade deadline. Afterward, he expressed his desire to stay put, adding that he wasn’t approached by management about waiving his no-trade clause. He’s signed through 2030-31 with a reasonable average annual value of $8.125 million.
Kyrou also surfaced in the rumor mill before the deadline. However, there wasn’t as much buzz about him, partly because Thomas is a center (and those players are more highly prized), and partly because of his offensive inconsistency. His contract is identical to Thomas’. Both players have full control over their situations.
Thomas would fetch the best return, but it would take a significant offer to pry him away from the Blues. The asking price was reportedly at least three pieces comparable to high first-round draft picks. It was too expensive at the trade deadline and could be the same this summer, and that’s before they get around to asking Thomas if he’ll agree to move.
Kyrou seems the more likely of the two to move this summer, provided he’s open to the possibility. He won’t fetch as high a return, but it should still be decent enough for the Blues to put toward retooling their roster. The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly interested in him last summer, but wound up settling for Zachary Bolduc.
LATEST ON THE CANUCKS
TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Vancouver Canucks are considering changes in their front office and behind the bench after this dismal season.
According to Dreger, there is a “50/50 chance” that the Canucks might consider replacing Patrik Allvin as general manager. It was also rumored that the Nashville Predators sought permission to speak with Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, but were rebuffed. However, Dreger said the Predators never made that request.
There’s speculation the Canucks could move on from head coach Adam Foote, who was hired last year to replace the departed Rick Tocchet.
Dreger stressed no decisions have been made yet as the Canucks brass continues to evaluate their options.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reported a league source claiming Allvin could end up working for the Minnesota Wild as their top scout if he’s fired by the Canucks. His departure would open the door for Johnson to step into the GM role.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently reported speculation that the Canucks sign promising youngsters Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren to eight-year contract extensions this summer before the term limits on contracts are reduced by one year on Sept. 15.
However, the Canucks won’t be pushing with any urgency to make those sorts of deals this summer.
The Canucks could consider using their various second and third-round draft picks as trade bait this summer for young NHL-ready players. They’ll also be willing to consider reclamation projects of young players similar to Justin Sourdif with the Washington Capitals, Trevor Zegras with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Egor Chinakhov with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what decisions the Canucks make regarding their management and coaching positions. This club is definitely rebuilding, but they’re going to try to hasten the process by bringing in as much young NHL talent as possible.
The Canucks have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Those will be off-limits, especially if they win the draft lottery with their own pick. They have two second-round picks and three sixth-rounders this year, two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders next year, and in 2028. That gives them some good trade capital to work with this summer and over the next two years.
THE SICK PODCAST WITH TONY MARINARO: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes shed a little more light on the speculation that he was working on a blockbuster move before last month’s trade deadline.
Following the deadline, Hughes hinted that he had been working on a big deal that he could revisit during the offseason. That prompted speculation that Toronto Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies was his target, while other reports claimed Hughes was pursuing different players.
Hughes revealed he was working on two deals before the deadline, but they decided the asking prices were too high, or they didn’t necessarily want to go after players on expiring contracts. He stressed that his club is looking to “get better today and get better in the future at the same time.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens didn’t suffer from Hughes’ inability to swing a major deal at the deadline. Nevertheless, his recent comments will keep Habs fans buzzing during the offseason.
I’m just (obviously) taking a guess here. Hughes was reportedly interested in Mason MacTavish last summer. He hasn’t had a great season & was a healthy scratch around that time. I really wonder if he was his target.
Christian, you may well be correct that McTavish was of interest – at the trade deadline. Given his mediocre season I would be surprised if he was still a target at the trade deadline.
One knock against McTavish is is skating. He is rated at the 50th percentile in speed, and you likely know the Habs value speed.
https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/mason-mctavish-8482745
Alvin is just a puppet for Rutherford.
Canucks need to sweep out the entire front office.
Rutherford, Alvin and the Sedins all need to go.
Roster construction is a joke and that falls on Rutherford far more than Alvin.
Foote never had a chance to ice a competitive team. Everything management does seems to be done to appease one overpaid underperforming career sulker.
Agree on management, but Foote has not been very good either even if you consider what he has to work with. As for Pettersson, that might have been true a couple of years ago, now not so much
Nico Hischier to the Habs would be just perfect. I see no reason for the Devils to trade him, though. It would certainly take a 1st (that could be 32nd 😉),may be 2, and a very high prospect (Zharovski ? ) . Engström on top may make it work. Hischier with Demi and Hage would be lethal.
But then again, as always, Hughes will surprise us all with something completely unexpected.
Wonder what Kyrou value is. Down year but still over 60 pts per 82 game avg. Rangers have had a need for a top 6 RW since trading Buchnevich. Currently riding with PTO/signing Sheary on 2nd line. Getting a top 2 pick this year in lottery would be nice. Brady Tkachuk will be top target for NY if he hits trade market. Kyrou and a top 4 LD should be on Drurys shopping list. NY has 7 picks in 1st 3 rounds this year.
BT has a no move so decides where he is traded, if he is. Why on earth would he choose the Rangers at this time? I see the Senators as a dark horse this year. If Ullmark plays as he is right now, they can beat anyone, so why leave?
You are not the only one who has suggested Hischier, Patrick, and I join you in wondering why the Devils would trade him.
One answer might be found in the Athletic’s ranking of the Devil’s prospects, # 22 in the league, and soft in forwards:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6964156/2026/03/19/new-jersey-devils-nhl-prospect-rankings-2026/
Amongst my concerns would be that acquiring Hischier would mean a 7 year contract, and that Hage is thought of as a talented center. As both Hage and Demidov are playmakers with a pass first inclination two such wingers on the same line is not a good mix, IMO, as centers tend to be playmakers as well.
Kapanen’s play has dipped of late so it may be that the Habs see a need at center, and yes it would take quite a prospect to acquire Hischier. But I would be surprised if Zharovski was traded.
IMO the Habs need a top six winger with some grit to play with Demidov. Would Hughes ignore Wilson’s age and long term contract and target him?
The reason I suggested the Hischier trade the other day of Newhook, Dach, Texier and a 1st is because NJD are in need of forwards.
If a rebuild or retool is going to happen, it’s an interesting package.
McTavish’s potential to become a Hab has passed, the time was last summer and his season shows what a poor GM I’d make.
Zharovsky and Hage are untouchables in my mind for what they will be 3-4 years from now if they live up to expectations and become part of the next core.
I would still like to see a physical natural RD for the 3rd pairing, lol I won’t mention who as I’ve put their names out there in the past, though I lean to the Calgary Flames kid.
We love talking about Hage in Montreal but he wasn’t even a Hobey Baker nominee and a linemate of his was.
A rare factual error from you, HF30, Hage was a nominee:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/canadiens-first-rounder-nominated-hobey-173001071.html
This is how AI describes how the winner is chosen:
“The Hobey Baker Award is determined annually by a three-stage process combining coach nominations, fan voting, and a 29-member selection committee to identify the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player based on skills, character, sportsmanship, and academics. The winner is announced during the NCAA Frozen Four.”
So being a finalist is not indicative of talent or potential.
I agree Zharovsky and Hage are untouchables, unless the receiving team significantly overpays.
I’m not being sarcastic at all. But it’s hard to say 2 guys who haven’t played a professional game are untouchable imo. Hage picked 22nd overall in 2024, Zharovsky taken 34th overall just last year.
A quick google search of best players taken 22nd overall, Giroux, Adam Foote and Jordan Eberle.
Another quick search of “worst players taken 22nd overall” is much longer than the first search.
These two players are more than likely middle ground from both extremes. Not sure too many teams would line up to overpay for a totally unproven player.
Again, this isn’t an attempt to troll. I just don’t see recent draft picks picked that low as untouchable.
Captain, it is a fair point that prospects are just that until they prove otherwise.
So, yes Hage and Zharovsky are not guaranteed to be superstars.
A day or two ago the Athletic ranked Zharovsky # 2 and Hage # 3 as the best players not in the NHL. Sorry, I can’t find the link for you.
But that kind of rating is relatively consistent from what I am reading (and saw in Hage at the WJCs). Zharovsky is rated a steal at 34, and his being available there is attributed to the difficulty of getting info out of Russia these days.
It’s that kind of hype/promise, or whatever you call it that has most of us Hab fans unwilling to take a chance and trade them — unless the return is too good to turn down.
Indeed, now that Hage says he is returning to College next year, maybe the Habs would trade him to NJ for Hirschier.
LJ,You are correct.
63 I think schools have players that are named, fan voted or whatever but at the end of the day 10 finalists are selected.
Those 10 get knocked down to the Hobey Hat Trick
from which the winner is selected.
Hage did not make the 10 finalists count.
His linemate did.
His linemate made the Hobey Hat Trick
TJ Hughes signs with the Avs and Hage is staying with U of M.