NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some big-name players who could be the focus of offseason trade chatter, the latest on the Capitals, and Andre Burakovsky’s uncertain future with the Blackhawks.
AUSTON MATTHEWS, BRADY TKACHUK COULD BE AMONG THE BIG NAMES IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET
DAILY FACEOFF: In a recent mailbag segment, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco was asked about which big-name players fans could expect to see in trade rumors during the coming off-season.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Di Marco believes Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will be the biggest names in this summer’s rumor mill. He thinks Tkachuk is more likely to be moved, given the off-ice drama this season and his brother’s decision to depart the Calgary Flames four years ago. Matthews’ situation seems more uncertain and could depend on who becomes the next general manager of the Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews and Tkachuk will definitely be part of this summer’s rumor buzz, but I don’t see either guy moving this summer. Both have full no-movement clauses and have not indicated that they want to be moved.
Next summer seems more likely for one or both to get traded, and that will depend on how well the Maple Leafs and Senators perform in 2026-27. If they miss the playoffs or become first-round roadkill, Matthews and Tkachuk could inform their respective GMs that they’re going to market in 2028, which would force their teams to trade them.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas could resurface in the rumor mill after being the focus of media chatter before last month’s trade deadline. Di Marco speculated that the groundwork may have been set for a summer trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thomas was linked to several teams, including the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Islanders. However, the Blues set a high asking price of at least three pieces that are comparable to first-round draft picks.
Thomas said that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, nor did he want to be traded. Trading the 26-year-old playmaking center would adversely affect the production of linemates Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway.
Di Marco felt that Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram might want a new long-term destination in the long run despite the Sabres’ surge this season. He signed a two-year extension last summer and was rumored to want an opportunity to be a No. 1 defenseman. The Sabres are also overloaded with top-four, left-shot defensemen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer. However, he signed that contract under the previous management, and had a career-best season with 11 goals and 42 points in 2025-26. With the Sabres having finally turned the corner, he might prefer sticking around.
CAPITALS COULD BE BUSY AGAIN IN THE TRADE MARKET.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last Thursday that the Washington Capitals could turn to the trade market this summer to address their more immediate roster needs.
The Capitals have been retooling on the fly under general manager Chris Patrick. Finding a scoring winger has been a priority for nearly a year. They attempted to sign Nikolaj Ehlers last summer, but lost out to the Carolina Hurricanes. They also attempted to get Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
Patrick acknowledged the asking prices for top talent in this summer’s trade market could be high. However, he believes he’s put his club in a position where they have the pieces to make a competitive bid.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The limited depth in this summer’s free-agent market could push the Capitals into the trade market, but they won’t be the only team going that route. Having depth in tradeable assets could give them the edge.
If the Anaheim Ducks make the playoffs this year, the Capitals will own the Ducks’ first-round pick. That will likely be bundled into a trade package to bring in that scoring winger.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BLACKHAWKS WINGER ANDRE BURAKOVSKY?
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers looked at what the future could hold for struggling Chicago Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky.
The Blackhawks acquired Burakovsky last year from the Seattle Kraken partly because they hoped he might regain his form, but also to use his $5.5 million average annual value to reach the salary-cap floor.
With Connor Bedard due to be an expensive re-signing, the addition of Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit, and the possible re-signing of Ilya Mikheyev, they might not need Burakovsky’s contract as much as they thought.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 31-year-old Burakovsky has 11 goals and 32 points in 73 games this season. He has a year remaining on his contract. Trading him won’t be easy, but the Blackhawks have the cap space to buy out that final season. It would count as $3 million against their cap next season, dropping to $1.25 million in 2027-28.
Everyone forgot to mention Jordan Kyrou. He’s had a down year but he’s a proven point producer and I think he’ll bounce back next year. I expect the Habs will check in on him again. The Blues are at the point where they’ll need to make changes.
Assuming Brady would like go to St.Louis. I feel Brady for Kyrou and Neighbours makes a lot of sense for both teams. Brady is the best player but I don’t think he will stay in Ottawa for the long haul plus he brings a lot of unnecessary distractions to the team.
Jeff, I would like to understand why someone thinks something about a person they don’t have a personal real connection with. Is it seeing the exception, like Hughes – a captain, leaving his team asking to be moved, the norm rather than knowing that normally or the norm is captains usually always stay with his team?
Yes, times, players, people change but is this one of them? I don’t know but people should enjoy what shiney toys they have while they do.
If we didn’t speculate Ron, there would be no posts here. The site would become essentially an article just like any other sports news site.
And if those with personal connections to playesr were to start posting about them, they would soon not be friends.
LJ, while speculation is fine and good for generating back-and-forth opinions, it should ONLY come up if there are FACTUAL reasons to back it up … not just what someone THINKS is going through a player’s mind.
That sort of stuff is pure unadulterated horses*^t best suited for beer-generated pub gatherings … or schoolyards.
And that may be the case, George; indeed one of my pet peeves is so called journalists throwing out baseless speculation. Indeed, Demarco and the Daily Face Off or Kyprios are two “sources” that have no credibility with me.
But as I said above, speculation is inherent in sports “news.” Example: speculation began about McDavid’s future the moment he signed a three year gift of a contract with the Oil: will he stay with them if he doesn’t win a Cup? That’s fair, and it can’t be based on fact as I doubt McDavid knows what he would do.
Where it becomes a problem is when speculation is tarted up as a fact, or is so wildly nonsensical it is obvious the source is looking for attention.
Captains leaving is not unheard of. Both Scott Niedermeyer and Zach Parise wore the Devils’ C when they left via free agency. And John Tavares wore the Islanders’ C when he left. That said, the fans of every team not the Sens drool over getting Brady via trade or free agency, regardless of the factual basis (or lack thereof)
Heh. Nothing wrong with drooling, Sneaky Pete 🙂
Just that, if anyone thinks it can be done via trade before he becomes a UFA (which is after the 2027-28 season). they had better be prepared to see some very significant assets going the other way.
Does he have a nmc? If so George and he plans to test ufa and has a certain destination in mind it might not be as significant as one would hope.
I don’t think STL would give up both young players. They are rebuilding and they seem to like Neighbors a lot.
Kyrou and something else maybe. The guy is a producer who needs a change of scenery.
Jeff, just one good FACTUAL reason why you don’t think Tkachuk “will stay in Ottawa for the long haul” and exactly what “unnecessary distractions” he brings to the team.
LOL george don’t even bother.
It’s amusing to me how many people secretly detest the Sens. For reasons, I can’t even fathom.
Nice arena. Nice quiet little town. Many ex Sens put down roots here and live after.
We now have a rather rough n tumble captain. We’ve never really had a player like him before. His style of play bothers people until he’s on your team. He is American, which means a certain segment of society have to be angry about it…because that’s healthy. He has a podcast, that I haven’t listened to a word of because podcasts are dumb—I can barely stomach talk radio and now I have to listen to people speak and give me opinions I wouldn’t have otherwise wanted?..oh and now they read a prepared commercial. Baffling how this became a trend. I’d rather listen to birds outside or the humb of my engine as I drive down the highway.
Maybe Mathew comes to Ottawa.
George, did you see the Tkachuk podcast (both kids and Keith) earlier this month?
I think the recent comments of Brady and Keith have ratcheted up the rumor mill. They alluded to his contract ending soon, several digs at the Ottawa team/coach/org, and indicated they’d talk to him about his future.
After the podcast, Brady tried to play it off as “jokes”, but it didn’t come off that way in the podcast (that he was part of btw).
Is there a direct link to him wanting out? No.
Is there more smoke starting to surface? Yes.
He may not leave, but he’ll stay at the top of rumor speculation until he signs or moves.
Meant to say the recent comments of “Matthew and Keith” have increased the rumor speculation.
I think you’ve got a bit of a persecution complex there dark. To be despicable you have to be relevant. Sens were not for a long time. Maybe they can work themselves up to despicable in the future. Making the playoffs is a start.
Assuming Brady would like go to St.Louis. I feel Brady for Kyrou and Neighbours makes a lot of sense for both teams. Brady is the best player but I don’t think he will stay in Ottawa for the long haul plus he brings a lot of unnecessary distractions to the team.
I think it depends a lot on how it goes for Ottawa this and next year, also, is St Louis a great destination if he wants to win?
Cant see Pettersson staying in Vancouver, even if the cost is a bag of pucks, which teams are willing to take a chance? Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Capitals and Seattle at least comes to mind.
I’ve said before NY and Buffalo could make a deal. Braden Schneider has been in rumors. Rangers have a glut of RD on roster and in pipeline. Need a top 4 LD. Byram is getting over 22 minutes a game. Not sure what being a #1 would mean. He’s not replacing Dahlen as top dog. If I’m Drury I’m offering up Schneider for either Byram or Samuelsson. Add what you must.
Or Borgan and the Canes’ 1st for Byram
I can see Byram staying in Buffalo, while they move Power. BUF has some folks to sign and Power would bring a nice return. Somebody had to go if they resign Tuch.
Thomas to Buffalo is not likely to happen, since the Sabres are strong down the middle this year without Kulich.
The return in Matthews would have to be huge for the Leafs to want to move him.
LOL. You gotta love some of these pundits like Anthony Di Marco.
After 80-odd gp, and despite the “off-ice drama this season,” the Senators are all of 9 points back of Buffalo & Montreal and 7 b/o Tampa, and are right there with those 3 in terms of offense and defense. And yet somehow, through whatever passes for his crystal ball, he somehow sees Brady Tkachuk wanting out of town … like his brother did 4 years ago in Calgary!! What the Hell does that have to do with anything?
So, since Brady himself has NEVER voiced displeasure of any sort with his being in Ottawa, I’d sure like to hear Di Marco’s rationale for this repeated-without-substance horse-s*&T … along with any other idiot who think they can read Tkachuk’s mind.
You know George, it takes effort, pride, and dedication to write something about a sport and its people but laziness and retreaded ideas, takes no effort at all.
Why not speculate on something, without any grounds if not to just irritate one group of fans (or player) and excite another in the process…sounds like a win, win, in click bait battles to me.
That, no doubt Ron, is THE underlying prime factor in a good percentage of the “efforts” of some of these scribes.
And he’s the captain too. The only tune I have seen him upset was when Norris was traded. And that was mildly upset too. Just another guy who thinks every American player wants out of playing in Canada. Maybe that’s his angle?
If that is his angle Toronto St Pats, maybe we can expect Cole Caufield and Connor Hellebuyck to be among the next up.
The ties to NY Rangers are so lazy and unwarranted. Ny fans / media are so delusional on the chase for Brady. I think this is going on year 3?
If he’s so miserable in Ottawa, why on earth is he drooling over NY? Ny is a minimum of two years out of POSSIBLY being a playoff team again. And depending on what it would cost to land him, maybe ever further.
If NY wants to drool over a Tkachuck, they should turn to his brother. For one, he’s on a team that’s window may be slamming shut, and imo is the better of the two. No disrespect to Brady.
NY totally screwed up their last “rebuild’. They should just concentrate on developing what they have and adding to it.
Neither Tkachuk is making this team a contender next year. Especially when you again consider the cost.
Agreed Brady is going no where.
A Matthews trade would have to include a young center, young defenseman and a high pick. Sounds simple, but that is the return you start with. Maybe more especially if he agrees to an extension with his new team. Utah would be my favorite.
Matthews goes to Dallas once Seguin is SELTIR or out of the picture.
What is your return Johnny?
TSP, That is probably a year away, so it would be hard to predict.
If he limits his options then getting one of those three assets would be ok.
Do you not do a one for one for Harley?
Then again not sure why Dallas would want Matthews when they already have Hintz, Johnston and Duchene down the middle.
Not sure that makes sense. If I’m Dallas I want Nylander more then Matthews.
I have yet to read a sensible reason to expect a Brady Tkachuk trade from either the team’s or player’s standpoint.
A rebuilding or re-tooling team might want to trade for multiple assets depending on term left on the contract.
Kyrou and Thomas are locked in at affordable contracts, what is the impetus for wanting to trade them? Both have had down years so does it make any sense to move them at lowest value?
Matthews name gets tossed out there regularly and there couldn’t be a worse time for trade discussion. He’ll be coming off a possible career changing injury while making a ton of money, talk about risk.
There will be trades, UFA signings as teams look to plug holes in the makeup of their lineups but interestingly the hockey world’s fans, pundits always stress how hockey players are creatures of habit, need their routines etc, yet at the same time think they will be so willing to uproot themselves and their families because they want to be in “our city”