NHL Rumor Mill – April 28, 2026
Senators GM Steve Staios shoots down Brady Tkachuk trade speculation, and what’s next for the Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Steve Staios dismissed speculation suggesting team captain Brady Tkachuk should be traded.
Despite the Senators getting swept from the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Staios has no intention of sitting down with Tkachuk to discuss his future.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
“This comes up very often. There’s nothing that we have talked about or thought about where that conversation should happen,” Staios said. He praised Tkachuk’s performance as he persevered through a thumb injury earlier this season and a compressed schedule because of the Winter Olympics. Staios believes the 27-year-old winger’s game continues to improve, on and off the ice.
Tkachuk has two more years left on his contract with a full no-movement clause. Garrioch believes there is no reason to trade him and expects the power forward to be back next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The trade speculation about Tkachuk began almost immediately after the Senators’ elimination. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin was among the pundits suggesting Tkachuk’s relationship with Ottawa as a market was fraying, raising questions about whether he’ll commit to a contract extension next summer.
I’ve said before that I don’t believe Tkachuk will be going anywhere this summer, and I still believe that. However, Staios could be forced to consider moving his captain next summer if he’s reluctant to sign an extension. I think he knows that and will do what he can to improve the Senators, in hopes of convincing Tkachuk to stay beyond 2028.
Garrioch reports Staios and head coach Travis Green are already studying ways to improve the Senators’ roster for next season.
The Senators have been searching for a top-six scorer since last season. Getting a high-end free agent to sign with Ottawa is tough, and the asking prices are high in the trade market. Staios might have to move one of his core players or a top prospect to get a high-end player.
THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie reports Staios will keep his options open for a backup goaltender to starter Linus Ullmark, including adding a goalie who can play in the NHL or AHL.
Staios could also add to his defense corps. Rookie Carter Yakemchuk was given opportunities to play regular-season and playoff minutes, but there’s no certainty he’ll get a roster spot next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding a suitable backup goalie and adding to the defense could be easier for Staios than landing a top-six scorer. Addressing the latter will likely have to be done in the trade market, and it will likely mean parting with a core player other than Tkachuk, Ullmark, leading scorer Tim Stutzle, defenseman Jake Sanderson, or winger Drake Batherson. It could mean peddling Dylan Cozens or Shane Pinto.
What say you, Senators fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KINGS?
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes it’s time for the Los Angeles Kings to change what they’ve been doing after they were swept from the opening round of the playoffs for the fifth straight year, especially with long-time captain Anze Kopitar having played his final NHL game.
Stephens believes a new head coach is coming, despite interim coach D.J. Smith doing an admirable job to get them into the playoffs. They have only three forwards (Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin, and Kevin Fiala) capable of producing consistently.
The Kings could attempt to trade to make another big splash for a scorer, as they did with Panarin. They could kick tires on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, or Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews if he is determined to move on after a disastrous season in Toronto.
However, Stephens believes the best course of action is to embrace a rebuild. He recommends they jettison expensive veterans and follow the model of the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens isn’t wrong; the Kings should rebuild now that Kopitar is retired and long-time defenseman Drew Doughty will soon follow him. However, it’s unlikely that general manager Ken Holland will go that route.
Holland wasn’t brought in to rebuild the Kings; he was brought in to turn them into a Cup contender, and he’s going to hunt high and low for veteran players to get them over the hump, even if that goal seems less attainable than it was a year ago.
Brady and Pinto for Thomas and Kyrou
NMC’s be damned!
But, of course, Brady is going nowhere else, but it is fun to throw stuff at the wall! 😀
Petey is the only real option for a center the Kings have. A trade for Vinny was Tro-checked (reportedly) and Thomas will prove to be too expensive for Holland.
Matthews if he bolts………..🤔
Ottawa needs D Montreal needs C
Guhle for Pinto straight up.
You know that’s not going to happen.
Now now Lyle, it could happen…if he’s playing EA Sports NHL 27. In real life…nah.
😄
Why not Lyle, which team says no and why?
1. The Canadiens aren’t moving Guhle. He’s their best shutdown defenseman and they’ve invested in him long-term.
2. The Senators need a top-six scorer, not another left-shot defenseman. If they trade Pinto, it won’t be for Guhle or another LD.
MTL says no, they are not trading their best shutdown Dman.
Montreal says yes.
Ottawa says no.
Pinto is the 2C Habs need, he’d be a much bigger threat in Montreal as Demidov’s C instead of being up and down the Sens lines.
Guhle is a very good D on a team that is full of LD and while he does play RD as well, the Habs are pretty well stocked.
Ottawa say no because they want a better return for their trade chip that other teams want.
In my opinion, Pinto is underrated and Guhle is overrated.
Ottawa does not need D. On the left they Sanderson, Chabot and Kleven. On the right the Zub, Spence, Matinpalo, with Yakemchuk waiting on the wing.
Senators need a top 6 forward, and they’ll likely try to add without subtracting the current roster. Maybe Hensler gets thrown out there to help land something.
I would only move Pinto for a legit top 6. He’s one of the best shutdown Centers in the league with good offensive upside.
There’s nothing the Habs would give that I would accept for Pinto. My conversation would start with Demidov, so I’m sure it’d be a hard no.
Sens had a horrible showing in the playoffs, but I’d be hesitant if I were Staois, the D was incredibly beat up. No Zub, Sanderson was playing injured and then was out with a concussion, Chabot played with a broken arm, no Jensen, Kleven out with a broken jaw….
That would be like Habs playing with no Dobson, no Matheson, Hutson playing with a broken arm, no Guhle, and 1/2 the series with no Carrier and coming back with a broken jaw.
Not many teams going far in the playoffs with those injuries on the back line.
Staois knows this. He’ll make a calculated move, and next year he won’t make the same mistake with the back up.
I like Pinto , he plays a good all around game, but 7.5 next season for a 3rd line center is a bit much. I would say he would be the bait I would dangle for a scoring winger.
I had not thought about it before, but Dylan Cozens would be an interesting acquisition. The famous grit factor but not dead weight on offense. Devs should poke around to see the cost.
I’ve been posting repeatedly that, if an Ottawa roster player is to be dealt, it would likely be from among their collection of centers – which is where they have the deepest depth – and that the most likely candidates would be either Cozens or Pinto.
If a D was part of – or even the only element of – the return, it won’t be a project or secondary bottom-pairing type,
Agreed, Cozens or Pinto seem the more likely candidates, with Pinto’s contract status perhaps making him the leading candidate.
Lyle , Pinto signed a 4 yr extension @7.5
Whoops, that’s right, he did, thanks for the reminder, Fergy!
Which, if the receiving team were to install him as their # 2 C, would be a bargain of sorts thanks to his strong 2-way game.
Losing Fiala after signing Panarin was a heartbreaker. Getting swept by beat team in league where 1st 3 games were 1 goal games (Game 3 4th goal was en). Admirable. After extending Panarin 2 years with a full nmc basically rules out any thought of a rebuild. They’re actually already following Ducks model. Their rebuild shifted gears after bringing in Trouba and Killorn, followed by Kreider and Granlund.
Slick62:the difference is many of the Ducks’ prospects have blossomed into stars or on the verge of stardom. The same can’t be said for the Kings prospects.
Sorta like a team I follow. Still. Don’t see another rebuild coming. That division is pretty much the epitome of parity.
I think Buffalo will try to move Norris as well, since C’s are in such great demand.
So Staios shot down talk of Tkachuk trade but, if Brady has any doubts about his future in Ottawa, that’ll change as quick as the Q Hughes trade.
How come we haven’t had same discussions about McDavid? The guy that only signed 2 year extension? Will rumors start if they go out in 1sr round?
No it’s a given that Matthews leaves Toronto and McD takes his place! LOL insider info.
And Ottawa is lucky they don’t have all the eyes on them like the Leafs have. Can you imagine if the Leafs got swept like the Sens have? I can. Especially when all their best players were no-shows and their best player was their goalie, the only “weakness” this team had.
Goes to show people who report and follow this great game, really don’t appreciate and know how much there is to it.
Ron Moore
Can’t get swept if you’re not in it.
George here’s two trades I’ve dreamt up
Brady for Robertson from Dallas ? ( assuming he would sign )
Brady for Will Smith or Misa
Would you consider ? Jump ? Or Pass ?
Obe, obviously jump if he’d agree to come here.
The other two are centers – one still a prospect – so considering the Senators are well-stocked at C, I’d pass non both (for Tkachuk).
But that’s me. How Staios would respond is anyone’s guess.
Always thought Brady would end up getting traded to the Panthers this offseason.. Panthers do have the pieces to get it done … Thinking that Matthews gets moved to either LA or LV also this offseason… that would be 2 Huge moves if ever done …
Cable i had to chuckle at the idea of Matthews in LV. Can you imagine Marner and Matthews reunited but winning a cup in LV?
So what is going to sens in such a trade.
Same for Matthew’s
As I do not see what they can trade tgat doesn’t gut the teams
Oh this is just another, this guys out but no mention of who’s coming in and how it will improve the team…it’s obvious that where and how the teams getting either Matthews or B.Tkachuck are going to improve but no mention on how the Leafs or Sens will after losing their best players/captains. I guess it to be expected.
Cable, what “pieces” do the Panthers have that would interest Staios.
If – and from what Staios has said that’s a big IF – he did move he’d obviously want at least 1 player – not a C where they are well stocked – coming back who could step into the line-up at either wing.
I see nothing on the Panthers that fits that description.
Samoskevich, their 1st round pick this year (which should be early), and another prospect? Would that get the conversation started?
Honestly, if you gave Samoskevich all of Brady’s minutes/deployment, it might actually be in Samoskevich’s favor in terms of points.
Brady would make a fine 3rd line center in Toronto
Ullmark should go on a podcast and hint on what a no show tkachuk was in the playoffs.
Regardless of how talented the Tkachuks are they are classless.
I think Brady would be a good Bruins but they only have picks and prospects and Ottawa wouldn’t want that. Even if they did Brady doesn’t move the needle enough for Boston think they are better off rebuilding.