NHL Rumor Mill – April 6, 2026
Could this be the final season for Golden Knights captain Mark Stone? What’s the latest Canadiens speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently reported that “a lot of people” are speculating about the health of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.
The veteran winger turns 34 in May and has a lengthy history of injuries. He has one year remaining on his contract.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone (NHL Images).
Kypreos wondered if Stone could be facing a situation similar to teammate Alex Pietrangelo, “where the body breaks down and prolonged time off is necessary.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stone is the third-highest-paid player on the Golden Knights, carrying an average annual value of $9.5 million. He’s among the best two-way forwards in the game, but he’s dealt with back/lumbar issues that required surgery, as well as a wrist injury and various lower-body injuries that have sidelined him for long periods.
Despite being limited to 55 games this season, Stone is third among the Golden Knights’ scorers with 67 points. Based on that performance, he could play out the final season of his contract, but we can’t dismiss the possibility that he might need more time to recuperate from this season’s wear-and-tear.
Pietrangelo has been on long-term injury reserve this season, and it’s expected he’ll remain there for next season. His absence provided the Golden Knights with $8.8 million in cap relief.
If Stone ends up on LTIR, it would free up another significant chunk of cap space that the Golden Knights could put toward bolstering their roster for next season.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: In a recent mailbag segment, Stu Cowan was again asked about the future of Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
The 25-year-old Xhekaj has seen a reduction in his playing time over the past two seasons. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, and could end up as the odd man out on the Canadiens blueline, especially with promising youngsters David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom waiting in the wings.
Cowan believes there will be interest in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Xhekaj’s mix of size, mobility, and toughness in the trade market. He could fetch a bigger return than Jayden Struble.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowan admitted that the Canadiens would miss Xhekaj’s physical style of play, but he doesn’t think there’s room for him on what’s becoming a crowded blueline. He could fetch a decent draft pick or prospect, or end up packaged in a larger deal this summer.
Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault could also draw some interest in this summer’s trade market. He has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $3.15 million. Cowan noted that the number of teams having goaltending issues this season shouldn’t make it difficult for the Canadiens to find a trade partner for him this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault hasn’t been the same since tearing two groin muscles in last year’s playoffs. He’s lost his role as the Canadiens starter and now sits behind young netminders Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler on their goalie depth chart.
Nevertheless, the goaltending issues around the league that Cowan mentioned could make Montembeault a trade target. His contract is reasonable, he lacks no-trade protection, and he might rebound with a different team in need of goaltending depth.
Pietrangelo and Stone have both been a big part of VGK’s success. So how are they going to fill those shoes long term?
I could see x maybe getting a 2nd rounder. But Sam… he’s a late pick or even future considerations type move.
I don’t understand the folks who want to move Xhekaj, they completely miss what he brings to the defensive corp.
In simple terms top pairing D would be eaten alive playing as 3rd pairing. It’s a different role playing against a different type of player.
3rd and 4th lines are energy, smash and bang lines who are hard on the body, hard in the crease, hard on the forecheck and that takes big D, hitting D, good first pass D and that’s Xhekaj not Hutson.
Engstrom is a good D but he isn’t a Xhekaj replacement, he’s a potential replacement for Carrier or Struble ( he plays both sides). Active, mobile D are redundant in Montreal, stay at home intimidators are a rarity.
HF30. I agree with your assessment of Xhekaj and his importance to the team. The problem is MSL doesn’t agree. He has healthy scratched him too many times this year in games where I felt his toughness was needed. So what do you do with an asset that the coach has little to no use for? You have to trade him, get something back in return and give him the opportunity to play for a coach who values his skill set. I say play him but MSL refuses to take my calls!
In the playoffs guys like that go away because of how the games are called. The best tough guy is Olivier of the CBJ. He gets about 15-18 goals and takes on the other teams toughest customer. Guys like Rempe,and Reaves Don t factor much in the playoffs.During the regular season when you can mail in a game that s what you need those guys for.
If Stoneis put on LTIR next year look for Vegas to go after guys like Larkin,Nylander,or Matthews!
I do agree that St. Louis seemed to have given up on Xhekaj but with Carrier injured Xhejak is getting a regular shift now on the bottom pairing, and he is doing ok. In his last 5 games he has no minus, which is what you want from your 5/6 pair.
HF30 has it right, IMO. I know Carrier if Quebecois, but every game he picks himself up off the ice multiple times after a hit – not surprising as he is listed at 174 pounds, Too small on a team with small players. He’s the one I’d be moving.