NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2026
Should the Red Wings trade Alex DeBrincat if they miss the playoffs? Should the Canucks peddle Jake DeBrusk this summer? Which potential free agents should the Maple Leafs target this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: On Friday, Elliotte Friedman was asked about Alex DeBrincat’s future with the Detroit Red Wings if they miss the playoffs again.
The 28-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $7.875 million. He’s eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1.
Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat (NHL Images).
Friedman doesn’t rule anything out, but he doesn’t see the Red Wings moving DeBrincat if they decide that it’s time to shake things up. He’s a reliable goal scorer, tallying 39 this season, and players like that are difficult to replace.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are DeBrincat’s hometown team. He was thrilled to join them three years ago and has been among their best players. Despite the Wings’ difficulties, he could prefer to stay.
What could raise questions about DeBrincat’s future in Detroit is how much he’ll seek on his next contract and for how long. He’s poised to reach the 40-goal plateau for the third time in his nine-year NHL career, and the first time doing it as a Red Wing.
DeBrincat could seek a seven-term extension worth over $11 million annually. The Wings have the cap space beyond next season to do so, but they must also ensure they have sufficient cap flexibility to re-sign players or add others to their roster.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma wondered what the Vancouver Canucks would do with Jake DeBrusk.
The streaky 29-year-old winger is under contract for five more years with an affordable AAV of $5.5 million.
On the one hand, DeBrusk might benefit from a change of scenery after enduring long goalless streaks with the struggling Canucks. He would have value in this summer’s trade market.
However, trading DeBrusk would leave the Canucks trying to replace his offense. In that case, Kuzma pondered whether they would part with draft picks to bring in a younger scorer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: On March 3, DeBrusk told reporters that he’s not interested in being part of a roster rebuild. It was rumored that the Canucks were willing to retain part of his salary to facilitate a trade, but they reportedly didn’t get any trade calls about him.
DeBrusk might want out, but the Canucks might have a difficult time moving him. That might change during the offseason as teams in need of scoring depth go shopping for help this summer.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes the Maple Leafs should look to free agency this summer if they have any hope of competing next season. He believes they should try to sign Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh and Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment honcho Keith Pelley last week said the Maple Leafs would retool the roster rather than rebuild. Whoever becomes general manager will likely explore free agency to bolster the roster for next season.
Whether Raddysh or Tuch will be available remains to be seen. Both could sign extensions with their current clubs before July 1. If they are available, the Maple Leafs could have difficulty winning a bidding war for their services.
I have not watched enough of Raddysh to know what he truly is but his break out season will get him paid and will it be a case of buyer’s remorse?
Like I stated I may have saw 2 games this season, but I am always weary of breakouts leading into free agency.
I would avoid him. He’s having a great year, but I don’t trust he would repeat this level of performance with a different team/system.
Plus he’s going to be 31 next year and want term (6-7 years?). I’m not taking the gamble.
First of, I think Toronto should rebuild or make an extensive retool. However, say that they try again to be good and the need for a 2nd line C and the lack of players in FA. Would giving Vancouver a bag of pucks for Pettersson make sense? I know he isnt value for the contract, but there isnt much else to sign and they have no trade capital to talk about. Just a question, dont bite my head off
I don’t think Pettersson could handle the spotlight in Toronto.
Definitely not a good fit for Pettersson or Toronto.
I think Carolina or Colimbus makes more sense for Pettersson
Signing Alex Tuch would likely be a repeat of past Leafs mistakes. He’s a solid scorer but not a great one. Has only one season above 67 points. Plus he’s about to turn 30. He’ll want way more coin than he’s worth and at too long a term.
Agree. I think this offseason is going to haunt the leafs for a longtime.
If I were the leafs you try and get as many established young players as you can though nylander and Matthews trades and pursue McDavid when he becomes available.
I hope McDavid wins the cup this year or next year in Edmonton. I think once he has his cup he would love to win one with the leafs.
Hey Jeff, I look at McDavid in the opposite way. If they win a cup he stays, if they don’t and he doesn’t like their chances to get one, he moves on.
But just me guessing. He has deep roots in Edmonton now, including his wife owning and operating 2 businesses.
After debating the whole Leaf thing it’s kind of tough for them to do a full rebuild now, as they lack a first this year and next. Although they could still get into the top 5 this year and keep that pick. Maybe that would change their calculus.
If I had to guess, give it a go this year, if the results are the same, then make your moves on Nylander and Matthews. They may waive their NMC if they think it’s full rebuild time. Sign mid level UFA’s to shorter deals that are movable. Shop in the bargain bin like Boston did to fill out the roster. Not sure they even expected to have the success they have this year.
But the big 2/3 still have control on where they go, so the returns might be less than fans expect.
DeBrincat is one of the few Red Wings who brings a combination of talent and effort every single night. Unless he wants out, you don’t trade guys like that, you build around them.
yes and no….as we found out in Ottawa he doesn’t drive the play he is your peripheral finisher. And I’d love to see the stats on how many primary or secondary assists on his goals come from Kane. If you remove Kane from the equation is he the same scorer? Patty isn’t playing forever.
I wouldn’t sign him longer than 4 years. If it costs you a bit more, fine. And No-No Move.
But it must strike even him as a bit of irony … he thumbed his nose at a contract extension from Ottawa, partially because they were in the playoff wilderness then going on 6 seasons, only to force a move to his hometown team, then on their way to what is now approaching 10 seasons out?
I would only trade “Cat” (yes, I know him personally) only for “Robo”
DeBrincat + Lombardi (22 yo pt per game C in AHL) for Jason Robertson
Dallas gets a sniper back at $5M less for next year and a C that may replace Seguin in 2 seasons
Something don’t jive there. If you knew him personally I’d think you’d call him Alex. What adult man wants to be called cat by his friends?
I have a nickname from when I was a youngster Chrisms, and the buds I grew up with still call me that when we’re together. And I still call them by theirs.
Mine is the type of nickname that is better suited for a youngster vs a 60 yr old man like myself. But it kinda still works. Doesn’t really matter, IMO nicknames are great, doesn’t really matter what they are. Well, usually doesn’t matter.
For a few years mine was shuggabear. Nobody calls me that anymore.
Well I will from time to time shuggabear!
Stevie Y has to go. This is just another year where the Red Wings have fallen short, way short. The legend has lost his luster
Quite a few have called for Stevie to be the Leafs next GM, you must be one of them! 😉
Any Buffalo fans here? I watched game last night and was wondering: do they always play the Canadien anthem? I’ve only seen it performed before games that involved Canadien teams.
The Sabres play both anthems before every home game, even if it is against a US team. I think they are the only team that does this. They’ve been doing it as long as I can remember (been following them since 1975). I think it is because a lot of people come over the border for games.
Heh, Slick62. Just to clarify, “Canadien” is the French spelling of “Canadian” (as in Club de Hockey Canadien).
As to why they play the national anthem of Canada before EVERY home game, regardless of whether or not a Canada-based team is involved, relates to their choosing to honor the roughly half their season-ticket holders who cross the border for every home game from Southern Ontario.
As a border city with very close cultural ties, in the eyes of many hockey fans in that region Buffalo is the unofficial “8th team.”
Oh sure George, this year you openly claim them! 😄
Beats the heck out of trying to cheer for the Leafs? 🙂
I am from Buffalo and they have been playing both anthems since the first game they ever played at home. This was an idea that Paul Wieland a former media executive of the team had . They then would have the Sabre girl, Sundae Bafo, skate around the rink with a sabre and do the Sabre dance. It was quite entertaining at the time.
The Sabres played in the old Memorial Auditorium that only had a capacity of about 10,500 until they raised the roof. The capacity was just under 16,000 then. They had about 30% Canadian season ticket holders then. There is now only about 10% Canadian season ticket holders.
Gary, according to the NY Times the current estimated 10% to 12% “reflect full-season ticket holders only, not partial plans or single-game ticket purchasers, which also heavily feature Canadian fans.”
Most of the Canadian fans only show up when the Sabres play a Canadian team.
My guess is that it’s a tradition that goes back to the French Connection and the bunch of former Habs on the team from the start of expansion and the opening glory years.