Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 19, 2026
Check out the latest on the Flames, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Sharks, Blues, and Jets in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton recently reported that the rebuilding Calgary Flames face major decisions with veterans Blake Coleman, Morgan Frost, and Ryan Strome, who have one year left on their contracts. They could move one or all of them for draft picks or prospects.
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun believes Coleman’s future will be among the Flames’ big decisions this summer. A contract extension is possible, but not a certainty.
The 34-year-old two-way forward has shown no sign of slowing down and could become a valuable trade chip for the Flames. Austin speculated they could peddle him during the summer or wait until next year’s trade deadline.
The Chicago Blackhawks’ priority is re-signing center Connor Bedard. They could also attempt to add some veteran depth to their blueline or elect to let their young defense corps grow.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scott Powers of The Athletic wondered if Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson will attempt to add a veteran or two to their forward lines and blueline via trade or free agency.
If Davidson attempts those moves, he should land players who are in their mid-to-late twenties who are approaching or in their playing prime. Not easy to do, but the Blackhawks have the salary cap space and the tradeable assets. Finding a suitable target is the challenge.
The Detroit Red Wings must improve their five-on-five scoring. Seeking such depth through trades and free agency is something that GM Steve Yzerman hasn’t done enough of, and that continues to hurt the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Max Bultman of The Athletic stated that their biggest need is their long-term plan at the No. 1 center position. With team captain Dylan Larkin turning 30 this summer and their lack of a reliable second-line center, they could be running out of time to address that issue.
Bolstering the defense should be a priority for the San Jose Sharks. Four veteran blueliners (Nick Leddy, John Klingberg, Mario Ferraro, and Vincent Desharnais) are eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, while Shakir Mukhamadullin is a restricted free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News reports Ferraro would like a long-term contract, but if it’s a two, three or five-year contract, he just wants to play and is excited about the Sharks’ future. Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest reports Sharks GM Mike Grier thinks Ferraro will test the UFA market, but hasn’t closed the door on his return.
Clark and Shilton wondered how much of the St. Louis Blues’ core will remain in place. Center Robert Thomas was the subject of trade rumors. Defenseman Colton Parayko seemed headed to the Buffalo Sabres before the trade deadline until he used his no-trade clause to nix the deal. There are also questions about goaltender Jordan Binnington’s future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reports Blues outgoing GM Doug Armstrong downplayed the trade talk swirling around Thomas, calling some of the rumors “a bit of a fabrication.” He also said the cost of acquiring Thomas is very high because he values the 26-year-old center highly. It will be up to the incoming GM, Alexander Steen, to decide Thomas’ future.
As for Binnington, keeping him could be part of the Blues’ plan for next season. He has one year left on his contract, but Armstrong pointed out the need for teams to carry two good goaltenders.
Winger Jordan Kyrou has also surfaced in trade rumors. However, he told the press that he wants to stay in St. Louis. Like Thomas and Parayko, he has a full no-trade clause.
Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff must find some complementary players to take some of the scoring burden off the club’s top stars. They must also decide what sort of term they’ll give pending RFA forward Cole Perfetti.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murat Ates of The Athletic believes Jets center Jonathan Toews could retire after this season. He also thinks Ville Heinola, Gustav Nyquist, and Jacob Bryson will be moving on.
Ates believes Perfetti and fellow Jets youngsters Dylan Samberg, Elias Salomonsson, Brad Lambert, and Isak Rosen must step up next season. Veterans Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov must also step up or move on.
As a Jets fan we have been incredibly spoiled rotten having Helly in net. Watching countless teams struggle with goaltending we never had that concern for years. I don’t want it to end but teams evolve.
If it comes to a trade Chevy has proven he can get good value in his moves imo.
For my 2 cents worth I think Detroit would be a logical team in need of the 2 time Vesina winner. Yzerman needs a splash to save his job and he has the assets to get it done.
Jets would have to get a good young NHL ready goalie back to take a chance on for one part. Then maybe bring Bear back to the Peg along with a 2 nd or another A-B prospect.
He’s coming off one of his worst years statistically in his career.
Outside of his heroics in the Olympics, he has looked less than average this year. Ranking 33rd in both sv % and gaa.
I’m not so sure this would be the time to try and maximize a deal. And Detroit still has Gibson under contract for one year @6.25.
Any deal would either have to include Gibson in return, or Detroit moving him elsewhere.
Can’t see Detroit spending roughly 15 million on goaltenders.
A goalie with a cap hit over 8m is not the answer in Detroit. Gibson actually had lower GAA and higher save percentage. Scott Wheeler has Detroit as 4th best prospect pool. Their top 2 prospects are goaltenders.
3 of Detroits top 7 prospects are centers. Larkin signed till 2031. Turns 34 after that season. Would think they could have interest in trading for Trochek. Good fit there while prospects develop.
Mike Grier’s work in SJ has embarassed the Hawks’ organization. Sharks barely missed the playoffs while Celebrini exploded, while in CHI the Hawks didn’t come close, during another season that Bedard tears up the league but the rest of his team drags the team down. They tried a different coach, maybe they’ll invest in better defense and more offensive help for #98 and get closer to the playoffs like the Sharks
mikep, the problem with teams like Chicago, Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, Winnipeg and now Florida is that they have too many older players “hangin’ in like Gunga Din” … whether top-end in terms of cap costs – middle range – or bottom-fill … who perform just hard enough not to get dumped (or are “protected” from being dumped), and get paid just enough not to yet call it a day.
no mention of the Isles, but they need more offensive help. Maybe they’ll strike another deal with STL and acquire Kyrou …
WPG needs a 2nd line center and better health, to turn the team back into a playoff team
same with DET, I think they’ll try to get Trochek from the Rangers this summer
Sharks made a great play for the playoffs, but their defense seemed to hold them back. They need to keep Ferraro, let the rest go, and bring in more useful defenseman.
Hawks need some useful veteran dmen as well as another scoring winger or two for Bedard
CGY is rebuilding and just need to stay the course. Probably can’t count on Huberdeau returning to the playmaker he was in FLA, but that would help if he did.
With Det depth do they overpay and make an offer to Matthews ?? It would a bold move the can afford to and slot Larkin as 2c
Send Copp back along with whatever picks and prospects
Cgy should send WPG Stome for their 2c spot and get any pick even if it’s a 6&7 rd pick.
Wonder if any team would want Huberdeau from CGY. He plays wing but can he play Center at this stage?
IHC.
I wasn’t a big Strome fan when he was with Rangers, though he did put up points playing with Panarin. Those days long gone. If he’s Jets 2C they’re not going anywhere. 5 mil cap hit won’t help matters.
Slick Flames still have to get to the cap floor. So Hubs isnt going anywhere & who knows whether he’ll recover from pretty serious hip surgery.
Strome has taken on quite the mentorship for the young guys & I havent had any issue with him in our lineup. Coleman is the more valuable piece that I see being moved at the draft. If Dallas soil the bed against Minny I can see some interesting discussions & perhaps players no one thought would be available in play.