NHL Rumor Mill – May 13, 2026
The latest on Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs, Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins, and Matvei Michkov of the Flyers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE OR RETAIN MATTHEWS AND RIELLY?
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently examined what’s next for the Toronto Maple Leafs and team captain Auston Matthews.
Matthews has surfaced in the rumor mill amid reports claiming the 28-year-old superstar center isn’t sure if he’ll return to the Maple Leafs this fall. He’s under contract for two more seasons, and Kypreos noted that Matthew’s agent, Judd Moldaver, hasn’t spoken out against the rumors.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Kypreos noted the Maple Leafs have yet to confirm if head coach Craig Berube will be back. He believes they’ll conduct due diligence on Matthews before committing to a coach. He also believes the Leafs must act quickly to confirm Matthews’ status. The longer Matthews remains silent on this matter, the louder the speculation becomes.
**UPDATE** The Maple Leafs fired Berube this morning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews likely wants to find out first what the Leafs’ plans are under their management. John Chayka, the Leafs’ new general manager, is expected to meet with his team captain soon.
If Matthews is on board with Chayka’s vision, he won’t be going anywhere. If he’s not, that could lead to a blockbuster trade this summer. For now, we have to wait.
TSN: During a May 11 appearance on “First Up with Korolnek and Colaiacovo”, NHL insider Darren Dreger said that Maple Leafs management is expected to meet with Morgan Rielly to discuss the possibility of the 32-year-old defenseman waiving his no-movement clause.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly said that he wanted to stay with the Maple Leafs and be part of their retooling process, but he also acknowledged the possibility of a new Leafs general manager asking him to waive his clause.
However, it might not be easy to move Rielly. He’s signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $7.5 million and has a full NMC through 2027-28. His production has declined, and he seems to have lost a step over the past couple of seasons.
PENGUINS COULD BRING BACK MALKIN, BUT MIGHT NOT SPEND TO THE CAP MAXIMUM
THE SCORE: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said his club would love to bring back Evgeni Malkin next season. The 39-year-old forward completed his 20th season with the club and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Dubas cited Malkin’s resilience and ability to bounce back after a down year. He also indicated that the Penguins currently have no one in their prospect pipeline who can step up and replace the future Hall of Famer in their lineup for next season.
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Tim Benz reported Dubas hinted he might not spend to next season’s salary cap of $104 million.
The Penguins have over $42 million in cap space for next season, the highest among all NHL clubs. However, Dubas cautioned that he might not be spending as much as people think come July. He said that he didn’t want to burn through all that cap space and have nothing left in a year or two when better trade and free-agent options might become available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of quality talent in this summer’s UFA market could partly explain why Malkin might be back next season, and why Dubas is cautioning Penguins followers not to get their hopes up for some major additions this summer.
That doesn’t mean Dubas won’t be eyeing the trade market to see who’s available who might improve the Penguins. Instead of acquiring established NHL stars, it could be more affordable to acquire short-term options or younger players with potential. That might not be a bad thing, as he brought in Egor Chinakhov, Samuel Girard, Elmer Soderblom, and Arturs Silovs that way.
If Dubas goes the trade route, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now suggested the Penguins’ best trade chips are winger Rickard Rakell, prospects such as Tristan Broz, Owen Pickering, and Rutger McGroarty, and their 19 picks in the first three rounds of the next four NHL drafts.
FLYERS WON’T GIVE UP ON MICHKOV
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco weighed in on the speculation about Matvei Michkov’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 21-year-old winger had a difficult sophomore campaign, reporting to training camp out of shape, and at times having his playing time reduced or being benched by new head coach Rick Tocchet for his inconsistent play.
The Flyers aren’t in a hurry to run Michkov out of town. He remains a valuable part of their rebuild. Besides, trading him during a down year wouldn’t be the best asset management. Nevertheless, he’s no longer considered “untouchable”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: William James of Philly Hockey Now noted that Michkov was in a positive mood while talking to reporters during his end-of-season media availability. He cited the youngster’s appreciation of the Flyers fans and his determination to improve.
We can’t fully dismiss the possibility of Michkov getting traded this summer if the Flyers receive an irresistible offer, such as an established first-line center. However, it’s more likely that he’ll return to the club next season in better shape and motivated to silence his critics.
Berube fired this morning.
Calling David Carle!!!
Who in their right mind would trade a first line C for Michkov at this time?
I think Berube is a good coach, not a great one and certainly not for a team built like the Leafs
Nobody’s saying it would be a 1 for 1 trade. Michkov would likely be part of the return
It’s also very poor asset management if you were to trade him, being only 21. Unless the flyers believe this guy will never add up to much, I can not seeing anyone, even as bad as the Flyers management has been, would consider it…again, only if a pie in the sky deal came along…and those happen daily…riiiight!
So, watching Marner all year here in Vegas and now the playoffs, I knew nothing about his game. I don’t really see other team’s games. This guy back checks will hit and takes the puck away. His offense speak for itself. Now the big gripe is his playoffs well look at the stats he is a top 3 player for this team. I think the problem is toronno. They expect too much the coaches and certainly their fans. If I were Matthews, Nylander I would demand a trade out of there. As for McKenna good luck you will need it. And no cups since 1907 and yet Canada thinks they are the greatest team in history. Please.And look who they hired for management and they fired Berube. They want Cassidy but does he want them. I guess money talks. I know I am going to catch some crap back, here on the boards but I want to stir it up no offense to anyone.
Toronto should face the fact that this ship has sailed. Trade guys over 27 at a minimum and build around a new core of Knies and McKenna. Be terrible for two more years and stockpile top 5 picks and prospects and start a new rise in 3-4 years. Mathews to SJ for the 2nd and then some plus Nylander to Chicago for the 4th+.
As for Marner you are partly correct but its also on the players and agents wanting all that money and Dubas not saying no and signing Tavares which screwed up everyting in my opinion
Kent their ship has sailed,but rebuilding or retooling isn t getting any easier for them since I believe they Don t have a first round pick in 2027-2028!
Toronto and Rangers are in the same boat. Maybe something between them will help handle the rebuild!
Sr by the Leafs winning the 1st pick and Boston missing out on either a 6th or 7th overall pick in this deep draft really kills Boston’s retooling plans. That core with Pasta will be too old and ineffective by the time that late 2028 pick matures…if he even becomes a player…see Boston’s draft record…eeeks.
Since you know little about the Leafs, they have both this year and next year picks in every round…they just don’t have their own 1st rounders but do have, what I’d guess, will be equally low 1st rounders. The Leafs will have around $20m in cap space so adding retention to move players like Rielly would help or retaining in general could help cash in on extra picks.
PS How was Mitten in the playoffs, btw? 😳😭
Kent ,Mitten will continue his development playing at the World Tournament for your home country,Canada. Refresh me,when is the last time your TML won a playoff series?
Sr it was the 2nd round when they took the cup champs to 7 games with their 1B goalie because their 1A goalie had his head taken off via a Bennet flying elbow.
Also all this talk about the Leafs failures is catered towards fans like yourself. It would be hard pressed to find a team like what the Leafs have done the past decade.
Like I mentioned before, it’s really unreasonable to think a team that was in complete shambles would have been perennial cup contenders almost from the very first year after they picked first overall. Then when you consider who they played in the playoffs year, one being a strong Washington team went seven games two years in a row Boston for 7, where Boston was eventually champion than a couple years of Tampa Tampa Bay when they were still considered a contender and a more complete team than they are now thanks to the flat cap, and then the powerhouse of Florida Panthers in their peak. Maybe you can tell me which team would’ve passed those teams since all those teams made it to either the cup final and won it or were runner-up.
It’s quite stupid to consider a young team whose core was under 25 would even have a chance against any of those teams and sure enough they didn’t. No surprises here. I’m just wondering if this is too hard or too difficult for anyone to grasp. Teams like the Sens, the Wings, Sabres, even Montreal to a point needed time to grow and develop and rebuild. The Leafs on the other hand went from a team so bad it tanked to contender in an abnormally short period of time which did not do them any favours.
I don’t think I’m saying anything most of us don’t already know, am I?
Last year.
They beat the Sens.
Barely.
I’m by no means a Leaf lover…they’ll screw this up somehow.
I’m fairly certain the team loves being mediocre.
The last cup by a Canadian team was 1993, 1967 for Toronto not 1907. You do know that every stanley cup team has at lease 40% Canadian players on it.
A good % of whom – on U.S.-based teams dating back to 1994 – likely had or currently have most, if not indeed all, Canada-based teams on any “no-go” lists they have.
Yeah he’s getting points in the playoffs now. However, he’s the highest paid player on Vegas and is on the second line. It’s easy to play behind Eichel, Stone. Also, Anaheim is not a hard, big defensive minded playoff structured team. But good for Mitch.
Hey Pete…fan shaming is…well, not fair to the many fans that did not share the opinions of people that comment about the Leafs who are not fans, nor the media that believe they know more than the people running the teams.
Commentating from the sidelines is easy, having a spot light on things helps see the warts, having a nonstop 24/7 news cycle endlessly repeating what they think is mindnumbing.
Marner left for his own reasons. He’s always seen to try to avoid the spotlight and just couldn’t deal with the daily trash talk about him. Some people don’t care some people do who’s to blame? Marner has always been a good playoff performer except for games that everything is on the line…when the going gets very tough. He doesn’t toughen up, but as a young player, it’ll be stupid to think he would know how to after all we are comparing a early 20-year-old Marner versus a later 20-year-old Marner. People and players change it’s called growing up and Marner just needed more time in Toronto, but he’s the one who decided he didn’t wanna stay anymore. Enjoy him Vegas fans, he’s a treat especially if you watch him live.
I’d definitely gauge the market for rakell. With the piss poor ufa class a top six cost controlled top 6 winger who also played a decent but not great center in a pinch may have decent value to bring in a younger player.
A lot of talk about cap rising. Not so much about the floor rising as well. Pittsburgh currently showing a roster of 19 on Puckpedia. They’re around 15.4 mil below the floor. Trading a vet like Rakell would mean having to spend over 20 mil on 5 roster spots.
Rutger McGroarty a trade chip? Based on what, exactly? The fact he was taken in Round 1 14th overall? That’s hardly a positive when it comes to Winnipeg’s recent draft history. In fact, ignoring the past 2 drafts as it’s too early to tell one way or another, going back to 2017 – and with the possible exception of Cole Perfetti taken 10th overall in 2020 – their picks have been = to put it charitably – underwhelming, leading to concerns being raised about their scouting and development approach.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00010675.html
Nor has he done anything since being acquired by Pittsburgh in exchange for C Brayden Yager, also a Round 1 pick (14th overall) in 2023 who hasn’t exactly been opening any eyes either in the AHL.
Ouch that hurts George. Truth stings sometimes.
Using a baseball analogy I think that Jets 1st round lack of success lately can be chalked up to having a lot of swing-and-miss in their first round approach. They have been trying to find those mid-late first round home runs rather than hitting for average.
This was the case with Logan Stanley and Brad Lambert. They have traded away 1st round picks and had one retire due to injury. They have continued to have some success with later round picks like Salamondson and Samberg.
Part of the issue for the 1st round picks may be expectation/development? They are getting out played by later round picks.
2.0, here’s a Web consensus gathering of those concerns surrounding the Jets – none of which touch upon the usual stated concerns that “nobody wants to go to Winnipeg.”
“1. Lack of Prospect Integration (2024–2026)
The Athletic (March 2026): Highlighted that outside of Cole Perfetti (2020), no Jets draft pick from the previous eight years had established themselves as a regular, high-impact NHL player, noted in a New York Times article.
Yahoo Sports/The Hockey News (Sept 2025/March 2026): Noted that Jets prospects were absent from TSN’s Top 50 and NHL Network’s Top 25 affiliated prospect rankings, signaling a decline in prospect pool quality.
YouTube Analysis (Feb 2026): Cited that the organization has a, “…draft & development problem”
2. Specific Player Development Issues
• Ville Heinola (2023-2026): Frequently cited as a development failure or mismanagement case, with criticism regarding his lack of consistent NHL opportunities despite high performance in the AHL and European leagues.
• Kristian Vesalainen (2020): JetsNation discussed his development stalling, noting his decision to return to Finland in 2018-19 may have hurt his adaptation to North American pro hockey.
• Cole Perfetti (2024): JetsNation raised concerns over his inconsistent usage, including his scratching during the 2024 playoffs, questioning the team’s development of high-end offensive talent.
3. Scouting & Draft Strategy
• The Athletic (March 2026): Criticized the amateur scouting staff for not finding a late-round player who became an NHL regular in many years.
• Reddit (Dec 2025): Fan discussions and analysis focused on a “brain drain” in US scouting staff, pointing to it as a major factor in the lack of depth in the prospect pipeline.4. Overall Organizational Approach
• YouTube (April 2026): Suggested the team’s “all in” approach with older players, rather than developing younger talent, contributed to a regression in 2025-26.
• Facebook (March 2026): Fan discussions regarding the team’s 21st overall ranking in prospect pool depth spurred calls for better drafting.”
I’m not tossing the towel on him yet George. But he isn’t a blue chip asset. He’s had a decent ahl playoffs so far. If he can stay healthy I think he could see a ceiling of a good third liner. Former 1st round picks usually have some value for a gm who thinks they can change of scenery them. A good comparison might be chinakov. Couldn’t latch on with jackets. He still brought a 2nd and a 3rd. Now chinakov did have a few flashes in the nhl and mcgroarty has had little of that. But former 1st rounders still often have value when they are in the early stages of nhl development.
Oh, I get the ongoing “lure” of former 1st Round picks, Chrisms, especially those taken in the top 16. But if you query the Web as to what percentage of NHL 1st Round picks over the past 20 years have had underwhelming careers, here’s the consensus viewpoint:
“Approximately 30% to 50% of NHL first-round picks between 2006 and 2022 can be considered to have had underwhelming or “bust” careers, depending on the strictness of the definition. Based on analysis of drafts during and near this period, while roughly 74% of first-rounders become NHL players (playing at least one game), a significant portion fail to establish themselves as impactful, long-term players.
Key Findings on 1st Round Pick Success (2006–2022)
• The “100-Game” Threshold: Studies show that about 23% of first-round picks from this era fail to play even 100 NHL games, generally considered a failure for a top-30 pick.
• Underwhelming Definition: If a “bust” is defined as a player failing to play 300+ games (roughly 3-4 full seasons), the failure rate is higher, with some analysts noting roughly 50% of first-round picks do not meet high-impact expectations.
• The 500-Game Mark: Only about 41–43% of first-round picks reach 500+ career NHL games.
• Development Time: For such picks in 2022) it is often considered too early to determine a final career outcome, but the trend of ~30-50% underperforming remains consistent across the entire range.
• Contextual Factors
• Draft Position Variance: The success rate drops significantly after the top-10, where only about 7 of 10 players become long-term impactful players.
• Position Specifics: First overall picks have roughly a 93% chance of playing 100 games, but the probability of failing to meet expectations increases as the round progresses.
• “Bust” Examples: Notable high-pick disappointments from this era include players like James Sheppard (9th, 2006) and Colton Gillies (16th, 2007).”
Matthews must have a strong opinion one way or the other of Chayka from his work in his hometown Arizona. This could get ugly.
Either which way, for the sake of all involved, Matthews should make up his mind before the draft and not the second week of July.
Does he? Why do you say that? What is his opinion? I’m curious. 👀
It always is ugly in Toronto.
I notice Chayka wasn’t about to let Shane Doan have an opportunity to – as an employee of the Leafs – sit down and have a long chat with Matthews. Certainly not based on their “relationship” in Arizona!
I wonder if Doan will give Matthews a call now?
Huh? Doan was an “advisor” brought in by the past management. Was his role essential? I don’t think it was other than let’s have another good guy in the room type of thing…which is their proactive even if it doesn’t sit well with people like ourselves.
You talk a big talk about leaving personal feelings and making the tough decisions about letting players or staff walk when it was time to which most will agree with but how is this different and those sentiments are not applicable in this case?
PS I’m sure if Matthews and Doan had a close relationship, they probably already spoke many times about a bunch of stuff. It’s almost like, you want to stoke the flames of having the idea that Matthews will want out. The reality is any player can walk at anytime, including your Bradley.
Not at all, Ron. I stand by what I said … clarified with Chrisms in another thread with the qualification that it has to be done with some “class.” Which, according to former Arizona owner Barroway, was completely lacking with respect to Chayka’s handling of Doan.
“Key Aspects of the Strained Relationship:
• The “Breakfast” Firing: In June 2017, Chayka invited Doan to breakfast in Scottsdale to discuss the team’s future, but instead informed him that the club would not be re-signing him. Doan, who wanted to play one more season, felt the meeting was abrupt and callous, stating he was “corporately fired”.
• Lack of Communication: The decision to not re-sign the franchise icon was seen by many as a “despicable” and disrespectful, with critics pointing to Chayka’s cold handling of the situation.
• Different Philosophies: Chayka was brought in as a young, data-driven “analytics wunderkind,” while Doan was the long-time captain and emotional heart of the team. As reported by AZCentral’s Sarah McLellan, Doan felt that through management, he realized he wasn’t wanted, telling AZCentral that he felt a “separation… was a likely reality”.
• Subsequent Apology: The move was so poorly received that Coyotes owner Alex Barroway publicly apologized for how the situation was handled, admitting he should have been involved and that the team “bungled” the exit.”
In short, Doan knew his days were numbered, but felt the termination could have proceeded in a more “classy” manner. Kind of like when, in 2012, then Oilers GM Craig MacTavish fired head coach Tom Renney via Skype in 2012.
Big BIG difference between being ruthlessly efficient but accomplishing that with a modicum of decency.
And who’s “Bradley?” If you mean Brady – well, clearly you haven’t been reading all my threads because I have REPEATEDLY said in these pages that, of course he could be dealt if he demanded such and/or the right offer came along AND he agreed to waive his well-earned NMC.
Talk about Michkov getting traded is a matter of the coaches hired in Philadelphia who don’t like his game.
They are taking a thoroughbred and trying to shape him into a quarter horse, cutting his minutes, moving him up and down the lineup.
Old school coaching of breaking him down and rebuilding him.
What’s he worth? the player they are handling or the one he can be?
Is he the guy with attitude problems like they try and make him out to be?
I doubt Briere wants to trade him but the kod’s being wasted in Philadelphia in my opinion.
If he showed up to camp out of shape that’s a problem.
Not a cut bait type of problem, but one that needs to be addressed. So Tochett did.
Same is true if he isn’t adapting to a specific system and style of play, meaning don’t cheat for your offence.
Again, normal challenges for a young player who is used to racking up points playing a certain way against easier competition.
He will probably be fine and no one will be talking about this a year from now, as it sounds like he understands now. He just needs to progress.
What’s next, Auston for Brady?
Who says no.
Ron Moore, George?
LOL
There is no chance of the Leafs trading Matthews before Christmas. ZERO.
At this point, Matthews stick is at a low point. A very ordinary year, lots of injury time and playing hurt. Not a lot of helping the team win games either.
Even IF Matthews would like to move on, and the team wants to trade him, to make a deal this summer would be selling low on a superstar with 2 seasons of control on his contract. A wise GM would want to see a normal season out of Matthews to get a much better return.