NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Wild’s offseason plans, an update on the Flyers, and the Flames could be active in this summer’s trade market.
THE LATEST ON THE WILD
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin could revisit his efforts to land a center. They report that Guerin attempted to do so before the March trade deadline, but a deal never materialized.
Guerin has already traded many assets in recent years, so he and his staff must decide how much more of their future they’re willing to mortgage.
Trade assets could include Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov, Bobby Brink, Daemon Hunt, Charlie Stramel, and future first-round picks.
Roster players with modified no-trade clauses include Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Foligno, and Jake Middleton. Meanwhile, Jonas Brodin, Nico Sturm, and Yakov Trenin lack no-trade protection.
Russo and Smith listed several players they believe Guerin might look into acquiring to address his club’s need for a first-line center. They include Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They also included winger Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, but he and Senators management have made it clear that he’s not available.
Matthews might become available if the Maple Leafs new management fails to sell him on their plans for the club. However, we don’t know if Minnesota would be on his list of preferred trade destinations, and if the Wild could afford him.
Russo and Smith reported sources claimed Guerin attempted to acquire Devils defenseman Luke Hughes earlier this season. They admit it’s unlikely that new Devils GM Sunny Mehta would trade Jack Hughes and Hischier, unless the latter is unwilling to sign a contract extension this summer. It’s also doubtful that Mehta will part with Luke.
The Red Wings could also seek depth at center this summer, making it unlikely they’ll part with Larkin. Russo and Smith reported that Guerin offered up Wallstedt and Yurov as part of a trade package for Thomas, but the Blues rejected it. That tells me the Blues prefer to retain Thomas as they rebuild with younger talent.
Trocheck could be the best available option, provided the Wild aren’t on his no-trade list. He made it known that his preference is to remain in the East.
TWINCITIES.COM: Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes is open to signing a contract extension. The 26-year-old Hughes has one season remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.85 million, and can sign an extension as early as July 1.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
“I really like it here,” Hughes said. “I would definitely be open to re-signing.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s music to Guerin’s ears, but the question is, how much will it cost? The Wild have Kirill Kaprizov set to earn a league-leading $17 million annually starting this July. Hughes could seek as much or more.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: If Hughes and the Wild can’t agree to an extension, James Nichols suggested Devils GM Sunny Mehta make a bold move to acquire him.
The bold part would be offering up center Nico Hischier if he’s unwilling to sign an extension with the Devils. Nichols suggested bundling him with a promising defenseman such as Simon Nemec or Anton Silayev, a first-round pick, and another piece.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs must ensure Hughes and Hischier agree to contract extensions with their new clubs as part of the deal. Otherwise, they’ll just be swapping two contract headaches, with the risk that both could hit the open market next summer.
NO BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER FOR THE FLYERS?
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere continues to preach patience with his rebuilding plans.
While exceeding expectations by making the playoffs and reaching the second round, Briere insists his club is still in the growth part of the rebuild.
The Flyers could use a top-line center and a defenseman who can quarterback the power play. Briere said he’s keeping his options open if there’s a deal out there that could improve the club and would make sense for the long term.
Nevertheless, with some of their younger players arriving sooner than expected, Briere has the leeway to remain patient with his roster. Those players include forwards Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey. Meanwhile, winger Matvei Michkov is expected to improve after struggling through his sophomore campaign.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James also noted Briere’s comments and the rise of several promising young Flyers.
James noted the way Barkey and Trevor Zegras improved their roles at center this season. They also have promising Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt in their system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out Briere making a significant addition or two this summer. However, he seems to be tamping down expectations for such a move, putting his trust in those young players already in the lineup and in their system.
THE FLAMES COULD BE BUSY IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports sources have told him that the Calgary Flames could be open to trading “just about anybody” on their roster.
The exceptions would be goaltender Dustin Wolf, forward Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato, and defenseman Zayne Parekh.
Trade candidates include forwards Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost, Connor Zary, and Joel Farabee.
The Flames would probably like to move Jonathan Huberdeau, but his hefty contract means there’s little chance of that happening. Center Ryan Strome and defenseman Zach Whitecloud could be trade pieces, but their veteran experience could make them more valuable to the rebuilding Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames GM Craig Conroy has been in a full-fledged rebuild for the past two seasons. Players on expiring contracts eligible for UFA status next summer (like Coleman) are the most likely to move.
Those players listed by Di Marco could indeed become trade bait, but that doesn’t mean Conroy is staging a fire sale and will ship them all out. He’ll be open to offers that will fetch promising young NHL players, prospects, and draft picks.
doubt the Wild trade Wallsted, especially after starting all but 1 playoff game. Most likely Gustaffson is dealt by the draft, for picks.
Wild could use a #1 center, don’t feel Eriksson-Ek is that caliber, but they spent a lot for Quinn Hughes, not sure if they have remaining whats’ needed for a top center. and if they sign Quinn to an extention, that will chew up the cap space needed for that #1 center. Trochek is the most likely pickup if he waives his NTC (otherwise Bos/det are his most likely destination)
if the Flyers want to make a jump, they have enough young players and prospects, that Briere can use them to acquire that #1 center (Zegras is more a #2). If the Leafs want to rebuild w/o Matthews then I can see a match there for the Flyers young players, only see Martone off limits there.
who knows what is Sunny Mehta’s plans are, but he already started negotiating with Nico Hischier’s agent on an extention, so hopefully a new contract is announced by early July. Don’t see either Hughes brother getting traded by Mehta, more likely we’ll see any combo of Dougie Hamilton, Simon Nemec, Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier, and/or Kovasevic, Mehta has work to do to clear up the roster from all the NMC/NTC clauses that Fitzgerald handed out, and have space next summer if Quinn Hughes does indeed make it to free agency.
When Hartman is your #1 center and Erickson EK is your #2, finding a couple of top 6 centers should be your top priority.
Hard to see Minnesota doing anything without a commitment from Hughes. Can’t sign an extension until July. If he stays, he eats up significant cap space in future. If not, Guerin needs to move him sooner than later, and then address leftover needs based on what return you get. Trochek finished season as Rangers 3C. (More due to working younger players into lineup and him not really being part of future). Easily a 1 or 2 on Minny. Would love to know what Guerin was offering at deadline. Can’t see Trochek blocking trade there.
Sheesh …it seems Brady Tkachuk can’t be left out of any pundit’s speculations as to what a specific team needs – position-wise – moving forward. In their deliberation on what Guerin’s biggest focus should be they identify the first-line C position and go on to name the usual suspects – led by Matthews. But even they toss in Tkachuk as a potential target … and he’s a LW where they already have Kaprizov, Boldy and Johansson as their top 3!
Clearly, the insistence to speculate on the availability of Tkachuk regardless as to his oft-stated desire to remain where he is, and the GM’s dismissal of an imminent move as “nonsense” there are those who perhaps see Ottawa as being one of the teams mired in the “mushy middle” – i.e., while no longer among the re-building teams, also not yet a legitimate contender.
And they may be right. If so, that so-called middle ground” is not where you want to be for very long and, in order to escape it, requires a bold move … or two … to address those areas identified as needing immediate attention. In their case that’s a) more scoring from the wing position, especially the right side; b) a top 2 RD and c) a better, younger back-up goalie.
This is a crossroads they simply can’t deny or ignore. Standing pat is no longer a viable option, not with the Eastern Conference having become the strongest of the two from top to bottom. Nor can a team remain competitive while dwelling on sentimentality or emotion … that’s a sure-fire path to mediocrity. A GM always has to look at from the angle “what gives my team the best shot at the ultimate prize.
If Staios does little or nothing this off-season they’ll wind up being right back in the “mushy-middle” – in a dog fight for one of the two WC slots … or worse.
George. Agree. East was so wide open this year. Carolina looking like the only dominant team and still not a lock to go to finals. Easily can see 4 new teams in playoffs next year, replacing this years crop. Interesting summer coming. Especially with no big names in FA
I trade Hughes all day for hiscoshier, nemec and New Jerseys first round pick this year.
Not a leafs fan but does anyone see a complete rebuild starting? They could walk into of the draft with the 1,2,5 pick by trading both Mathews and nylander
That’s assuming San Jose and the Rangers want either one – not to mention the fact they’d have to agree to waive their NMC to go to either place.