NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2026
What could the offseason hold for the Canadiens and Ducks? What’s the latest on Vincent Trocheck, Morgan Rielly, and Matvei Michkov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS?
RDS.CA: Francois Gagnon examined what could be in store for the Montreal Canadiens following their elimination from the Eastern Conference Final.
Gagnon believes the Canadiens need a second-line center who can help winger Ivan Demidov and take some of the burden off first-line center Nick Suzuki.
The Canadiens could also use a third line with more offensive bite, a fourth line with more bite overall, and a reliable sixth defenseman who can skate more than eight to 10 minutes per game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding the second-line center is the priority, but it won’t be easy to do.
Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues is often mentioned as a trade target, but I’m not convinced they want to move him given the high asking price they’ve set for him. He also has a full no-trade clause and stated his preference is to stay in St. Louis.
Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks could be available. The 23-year-old center could fit in well among the Canadiens’ young stars, but the decline in his performance this season and concerns about his foot speed could be red flags for a forward carrying a $7 million average annual value for the next five years.
ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton also looked at what could be ahead for the Canadiens during this offseason
Shilton anticipates the Canadiens could attempt to shore up their defense with veteran talent to support their younger talent. She suggested bringing in a free agent to boost the third pairing and improve the penalty kill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The depth of talent in this summer’s free-agent pool is shallow, even for third-pairing defensemen. Most are in their early to mid-thirties and might not be much of an improvement over the promising youngsters within their system. The best of the bunch will be seeking raises that could price them outside the Canadiens’ $10.9 million cap space.
That doesn’t mean Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes won’t attempt to improve his blueline depth. However, he could prefer going the trade route for options that will fit within his club’s age group and salary-cap constraints.
THE LATEST DUCKS SPECULATION
THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: The Anaheim Ducks aren’t under pressure to trade Mason McTavish this summer. The 23-year-old center is coming off a disappointing performance in the first season of his six-year contract.
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)
However, Johnston suggested the Ducks might have to consider moving McTavish. Center Leo Carlsson is a restricted free agent this summer, and Johnston believes he could get a “monster contract” worth an AAV of $14 million. Winger Cutter Gauthier is also an RFA in line for a significant raise.
Despite McTavish’s struggles this season, Johnston felt that some teams believe the young center could be a good fit with them if the Ducks attempt to trade him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite the concerns I noted earlier about McTavish, I concur with Johnston that he could still attract plenty of interest from clubs seeking depth at center, particularly on the second line. Whether the Ducks are willing to go that route remains to be seen.
The Ducks have over $38 million in salary-cap space, which should give them plenty of space to re-sign Carlsson and Gauthier. GM Pat Verbeek has a reputation for playing hardball with RFA players coming off their entry-level deals, which could result in those two being signed for less than expected.
However, Carlsson and Gauthier are bigger stars than the previous young RFAs that Verbeek has dealt with in the past. He might have to pay much more this time around. If the Ducks aren’t going to spend to the cap, it could turn McTavish into a cost-cutting trade candidate.
THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal listed Olen Zellweger of the Ducks, Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils, Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers, and Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres as four restricted free agents who could be traded this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec, Schneider and Kesselring have surfaced in the rumor mill in recent weeks, especially Nemec and Schneider. However, it’s interesting that Dayal mentioned Zellweger as a trade candidate.
Dayal noted that Zellweger averaged between 17 and 19 minutes of ice time per game over the past two seasons. However, he was a healthy scratch for nine straight games before the postseason. Dayal also noted that the Ducks already have Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov on the left-side defense chart. The club could also face a salary-cap crunch with Carlsson and Gauthier in line for substantial raises.
SHOULD THE BRUINS PURSUE VINCENT TROCHECK?
NESN: Evan Cormier suggested the Boston Bruins should attempt to acquire Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers if they are unable to land one of the few big-dog centers that might become available in this summer’s trade market.
The 32-year-old Trocheck’s experience and ability could make him a good short-term first-line center for the Bruins. With the Rangers wanting to get younger, trading draft picks and prospects for him might make sense from the Bruins standpoint.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck is better suited for a second-line role. The Rangers’ asking price could also include a promising young player such as Fraser Minten or James Hagens, which would be deal-breakers for the Bruins.
SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR MORGAN RIELLY
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed several potential trade destinations for Morgan Rielly if the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman is willing to waive his no-movement clause.
They include the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Vancouver Canucks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no secret that the Sharks and Blackhawks will be in the market for blueline depth this summer. However, Rielly might not be keen to join a rebuilding club, even one as promising as the Sharks.
The Jets might be willing to take the chance on Rielly improving on a better team, but they could prefer the Leafs retain part of his cap hit. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas knows Rielly from his days as the Leafs GM, but he’s been shipping out aging veterans for younger talent, and acquiring Rielly would fly in the face of that process.
Given the potential high cost for the Ducks to re-sign Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, they might not be keen to add a declining defenseman with an AAV of $7.5 million for the next four years. As for the Canucks, see my previous comment about the Sharks and Blackhawks.
DOES FLYERS WINGER MATVEI MICHKOV NEED A CHANGE OF SCENERY?
ESPN.COM: Rachel Kryshak included Matvei Michkov on her list of under-25 players who might benefit from a change-of-scenery trade. The 21-year-old Philadelphia Flyers winger struggled during his sophomore season under head coach Rick Tocchet, who joined the team last summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the players on Kryshak’s list have been noted here before. Other pundits have also mused about the possibility of Michkov getting traded this summer.
Kryshak makes a good case for moving Michkov, noting that Tocchet hasn’t had a strong track record with promising young talent. Nevertheless, I don’t believe the Flyers intend to give up on Michkov after one poor season. They seem intent on remaining patient with the promising young winger, who acknowledged his struggles and vowed to do better next season.
While price is right his age has to be a consideration at this point as well
Trocheck is a good player and is fast on his skates. I know he’s locked up til 2028 but I’d rather the bruins took a chance on McTavish
He’s more expensive but at 23 the opportunity to improve is still there. Looks like he’s relatively injury free the last 4 years.
John go look at his plus/minus and you’ll see why he was a scratch in the playoffs. He has a career -57 in the NHL. The Bruins would be better suited to take a chance on Shane Wright IMO.
Bruins have their own Shane Wright just need to play him and he also needs to put on some weight and muscle.
Look at his + -..? Look at his team the past 3 years prior to this year .!!
On a horrible team that is growing every year of course he’s going to be a minus player.!! Lol some on here are a joke.! He’s young and learning.!
Frank, while I have to agree with your views on McTavish, some may look at his overall game – which includes his high minus totals – to form their opinion. Disagree with it, certainly, but without calling those opinions and those holding them “a joke.” What does that add to the conversation.
My own view from seeing him in televised regular season games, including the playoffs, is that. while he needs some “smoothing out” of elements of his game, we must also keep in mind that the 6′ 1″ 220lbs C only turns 24 in January, and over his first 304 games played has 82-game averages of 21g 29a 50 pts. And, with the exception of his 75 games played this past season, most of his career to date has been with a team lacking in some key areas, which mostly accounts for his minus stats.
But there are parts of his still developing game that stand out positively, with comparisons likening him to what some call “Nazem Kadri-like” sandpaper as he excels at below-the-goal-line puck protection, crashing the the crease and winning hard board battles in the offensive zone. He also has a quick shot release that is “heavy” to boot. He’s pretty agile out there too, and most observers say that, while he needs to improve on his first few strides, that is something that can be developed … and fairly quickly.
Anyway, that’s my take on his game … disagree with it …. but let’s keep it civil.
Rielly to the Canucks? Why, because he’s from Vancouver? That’s just what a rebuilding team needs – a 32 year old player with diminishing skills and 4 years left on a contract at $7.5 million/yr. Do these guys put any thought into what they write?
I mean they might take him as a pure cap dump if he came with a pick but you’d have to imagine another team would actually give the Leafs something for him (like the Jets).
I think many of these potential deals we keep hearing about will, ultimately, revolve around drafting order and could well involve some of those top 10 picks being part of such deals and, to that end, will happen very quickly following the Cup win.
Figuring into such deals will be those draftees considered ready to step into the NHL immediately, and following are 5 such according to Andrew Epps of The Hockey Writers:
1. Alberts Šmits 6’ 3” 205lbs LD, Jukurit (Liiga) / EHC Red Bull Munich (DEL) – ranked 6th
2. Ivar Stenberg 5’ 11” 185lbs LW, Frölunda HC (SHL) – ranked 2nd
3. Viggo Björck 5’ 9” 180lbs right-shot C, C, Djurgårdens IF (SHL) – ranked 4th
4. Gavin McKenna 5’ 11” 170lbs LW, Penn State (NCAA) ranked 1st
5. Oliver Suvanto 6’ 3” 209lnbs left-shot C, Tappara (Liiga) ranked 8th
https://thehockeywriters.com/5-most-nhl-ready-players-in-the-2026-nhl-draft/
Turning 18
Suvanto – September 3
Turning 19
Stenberg – September 30
Smits – December 2
McKenna – December 20
Bjorck – March 12
Verbeek played hardball with McTavish, then gave him a 7m aav contract. Seems like coming off a disappointing season and that contract they might be selling low. Better off keeping him for now. Ducks have 3 veteran RH dmen hitting ufa. Who they bringing back? Wasn’t long ago Mintyukov was in the rumors. Maybe a swap of Schneider for one of their LD?
Montréal has less than 11m in cap space next season with 20 man roster. RFA’s: Xhekaj, Veleno, Dach and Bolduc. Are they all coming back? At what price? How do they create extra space. Do they buyout Gallagher or Danault? Trades? Not sure how much they can improve roster without some smart moves. Logan Stanley could be an affordable 3rd pair in FA. Just turned 28. Is he better than Arber?
Good questions, Slick62. The only two in your list that I see as sure to come back are Danault and Bolduc.
No to Logan Stanley, as I don’t see him as being any better than Xhejak. For whatever reason, St. Louis clearly doesn’t trust him, so as sad as I would be to trade him that’s probably the outcome.
Either Gallagher gets traded and the Habs retain salary, or they buy him out. Either will still cost against the cap, but a little savings is better than having him in the press box at 6.5 million.
Pitt will take him with a second round pick attached. No dead cap space there.
Has happened many, many times . Sign a big deal and a slump year one. It is called money bag syndrome
McTavish and Zellweger would be a nice package for the Habs.
Might cost you Hage Kapanen and a pick.
I know you have to give something to get something but it would be reeaallly hard to let go of Hage. That kid is solid.
I would be concerned that Mctavish could become a Kirby Dach. His skating is a concern for an uptempo team like the Habs.
Silver, the Habs are not going to let go of Hage unless he is part of a package for a top flight 2C. McTavish is not that.
It has been said before, with some truth, that Habs fans love their picks too much (Chrisms??).
But Hage was the best player at the World Juniors, certainly the leading scorer. Young players do progress on different trajectories, but consider that he had more points than Martone, and look at the immediate impact he has had.
I’ve held off pointing this out cause I didn’t want to sound like a turd but with how good the Habs were this post season one has to wonder if they blew a legit chance at the cup by not moving some of their futures for players to help now at the deadline.
That being said they could have traded for a Thomas etc and not done better… hell might have not made it as far! But for those saying this team should hold onto their chips just saw how ready the Habs are to be cup contenders.
But who saw this coming, Chrisms? Not me. EA Sports saw the Habs winning the Cup but they were pretty lonely.
And I am sure you saw what so many of us saw, the need for not just a 2C. They are a few pieces away from a legit – and more importantly – enduring contender.
I saw it lj. They are an enduring contender now without the pipeline. Built for now. The core is prime aged. Your window is now. For Hans fans sake I hope they push the chips to the table next year.
A Gallagher buyout would add another $2M+ to their cap.
No, it saves them $2.66 million.
https://puckpedia.com/player/brendan-gallagher/buyout?s=2026-2027
I meant cap SPACE
The Habs have some holes to fill and a lot depends on whether they will come from within or trades.
The RD hole isn’t a big one, a 3rd pairing guy is needed a Kesselring not an Andersson, just using those names as example of type/class of player.
At F they don’t need a scorer like Kyrou, they need a guy like Cuylle and he might be in Laval, Florian Xhekaj.
For decades the Habs needed a 1C instead of all the 2C’s , it’s a position that used to be jam packed and now is scarce.
Internally, Kapanen and Beck will be having a go at the position.
I don’t see Hischier or Thomas coming to Montreal, the ask will be too high.
The Habs only have 10.9 million in cap space and won’t be doing what they did this year next year.!
This year was a fluke.!
Montreal has a young exciting team for sure but in my opinion their goalie kept them in each series and they were outplayed. They need to get bigger and stronger the NHL playoffs are a grind and very physical.