Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 31, 2026
In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest on this summer’s notable UFA-eligible players, and some suggested cost-cutting trade candidates.
UPDATE ON SEVERAL OF THIS SUMMER’S NOTABLE UFA PLAYERS
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently listed the latest rumors and reports on this summer’s notable players eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.
Fox speculates that Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch could get a significant pay raise if he tests the open market on July 1. As the top forward available, the 30-year-old Tuch could fetch more than the $10.625 million average annual value that Adrian Kempe received from the Los Angeles Kings last fall.
Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)
Tuch and the Sabres are expected to begin contract talks in early June. Fox believes those negotiations could go either way.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Tuch wants to stay with the Sabres, he’ll probably have to accept much less than Kempe’s AAV to do it. Otherwise, he’ll have to test the market, where there will be interest in his services, but his woeful production during the Sabres’ second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens could hurt his value.
It’s believed the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Rasmus Andersson intend to sign an extension, but they’ll first have to do some roster surgery. Hanging over this situation is the fate of sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who spent this season on long-term injury reserve.
If Andersson goes to market, Fox speculated the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights only have $4.625 million in cap space for 2026-27. They can exceed next season’s $104 million salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must be cap-compliant when their season begins in October.
Pietrangelo comes off LTIR at the end of this season. The Golden Knights can place him on LTIR again for next season if his chronic hip injuries prove to be career-ending, freeing up his $8.8 million cap hit to re-sign Andersson.
It was reported that Pietrangelo hasn’t ruled out returning to action in 2026-27. If he does, the Golden Knights must trade someone to free up cap room for Andersson or risk losing him to free agency.
Another complicating factor is that scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent this summer. If he doesn’t go to arbitration, he could become a tempting offer-sheet candidate given the Golden Knights’ cap constraints, especially if Pietrangelo doesn’t return to LTIR.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh could seek a deal nearing that of defense partner JJ Moser’s $6.75 million on a four-year contract. That could price him out of Tampa Bay. If he goes to market, Fox speculated the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and his hometown Maple Leafs could be some of the teams interested in him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Raddysh had two solid 30-plus point campaigns before this season’s career-best 70-point performance. The risk is whether he can match that number again or if he’ll regress to a 30-point blueliner.
Fox indicated that fans of the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets would like to see their respective teams pursue Bobby McMann if the Seattle Kraken forward becomes available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann fit in well with the Kraken after joining them from Toronto at the trade deadline. It wouldn’t surprise me if he inks an extension with them.
Boone Jenner’s long tenure with the Blue Jackets could be ending. They already signed Charlie Coyle to a $36 million contract. The Jackets must also re-sign restricted free agents Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves.
It’s expected that Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner could get a term deal in free agency worth an AAV of $4 million.
POTENTIAL COST-CUTTING TRADE CANDIDATES
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin recently listed 10 players who could become salary cap-casualty trade fodder this offseason.
Larkin’s list (in alphabetical order) includes Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens, Ross Colton of the Colorado Avalanche, Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres, Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils, and Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson remains a solid power forward for the Canadiens, especially in the playoffs. He also carries a reasonable $5.5 million AAV through next season. The Habs will more likely trade or buy out winger Brendan Gallagher ($6.25 million) and goalie Samuel Montembeault ($3.15 million).
Colton, Greenway, and Hartman have frequently come up as cost-cutting candidates this summer. So has Hamilton, who first surfaced in the rumor mill last summer. He reportedly rejected a trade to the San Jose Sharks. He has a 10-team trade list, but reportedly would be open to expanding it for the right destination.
Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights, Ilya Lyubushkin of the Dallas Stars, Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers round out Larkin’s list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hill’s Stanley Cup run in 2023 could make him enticing for teams seeking goaltending help. Merzlikins has one year left on his deal, which could make him a more palatable trade option.
Kotkaniemi’s decline this season could make him a buyout candidate if the Hurricanes can’t find any suitors. Lyubushkin will be moved to enable the Stars to free up sufficient cap space to re-sign Jason Robertson.
As for Nurse, plenty of Oilers fans hope their club can find a suitor in this summer’s trade market. His performance has declined, and his $9.25 million AAV through 2029-30 takes up a big chunk of their cap payroll. However, those factors could also ensure he remains an Oilers. His full no-movement clause further complicates things.
If Nurse would waive for SJ, his cap hit would help them reach the floor. And in June of ’27 his NMC converts to a 10-team trade list.
Johnny Z – I see this as the most likely destination if moved…but i wouldn’t bet a dollar on him being traded this summer.
All the Vegas haters have a chance to go after them if they sign Dorofeyev to an offer sheet. LVK looks up against the cap and one wonders if they have to part ways with Andersen. I predict them doing something to keep both with some creative maneuvers.
What hurts Tuch more than his weak series against the Habs is the fact that he’s 30 years old and has only one season with more than 67 points. He’s a good and solid player but far from a superstar. No way he’s worth over $9m and giving him more than five years would be too risky. I still think Buffalo will re-sign him as they can’t afford to lose it.
Howard
I agree with you.
Tuch is a good player, not a star. As a top RW, William Nylander is a 3 time 40G scorer making $11.5M.
Any team offering Tuch more than $ 8M will regret it.
Owen Tippet in PHI plays a similar game, is younger, and his cap hit is $6.2M. Perhaps BUF could trade one of their surplus goalies or young D prospects for Tippet?
Buffalo has a bunch of young kids coming up that will need to be paid. Be smart about the cap.
Buffalo is in a tough spot. Management can t afford to fall in love with players until they at least become a consistent playoff team!
I’d love to see Staios sign LW Bobby McMann, Jeremy Lauzon and one of Skinner, Tarasov or Vanecek. Also, deal Shane Pinto for a RW of similar age and with term and decent offensive stats and give LW Arthur Kaliyev a decent shot at training camp, having come off a 40g 28a 68 points season with Belleville.
Tkachuk – Stutzle – Batherson
McMann – Cozens – RW obtained in the Pinto trade
Foegele – Greig – Giroux
Kaliyev or Zetterlund – Halliday – Amadio
Sanderson – Zub
Chabot – Spence
Kleven – Yakemchuk
Lauzon – Matinpalo
Ullmark – Skinner/Tarasov or Vanecek
George. Is Giroux done?
Not at all Slick62. He wants to come back for a 20th NHL season – the last 4 with Ottawa – and from all accounts Staios wants him back. He’s a very well liked and respected teammate and a calming voice in the dressing room.
He is also still one of the very best in the face-off circle, is durable (missed just 1 game since joining the Senators) and finished a season of 14g 35a 49pts and a +20
If Staios can obtain a 2nd-line C as indicated above, he’d drop to the 3rd line with Foegele and Greig.
Although not mentioned in Lyle’s blurb above, Garrioch’s column in the Ottawa Sun contains an interesting thought that Staios could also be in on a possible deal for Mason McTavish:
“McTavish has five years left on a deal that will pay him $7 million U.S. per season through 2030-31. He is linked to the Senators because his father, Dale, was one of the first hires Staios made when he took over in Ottawa in 2023 in a pro scouting role.
Staios, then GM of Michael Andlauer’s Hamilton Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League, acquired McTavish in a trade with the Peterborough Petes in 2022.
Yes, McTavish is a centre, but he could play wing, or it could give head coach Travis Green the option of moving second-line pivot Dylan Cozens to the wing. McTavish, 23, was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2021 draft and doesn’t have any trade protection.”
George O
How about Pinto to PHI for Tippett?
Pinto plays a premium position so PHI would have to add to the deal, maybe a 2026 2nd and 2027 3rd ?
Daryl, that sounds doable, for sure.
Staios is said to be interested in McTavish. He acquired the McT for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in a 2022 trade with the Peterborough Petes.
Another C for the top 9? Who goes?
I pointed that out above Johnny Z. And as it says, it would give Green the option of moving Cozens to a wing position … or even McTavish, who can also playt wing.
You crazy man.. Amadio was one of our best forwards last season and he’s your 13th forward? Trade Pinto? You crazy man. Trade Zetterlund and a first for Mcmann or Mctavish. Then..
tkachuk-Stutzle-Cozens
Mcman-Pinto-Bath
G/Foegle-Greig-Amadio
G/Foegle-Eller-Halliday
You crazy man – McMann is a UFA! Don’t have to trade diddley-squat for him. You crazy man … where do I say “trade Amadio” – he’s shown as the RW on the 4th line in my post above.
Ahh nuts … lol
Montembeault to:
Ottawa for Xavier Bourgeault
Philadelphia for Jacob Gaucher
Florida for Mackie Samoskevich
NYR for Adam Sykora
Edmonton for Joshua Samanski, Viljami Marjala
Who goes
GAA
3.43
SV%
0.872
Who would want Montembeault at 3.15 cap hit with those numbers?
Without a sweetener doubt anyone bites
A fair question Slick, especially as a few of the Sens goalie acquisitions haven’t panned out.
If the Habs take 1/2 of Montembeault’s salary he is low risk. The season before he played quite well and albeit that Canada’s goaltending at the Olympics wasn’t strong, he was named to the team. You are quoting just last year. Exempting last year he had three straight .900 save % seasons, which is good for a back up. So not much of a gamble for the Sens, or any other team needing a reliable back up.
HF30: All the players you list seem to be role players, not proven at the NHL level. So who goes from our existing role players: Textier, Veleno, Gallagher. But are what appear to be career AHL players better than they are, or Florian or Beck?
But one of UFAs Skinner, Tarasov and Vanecek costs just cash – nothing in the way of assets – and have had just as good – if not better – performances than Montembeault.
Same with McMann and Lauzon.
Should read “Same with McMann and Lauzon in terms of no assets relinquished.”
LJ,
As you probably remember I still believe in Montembeault as he’s proven himself in the past.
The raw numbers don’t do him justice as he had a poor start to the year and after going to Laval to work with Marciano, he came back up better than ever 2.40gaa and .921 SV% before dipping again with Eric Raymond after a few games.
I think Fowler should be in Laval to start the year and Dobes and Monty should platoon.
However, I’m not the one deciding and I think they are going to trade him and the optics of him being a 3rd goalie cut his trade value and I don’t see anything other than a role player coming back, so at least a few million cap space.
Worst case we get another player for Laval or a cheaper role player.
I agree with slick here. And specifically from the NYR’s proposal. Give up a 21 year old prospect for a goaltender making 3+ million whose numbers are god awful (a UFA next year to boot) while you already have an 11+ million goaltender on the books ? Why would NY do this?
There are much better options for NY. Like keeping Sykora and giving Garland that spot. Saves them 2+ million and prospect.
Makes sense, take an AHL goalie with a whopping 3 games played in the NHL and make him a backup. :p
Dylan Garand might become good some day but counting on him for 30 games next year isn’t a plan for success.
This post implies you actually believe Sam is a better option. Everyone knows he ain’t no good. Odd to hear a Habs fan after this playoffs look down on a team asking big things from a young ahl goalie.
Chrisms,
First of all I do believe Montembeault is a much better option than Garand with his whopping 3 game resume.
Second of all while every goalie has to start somewhere, you work an unproven player into the NHL unless you have no options and its hit or miss.
The Habs had Montembeault starting, had an idea on Dobes having played 16 good regular games and 3 playoff games.
They still signed Kaapo Kahkonen, a proven NHL goalie with the question of will he play in Laval or Montreal.
Garand backing up Shesterkin would be the same as starting the Year with Montembeault and Fowler (much better than Garand in AHL) as the backup.
I mean at some point you have to make the jump no? Or did Monty just come screaming into the nhl to be mediocre?
Seriously, why does NY want to spend 14+ million on goaltending. Lots of other options out there if they believe garland just doesn’t deserve 4 nhl games! Lmfao
Your proposed trade is purely a salary dump that benefits only Montreal and makes zero sense from NYs perspective…. At all!
Montembeault Is a career 3.43 (good for 88th over the last 5 years!!!!!)
gaa and .896 sv %. ( good for 71st over the last 5 years)
Please stop acting like we’re comparing Garland to Roy.
Is Garland better? I don’t know, but it’s hard to fathom he’d be any worse!
They may do better pulling a random stranger out of the stands? Maybe try the hot dog vendor or cotton candy guy for league minimum?
Definitely not worth Rumors who will part of the Rangers retool and desire to get younger. He performed very well during his call up this year. I would also like to see Garland get a chance as the full-time backup this year.
Should have read “not worth Sykora”
You likely are not getting a roster player back for Montembeault. My thoughts.
He didnt just lose the starting position, but fell to 3rd string.
I mean we do have Bowman running the ship so all bets are off, but I would not trade Samanski nor Marjala for another reclamation project in Montembeault.
Don Waddell is enamored of Elvis Merzlikins and still believes he can be a good starting goalie despite all evidence to the contrary. Even Jet Greaves outplaying him and establishing himself as the #1 goalie hasn’t shaken Waddell’s confidence in Merzlikins. He’ll only trade Merzlikins if he has no other choice. But considering how bad, statistically speaking, Elvis has been over the last three years, which GM would be dumb enough to want him?
If Pietreangelo where to be healthy, would Vegas need Anderson? Watching him I don’t see what the big deal is with him. Dorofeyev also. Puts up a ton of points around the net but mostly on PP. Neither guy stands out to me.
If Pietrangelo can’t play, his contract can be of value to a team needing to get to cap floor. Same for Couture and Ellis, who also have a year left on their deals but are done playing.
Slick62, the question that has to be asked is … realistically, what are the chances that Pietrangelo will play another game … and even if he does try to come back, how effective could he be in relation to his $8.8 mil per cap hit?
He hasn’t played a game since May 14, 2025 and, part way through next season (January to be exact) he turns 37.
Vegas would likely rather see him retire to Robidas Island.
There are only 11 teams that have the draft picks necessary to sign offer sheets between $7,163,499 – $9,551,332. The teams are Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Montreal, Nashville, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Utah. If you look at the next salary bracket $9,551,333 – $11,939,166 you can add Tampa to the list of teams.
If you consider the available cap space the list gets smaller. If you consider if the player is willing to sign an offer sheet with a team on the list the list gets even smaller.
It’s more likely the high end RFA’s are signed or traded as they were last year.
More and more I don’t think NJ will trade Hamilton. He’s still a decent enough defenseman that can put up points. Trading Nemec makes more sense as he has more value and trading him instead of signing him is essentially the same as cost cutting. NJ should target SJ or ANA.
Tuch is going to make bank regardless if whether he’s just a middle level second liner because there are only 4 solos UFAs available and 3 of them are D men.
^Regardless of
4 solid UFAs
I have to think that IF McMann and Laughton don’t sign extensions, both will be interested in returning to Toronto for significant raises.
doktor
Not sure that there would be a spot for McMann if they draft McKenna or Stenberg? They already have Knies, Robertson, and Cowan at LW. Unless one of those players can effectively switch to RW.
Laughton would be an excellent choice at 4C but as a UFA will likely price himself out of that position. Leafs are in need of a 2C to move Tavares down to 3C.
Leafs are thin on RW, C, and D. With Ahktyamov doing so well in the AHL playoffs it seems the Leafs have too many goalies. Hildeby must pass through waivers next season so look to one of the goalies being on the move. Perhaps they can use some of their goalie depth to shore up the RW spot.
It’s rumoured that Philly is interested in Woll. Perhaps there is a deal there for Tippett?
If Leafs upper management thinks a UFA or two is turning this team into a Cup contender, lord help all Leafs fans.
Daryl, they definitely do not want to go back down a familiar road in their history better left untraveled, as this excerpt from the NY Times noted:
“Some of the worst UFA signings in Toronto Maple Leafs history are legendary for all the wrong reasons. These deals were disastrous in terms of cost, term, and on-ice production:
David Clarkson (2013): Signed for seven years and $36.75 million, Clarkson was meant to be the hometown hero and a physical power forward. Instead, he scored just 15 points in 118 games and dealt with suspensions and injuries before being traded.
Jeff Finger (2008): In one of the most perplexing signings in NHL history, GM Cliff Fletcher gave an obscure defenseman a four-year $14 million deal. Finger lasted only 105 games with the Leafs before being waived and demoted to the AHL.
Mike Komisarek (2009): Brought over from Montreal on a five-year, $22.5 million contract, the physical defenseman quickly saw his play drop off due to injuries. He lost his spot in the lineup and was eventually bought out.
John Klingberg (2023): Signed as a one-year, $4.15 million stopgap to fix the power play, Klingberg struggled heavily with poor defensive metrics and a lingering hip injury. He was placed on long-term injured reserve and played only 14 games for the team.”
However, I’m sure Chayka and Sundin are familiar with that history and so will use every scouting report and colleague/credible pundit observation before tossing out any similarly large UFA offers to ANY candidate.
George O
It’s funny, as I was scrolling down your list, I had the exact same players in mind.
Let’s hope that the two new executives for Toronto can learn from the miscues of their predecessors. Especially this year with a shallow pool to draw from.