NHL Rumor Mill – June 22, 2026
What’s next for the Senators and Panthers following the Brady Tkachuk trade? Are the Blues interested in Elias Pettersson? Could Dylan Larkin’s trade request affect Alex DeBrincat’s future with the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
FALLOUT FROM THE BRADY TKACHUK TRADE
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch believes the Senators are going “big-game hunting” to find a suitable replacement for Brady Tkachuk, whom they traded to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can read my take on that trade here.
According to Garrioch, a league executive said he expects the Senators will use some of the assets they received in the Tkachuk trade (three first-round picks and a second-rounder) to pursue a top-six forward in the trade market.
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)
It’s believed they will step up their efforts to acquire center Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks. The Senators are seeking a forward to play alongside first-line center Tim Stutzle, and they’re not going to find that forward in this year’s upcoming free-agent market. It’s believed the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers are also interested in McTavish, who has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators could dangle one of those first-rounders to the Ducks for McTavish, but the Ducks could prefer more than that, such as an established young player.
Garrioch believes the Senators might revisit their interest in Pittsburgh Penguins wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. They also had an interest in St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, but he won’t waive his no-trade clause to come to Ottawa.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust lacks no-trade protection, but he’s also Sidney Crosby’s linemate, which could ensure he stays put in Pittsburgh. Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list, and if Ottawa’s on it, they’ll have to look elsewhere.
Garrioch noted that Kyrou’s unwillingness to come to Ottawa will be an issue if they pursue players with some form of no-trade protection.
THE FOURTH PERIOD’s Dave Pagnotta reports sources claim the Senators are “making a big push” for Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. If a trade can’t be worked out and he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, the Senators could present him with a significant offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have over $25 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27 and all their first-round picks to sign Robertson to a lucrative offer sheet with an AAV over $11.6 million.
The only sticking point is whether the 26-year-old Stars winger wants to sign with the Senators.
If the Senators are going to pursue Robertson in a trade, they better make sure he’s willing to sign an extension. He lacks no-trade protection and can be sent anywhere, but he’s also a year away from UFA eligibility.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Panthers acquisition of Tkachuk takes them out of the running for Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. The Panthers were reportedly on Larkin’s three-team list of preferred destinations, which also included the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Wild are Larkin’s true destination. The Panthers’ acquisition of Tkachuk suggests they weren’t seriously entertaining Larkin as a trade option.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Dwork reports the Panthers still have to address their goaltending situation. Starter Sergei Bobrovsky and backup Daniil Tarasov are UFA-eligible on July 1, and Bobrovsky’s contract demands (six-seven years, $42 million) could price him out of Florida.
The Panthers have just over $7 million in cap space to work with. Dwork noted that Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues have surfaced in the rumor mill.
Given what the Panthers parted with to get Tkachuk, it’s unlikely they have sufficient assets to pry Hellebuyck away from the Jets. Binnington could be a more affordable target, but the Panthers would still have to free up salary to take on his $6.1 million cap hit and to have enough space to fill out the remainder of their roster.
Dwork suggested Devin Cooley of the Calgary Flames as a bargain option. They could also take a look at Penguins pending UFA Stuart Skinner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames re-signed Cooley to a two-year contract in December as Dustin Wolf’s backup, so it’s doubtful they’ll part with him unless the Panthers are willing to overpay.
Skinner could be the Panthers’ best option if there’s nothing suitable in the trade market.
ARE THE BLUES INTERESTED IN ELIAS PETTERSSON?
DONNIE & DHALI: Rick Dhaliwal recently reported the Vancouver Canucks could move Elias Pettersson this summer if they can find a club willing to take on his contract.
Dhaliwal indicated that a source told him the St. Louis Blues were “sniffing around” the 27-year-old center, adding that he’s looking into it.
Pettersson has six years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $11.6 million. He’s underachieved since signing that deal two years ago. Nevertheless, Dhaliwal pointed out that teams are desperate for centers, and some of them believe they can turn him back into a point-per-game player.
The Canucks don’t want to retain salary or take on a bad contract for Pettersson because they’re trying to offload.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s hard to envision a trade scenario where the Blues (or anyone else) takes on Pettersson’s full cap hit without the Canucks taking back an expensive contract as part of the return. Teams may be desperate for help at center, but they’re probably not that desperate.
COULD DYLAN LARKIN’S TRADE REQUEST AFFECT ALEX DEBRINCAT’S FUTURE?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently noted that the Washington Capitals need secondary scoring. She wondered if Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings might be available.
Silber noted a report by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, where he suggested that DeBrincat’s future with the Red Wings could be in doubt if they honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request.
DeBrincat, 28, has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $7.875 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to find out how Larkin’s eventual departure could affect the Red Wings’ efforts to sign DeBrincat to an extension. He could end up on the trade block this summer if he decides to test the market next summer.
Zito has guts. He knew his team wouldn’t be very good last year. So he waited patiently until he secured the high draft pick, then parlayed the pick into a young top 6 forward.
The team who gets the best player in a trade, usually wins the trade. Doesn’t matter how many pieces go back the other way.
Zito skirts the rules. Tkachuk came off ltir for Cup run then waited whole summer to get surgery so he could start season on ltir again. Didn’t plan on losing Barkov. Then sat half team after Olympics to guarantee they kept top 10 protected pick.
Usually team that gets best player wins trade but, I’d say Rantanen was best player in trade to Dallas. Other team won Cup.
True for the most part that whoever gets the best player in a trade usually wins the deal.
But in this case there are extenuating circumstances that have yet to figure into the trade since Tkachuk was the only active player involved.
In addition to getting those 1st round picks, Ottawa also suddenly has an additional $8.2 million in cap space, bringing the total to just over $25 mil in reserve. Florida, on the other hand, now has serious cap concerns still with a # 1 goalie to sign.
So, until we see what additional move (or moves) Zito has to negotiate to make cap room for a goalie, and what Staois does with the added capital, not to mention all those picks, in shopping for a LW, back-up goalie and D depth, we can’t really assess who won or lost in that trade.
The wheels are still in motion.
These are new times for sure. I like the Sens’ return good work by the ex-Thrasher GM
George. Similar to NY trading KAndre Miller last off season. They turned the extra cap space into Gavrikov signing.
George
You took the words right out of my mouth –
Wonder if other players are going to follow Larkin out of Detroit? Sad to see what’s happened with the Wings. The situation Dallas on one man.
with the Detroit exodus, and if Tucks leaves Buffalo for a bigger contract, could we see Patrick Kane return home to BUF for his final season?
Maybe. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Tuch stays. They are trying to work it out. Or trade his rights
i’ll have to see it to believe it, but I find it almost impossible that Pettersson gets traded. Nevermind the cap hit and the remainding years on his contract, he has been playing aweful for the past 2+ seasons. why would anyone take him, even if VAN took 1/2 of his cap hit ?
I think FLA acquires Adin Hill from VGK to be their goalie, don’t think they’ll acquire Binnington nor Hellyebuck
He isnt living up to his salary, but even at this level he is a capable 2nd line C, which equals to at least 8m in salary. I do agree that Vancouver dont want to retain, but I do think that they would take bad contract back if its in the 2-3 year range and not more than 4-(5)m. If they dont get that what they want they will just keep him since they have few C and none to replace him with in the 1-2 year range. What people seem to miss when they make trade proposals for Pettersson is his NMC. I think he would do a trade to another team despite saying he wants to stay, but Winnipeg isnt one of them, but LA might be since his wife is from there
Well this is certainly an interesting offseason already. And the Draft later this week. Get your popcorn ready!
Have been long time reader of this site, almost never posted.
The trading of Tkachuk is finally over. This was the worst kept secret that he did not want to be in Ottawa long term. Finally the denials of this can be dealt with .
Good luck to Ottawa moving forward out of tough situation.
Would the Sens go after Tuch and just pay him what he’s aking?
The question for me is how do the other teams that see themselves as contenders react to this trade.
I think it does tell some teams that are on the verge of being good, that its ok to be good in 28 or 29 instead of 27
Agreed. If I’m Staois, I might keep the 9th and hope to add a real good player and then use the later picks to trade for an experienced asset now.
I might go for Ethan Belchetz if Im Staois and he’s available. Brady 2.0 and he’s Canadian.
Yup! The arms race is on!
Carolina has over $10M in cap space and only Nikishin to sign.
Do they go after Larkin????? Move Stanky back to the wing, put Hall on the 3rd? That would disrupt their best playoff line, but Hall is getting older.
Nikishin will get 5-6 million yeah?
I don’t think Carolina is a team that’s going to get in an arms race but I do think they will be preparing for Staal’s retirement.
Flyers : Owen Tippet, Cam York
Senators: Dylan Cozens & 3rd rounder.
Interesting trade proposal, unfortunately, Sens don’t need a LD, so not sure where York fits. Low Tippets game though.
Love, not low, Tippetts game. Maybe Ristoleinen instead of York?
Tkachuk’s destination is Minnesota? Perhaps yoir note is off Lyle
Panthers have had several interesting goalies pass thru their system during Bob’s tenure & haven’t seemed to value hanging on to them. Lyon, Knight, and Bussi come to mind. They may have miscalculated, but I don’t see Bob getting his rumored numbers anywhere, no matter how desperate a team is so expect an accommodation and a bonus laden contract. With a number of senior citizens they would seem to have a short window before retooling.
They can take a flier on Georgiev who wants to return to the NHL.
Freddie take a deal to stay on a contender?
Stuart Skinner or Matt Murray ? not sure on either but affordable.
Bobrovsky salary last season was 6m. What if he agreed to that for a year or 2? Maybe take 5m? Can’t see him wanting to leave So Fla and other teams would need to pay more, which would be a mistake.
7 million right now for 1 D and 2 Goalies.
Bob would need to take 4…………..
I have a different take on Tkachuk: A good player, yes. Would he have improved my Habs: yes.
But, while a good player who could score and bring size and a physical element to the game, he will be better for Florida than had he stayed with the Sens.
He’s not elite. He didn’t put the Sens on his back and drive them forward in the time he was there. He can’t have been expected to do it all by himself, but what did the Sens accomplish with Tkachuk?
The Sens got to the playoffs twice in his tenure, and lost both times in the first round. This past playoff series he had no points in the 4 games.
As with others, I see the first round picks as get out of jail cards for the Sens. There are slim pickings in the UFA market, but it is premature to declare the Panthers got the best player in the trade. Who the Sens draft, or whom they acquire with the picks, are stories yet to be told.
As for the Panthers, yep, very good set of forwards and D. But, 5 UFAs in their forward group, and 7 million left to sign 4 players.
Who is their goalie, at a time when goalies are hard to come by? The Panthers have a shiny new sports car in their garage. But the payments start now.
Brady imho was the 3rd most important Sen behind Sanderson and Stutzle—but those are 3 players you can build around
Florida is a different beast when Barkov is out as we saw and what are they on a run with a Bob behind them?
But again how can you blame Panthers for making this deal? There entire team is more or less at their primes for another few seasons so you have to go all in for the near future
DS:
A question I would ask is: what is my greatest need? Is my team better off with Brady or with a quality goaltender?
IMO, Zito chose wrong. But, admittedly, not a sound verdict in June.
Ottawa cannot trade the 32nd pick, but are they allowed to trade the player they draft? if so, a deal could be worked out in advance with another team to select a specific player.
Gene R, I thought that scenario was an option when Bettman reinstated their 1st rounder … but some digging revealed that the NHL would take a dim view of such a transaction if perceived as a ploy to get around the fact it could not be dealt.
The only way it would likely pass the sniff test is if whoever is taken at # 32 actually spends some considerable time in the Senators’ system before being dealt.
First I heard of Kyroy not approving Ottawa . Isn’t he from near by ?
Keep 9 and 32 trade 25 and 29 first with rostered D to get a decent forward. Kleven Spence maybe even Zub
I like Ottawa better today. Tkachuck great player but hard to cheer for. I think he is a distraction.
Good luck Florida. I can see a time when the Florida wants them out. 3 tkachuks will be a complete distraction.
Bowman. I like Murphy, but 5 years for a slow 33 year old defenseman?
Unbelievable
I don’t think he’s slow today TSP. Might be by the time this deal is done though. Looks like an extra year to keep the cap hit down.
I wanted the Oil to sign both Dickenson and Murphy, which they did. Both are solid players, neither contract is nuts.
My next wish is they keep Nurse and trade Walman, but that horse has left the barn.
Oh yeah, and a starting goalie.
One of the LD’s needs to be moved that was obvious from the start, IMO they picked the wrong one, who then decided he would take control of the situation.
SJ needs some D, maybe they’re an option.
Now Friedman is reporting there’s “noise” around Werenski and that he and Larkin want to play together but not in Columbus. If true what are these players trying to, kill the game?