NHL Rumor Mill – June 30, 2026
Check out the latest trade speculation about Zach Werenski, Connor Hellebuyck, and Darnell Nurse in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE STARS OR SHARKS BE TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR ZACH WERENSKI?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Zach Werenski would prefer to be traded to an Eastern Conference team, but the 28-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is open to joining a Western Conference club.
According to Dreger, the Dallas Stars are very interested in Werenski, who won the Norris Trophy as this season’s top NHL defenseman. He believes the Stars could potentially offer Thomas Harley to the Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)
If so, Dreger doubted the Toronto Maple Leafs would be willing or able to match that level of an offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Stars are offering up Harley for Werenski, and if the latter is willing to go to Dallas, the Blue Jackets should jump on that proposal right away. Granted, the 24-year-old Harley isn’t on the same level as Werenski, but he’s still a big, skilled two-way defenseman who could fill the big gap left by Werenski’s departure. His contract is more expensive ($10.587 million), but he’s under contract through 2033-34. The Blue Jackets have the cap space to take on a skilled cost-controlled asset such as Harley.
And no, the Maple Leafs could not beat an offer of Thomas Harley for Werenski.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who dismissed the notion of the Sharks as a trade destination for Werenski.
Friedman believes Werenski wants to go to a club where he can win a Stanley Cup. However, he didn’t rule out the Sharks as a destination for the Norris winner when his contract expires in 2028.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks aren’t Cup contenders yet, but they could be within the next two or three years if all their young talent blossoms as expected.
JETS REPORTEDLY REJECTED SABRES’ OFFER FOR CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jake Tye reports multiple sources claiming the Buffalo Sabres made a significant offer to the Winnipeg Jets for Connor Hellebuyck before the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft last Friday.
The offer was reportedly the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a player believed to be winger Jack Quinn, and at least one additional asset.
However, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff rejected the offer. Tye believes Cheveldayoff wasn’t comfortable replacing the three-time Vezina Trophy-winning Hellebuyck with the volatile Luukkonen, who didn’t earn the bulk of the starts with the Sabres this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Cheveldayoff doesn’t have to rush into moving Hellebucyk, whose contract expires at the end of the 2030-31 season. There’s also no indication that the goaltender has requested a trade.
This report suggests that Cheveldayoff wants a reliable starting goaltender as part of the return for Hellebuyck. If so, it could take a while until someone makes a pitch to Cheveldayoff’s liking.
THE LATEST ON DARNELL NURSE
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli telling Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer that the San Jose Sharks have “made a play” for Darnell Nurse. The 31-year-old Oilers defenseman requested a trade earlier this month.
However, the Sharks aren’t believed to be on Nurse’s list of trade destinations. “And to this point in time, that hasn’t changed”.
THE BOSTON GLOBE’s Kevin Paul Dupont reports there were “murmurings” during the draft weekend that the Oilers would be willing to send Nurse to the Boston Bruins for Mason Lohrei, with the Oilers willing to “share” the difference in average annual values between the two players.
Nurse earns an AAV of $9.5 million, while Lohrei’s is $3.2 million. Dupont could see this move happening if the Oilers retain $3 million of Nurse’s cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers might have to retain some salary or take back additional salary in a deal to move Nurse. Unfortunately for them, the current CBA forbids three-team trades where each team picks up a piece of the playoffs AAV.
the Stars could barely fit Robertson under their cap, how they heck could they afford Werenski?
Giving Rantanen $12M was foolish if it means they need to give up the best goal scorer in the league, Robertson
A Harley for Werenski deal would give the Stars a $1M in cap relief. Small but a step in the right direction.
If I were the Jackets, I would make that move before Dallas changes its minds.
Best scorer in the league? What am I missing here?
Not even top 10 if you look at the last 3 years, which is the way I would do it.
Robertson was 16th.
Top 3 are MacKinnon, Matthews and Draisaitl.
If that return is accurate for Hellebuyck you would not get any better offer and they should have taken it. Goalies are voodoo and there are opportunities to add this summer and platoon in net ala this years Stanley cup champs
I’m surprised more teams aren’t in on him. Like Ottawa would be a great place for him or rather, he’ll be great for the Sens since goaltending has been inconsistent over the years.
No player is perfect but if they fill a need and do it much better than you currently are, it’s a positive move.
100% SilverSeven.
Perhaps not an accurate report.
Would also suggest Helley hasn’t asked for trade and that he absolutely wants out.
One would have to think they could have picked up one of those Calgary tenders plus something else that is quality with that 4th OA pick.
According to Murat Ates of The Athletics, Buffalo wanted to include Winnipeg’s 8th OA pick in the trade. That was why the negociation broke down in my opinion.
If that was the case then Helly is worth way more than the difference between the 4th & the 8th pick. I dont blame the Jets one bit for hanging up on the Sabres.
Can’t understand why Nurse wouldn’t want to go to San Jose. That team is going to be very good, very soon. Plus nice climate. I’d think think it would be a fun ride to get on now.
SAN JOSE is NOT going to pay NURSE anywhere near his current salary.
Perhaps Yzerman makes a stab at Werenski. Zack is from Michigan and perhaps it could be used to keep Larkin in place (worse player-management concerns have been overcome before) as he gets to play with another USA team member. I’m sure it would take a pile of assets from the Wings to make it happen…. Pellikka, a couple of 1sts, Kasper, prospects, etc.
Could also be Hellbuyck said no to Buffalo and Chevy is very good with not leaking that. I would think the Jets if they are moving him that would be tough to turn down.
UPL has a m-ntc that kicks in on July 1. As Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reported today UPL might just put Jets on that list. If no trade today, I don’t think it will happen. I don’t think this would be a good move by the Sabres. The cost is too high and if you think UPL is vo l athletic what about Hellebucyck? He has a very spotty history in big games.
Just exchange UPL for Lyon and Levi. and scale back a little elsewhere.
The Oilers were supposedly talking to the Sabres about Levi.
Pretty sure he needs to clear waivers next season. Which he wouldn’t, I’d bet the house on that.
I don’t see SJ going in on Werenski if it’s going to cost them a lot of that young talent they have, like what Minn gave up to get Hughes, I just don’t see SJ rushing into things when they know they’ll be a really good team for the next 10-15 years. I could see them being more interested if the core was 3-4 years older
Hellebuyck supposedly said yes to the Sabres. BUF maybe moving on to Bob?
Buffalo did not lose round two because of goaltending.
They’re a young team that experienced playoff hockey for the first time.
One of their vets that has plenty of playoff experience went pointless in round 2.
Helkebuyck hasn’t had the best playoff results the last couple times…
I just hope the Leafs don’t do something stupid and sign Bobrovsky to a long term deal at a high salary. He wasn’t very good last year and Father Time is undefeated
“Father Time is undefeated” – tell me about it … LOL
The Florida Panthers are nearing a trade for New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
The full trade will send forwards Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves to New Jersey in exchange for Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank, per LeBrun.
Oilers say Buy Bob!
yeah interesting. DEvils now have 12 million with 13 forwards and 7 undercontract
they also have 2 1sts next year and in 2028.they can make a trade for a younger goalie
Florida acquired Markstrom and Angus Crookshank from NJ for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves (as per Pierre LeBrun)
And Jonathan Drouin is placed on waivers by St. Louis
Teams like winnipeg need to ascertain if players want to play there. Chevy could of felt the more prominent players mentioned didn’t want to play there and didn’t decided not to give up assets for someone who doesn’t want to be there.
They are dealing with that with Hellybuyck
Lucic to Buffalo as a scout. Wondering what Ryan Miller thinks of that move?
Sitting here wondering who will offer Bob the contract he’s gonna get for past performances.
Ryan Miller works for the Ducks now. What happened 15 years ago was with different players. Why would Miller care? Lucic is coming in as a scout.
VGK has traded defenseman Kaedan Korczak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Parker Wotherspoon. The Penguins are retaining 50% ($500K) of Wotherspoon’s salary. Emily Kaplan of ESPN was the first to report that Pittsburgh was acquiring Korczak.
These 2 are about even in playing ability, but are paid much differently. Talk about Dubas gifting a lot of cap space to Vegas for nothing!!!!
I thunked the same thing. Withholding salary without getting even a mid round pick back seems odd. I have a decent enough faith in Dubas and staff after last year to identify younger players that could excel given the chance but after wortherspoons chem with Erik this deal feels odd.
It was likely that as the necessary sweetener to get rid of Wotherspoon, or a Round 4 or 5 draft pick. Korczak is younger with a perceived higher ceiling, and $500,000 withheld for 1 year is a lot better asset management.
Ok here it is… one big trade that solves everyone’s problems. and appropriately banishes Werensky and Marchenko
Werensky, Marchenko and Greaves for Hellebuyck, Conner and Morrissey and another asset…
..or not. the banishment is my favorite part.