NHL Rumor Mill – June 9, 2026
The latest on Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, a list of potential offer-sheet candidates, the Canucks could be interested in Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DYLAN LARKIN SUBMITS A THREE-TEAM TRADE LIST
DETROIT FREE PRESS: Helene St. James reported Monday that Dylan Larkin submitted a three-team trade list to Red Wings management. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers are his preferred destinations.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Minnesota is better-positioned to land Larkin than Vegas and Florida. The Wild has sufficient salary cap space (though they’ll have to move out some salary just the same) to acquire him. While they traded away their best prospects for Quinn Hughes in December, they have enough left to put into an enticing trade package, depending on which roster player or players they’re willing to part with.
The Golden Knights lack the cap room to take on Larkin’s $8.7 million average annual value through 2030-31. And no, the Wings won’t retain salary. They don’t have a suitable center to include in the deal.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards looked at what it would cost the Panthers to land Larkin. He believes the Panthers would have to give up center Anton Lundell as part of the return.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would probably jump at the chance to add Lundell, but it’s unlikely the Panthers will part with him. He’s the eventual replacement for Aleksander Barkov when the Panthers captain retires.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker looks at how Larkin’s addition to the trade market might affect the Rangers’ efforts to move Vincent Trocheck this summer.
Trocheck is no longer the top center in the market. However, he could still prove enticing to clubs seeking a center who are not on Larkin’s trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin may be the best center in this trade market, but Trocheck is more affordable and more available. He has a 12-team no-trade list that drops to a 10-team list on July 1. Unless Larkin expands his trade list, it really won’t hurt Trocheck’s trade value.
POTENTIAL OFFER SHEET CANDIDATES
SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen recently did up an offer sheet primer, including a list of players who might get one this summer.
The list includes Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson, Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev, Florida Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves, Colorado Avalanche center Jack Drury, Anaheim Ducks defensemen Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov, and Montreal Canadiens winger Zack Bolduc.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dorofeyev and Bourque could be the most likely offer-sheet candidates, assuming they’re willing to sign. The Golden Knights are squeezed for cap space, while the Stars will have to shed salary to re-sign winger Jason Robertson.
CANUCKS REPORTEDLY INTERESTED IN GALLAGHER
TVA SPORTS: Gerry Johansson, agent of Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher, told the Donnie & Dhali podcast that the Vancouver Canucks are interested in his client.
Gallagher, 34, told reporters last week that he would be moving on from the Canadiens. He has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a six-team no-trade list.
A Vancouver native, Gallagher expressed an interest in playing for the Canucks. The Canadiens have permitted Johansson to speak with other teams about a trade.
“Vancouver initially expressed interest, but there are many variables. It’s on their desk; they are interested,” Johansson said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One variable could be what the Canadiens would want in return. The Canucks could also want the Canadiens to retain part of Gallagher’s salary.
THE BLACKHAWKS ARE SHOPPING FOR A DEFENSEMAN
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope recently reported Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson is interested in making trades this summer to add more established talent into his young roster.
One target is a veteran left-shot defenseman. The Blackhawks’ young defense corps struggled after shipping out Connor Murphy at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The most notable veteran left-shot blueliners include Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers. However, they’re unlikely to waive their no-movement clauses to join a rebuilding team.
Just make Larkin Sit until a good offer comes along. Use his NTC against him. The Wings have enough cap space and tradeable assets to work around him.
and who would center their top line? If the Wings do that the players will tank and you can’t trade them all.
Hell, I’d play him … as a constant reminder to his teammates that, in his lofty opinion, they’re the pinnacle of “the crap” (obviously HIS opinion) that Yzerman has assembled that has kept them out of the playoffs.
Of course he, in his opinion, is the “star” who shares none of the blame for their annual failures.
Absolutely agree….we’re getting what we want and until then…..shut up and play….we can Absolutely make this a GREAT thing…esp with all the cap space we have
Maybe the NHL should be a 3 team league. 😜 I bet Yzerman sits on Larkin. Until he opens up the field at least a little
Minnesota would be a good fit but will emptyl their cupboard.
If it were only a 3 team league the leafs would come in 3rd every year.
The Leafs are stuck in your head rent free EH.?? Lol.. sad
I love these anti Leaf fans. For no reason what soever you dump on the Leafs well I hope your negative energy goes right back at whatever team you cheer for. Go Leafs go.
Dang Pete. I thought that was a nice fairly innocuous jab. Apparently it’s a very sensitive fan base.
Hey Chris, it’s like all teams receive innocuous jabs every day, right? Every day, no reason but to take a jab here and there…unfortunately, for the guys that feel empowered to make irrelevant comments or jabs, Leafs fans won’t and shouldn’t just stand there and take it, especially given the source, and calling them thin skinned for that is disingenuous too. Do you think the fans (Leafs or another team) should just take that s#it sandwich, pretty much daily and eat it, with a smile too? Good luck with that, bud.
We know enough that we are aware of the successes and failures of our team as well as recognize the same issues (some worse, some better) are on all teams but don’t have that inclination to take the opportunity for a jab from nowhere on any given team. It just doesn’t happen. So you can trust me when I say, Leafs fans do find it astounding and amusing how much we fans and the team live rent free in the heads of soooooo many non fans. We do hope it’s as annoying as it is for fans having to put up with the almost daily nonsensical comments regarding the Leafs.
Maybe irony is dead?
Yes Ron. You should take it. It was a joke. Or at least respond with a clever retort. The responses above including your own make leafs fans sound like big ol man babies. And you don’t live “rent free” in people’s heads. You have to be relevant to do that. Thinking others are always out to get you like you are some kind of victim is just a way to try to salvage your ego after such a long time without success. And it’s patently transparent.
How bout a snappy comeback like
At least you recognize that if it was a three team league one of those teams would definitely be the leafs.
Na they wouldn’t be in the league🥳
Great retort there Chris…you made my point. What exactly is clever about saying at least we are one of the three regardless of always being 3rd? Think about what you said. Anyway, I don’t nor should anyone else care about this nonsense other than calling it out for what it is…which has been aptly done by those who replied to this unnecessary nonsense.
No they wouldn’t as they would not be in the league 😄
Lundell and the 9th overall has to Yzerman’s asking price. There is no sure thing Lundell can produce offensively as a top center(he is a very good 200ft player).
Is Yurov and the Wilds 2027 1st pick even close?
Ya. I’m thinking the Wings might have to pay some to move him.
Honestly. This is a career 70 point guy who is now overpaid and beginning the back end of a career. He does play “most” games per season and he’s a career -100.
Unless you’re desperate. You’re offer sheeting one of the young centers or looking from within. That’s a bad contract to be taking on.
If Larkin doesn’t expand his list, Yzerman won’t move him pure and simple, and he shouldn’t.
If Vancouver pays for Gallagher they are morons, given his cap and interested teams they should get paid. Don’t throw Montreal a rope, throw an anvil
As I posted yesterday a team like the Canucks could use Gallagher’s cap hit to get to the floor. Only $4m. in actual payment and only one year. He’d provide great leadership to a team that really needs it. And the return won’t be much.
Howard
If nuks want him wait it out get him for free after buyout. Or make Habs toss in a nice sweetener. No way they should give up an asset
I agree with Howard, I think the Nucks want him for the reason he stated.
They will basically get him for free in terms of assets, might even get them to throw in a mid round pick sweetener. Or not, who knows. They need to spend some $, he want to go there, character guy.
He would get a regular shift in VCR and they need some work hard pros in that room, whether they are losing or not, and they will probably do plenty of losing.
Vancouver are 5m over the cap floor for next season, why on earth would they need Gallagher for cap reasons?
Nice catch Kent I missed the OEL buyout.
Still think the Nucks want him, and may get something out of it.
Howard, if his “leadership” skills have diminished so much that the Habs can’t find room any longer in the everyday lineup for a long-serving player, how is he expected to do that in Vancouver?
And as I posted yesterday, there are just 10 teams that are projected to need to spend to get to the cap floor next season of $76.9 mil: San Jose, Chicago, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Columbus, Washington, Detroit, Seattle and Nashville – and every last one of them will be able to do so easily through their own UFAs/RFAs – or off the UFA heap if it comes to that.
Vancouver isn’t one of the, In fact, they’re projected to be at $82,606,666 – some $5,106,666 OVER the minimum and still with UFAs Kane, Bleuger, Douglas and Forbort to possible re-up – or replace, and RFA Joseph.
They, too, don’t need Gallagher’s contract – or any portion of it.
Agree with Mr.Bruin. The habs should be paying to fill all the drink machines in Vancouver’s locker room and throw in a wheel chair to get Gallagher to and from the ice.
Yes he’d be a great fit in Vancouver’s rebuilding culture. So would Jaromir Jagr. Give him a call.
The cap space is not a problem for VAN its the 4 mil salary that comes with it.
I believe Larkin picked Vegas and Florida knowing they are long shots to be able at putting trade package together. Brisson and Larkin worked on this since end of season
If that is his plan, I don’t get it. He asked to be traded. Why pick teams that are unlikely to make the trade? It’s not like he has a contract that’s about to expire. Yzerman doesn’t have to trade him if he doesn’t get his price.
Helene St. James reported that the Islanders, Lightning and Ducks have been added to Larkin’s trade list. How about Barzal even up for Larkin. Both same age and just about the same salary.Both could benefit from a change in scenery.Fair offer?
Larkin for Barzal so far seems to be the best option for Wings to slot in a first line center
but is it true he did approve the Isles to the list?
Isles are a contender now???
I believe that was Helene’s opine- that those three teams could be the next best trade partners, not that Larkin’s list has expanded…yet
Correct, Susie. Larkin has not expanded his trade list.
I don’t see Hughes retaining salary if he trades Gallagher. But it would probably cost only a mid round pick
He would have to atleast retain Half and throw in a 2nd rounder.!! Vancouver will not do it for less.!
Hughes will have to pay to get rid of Gallys contract.
My opinion.
Again… there is precedent recently in the nhl. Look at the pens. Both Hayes and Dumba cost a second to move their contracts with no salary held.
No he won’t, it only cost them a 5th round pick for SJ to take Price’s final year.
Frank, I did answer you yesterday. He got rid of Weber and Price’s contracts : Weber for Dadonov, Dadonov for Gurianov, lets Gurianov go. Price to the Sharks with a 5th rounder for Gannon Laroque and a 4th rounder
Premier
Different scenario. Zero cap hit and I’m sure zero actual dollars (insured LTIR) out of SJ’s pocket
Premier. I believe price was on ltir correct? So insurance was paying his salary? Whoever takes Gallagher has to actually pay him.
Price was not on LTIR in San Jose, they used his cap to reach the floor.
Habsfan,
Vancouver doesn’t have that issue. And still zero dollars of actual money SJ was on the hook for.
Gallagher is a completely different story.
Galley would be 10th in scoring on Van last year and tied for first in +/- on the team.
Look at the player and what he was able to do with limited opportunities and compare that to the players on Van. I think that is a more even approach.
I doubt Hughes pays much if anything to get rid of the contract.
If Vancouver trades for Gallagher it isn’t for just one year, they want him for a few.
It’s true that he has more value off the ice than on but culture change on a team where rot has set in is invaluable.
The cap hit is $6.5m but the pay is only $4m and they have the room for a year, they’d re-sign him for much less and get their money’s worth if they value his impact.
Does he jump-start EP. Boeser, Garland like he did over the years in Montreal?
His real value is his work ethic that rubs off on the talented players surrounding him and willingness to fight.
If they value it they’ll pay to get it.
If it’s a player- Aatu Raty
If it’s a draft pick- 2nd
If not, I keep him for work ethic, Gallagher is unable to be negative.
You be keeping unless gm makes his 1st rookie boo boo. You have overvalued his true worth. Habs are not going to want to keep anyone who doesn’t want to be there Maybe a sweetner or $$ held gets deal or he ends up bought out
I’m having a hard time biting on the invaluable leadership thing.
If this guy means that much as a leader, why was he a healthy scratch for nearly the entire playoff run?
If his on ice leadership didn’t mean anything to the 2nd youngest/ most inexperienced team in the league during a trip to the ECF’s, why would another team that has more experience and age want him at any price?
I don’t see him fetching a 2nd. I’d be fall out of my seat shocked if he got anything near that for that cap hit to be honest.
My guess would be retention plus a sweetener or a returning bad contract.
Just a little correction about Gallagher, he is an Edmonton native but played for the Vancouver Giants 😉 It’s just the Oilers certainly don’t have the cap room and maybe not interested in Branden.
I’d take Lundell over Larkin – you do not have to add the pick. Where have the Wings gone with Larkin?
so you think the 9th overall pick is enough?
florida needs to balance salaries and sign a #1 goalie still with not that much Cap left…
I just wouldn’t trade Lindell period. He’s been a big part of their success and he’s relatively young.
Plus, I am just not a big Larkin fan. He hasn’t taken the Wings anywhere since he’s been there.
Where did Lundell take Florida this year?
About as far as could go without half their bloody roster for most of the season … including Barkov for all of it.
Canadiens fans on here remind me of an old joke…
How many Canadiens fans does it take to change a lightbulb?
20. Only one to change it but 19 of them talking about how good the old one was. 😁
No NHL team is taking Gallagher to pay him $4M to boost morale in a losing team without getting a nice pick or prospect as well.
If teams need a guy that is bad at pro hockey for spiritual pick me up speeches after every crushing loss, I’ll do it for 2 million. I’ll even have my wife bake brownies while I hand out tissues and tell the team “it could be worse…somehow “
Why don’t you bake the brownies!!!
Don,
I do all the grilling/ smoking/ cooking of meats , she does any baking… which I lose that deal for 30 years . Not so much baking going on.
I bake a brownie after breakfast almost routinely every day.
The reason the Nucks may want Gallagher is his work ethic and how he goes about his business. Day in day out. EVEN when they are losing, and they will very likely be losing, a lot.
No speeches etc, just teach them to be pros by walking the walk. Staying upbeat and taking pride in their work with the hope for the future if they do. Show them the road.
Although some brownies wouldn’t hurt.
Lots of key guys who are young, their development is huge for this team.
And the big plus is he actually wants to go to a team that had the worst record in the NHL last season. I would also suggest they have other vets they may ship out, or want out, like DeBrusk.
Chrisms, why don’t you bake more than one brownie at a time? It’s kinda strange that you don’t.
Sometimes there is more than one. Especially around the holidays.
I think I’m catching what you’re pitching, but after breakfast?
Kids today….
As Ed Asner once observed “Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.”
Given the disparity of opinion between Montreal fans and the rest on the value of Gallagher, it will be interesting to see what actually happens.
If a player with a NTC asks out then the NTC should be nullified or modified to 16 teams…why should the player have it both ways?
I have no horse in the race but why should Detroit take it in the shorts.
I read yesterday that Hughes was talking to STL about Thomas.
The story went that Hage was part of the ask but the conversation ended there.
My question to Habs fans is this…did keeping a player that is likely 2-3 years away from regular NHL duty prevent them from catching lightning in a bottle this year?
To win the Cup you need to have several things go your way. Several Canadiens players had career years this season. Is it reasonable to think the will every year moving forward?
Florida needs 2 goalies, 1 defenseman and 2 bottom 6 forwards with the 15million they have.
I cant see how they can do this all. there has to be some magic use of the #9 pick and Lundell…they dont have any other assets that I can see them moving…..
Larkin or Brady is a dream
Two poorly built top heavy teams have now engaged Babcock to save them. SMH
The Babcock situation in Edmonton has escalated. Building on Darren Dreger’s report, Frank Seravalli reports that the NHLPA has asked the NHL to move forward with a formal investigation into the allegations that Mike Babcock invaded players’ privacy during his time in Columbus, and, per sources, has specifically requested that the league delay Babcock’s hiring by the Oilers until that investigation can be completed.
Florida and Vegas is an apparent smoke screen. Both teams do not need centres .
For now It is the Wild only
Lundell is playing third line . Knights cannot afford squat and they have to sign or lose out on Dorofeyev and Anderssen .
It’s Scramel Gustafsson Lambois ? Detroit adds another asset of some sort .
Florida should sign Skinner two year 5 million