Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 21, 2026
Check out the latest on the Sabres’ Bowen Byram, the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky, and Devils defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn looked at what the Buffalo Sabres should do with Bowen Byram.
The Sabres are reportedly receiving inquiries from multiple teams into the 25-year-old defenseman’s availability. He’s a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility with a cap hit for 2026-27 of $6.25 million, and lacks no-trade protection.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
AFP Analytics projects Byram could receive an AAV of $9.5 million on his next contract. However, Fairburn believes it’ll be higher after the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Darren Raddysh to a long-term deal worth an AAV of $8.5 million.
Fairburn cited Byram saying last year that his role would factor into whether he’d sign a long-term deal with the Sabres. While he saw more power-play time this season, he’s not going to supplant Rasmus Dahlin on their top defense pairing.
The Sabres could hang onto Byram and let him play out the final season of his contract, but he’s also their most intriguing trade chip.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Byram has informed Sabres management that he’s not going to sign an extension, it’s only logical that they would explore the trade market. They could seek a return that replaces power forward Alex Tuch, who seems headed to free agency on July 1. The savings from moving Byram could also be put toward re-signing Tuch and restricted free agent winger Zach Benson, or in adding a blueliner to replace him.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards weighed in on a recent report by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who claimed Sergei Bobrovsky wants a six- or seven-year deal worth $42 million to re-sign with the Panthers.
Richards indicated that the Panthers are continuing to negotiate with the Bobrovsky camp. However, they’re also believed to be keeping an eye on a potential replacement, noting they’ve been linked to Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers would have an easier time landing Binnington than they would Hellebuyck, who has not indicated he’s seeking a trade or willing to waive his no-movement clause. The Jets’ asking price would also be too high for them, because it would likely include center Anton Lundell.
Binnington has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $6.1 million and a 10-team no-trade list. His cap hit is more affordable than Hellebuyck’s $8.125 million (and no, the Jets won’t retain salary), and the Blues’ asking price won’t be as steep.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes that Darren Raddysh coming off the free-agent market shouldn’t adversely affect the Devils’ efforts to move a defenseman such as Dougie Hamilton or Simon Nemec.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s priority is adding more scoring punch to his forward lines. Hamilton or Nemec could be used as trade bait to address that need.
Hamilton, 32, has been the subject of trade conjecture since last summer. However, the 22-year-old Nemec is generating plenty of interest around the league. He’s a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights on July 1.
Teams that could be in the market for a right-shot defenseman include the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders and Utah Mammoth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton and Nemec have been fixtures in the rumor mill for months. One of them could be playing with a new team before the summer’s over.
I’m hoping that Nemec stays a Devil. He has as much offensive upside as Luke Hughes, skating is really good. He has defensive lapses like any other 22 yr. old D man. Trading Dougie will free up 9 mil in cap space. Depends on how much tweaking Sunny wants/needs to do. We all have a wish list. This upcoming couple weeks are fun. I’m hoping draft day will be Hail Mary, full of trades.
Even as a NYR fan I agree the Devils should be trying to resign Nemec long term. Kid had 10 even strength goals compared to Lukes 4 goals.
They should be running out those 2 kids for the next decade.
There was a recent article in Athletic about the gap in opinions on defensemen between fans/media and hockey management. Very evident here. Fans tend to look at point production while teams still favor size and defensive abilities. Offense is a plus.
As a NY fan, I think Byram would be a great fit in NY.
Schneider + a small add is likely not going to win a bidding war in a trade for a team looking to win now.
I read that article too Slick. It founders on the assumption that offence is a plus, amongst others. Offence is only considered a plus because it is generally hard to come by, and more so with D. Every team wants D that can contribute both offensively and defensively.
IMO Pronman’s column was a mess.
Bobrovsky wants a 6 or 7 year year deal? The guy turns 38 in September meaning that, whichever term he got, he’d be turning 44 or 45 in the final year!
Bobrovsky turns 38 in September. A 6 year deal means he plays the final season at 43. Probably wants $42 million, team decides contract length.
Since Sergei is over 35 years of age, every year will count against the cap – no buyouts, no retirement. Only relief would be LTIR.
Who knows, maybe Bobo is another Johnny Bower with respect to playing longevity. Another major concern is his 2025-26 save percentage of 0.877, a career worst by a long shot. The previous lows were 899 in Plilly (second year in the NHL) and a 901 in Florida. Although the Panthers had plenty of injuries, did Bobrovsky also display signs of decline?
I envision Florida’s extended cup window at 3 or 4 years max, so it’s a tough call. What happened to the idea that players would give a discount in zero tax states?
That rarely happens in the world of greed. Maybe if he felt he were close to another cup or two. No discount and long term means he does not.
Saying it every chance I get. Does nemec and Mercer for knies not make sense for both teams.
As much as Knies for J Robertson 😉
Jeff
It only makes sense if Nemec doesn’t want a $9M AAV.
The pieces for a trade are there but I’m not convinced Toronto wants to trade Knies unless somebody blows their mind with an offer.
I always refer to the Brandon Hagel trade. CHI received two firsts which turned into #18 and #24 picks. Those players have not accomplished much at the NHL level and neither have the prospects they received.
Mercer and Nemec are better players than the prospects CHI received but the rumour is Nemec wants a fortune on his next contract.
I think if NJ upped the ante the Leafs would have to consider it.
I think the Leafs should dangle the #1 overall pick to see if they can gain an NHL player that fills one of their weak spots but still keeps them in the top of the draft.
I would like to think that CHI or VAN would love to get their hands on McKenna
Yeah, that Hagel trade to Tampa certainly falls into the “underwhelming returns” category.
The prospects were Taylor Raddysh who has since gone on to Washington and is now with the NYR, while Katchouk has since gone on to Ottawa for 21 games in 2023-24, 3 back in Tampa for 3 and then Minnesota.
The 2023 19th overall pick by Chicago was Oliver Moore who, so far, has 5g 18a 3 pts in 60gp and the 18th overall in 2024 was Sacha Boisvert who has had 7gp with Chicago and 1g 1a 2pts.
Nemec might want that but he does not a lot of control. I think end of day he bets on himself and signs 3 years @ $6M annual cap hit.
Is it just me or does Kypreos just throw clickbait out there with no actual inside info? Bobrovsky will be 38 when season starts. Quick turned 40 during last season and when he took over for an injured Shesterkin, he couldn’t handle the extra workload. Retired. I don’t see any team giving Bobrovsky more money or years than Florida offers him. Which imo will not come close to what Kypreos reported. Their backup is also ufa. They’d have to trade salaried players to fit Hellybuck, but that would mean more players to bring in.
Yes, yes he does and like Kypreos, the rabid sports media rinse and repeat their BS as much as they can to give the illusion people are talking/considering the crapolla they say…Kypper is just another brick in the wall of misinformation.
We as fans, need to wade through the crap that they try to feed us…there’s enough info out there to prove how stupid and unrealistic the things they “report” are.
Keep Tuch. He’s a local kid that loves wearing the uniform. He stayed during the dark days.
T St Pats
I think reason Byram is in rumors is mostly based on signing Tuch. Overloaded with LH dmen and have a couple of big RH guys coming up. One or both of Mrtka and Strbak will be on roster. I don’t think they trade Kesselring if they weren’t high on both. Byram expendable.
Byram was in trade rumors this same time last year for the same reason he is this year: he thinks of himself as a #1 defenseman, and his agent wants him to get paid like a #1 defenseman.
Keeping Tuch only makes sense if his AAV is around $8M on a long term deal.
He’s 30 now, likely to regress. Signing him to an 8 year deal at $10M will handcuff the Sabres when their plentiful young talent is looking for new contracts. He’s a career .71 PPG…is he going to get better?
I think Slick is correct on all points. I’d pay Tuch, because he’s part of the fabric of the team. He’s a leader, even though his playoff scoring was lacking last year.
Daryl. Would think they’d both want to get something done. Maybe 8.5×6?
NJ should trade Nemec who has a far better value and will get them a better return. Hamilton is still good for what he is and only has 2 years left where the Devils can move on from him and let a prospect step in.
Nemec is good but I dont think his value will ever be higher than it currently is.
On a side note, I really hope Toronto has a rough year. The Flyers could use a top 5 draft pick.
Toronto traded away there 2028 1st round pick so now the pick for 2027 is not top 10 protected. Flyers could come out of this with a high pick.
mp, Puckpedia’s discussion is somewhat convoluted. My interpretation of Puckpedia.
IF Toronto’s 2027 1st round pick is outside the top 10, Philly receives it and Boston gets Toronto’s 2028 1st rounder (unprotected).
IF Toronto’s 2027 1st round pick is in the top 10, then Toronto decides who receives the 2027 and 2028 picks, Philly one year, Bruins the other year.
Of those players acquitted in the London, Ontario sex scandal trial, just one has signed an NHL deal (Carter Hart with Vegas), and has performed very well. Two others – Michael McLeod ad Dillon Dube – have signed deals with KHL teams, while Cal Foote has signed an AHL deal with Chicago.
Now that 6’ 3” 200lbs LW Alex Formenton, who turns 27 in September and has been playing in the Swiss league, has been cut loose by the Senators I wonder if any other NHL team will at least give him a PTO if not an actual contract?
From what I’ve been able to glean from a search, interest in Formenton is nonexistent, with indications from “insiders” that it ranges from slim to none. Looks like the European leagues remain his only options if he wishes to continue playing at a competitive level. Or, perhaps, like Foote getting an AHL deal with some organization.
Dube played for the Blues farm and is expected to sign with the big club this year.