NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2026
Check out the latest on the Penguins and the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reported on what’s been a quiet offseason thus far for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
General manager Kyle Dubas was unsuccessful in his attempt to make a big splash and move up in the first round of this year’s draft. Yohe believes Dubas either misjudged the value of trade assets such as Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, or how challenging the trade market would be.
Dubas could have better luck next summer. He’ll have over $70 million in salary-cap space to work with, and the trade and free-agent markets should be better than they were this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).
Earlier this month, Yohe was asked what the Penguins plan would be for Erik Karlsson.
The 36-year-old defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Yohe stated that he’d be surprised if they re-sign Karlsson, pointing out that he’ll be 37 when his next contract begins. He speculated they could let him walk via free agency next July, or attempt to move him by the March trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Responding to Yohe’s comments about Karlsson, Jimmy Murphy of The Sick Podcast expressed his belief that the Penguins would trade the puck-moving defenseman to the Ottawa Senators or Toronto Maple Leafs before the 2026-27 regular season begins.
The Senators are seeking another scoring forward, but maybe they’d be open to adding more offense to their blueline. Karlsson could be open to a return to the team where he spent his best seasons, and he’d fill their ongoing need to bolster the right side of their defense corps. However, that seems more like a move the Sens might make if they’re buyers at the trade deadline.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs’ new management has been busy shaking up its roster. Bringing in Karlsson (provided he’s willing to go to Toronto) would give them a short-term burst of experienced skill. However, they’re currently over the cap by $2.7 million, giving them no wiggle room to absorb his $10 million cap hit. And no, the Penguins won’t retain salary to make it happen.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Herb Zurkowsky noted the recent flurry of trade rumors linking the Canadiens to Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko.
Zurkowsky acknowledged that having Marchenko and Ivan Demidov on the same line would probably improve the Canadiens, but it wouldn’t address its ongoing need for a second-line center.
The asking price for Marchenko would be high. Zurkowsky believes the Blue Jackets would want one of the Canadiens’ top prospects (Michael Hage or Alexander Zharovsky), a first-round pick, and another player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were interested in Marchenko, but it doesn’t seem as though he’s available. Despite the recent flurry of rumors, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell refuted the speculation, claiming he hasn’t spoken with other clubs about the 26-year-old winger in weeks. He also stated earlier this month that Marchenko would be in the Jackets’ lineup to start the season.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey acknowledged a rumor that linked the Philadelphia Flyers to Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
However, Bailey believes Xhekaj isn’t a fit with the Flyers. He noted they already have two physical defensemen with Nick Seeler and Simon Benoit. Adding another blueliner when they’re also trying to promote promising youngsters like Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek would be counterproductive.
Karlsson back to Ottawa is a pipe-dream exceeded only by the suggestion that he could also interest Chayka in Toronto (maybe his good buddy Alfredsson being there now has something to do with Jimmy Murphy’s thinking 🙂 ).
Currently, Ottawa has a cap reserve of $4,195,833 so, with Staios’ firm resolve to retain around $4 mil in cap to help facilitate any trade-day move, and Karlsson’s $10 mil cap hit, they’d have to relinquish a player (or players) totaling close to that. Not gonna happen.
As for Toronto, as Lyle points out, they are currently $2,752,381 OVER the cap already so they’d be forced to give up something in the area of $12.5 mil for a soon-to-be 37 y/o one-dimensional D. Again – not gonna happen.
I think Detroit makes a ton of sense with their cap space can swap Faulk so penguins don’t eat salary but still leaves room for redwings to reup their young RFA
Will show team they are trying to add offense to get over the hump
@Ihatecrosby
Wings makes zero sense for Karlsson. They overpaid for Faulk so they are not trading him for an older, more expensive Karlsson. They didn’t even need Faulk to begin with, they needed a solid top 4 LD to play with ASP (yet another Yzerman blunder) to push Chiarot out of the top 4.
Wings aren’t going to get a top line center back for Larkin so they are going nowhere this season. They should also trade Debrincat and every vet they can from now to the deadline to finish high enough to draft a top line center.
Kron I’d offer Larkin to cmb for Johnson and fantilli
Might entice cmb to consider it bc of the price and Larkin buds with werenski and in prime yr
If they say yes then bring it to Larkin and sel it to him
Re Karlsson you are right they over paid for Faulk but Karlsson had 66 pts to faults 32 perhaps since both are one year the offer make sense. If for a one v one swap
Cap space for pity’s more offensive output for Detroit
They needed more 5v5 output and Karlsson provides that better than Faulk
It’s ok to have a different evaluation than me
GeorgeO what s your read on Batherson?
Sr, the way I view Batherson is as a reliable 2nd line RW in terms of putting up the points (career 82-game averages of 26g 38a 64 pts with a slight uptick this past season of 33g 38a 71pts in 79gp) – but who needs to continue to improve the defensive aspects of his game, which has consistently hovered around the -7 mark the past 3 or 4 seasons. Although he skates well enough, he is not top-tier in terms of speed, clocking out at 22.10mph tops, and is one who has learned to rely on average straight-line bursts while maintaining good positioning, He only turns 29 in April, is 6’ 3” 210lbs, and is regarded as one of the top players on the team when it comes to long-shift stamina. But overall, his top speed does fall just below the league baseline.
Recent chatter has him voicing his preference to re-up in Ottawa when he becomes UFA eligible at the end of next season … but what he may seek and what Staios will offer will depend greatly upon his performance OVERALL this coming season. Especially if he moves from his usual top line position, where Stutzle holds sway as the # 1 C … where Eklund replaces Tkachuk at LW … to the 2nd line alongside Pinto at C and probably Burakovsky at LW. That could happen if the chatter about moving Cozens from 2nd line C to 1st line RW bears out, and such a move could prove beneficial since nether Pinto nor Burakovsky are anywhere near Stutzle and Eklund when it comes to speed.
Something else to keep in mind about Batherson as the trade deadline approaches this coming season, is that he is good Halifax-area summer skating buddies with Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby and Nathan McKinnon, so if Florida, Pittsburgh or Colorado are in the market for a RW at that stage … and Staios is prepared to deal …. stay tuned!
Would love Xhekaj on Rangers. They need to protect Igor. Much rather him on 3rd pair than Robertson. Drafted Smits 5th overall and he might be “NHL ready” , but no reason to rush him into full time role. Rangers loaded with bottom 6 forwards and Rempe not guaranteed a spot. Teams like Washington and Florida take advantage of soft teams. NY hasn’t had that fear factor for opposing teams skating in with their heads down since trading Trouba. Maybe if Habs can get him signed to a cheap deal they’d be able to move him. Plenty of players on Rangers that Gorton drafted to choose from, including Robertson.
I would not trade Robertson for Xhekaj.
Other than hit numbers and taking terrible penalties, he is nowhere near Robertson.
Skating, shooting , hockey Iq etc.
What has plagued NY for years now, including their Ecf runs , presidents trophy runs is 5v5 scoring.
Having another button guy in there simply for toughness isn’t going to help that.
Smits will be competing with Robertson for that spot. They picked him because he’s NHL ready over Reid.
I don’t know Roberston, Captain, so I can’t comment on comparators. But as HF30 pointed out recently, do not underestimate Xhekaj’s skating or shot. Neither HF30 nor I understand why he doesn’t get more ice time in Montreal, and both of us would like to have the Habs keep him.
Not sure what other Habs fans think …
Robertson is a dime a dozen dman. Decent 3rd pair but doesn’t give anything worth noting. I’d rather have a 6/7 who you can plug into lineup vs certain teams. Smits drafted over others not only cause he’s NHL ready, but because he’s bigger and nastier than Reid. There we’ll be an adjustment period into the NHL. 84 game season. Travel. That’s a lot for a 18 yo. Robertson is 25, and finally got time in NHL last season. Being 6/7 dman on a bad team doesn’t guarantee anything. Not like they were loaded with better choices.
Really must be summer doldrums when we are talking about Xhekaj, Karlsson and Robertson and no Karlsson to Ottawa please spare us the drama
Don, may not be click bait or some grossly one sided / impossible/ improbable never gonna happen trade scenario / material. But bottom 6 players and bottom pairing dmen are just as necessary to talk about and probably a lot more realistic trade options than what gets bandied about on a daily basis here.
Sorry we’re boring you. If you wish to reply with a sexy, improbable Mcdavid for a 3rd round pick and 2 b prospects…. The floor is yours senator!
Not sure what you’re basing Robert’s play on, or dime a dozen . Eye test?
Compare the twos advanced stats and it clearly show Robertson as the better player today with a higher ceiling.
As for games played? As a Ranger fan you’ve seen how young defenders get blocked, traded out the door.
Jones, Lundquist, Robertson, Pionk , Skjei etc.
Think Robertson and WiFi as bottom pair makes sense
Trai vakinainen or however ya spell. Guy is SOFT
Slick 62, I would be careful about throwing Smits to the wolves being Wilson in Washington and the entire Fla. group of animals.As crazy as it sounds Reaves is looking to play another year,and Remke might be damaged goods already from his bouts the last few years!
Also, can still make other moves to improve 5×5. (Marchenko would be nice.) adding a 6/7 dman has nothing to do with that, although I’d note Montreal was 7th in league scoring at 5×5.
Xhekaj was undrafted and yet has managed to play in 230 nhl games. Robertson is same age, was drafted in 2nd round, and played 2 games prior to last seasons 72 appearances. Maybe Gorton sees something in him. Most likely he belongs back in AHL.
No need for Xhekaj in Philly, since they already have Benoit. I know he’s a #6 dman, but i think the Leafs will miss Benoit next year. Never can be too physical on the back end.
You’re right there, Toronto will miss Benny but not his hot grenades up the middle and The circus of him trying to make a breakout pass and the defensive zone. Yes the guy can hit. Yes, the guy blocked shots but everything else is not great.
He’s a good 6th defenseman.
I’m not about to say that Marchenko won’t be traded at some point, however, since the only indication that he won’t sign an extension was a Kevin Weekes claim on draft day, and no one connected to the Jackets or Marchenko has confirmed Weekes’ claim, I do wonder if Weekes was right. I do think that, if Waddell is willing to trade Marchenko, part of the return would absolutely must be a right winger who could immediately play on the first line, taking Marchenko’s place.
Which, Paul, is why a trade with the Habs is unlikely as they don’t have a player of equal value they would part with.
And what would the point be for any trade partner if the deal was like player for like player? So yeah, Marchenko stays until at least the trade deadline.
LJ As you point out, there is no point in trading a player for like player who want to leave.
Also, first line players on a non playoff team are more likely second line players on a contender team. So asking contender first line players in exchange for Larkin or Marchenko does not make any sense. These two will be second line players for a contender.
I don’t see Marchenko in Montreal but I do see others not talked about much, and offer different benefits.
Bryan Rust – 34 y/o 2 more years left, keeps scoring
Dmitri Voronkov- young big tough plays LW/C 1 year left on contract then RFA
They aren’t the sexy names but each would fit in well on the Habs and wouldn’t cost anywhere near the supposed ask for Knies or Marchenko
If I was Columbus I would try and trade Marchenko to the leaf for knies. I would even add a sweetener because of knies contract.
I think Marchenko has more upside than knies.
The Habs will need all the toughness they can gather. Florida is going to be a tough out on a nightly basis . Literally .
what are the guidelines for if a player can receive a offer sheet or not.
Here ya go norm:
“Player Eligibility Requirements
Must be an unsigned Group 2 RFA with an expired contract. Must have been issued a valid qualifying offer by their current team (excluding exempt 10.2(c) players who lack the required professional games played). Must be under age 27 as of June 30/July 1 of that calendar year. Must have fewer than seven accrued NHL seasons (or fewer than 3 seasons with fewer than 80 games played for skaters / 28 games for goalies).
Timing and Team Rules
Can only be signed and submitted between July 1 and December 1.The offering team must possess their own original draft picks required for compensation tiers (no traded picks may be used).”