NHL Rumor Mill – August 1, 2026
Check out the latest on the Canadiens, Red Wings, and Islanders in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE CANADIENS MAKE A TRADE FOR A BLUE JACKETS FORWARD?
THE SICK PODCAST: Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette recently speculated that the Canadiens could’ve made an offer to the Columbus Blue Jackets for winger Kirill Marchenko that would’ve been similar to what they offered for Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).
According to Cowan, that offer was prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky, another prospect, and a first-round pick. He believes the Canadiens are well-positioned with many draft picks and young prospects other teams are interested in, which is why general manager Kent Hughes can afford to wait for the right opportunity to present itself.
Cowan wouldn’t be surprised if the Canadiens make a significant move this summer. He noted that last year’s trade for Noah Dobson came out of nowhere.
THE STARR & D’AMICO SHOW: Marco D’Amico recently addressed speculation suggesting the Canadiens could look at Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson if they’re unable to land Marchenko.
“I would be surprised if the Canadiens tried another reclamation project like that,” D’Amico said. He expects that Johnson could bounce back this season, but doesn’t see it as being to the point where he fills a legitimate need for the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The buzz suggesting the Canadiens could acquire Marchenko has cooled since it flared up last weekend. That’s probably because Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell refuted a report out of Russia claiming he was working on trading the 26-year-old winger. Marchenkov’s agent, Dan Milstein, took to social media to dismiss the speculation.
As for Johnson, some Habs fans suggest he’d fill the Canadiens’ second-line center role. However, his performance thus far in his NHL career offers up little evidence that he can confidently handle that position on a reliable basis. Johnson has been used primarily as a winger with the Blue Jackets.
LATEST ON THE RED WINGS MANAGEMENT SITUATION
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes the reason why the Detroit Red Wings haven’t yet found a replacement for Steve Yzerman as general manager is that it’s still early in the process.
It’s been over two weeks since the Wings announced their management change, with Yzerman maintaining the day-to-day duties until his replacement is found.
Bultman noted that no other NHL clubs are seeking new management, meaning the Red Wings aren’t under pressure to make a quick change. Instead, they’ll continue to be patient in their search for the right candidate.
Whoever gets the role faces some challenging long-term decisions. They must address center Dylan Larkin’s trade request, sign restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson to a new contract, and negotiate an extension with winger Alex DeBrincat, who is UFA-eligible next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings have indicated they’ll consider all options, including promoting from within their ranks. So far, there’s no indication who they may have reached out to from other clubs or if they’re speaking with former NHL general managers.
ISLANDERS COULD SOON ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW ASSISTANT GM
THE HOCKEY NEWS’ Stefen Rosner reported Friday that Evan Gold is expected to join the New York Islanders as an assistant general manager.
Gold’s contract with the Boston Bruins expires on Aug. 1. Rosner expects the hiring will be officially announced over the next several days.
If Detroit goes down Recycle Road in their search for a new GM, these are the likely candidates (in no particular order):
Pierre Dorion; Patrik Allvin; Brad Treliving; Tom Fitzgerald; Peter Chiarelli; Chuck Fletcher; Rob Blake; Barry Trotz.
My bet, however, would be from among Kris Draper, Shawn Horcoff, Nicklas Lidstrom, Pat Brisson or Brett Peterson.
It is possible that Treliving gets another job, but IMO it would be incomprehensible. He had two gigs and made a mess of both.
George. Brisson would be an interesting choice considering he’s Larkin agent.
Slick62, Brisson would need to be the type pragmatic to the point where, if hired as a GM, his approach to negotiating contracts would need to be a complete reversal by switching from adversarial in pushing the ceiling on player salaries and term to one of assessing internal value and managing cap efficiency to avoid any long-term risk to the cap. Is he that type? I know zilch about the man, other than he’s earned the reputation as a rigid player agent.
There have certainly been others who have made such a transition, albeit with varying degrees of success, probably led by Bill Zito and including the likes of Kent Hughes, Pierre Lacroix and Mike Gillis.
Whoever takes that job they are walking into a hornets nest with those 3 huge decisions that are mentioned in the above article!Thats 3 of their top 5 players,ouch!
I think if they recycle anyone from Detroit’s past, Dylan Larkin is as good as gone, well stays disgruntled still being under contract. I think he’d feel that any old school hire will still have Stevie Y pulling his strings from afar. And he won’t want to stay. I think it needs to be an outside hire. Really not sure who to blame here but boy did someone make a mess of this team. Hopefully they can get past it quickly.
Boston lost their coach and GM from their AHL team in Providence who have moved on. Could they have been scape goated for their lack of player development or were they blocked in Boston by the old boy network of Sweeney and Neely?
I doubt Lidstrom wants the job, and is Draper really the guy? His record for the draft as the man in charge is bad to say the least.
Of the reclamation group, none makes me happy. Id rather go for an assistant somewhere
To Detroit: Marchenko and Johnson
To CBJ: Larkin and Copp (50% retained)
Can’t see Larkin staying in Detroit. Also don’t see his preferred destinations taking him on.
CBJ would have to add a 1st also and Detroit would not give up 2 centers unless they got 2 comparable C’s back.
Larkin isn’t dropping his no trade in order to go to the Jackets. I think he’s over estimating how badly teams want him especially since the Wings won’t be giving him away. Be prepared for him to start the year in Detroit.
I feel Shanahan should be on the list of candidates as well.
If Columbus is serious to trade Krill, even though the whispers of Montreal landing him seem to be cooling off, that is the #1 destination I see him going to before the start of the season.
I know a lot of people keep saying Montreal doesn’t have a roster player to throw in the Marchenko deal to make it work, last week I heard chatter a 3rd rebuilding team was interested in our picks/prospects and would send the necessary players to satisfy CLB’s needs.
Anyone have any ideas on which teams could be part of that..all I see out there is VAN.
What about Doug McLean?
Jeff, he hasn’t served as a GM since last being fired in April 2007 – almost two decades ago. The game has long since passed him by.