NHL Rumor Mill – August 12, 2026
How the Ducks might clear cap space to create room for Cutter Gauthier’s new contract, and the latest Flames speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal listed three Anaheim Ducks players who could become salary-cap casualties to make room for a new contract for Cutter Gauthier.
Wingers Alex Killorn, Chris Kreider, and Frank Vatrano are Leal’s trade candidates.
Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).
Killorn, 36, is in the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $6.25 million. He also carries a 15-team no-trade list.
The 35-year-old Kreider is also in the final season of his contract. He has a cap hit of $6.5 million. Like Killorn, he carries a 15-team no-trade list.
Vatrano, 32, has two seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $4.571 million and a seven-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier, 21, could seek between $14 million and $15 million annually on his next contract. However, the Ducks have only $9.07 million in cap space this season.
They can exceed the $104 million salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason if they sign Gauthier now. However, they must be cap-compliant when their regular season opens in late September.
The Ducks can get some short-term cap relief by placing sidelined winger Troy Terry on long-term injury reserve to start this season. However, they must shed salary to make room for him when he returns.
Kreider could draw more interest around the league given his bounce-back performance this season. Shedding his $6.5 million would create the most cap space to re-sign Gauthier. However, the Ducks could prefer moving Killorn and/or Vatrano.
CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin wondered if there could be more trades coming for the Flames before the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Flames have nine defensemen jockeying for six positions this season. He assumes that Kevin Bahl, Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh, and Zach Whitecloud will fill the top-four defense pairings. That leaves Yan Kuznetsov, Jake Middleton, Brayden Pachal, Joel Hanley, and Hunter Brzustewicz.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Austin’s colleague, Kent Wilson, noted that Whitecloud would draw a quality return given his experience, reputation, and affordable contract ($2.75 million AAV for two more seasons). However, moving Whitecloud would leave their blueline staffed almost entirely by kids.
Wilson noted that Whitecloud was a good fit with the Flames since joining them in January from the Vegas Golden Knights. He considers it unlikely that the 29-year-old blueliner will be traded.
Austin also noted that the Flames have plenty of wingers. He noted that trade rumors surfaced earlier this year about Connor Zary, suggesting that there are moves they could make among their forward lines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Austin doesn’t expect a flurry of late August trade activity by the Flames. However, I agree that there could be a trade or two before training camp opens next month.
Mathieu Joseph to ANA
kreider 25% retained to EDM
EDM has space to pull it off and Kreisler’s speed and tipping prowess would be a better roster spot than Joseph for EDM cup hopes
Ana gets cap space as Joseph only cost 1m Plus 1.625 of retention on Kreider leaves close to 4 m in space more for ANA.
That’s assuming Edmonton is not included on Kreider’s 15-team no-trade list … and it’s a safe bet that they are – along with the 6 other Canada-based franchises.
Joseph is a bottom six player and the proposed trade solves nothing for Anaheim as they need to clear at least 6m. Your trade is also basically a salary dump and Kreider has value that exceeds Joseph and clearing 4m. Just my opinion
I can understand the lure of Kreider, and ya he could play a role in the Oiler top 6 and may score 30 plus in that role.
I’m not sure that’s what the Oil are looking to do though. I think they want to give Savoie a real shot up there with McDavid and Hyman. Or with Draisaitl. Savoie scored 18 goals, Kreider 22 if you want to talk goals. Plus Savoie didn’t get top 6 opportunities until after the Olympics. There was chemistry with McDavid, no guarantee Kreider will. It’s not that easy.
He could score 25-30 goals if he sticks on the top line and gets 1st unit PP time, more than 30. But I think Nuge stays there.
He’s a flexible player too, who you can play anywhere. High energy guy who battles. Kills penalties too if you need him too. But that’s a reason the signed Joseph. I think Babcock will luv him and feed him ice time.
Oilers need to reduce goals against, they will score enough.
May also want to keep that cap space till later in season when you can get more bang for your buck, or they need help somewhere else due to injury.
Or in net.
It clears 4.8 m plus with the 9 they have gives the. Over 13
Gives more wiggle room
EDM can send a pick along
Teams have given teams 1st plus cap dump player for players with value before
Sooner or later the poker hand gets called and ya have to make a decision
Kreider has less value at 6m than CUTTER unsigned. Don’t want to piss off a young talent of your teams future
Joseph can be flipped if they don’t want him but he can add Roth to their bottom 6
@Ray
Yup savior first line but kreids can slot if savior needs rest or sheltered minutes due to match ups. Gif him the ice time and kreids on 3rd line rotation to create different looks for teams on match ups
Kreids is a great pk guy too. Great net front for tips or pp2 or pp1 speed like crazy still
Cleo savior first but kreids option
EDM with cup aspirations kreids is more appealing to Mcdavid and draisaitil for his playoff experience and still talent over Joseph IMO
How does retaining anything help a team without enough cap space to begin with? Anaheim can’t afford to retain anything in a trade otherwise that makes them trade multiple assets
Well, with $9,073,395 in cap space and Gauthier reportedly seeking something north of $12 mil, they had better find the solution somehow or they are attached to an object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis.
Like you have two bags of 100 lbs in each hand. You are tired. I take one 100 lb bag to help
You but sounds like you want to remain tired and carry both 100 lb bags. Sometimes some relief is better than no relief.
Kreider would slot in at LW on the 2nd line with Demidov and help a run for the Stanley Cup.
It would be ironic if his name went on the cup instead of Carey Price.
As much as he’s hated in Montreal, once he does his thing, fans would flip to cheering him.
Kreider to the Habs and then we make him be the washroom attendant at the Bell Center after Taco Tuesdays.
Habsfan30-I’d rather get a BJ from Jaws and beg him to drag his teeth, before I cheer Kreider in a Habs uni. He’s a POS.
That’s quite a strong and graphic statement Craig.
I never thought of Jaws that way before.
Not sure I can watch again now either. So thanks for that.
WTF did Kreider do?
Ray: Kreider is a villain to some Habs fans as he is thought to accidentally on purpose ran into Price’s knee, injuring it and triggering the repeated issues Price had.
Got it LJ.
So the M Tkachuk, Corey Perry move.
Habs don’t really need him anyway.
Montreal had a chance of drafting Krieder but they chose the great bust Louis Leblanc a francophone wannabe from Montreal…All the hype, crowd cheering, draft held in Montréal, player choosing to go to Harvard and then Leblanc over Kreider…What a mess
Well, to be fair Don O Ray, and hindsight beinb about .10 cents a pound, Montreal wasn’t exactly alone with their dubious choosing in that 2009 draft where Kreider went 19th to the NYR.
Dallas picked Scott Glennie 8th, Ottawa took Jared Cown 9th, Edmonton’s choice at 10 was Magnus Paajarvi, at # 12 Buffalo took Zack Kassian, the 15th pick was Peter Holland by Anaheim, and St. Louis pounced on David Rundblad at # 17.
On the other side of the coin, Palmieri went 26th to Anaheim, Ryan O’reilly 33rd to Colorado, Dmitri Orlov 56th to Washington and Reilly Smith 69th to Dallas.
Even later went the likes of Anders Lee in the 6th round to the NYI, Mattias Ekholm and Craig Smith, both 4th Round to Nashville, and Mike Hoffman, 5th Round to Ottawa (which was good for a while ….)
A lot of so-called “dubious” picks are often attributed to a team making the choice based upon positional needs. That’s not uncommon – and often turns into busts. But I for one have always subscribed to the theory that you should only pick based upon who you think is the BEST available – regardless of position.
Oh, and if, indeed, some of those busts were based on who they deemed “the best available” then I imagine there were some pointed questions from ownership at the time regarding either the acumen scouting department or the GM.
“… acumen of the ….”
Agree George but I was just the hate directed at Kreider in Montreal and the hype around Louis Leblanc and yes your right… hindsite for all the other selections
Heh. Oh yeah, I agree there Don O Ray. It’s been proven so many times over the years that fans will do a 180 about a previously hated rival when that player suddenly turned up in their team’s jersey. Some that jump to mind include Lou Fontinato, Chris Pronger, Sean Avery, Claude Lemieux, Milan Lucic.
Ana just needs to sign cutter and use the injured reserve. Lots could happen before terry is ready to return. They could lose another salary player to injury. Injuries around the league could make other teams more likely to take one of those salaries back. They got time.
Agree with Chrisms
No rush until you have a better idea when Terry coming back. I don’t see Gauthier getting more than the 12m Robertson signed for.
Gauthier is not going to sign for 12. I’m guessing Verbeek is losing a bit more sleep every night.
I think he would for 1 season like Robertson did.
If he doesn’t enjoy watching it on TV.
IMO the Ducks are trying to negotiate a long term deal (5 yrs plus) that is reasonable, then make moves to make it fit.
If Cutter isn’t being reasonable, 1 year at $12M is also reasonable. More than reasonable IMO.
If Cutter takes a hardline again, then Verbeek takes one too. Have fun watching on TV and earning zero.
I d be willing to bet that Montreal is on Kreiders no trade list. He should just go home to Boston!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRhfQmi3T0I
He would fit nicely
Just googled…the average man games lost per season is 150-220 attributed to injury and illness. A team dressing 20 players for 82 is 1640 man games per team.
Not that long ago (2021 ?) the Habs had back to back 600 man games lost.
NB : Savoie had 18 with very limited PP time
Frank Vatrangottago-
If Kreider is so hated in Montreal, maybe he’d be a good fit in Toronto.
He could test Dobes’ knees. lol
I hadn’t realized that Kreider to Montreal speculation existed when I made my earlier post but here’s a link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO_dsgkeN0Y
And here is Carey Price on Kreider:
https://montrealgazette.com/sports/stus-slapshots-carey-price-wouldnt-boo-chris-kreider/
Looking at the video, there’s no reason to blame Kreider on that play, imo. It was a hockey play, and didn’t look targeted.
Kreider could’ve easily got hurt on that play too. Crazy to think it was on purpose. Ducks should try to trade Granlund. Teams looking for a decent 2C might have interest. Give McQueen the 2C spot.
I don’t know if Boston is interested but Chris isn’t the player he used to be.
I’d move on. If this was five years ago yes. I’m hoping James” can make the transition. It I’d feel more comfortable with solid first line centre.
Just trade Cutter to Seattle for a boatload of players and cap space!
The Krack will give Cutter 6 x $15M and he can wallow in the mushy middle with them as the Ducks prosper. Trade Carlsson elsewhere next summer if he falters any. He won’t be worth his cap hit till the end of that contract, if ever.
Hockey Canada Announces Suspension Updates For The 5 Acquitted Players In Sexual Assault Case
Alex Formenton, who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, is the only one of the five who has now been reinstated by Hockey Canada. He can now play for a Canadian international team if he is selected. He has played the last three years in Switzerland.
The other four will remain suspended from competing for Canada until the following dates:
Cal Foote: suspended until November 10, 2026
Carter Hart: suspended until November 10, 2027
Dillon Dube: suspended until November 10, 2028
Michael McLeod: suspended until November 10, 2030
There is truly no forgiveness for them. Might as well march them to the gas chamber!
I never understood the treatment of those players.
I hope they are able to sue the league, since they’ve had their careers derailed based only on an accusation. An accusation the the OPP had originally dismissed after investigation.
Also, the girl should be charged, or sued for defamation. In the judge’s remarks he/she stated that the accuser couldn’t keep her story straight. It kept changing throughout the trail, which the judge said is a sign of deceit.
I think the NHL is only continuing with their suspensions is to save face. To drop it all after the acquittal would be to admit error.