NHL Rumor Mill – August 8, 2026
Could the new contracts for Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard affect contract talks for Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Cutter Gauthier, and Adam Fantilli? What’s the latest on Connor Hellebuyck and Alexander Nikishin? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes Connor Bedard’s new contract with the Chicago Blackhawks (five years, $15 million average annual value) has affected the contract negotiations of Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli.
Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).
Gauthier, 21, scored 41 goals last season. While he might not be seeking a contract similar to that of teammate Leo Carlsson (five years, $18 million) or San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (five years, $18.8 million), he could consider his worth to be between $15 million and $16 million. That could make it challenging for the Ducks.
The 21-year-old Fantilli could also seek something in a range similar to Bedard, but the Blue Jackets’ preference could be in the $12 million to $12.5 million range.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have over $13.4 million in cap space for this season, so it’s understandable why they’d want Fantilli inked to $12.5 million or less.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have just over $9 million in cap space, so they’ll have to shed some salary at some point to make room for Gauthier’s new contract. They can start the season with Troy Terry on long-term injury reserve, but they must free up cap space when he returns to the lineup, and that means a cost-cutting trade or two.
Friedman also believes the Carlsson and Celebrini contracts will affect the contract extension negotiations for Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Minnesota Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes. Both are established veteran superstars who are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July.
According to Friedman, the big question for Makar could be term, as he might not prefer doing the current league maximum of eight years. The cap number will also be a factor.
Friedman thinks Makar and Hughes are looking at each other’s situations and want to be in the same range contract-wise. He predicts that Hughes will sign a three-year deal worth $18 million annually with the Wild.
Some observers are surprised that Hughes hasn’t been re-signed yet. That’s raised speculation about his future in Minnesota and the possibility of reuniting with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey. Friedman believes the time to worry is if Hughes and the Wild haven’t agreed to a new contract by the start of the regular season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar is more of a certainty to re-sign with his club than Hughes is with his because of the latter’s family links with the New Jersey Devils. As James Nicholls of New Jersey Hockey Now put it, the longer Quinn goes without an extension with the Wild, the more it favors the Devils.
Nevertheless, the Wild have been having ongoing discussions with Hughes and his representatives this summer. It must be remembered that they didn’t get superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov re-signed until the end of training camp last year, so it could take as long to get Hughes under contract.
Friedman was asked about the possibility of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck getting traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He indicated that things are quiet on that front. While Friedman believes Hellebuyck will get moved at some point, there’s nothing new to report thus far, though things might pick up closer to training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two clubs were reportedly close to a deal before the NHL Draft weekend, but things fell through. So far, there’s been nothing but silence from both clubs, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the trade discussions are over.
However, Hellebuyck is the Jets’ most valuable asset. He is under contract through 2030-31, so they’re in no hurry to move him even if the 33-year-old goaltender were trying to force the issue.
It will take a substantial return to pry Hellebuyck away from the Jets. The Sabres have plenty of good young players (especially forwards) to draw on for trade bait, but the Jets’ asking price could involve moving one or two that they don’t want to part with.
Friedman suggests keeping a close eye on Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is a restricted free agent, and it’s been rumored the Hurricanes could attempt to trade him.
Nothing seems to be close to a deal right now, but Friedman thinks Nikishin could get moved at some point, perhaps around the start of training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News listed five NHL teams that should make Nikishin a trade target. They include the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. It’ll be interesting to see if one of them ends up landing the promising blueliner.
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin’ dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity?
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people lookin’ half dead
Walkin’ on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
Summer rumor mill and conjecture running wild. I’ll wade in, Makar’s contract puts Colorado in an even tighter situation than they are in right now.
The roster is signed, 22/23 players with $404,159 under the cap.
Next year the cap is rising $9.5M- the ceiling for one player will be $22.7M
Makar is at $9M, McKinnon is long term at $12.6M and Necas is long term at $11.5M
If Makar wants the max $22.7M, that’s an increase of $13.7 and they will only have $10M, unless they make some roster moves.
Cue the nonsense, a Hab site called for a “solution”
To Montreal McKinnon.
To Colorado
Guhle
Kapanen
2 1st round picks.
Weed is legal and so much more potent than the good old days.
What a day for a daydream, custon-made for a daydreamin’ boy, all lost in a sweet dream thinking ’bout his bundle of joy (His team).
Holy cow … The Lovin’ Spoonful. One of my all-time favourite groups. Reminded me of the first time I frequented the famed restaurant Chez Piggy in Kingston, Ontario back in the early 1980s when I was with Canada Immigration and doing some monitoring work at ports of entry along the Seaway.
I was seated in the outdoor courtyard for dinner and ordered Steak Tartare for the first time in my life. Part way through the meal, the owner came to my table and asked if I was enjoying it … eventually we introduced ourselves at which point I exclaimed “… wait a minute … Zal Yanovsky?? THE Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin’ Spoonful???” He laughed and said something like “guilty …” and I immediately asked him to sit at the table, following which we had a great conversation that lasted at least 15 – 20 minutes as I recall as I bent his ear on everything from The Halifax Three through The Mugwumps.
It is August when NHL things get quiet. I just want to applaud you still getting up and coming from info and whispers early every morning for us. I want to thank you from me and I am sure ALL your daily readers. I enjoy your perseverance in keeping us cose to the pulse of the rumors.
Thank you.
And I love the opinions of your fan base, except when they start doing imaginary trades.
Thanks, Bill! This time of year, it’s tough to find suitable NHL news and rumors from reliable media sources, but we persevere!
I will be surprised if Gauthier signs a deal for less than $17 mill AAV. The Ducks are in a bind right now.
Every time Nikishin’s name pops up as a possible trade chip the probable ask includes top 6 F, a young roster player, a top prospect, a 1st round pick AND the receiving team also agrees to take their albatross – Jesperi Kotkaniemi and his $4.82 mil per cap hit that has 4 more seasons to run.
Meanwhile, the 6’3” 220lbs 24 y/o D, who can play both sides and was a 69th pick overall in Round 3 of the 2020 draft, is an RFA coming off an ELC of $925,000 with 1 season under his belt during which he played 81 games with 11g 22a 33pts, and since he was tendered a QO he is not eligible to receive an offer sheet. His playoff performance was short-lived after taking a thundering hit from big Tyler Kleven in Round 1.
Nevertheless, represented by Ryan Barnes of Quartex Hockey, with input from his Russian rep, Alexander Chernykh, this guy seems to think he’s the second-coming of a Bobby Orr or Denis Potvin with his reported demand of $8 mil per. And when asked directly by a reporter recently to confirm if that, indeed, was what he was seeking, apparently Nikishin smiled smugly and responded with one word – “more.”
Does anyone here see any of Calgary, Seattle, Philadelphia, Vancouver or Winnipeg meeting, not only Carolina’s asks, but also that of Nikishin and his agents? I think they’d be nuts, although Briere seems to fit that description, so who knows?
If I was Donny I’d go all out for Gauthier of the ducks Tanner, Casey and Reichel expendable you got two firsts why not give it a go. Both Casey,& Tanner throw in a few d they’ve got an over abundance of them. You’ve got one of the best wingers in hockey.
John Apple, put Lohrei and Poitras in the mix with those other players mentioned along with the picks.Gauthier can hang around BC where he played his college hockey!