Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 30, 2026
Could Dylan Larkin accept a trade to the Mammoth or Canadiens? Could the latter attempt to trade Samuel Montembeault to the Oilers? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LARKIN TO THE MAMMOTH OR CANADIENS?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara believes the Utah Mammoth makes the most sense for Dylan Larkin if the Detroit Red Wings center is serious about chasing the Stanley Cup.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
The Mammoth are an up-and-coming team who recently added veteran forwards Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck. They have the draft capital to make an enticing offer and have a bit of a trade history with the Red Wings after acquiring goalie Sebastian Cossa earlier this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s trade list includes the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, though it’s rumored the Dallas Stars are also on his list. So far, the 30-year-old center hasn’t indicated that he’s willing to widen that list, though he might have to if he seriously wants to be moved before the start of the regular season in four weeks.
The Mammoth tick the right boxes, but whether they seriously want him or if he’s willing to include them on his list of preferred destinations remains to be seen.
NHL NETWORK: Mike Johnson suggested the Montreal Canadiens as a landing spot for Larkin. The Canadiens are stacked with young talent that Johnson believes makes them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender over the next four or five years.
Johnson noted that the Canadiens can draw on their “boatload” of young prospects to build a trade package for the Red Wings, including University of Michigan winger Michael Hage. He acknowledged the Canadiens weren’t on Larkin’s four-team trade list. However, if it’s about winning for Larkin, the Habs are on the precipice of winning for the next half-decade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin would be a terrific addition to the Canadiens, but he doesn’t seem interested in joining a Canadian club.
MONTEMBEAULT TO THE OILERS?
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the goalie market should start heating up with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets requesting a trade and Frederik Andersen of the Edmonton Oilers to miss training camp after suffering an injury during offseason training.
That could make it possible for the Canadiens to trade Samuel Montembeault. Cowan doesn’t expect they’ll start the season carrying Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, and Jacob Fowler. He believes Montembeault can regain his form after struggling through injury and inconsistency last season, but he will have a short leash.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Karine Haines wondered if Andersen’s injury might create an opportunity for the Canadiens to ship Montembeault to the Oilers. She noted Montembeault has a cap hit of $3.15 million and the Oilers have $2 million in cap space, which would mean the Canadiens would have to take back some salary in such a deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said last week that he wasn’t too concerned over the rash of early injuries plaguing his club. He’ll likely look at internal options first (such as offseason acquisition Devon Levi) or a dip into free agency where a few affordable veterans are available, including former Oiler Cam Talbot.
Montembeault could be a trade target for the Oilers, but he’ll probably be further down Bowman’s list.
Why would oiler want to trade for
Montembeault? They already have a full stable of inconsistent goalies. No need for another unless Jarry goes somewhere else which is about as likely as hitting your numbers in 649
Agree…wishful thinking from the Habs faithful.
I doubt Utah is interested in Larkin having just traded for Trochek, but I agree on Montreal even if I’m not as high on Hague as the writer or the Montreal fans
Not that long ago Montembeault representative team Canada Men’s team.
I believe Detroit would want need more than Hage. IN theory . Although an excellent start.
I am thinking Reinbacher, who I think still has a couple of years development would need to be included
However, Larkin is not going there. First choice any USA city . Second choice a playoff- contender. third choice not Canada
The Habs need to get tougher outside of Anderson and Wifi . They play Florida 4x
SilverSeven ,everyone is in the same boat against Fla. You hope to catch them on a back to back so their age might show up. You Don t want to play them in the first round of the playoffs because that is where the hooligans take center stage and disrupt things. As the playoffs advance that starts to settle down when the stakes get bigger!
SilverSeven, Hage yes but Reinbacher no. Wings don’t need another RHD with Seider, Faulk, ASP, JBD and Anton Johansson. Wings need a LD to replace Chiarot in the top 4. Maybe something with Hage and Ghule would be better although as you said, Larkin likely won’t go to Montreal even though he is friends with Caufield.
Dipping into free agency for a goaltender might be “affordable” but there’s really nothing there that isn’t close to the end of the line:
32 y/o Matt Murray 5gp 0 wins 2 losses 0.922 save % 2.21gaa – last contract $1 mil – Seattle
29 y/o Connor Ingram 32gp 16 wins 12 losses 2 SO 0.899 save % 2.60gaa – last deal $1,950,000 – Edm
38 y/o James Reimer 14gp 7 wins 4 losses 1 SO 0.866 save % 2.41gaa – last deal $850,000 – Ottawa
39 y/o Cam Talbot 34gp 12 wins 9 losses 0 SO 0.833 save % 3.19gaa – last deal $2.5 mil – Detroit
34 y/o Petr Mrazek 10gp 3 wins 5 losses 0 SO 0,858 save % 4.07gaa – last deal $4,250,000 – Anaheim
Should read “but, aside from Ingram, there’s really nothing there that isn’t close to the end of the line:”
In this column I have read from several readers that trading a goaltender doesn t always bring back a big return! I can t understand why since they affect around 50-60 games for their team each year.It seems like teams like Edmonton have been chasing this position for years. Does Grant Fuhr have any eligibility left?
I agree Sr, that’s what I posted yesterday. There is no way Cheveldayoff is letting Hellebuyck (who is one season removed from Hart and Vezina trophies on a President’s cup team) be removed without getting a top notch return. Nor should he if he wants to keep his job.
As part of the return Wpg will need a 1B goalie to platoon with Skinner, an NHL (not prospect) player to fill either their 2nd line centre hole or a top 4 Right D, plus at least a 1st round pick and maybe another prospect.
We saw Cheveldayoff take his time until he got the return he wanted when he traded Laine, again when he traded Trouba, and lastly when he traded Pierre Luc Dubois. He will play it out until a team meets his price again.
Something along the lines of Bussi and Nikishkin would probably get it done.
Sr, I have no idea what Hellebuyck (who turns 34 next May) will fetch when dealt, but here, for what it’s worth, is what some other notable goalies have garnered in trade:
Roberto Luongo – in June 2000. at age 21, was dealt to Florida by the NY I along with C Olli Jokinen for W Mark Parrish and C Oleg Kvasha … in June 2006, at age 27. was dealt by Florida to Vancouver along with D Lukáš Krajíček and a 6th rounder for F Todd Bertuzzi, D Bryan Allen and G Alex Auld. In March 2014, at age 35, he was traded back to Florida along with prospect Steven Anthony for G Jacob Markstrom and C Shawn Matthias
Ryan Miller – in Feb 2014, at age 34, he and F Steve Ott were dealt by Buffalo to St. Louis for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, Willim Carrier and “2 future draft picks.”
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Marc-Andrei Fleury – late in his career in July 2021, at age 37, was dealt by Vegas to Chicago in exchange for minor-league F Mikael Hakkarainen, making him the second Vezina winner af ter Dominic Hasek to be dealt the season after winning the trophy. In March 2022. at age 38, Chicago traded him to the Wild for a conditional 2022 2nd-rounder
Sergei Bobrovsky – in June 2012. at age 24, Philadelphia dealt him to Columbus for their 2nd rounder, a 2012 4th rounder and the Coyote’s 2013 4th rounder which Columbus had obtained earlier. Later would sign with Florida and most recently with the Leafs as a free agent.
Cory Scheider – in June 2013, at age 27 and at the draft Vancouver traded him to the Devils for the 9th overall pick (which turned out to be Bo Horvat)
Darcy Kuemper – in Feb 2018, at age 28, L.A. traded him to Arizona for G Scott Wedgewood and F Tobias Rieder – in July 2021, at age 31, Arizona traded him to Colorado for their 2022 1st rounder, a conditional 2024 3rd rounder and D Conor Timmins. In July 2022 signed with Washington as a free agent, and in June 2024, at age 34, was dealt back to L.A. for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Jacob Markstrom – in March 2014, at age 24, was dealt by Florida along with F Shawn Matthias to Vancouver for Luongo and Steven Anthorn (as mentioned above) … signed by Calgary in Oct 2020 as a free agent from the Canucks, and in June 2024, at age 34, was dealt to New Jersey for D Kevin Bahl and a 2025 1st rounder, witb the Flames withholding 31.25% of his salary. On June 30, 2026, at age 36, was dealt back to Florida along with Angus Crookshank for Jesper Boqvist, Evan Rodrigues and Ben Steeves.
Linus Ullmark – signed out of Buffalo as a free agent by Boston in July 2021, and in June 2024, at age 31, was traded to Ottawa for F Mark Kastelic and G Joonas Korpisalo and a 2024 1st rounder (their own original pick).
Thanks George. No absolute hauls here. Some decent returns in there
None of them were as good or decorated as Hellebuyck. He had an off year last year on a weak Winnipeg team. His work with the USA team speaks for itself. He will bring a second line C or RW, a first round draft choice, a prime prospect and another draft pick or prospect. Question is only which team or teams will be involved.
Fleury won a Vezina as well as 3 Cups, Bobrovsky won 2 Vezinas as well as a couple of Cups .. how many Cups again has Helebuyyck won?
No idea where Larkin ends up but as far as Hellebuyck goes…I’d say the leader is still Buffalo as the teams were close to a deal at draft time. Have heard whispers of SJ, NJ and even Utah by various websites (always take those for what they’re worth). I believe a deal consisting of perhaps UPL, McLeod and a top youngster for Helle and perhaps a higher prospect of their own going back. Chevy seems to have lost some leverage but he’s done very well in trades where that’s been the case before, such as the Dubois trade. Would love to pull a Daxon Rudolph or a Helenius from the Sabres in the deal but I don’t think Buffalo will give that much nor should they. UPL also has a no trade clause in effect but if Hellebuycks coming he’s gonna get moved regardless. He is a starter after all. The season will be here soon, the Jets need to do well on this or the entire future of this team swings to a rebuild I’m afraid. Cheers all.
As I said late yesterday:
UPL won’t go to the Peg. Gonna have to give them Ellis and that 1st!
Nah, Connor is a GOALIE!!!
Even Patrick freakin’ Whaaa did not get that much!
Ellis, Mrtka and Kulich should be enough!
I wouldn’t send that much Johnny. i would remove one of the 3.
But I’m not big on trading a bunch of quality assets for a goalie. Too unpredictable, and that includes Helley.
UPL had better #’s than him in regular season, but struggled in the playoffs. Helley has struggled in the last 3 playoffs the Jets played in. From below average, to downright bad once.
He was on fire in the Olympics including the gold medal game, the biggest game of his life. So big check mark there.
But he’s 34 as well, so a long career with great regular season #’s for the most part. Average in the playoffs. Big ticket for a player on the back 9.
I dunno, seems risky unless the cost to acquire is low IMO.
Larkin isn’t going to a rebuilding team. He wants a team that is a slam dunk to make the playoffs. Having said that, the situation isn’t just about playoff hockey. If it were then Carolina and Tampa would be on his list. There’s a team USA connection that seems to be overlooked too. Why are so many players from that team either asking for a trade or refusing to sign an extension? There’s something else going on.
MTL was in the final 4 last season. No team is a slam dunk to make the playoffs with injuries happening, look at FLA last season.
Ed, the first half of your post is a lot easier to agree with than the last.
How can there be a USA Olympic connection when those players are spread over a dozen teams? Isn’t the more logical answer that Larkin, Quinn Hughes and Hellybuyck want to play for a contender?
Part of Brady’s motivation may also have been that, in addition to a team mate telling him his Dad’s comments about Ullmark had gone over poorly with his Sens team mates.
I think the best deal out there for Wpg to trade Hellebuyck is to NJ:
To NJ: Hellebuyck
To Wpg: Dawson Mercer (for 2C), Kovacevic (RD), Jake Allen plus a 1st round pick.
Kovacevic is to balance the cap in and out plus Wpg could use a RD. NJ has 2 firsts in each of the next two drafts so they have the capital. Plus if they bring in Hellebuyck they still have the capital to trade for Quinn Hughes if he can’t reach an agreement with Minnesota and Hughes will be much more interested in joining his brothers with Hellebuyck there.
Also, the other main team interested in Hellebuyck is Buf and they can’t or won’t match the return above. Kulich and Norris are the 2C they might consider and both have health concerns which would steer Wpg away from them. Buf won’t give up Helenius and can’t blame them if he projects as a 1 or 2 C. Mrtka is a good RD prospect but is probably 2 years away from the NHL if he pans out.
Wpg are not going to trade Hellebuyck for lottery tickets, they want NHL caliber players as part of a return. Otherwise you have to look at a rebuild and Scheifele, Connor and Morrissey go on the block too.
Allen has a full NTC, would have to me Daws.
Man I would love Larkin on the bruins there’s your no. 1 centre. one of the fastest skaters in the league. Anyone ever heard of Charlie Trethewey? I’ve never heard of the guy but one site “Heavy Hockey network” says Sweeney’s kicked the tire on Charlie & a second rounder for Lohrei
John Apple,would rather package Lohrei with other assets to make a more significant deal. I believe Trethewey is a college player at BU!
Me too but I just was curious about this guy Trethewey.
No… No more prospects. This team has a million prospects and young guys they can access.
They’re not proven that they’ll do anything in the NHL, so rather have proven NHL talent. Stop asking for guys who may be busts..
Overlooked from late yesterday, HF30’s suggestion from these runaway contracts, reducing the maximum allowable % of the contract against the total cap.
Simple, effective.
And it just might fly as the NHLPA has more grinders than superstars.
LJ I’m not sure it would fly with the NHLPA. Their theory is that a riding tide lifts all boats and that if the top players get more money so will all the others. If not from their team then from another.
Howard, the rising tide is the salary cap, without which the distribution stagnates.
I think the nhlpa would be concerned this would lead owners to feel like they have less need to spend to the cap.
Owners spend to the cap partially because they are obliged to pay 50% of HRR to the players.
The cap ceiling and cap floor are simple +/- 15% of the midpoint of 50% HRR. Simply put if HRR is $10 the mid-point is $5 so the floor is $4.25 and the ceiling is $5.75 ( a boatload of zeros added of course)
The % paid to individual players only involves the actual distribution of money which as of now is capped at 20%.
In other words, most teams will almost always spend to the ceiling under pressure to win while some won’t, just as it is now.
I wouldn’t discount the Canes, I think they’re in the weeds for Helle and have their own issue with Nikishin who is a LHD but regularly plays his off side. I think the two Russians in Nikishin and Kochetchov ends up getting it done the week before camp. Jets finally get their stud dman they’ve been looking for.
I’m thinking that the Canes are waiting in the weeds on a Helle deal. A week before camp both teams resolve their roster dilemmas and Chevy flips the American goalie for a pair of Russians, Nikishin, (a LHD who plays his offside), and Kochetkov.
If the Sabres were going to trade for Hellebuyck it would have been done at the draft.I think that ship has sailed. As Mike Harrington said in The Buffalo News the Sabres should run from Hellebuyck because of his playoff record. Since 2018 his Stanley Cup record is 24-34. 2.90 gaa and .903 save pct. His last 3 post season trips he has lost 10 straight road playoff games with a 5.07 gaa and a .836 save percentage. This includes the 24-25 President Trophy team. The Sabres had the 3rd best save percentage in the regular season last season. UPL also has a 5 team no trade clause with the Jets more then likely on his list. The assets to trade for Hellebuyck would only weaken the team. No thank you.
👏👍👍
One team no one has mentioned that could be a dark horse for Hellebuyck’s services, is Pittsburgh. The Pens are a team that wants squeeze one more cup out of the Crosby core and legacy. They not only have the cap space for him but the draft and prospect capital to make an enticing offer to Winnipeg. They could put together a package without subtracting a key roster piece.
I’m in the camp of those not wanting Larkin in Montreal, I have 0 interest in him.
I also think Montembeault will be a regular again this year and while there are high hopes for Fowler, he doesn’t have much experience yet.
The Habs have no reason to retain a penny on Montembeault IF they trade him and I doubt the Oilers want to give up anybody that would fit him under the cap other than Podkolzin andeven Bowman wouldn’t do that.
I would have interest in Larkin but only at the right price. And at this point the Wings wouldn’t accept what the Habs would offer. If the Wings were willing to accept picks, prospects and mid level players for him a deal would have already been done. They want a top line player. Preferably a center.
At this point there’s no need for the Habs to give Monty away or retain salary. He’s only got one year left on his deal. Better to bring him back as the backup and hope he rebounds. And let Fowler get in lots of work in the AHL.
For Larkin, I can see it being about playoffs or at least a team showing a willingness to go all out. As far as the USA connection, his 3 choices all have some Olympic teammates. Vegas and Florida are also no tax states but don’t really have the cap space. Minnesota seems a possibility. Still think if Wings could get Hellebuyck then maybe Larkin changes mind. Honestly don’t see a fit in Utah. They’re loaded down the middle. Will be funny when a player forces a trade and wants to win but new team misses playoffs. Like JT Miller going to NY.