NHL Rumor Mill – September 10, 2026
Sabres star Tage Thompson would love to have Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck as a teammate, the latest Blue Jackets speculation, and suggested landing spots for Chris Kreider in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TAGE THOMPSON STUMPS FOR CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Traikos reports Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson made no secret that he’d love for his club to acquire Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Thompson said he and his Team USA teammates regularly text with Hellebuyck in their group chat. Since the Jets goaltender’s trade request has gone public, Thompson said he’d love to have him in Buffalo.
“He’s the best in the world,” Thompson said of Hellebuyck. “There’s things that are out of your control. We’d love to have him, but if that doesn’t happen, then we just move forward with the group we got.”
The Sabres and Jets reportedly held trade discussions involving Hellebuyck before the 2026 NHL Draft, but the two sides failed to find common ground on a deal. However, it’s believed the two sides have re-engaged in their talks as the regular season approaches. Traikos believes any potential deal would have to include one of the Sabres’ goaltenders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Where the Sabres and Jets have better luck reaching a deal remains to be seen. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman last week indicated that trade options open to the Jets in June might not be available to them now.
In case you’re wondering, Thompson’s comments and his texting with Hellebuyck don’t violate the NHL’s anti-tampering rules. Those restrictions apply to coaches, general managers, team owners, and other team executives.
THE LATEST ON THE BLUE JACKETS
THE SICK PODCAST: Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell acknowledged that he’s received trade offers for Kirill Marchenko. However, he hasn’t received one yet that would convince him to part with the 26-year-old scoring winger.
Marchenko is reportedly unwilling to sign a contract extension, and his agent has made that clear on social media. However, Waddell indicated he won’t move the winger for less than his desired return.
THE HOCKEY WRITERS: Mark Scheig reports Waddell remains “100% confident” that a new contract for center Adam Fantilli will get done. “It’s not imminent, but we’re talking on a pretty regular basis now. I talked to his agent over the weekend and going to talk again here today or tomorrow.”
Fantilli, 21, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchenko was the subject of trade speculation from late June into late July. That speculation faded throughout August, but his absence from the club’s annual golf tournament earlier this week has resurrected them. However, he’s contractually bound to report to training camp unless someone meets Waddell’s asking price.
Fantilli also skipped the golf tournament, prompting some to wonder if it’s time to worry about the status of his contract negotiations. The young center has little leverage except withholding his services, a tactic that rarely ends well for players who’ve gone that route.
WHERE COULD CHRIS KREIDER LAND?
THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed what he considers to be the five best landing spots for Chris Kreider. The 35-year-old winger is on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Kreider reportedly wants to return to the Eastern Conference to be closer to his family in the New York area. Wegman listed the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff listed why adding Chris Kreider might make sense for the Red Wings and why he wouldn’t.
The Red Wings need more scoring. However, they’re not geographically close to the New York area, and they haven’t been in the playoffs for a decade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you’re wondering why there are no Canadian teams on that list, it’s down to geography. Kreider probably prefers remaining in the United States.
The Bruins and Flyers are more in the market for top-six centers, but they could opt for a scoring winger in the short term. The Sabres are more likely to give their young players more ice time. The Hurricanes and Lightning could be too far from home for Kreider’s liking.
Kreider could be a good short-term fit for the New York Islanders. Yes, I appreciate the rivalry between the Isles and Rangers, but the Isles need more scoring and didn’t really address that issue this summer.
It’s doubtful Kreider lands with the New Jersey Devils after their offseason acquisitions of Evan Rodrigues, Anthony Mantha, and Luke Evangelista. They also have Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, and Arseny Gritsyuk as their top three left wingers.
Boston likely makes the most sense for Kreider especially if he wants a top 6 spot slotting in a LW2.
Buffalo will have a hard time slotting him into the top 9 with all their youth who have more upside.
NJ could be an alternative if they trade for Hughes, since a LW might be part of the package
Krieder to the Isles he wants to be close to his family can’t get much closer than L.I. He is on waivers just pick him up would come with DoBoer as coach they will improve.Outside of Carolina who is a sure cup contender? Buffalo one hit wonder Flyers stop it Bruins not happening.Tampa maybe but it is not close to home.
Pete,Kreider grew up 15 miles from Boston.LI is worlds away!
He still owns a house in NY
Well, he gets to pick the best offer now … he just cleared waivers https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ducks-chris-kreider-clears-waivers-enters-unrestricted-free-agency/
Given the speculation, we have Larkin redux with Krieder. Oh boy.
Kreider to BUF makes a lot of sense to me plus it would help offset the loss of Tuch. I could see it happening.
Teams can never have enough quality players which Kreider is. The Isles makes a lot of sense other than they are the weakest team between all the eastern teams close to NYC (assuming that his goal). Both Philly and the Caps would be good choices…he could seamlessly fit in either team which play a style suited to his. Nice wallet to find for whoever signs him.
Look up the video where Kreider is waist deep in a swimming pool and jumps out onto the deck landing feet first. Quite a testament to core strength
Eastern teams with a poor PP would be a fit -Philadelphia Islanders come to mind
“Detroit has asked for permission [to interview GM candidates] but hasn’t interviewed them,” Friedman shared on 32 Thoughts.
“Yes, you read that correctly: the Red Wings have had nearly three months to hire a GM and haven’t even bothered to follow up on candidates they’ve asked permission to interview.”
WT Bloody H!!!!!!!
CBJ may have to get Marchenko and his agent to force their hand. Waddell said today he wants to replace Marchenko’s offense for the same money. Two issues with that 1) name a guy that’s similar age and similar production and also similar money as Marchenko (I can’t think of one, especially one potentially available) and 2) CBJ needs more cap to sign Fantilli.
CBJ has a diminishing (unhappy) asset and if Marchenko does not report to camp then his value drops more.
They’d be better off to get what they can, especially if it includes a backup goalie or another defenseman, and use the cap to sign Fantilli. Any additional young players, picks or prospects acquired are all you’ll get when in this situation.
I still think Mtl sending Monty with 50% retained, Struble and Kapanen is more than a fair return. Those three would slot in your lineup and free up more than $2M with the $12 they have to sign Fantilli
It is highly likely the Habs made an offer for Marchenko, and it clearly wasn’t accepted. Why overpay? The Habs can just wait and see if Columbus is still in the playoff race and see if a trade makes sense for them and CBJ at that time.
Drive for 25
Kapanen- $942,500
Struble- $1,412,500
Monty 50%- $1,575,00
total- $3,930,000
Marchenko $3,850,00
CBJ has $80,000 more for Fantilli not 2M
Your math there is correct but you have to also consider that the CBJ have 22 players on their roster with the $12.6M in space. If they add Monty then Copley and his $850K goes to the AHL. Also if they added Struble then Christiansen and his $975K goes down too.
So it would be,
Salary in:
Kapanen $0.942M
Struble $1.412M
Monty $1.575M
Total = $3.929M
Salary out:
Marchenko $3.85M
Copley $0.850M
Christiansen $0.975M
Total = $5.675
Difference = $1.746M
Would allow CBJ to sign Fantilli for up to $14.39M/yr
With the way teams are willing to throw money at veterans over 30 years old,the Kreider situation is quite interesting. I would think at least a 4 year contract would be a starting point. With the ever rising salary cap now,how much money do you want to invest in Kreider on a player on the downward side of his career?
Regarding those 5 locations for Kreider:
– Bos = unlikely since he wants to win and Bos might likely be 7-8 in the division.
– Tampa = might be too far from the east cities he’s targeting.
– Phi = unlikely as they have a surplus of wingers already.
– Buf = possible but can they do that and also still trade for Hellebuyck?
– Car = with their cap space and team status they might be the favorite.
Other East teams:
– Ott and Mtl might be interested but him coming to Canada might be unlikely.
– Flo = no cap room
– Was = no need for another winger.
– NYI = good fit
– NJ = maybe, like Buf they may especially need a winger if they send one out in a Hellebuyck trade.
– NYR = unlikely after how he was forced out by Drury.
– Pit = not a cup contender so unlikely
– Det = possible but similar situation as detailed above about Bos.
– CBJ = no cap with Fantilli taking what they have left.
– Tor = no cap space either.
So basically not a lot of options for Kreider unless other things happen elsewhere.
Not sure where “forced out of NY “ comes from, but not the case. He was traded. Not forced.
He had nothing bad to say about Drury or the organization and vice versa. As a matter of fact, it was expressed by both sides what they meant to each other.
All that being said, I doubt NY brings him back but it would make a ton of sense from Kreiders perspective if they did.
I was going off my memory of reading stories about Kreider leaving NY. He did waive a 15 team NTC to go to Ana. I was thinking he was forced out like Barclay Goodrow was when he was put on waivers and how Trouba was threatened with waivers. Maybe I’m wrong and he left on good terms.
While it is unlikely Montreal could be considered a landing spot for Kreider. He has a relationship with Jeff Gorton from their NYR days and he played with Martin St.Louis. Again, high unlikely, but never say never…
My guess is that the issue is not geography; rather it’s not wanting to go through customs each time he wants to go home for a visit.
And these days, wouldn’t we understand?
Not so sure about the NYI since they have 7 forwards over the age of 30?