NHL Rumor Mill – September 12, 2026
Check out the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Chris Kreider, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During Thursday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said he believes the Buffalo Sabres remain interested in Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He also felt the Utah Mammoth and Carolina Hurricanes were “still around it.”
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Hellebuyck, 33, recently revealed that he requested a trade. Friedman said his list of preferred destinations is “much, much wider” than some other NHL players who have requested trades
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hello there, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. Friedman didn’t indicate how wide Hellebuyck’s trade list is, but it could be 10 teams, as that’s what his no-movement clause reverts to after this season.
Friedman also indicated he’s had “very mixed messaging” on the New Jersey Devils. He’d heard for a time that they weren’t interested in Hellebuyck, but some people believe they are.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: What I’ve read and heard is that the Devils intend to stick with the trio of Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich to start the season and see how things unfold. The Sabres, Mammoth, and Hurricanes also have more cap space and tradeable assets.
TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie believes free agent Chris Kreider could greatly help the Montreal Canadiens. The 35-year-old left winger became an unrestricted free agent this week after he and the Anaheim Ducks agreed to terminate his contract.
Lavoie believes the Canadiens have several factors that could entice Kreider. He has ties to the Habs president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, head coach Martin St. Louis, and director of sports medicine Jim Ramsay from their days with the New York Rangers.
Kreider could quickly fill the void left by Brendan Gallagher’s departure and could be an affordable signing on a bonus-laden contract. Lavoie doubted there would be any bad blood regarding Kreider accidentally injuring Carey Price during the 2014 playoffs, especially since none of the Habs players involved at that time remain with the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no secret the Canadiens seek a second-line forward (preferably a center) to skate alongside budding superstar Ivan Demidov. Kreider might be a solid short-term addition, but he may prefer to sign with a team closer to New York, where his family lives.
LA PRESSE: Speaking of the Canadiens, Mathias Brunet recently previewed the Canadiens’ top prospects ahead of their rookie camp this week.
Among them was right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford, who tallied 45 goals and 83 points in 55 games last season with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. The 20-year-old blueliner will play for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval, but will miss the opening months of the season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Brunet acknowledged Pickford’s offensive gifts, but believes he’ll be stuck behind Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, and Mike Matheson, and a defensive specialist role doesn’t suit him. He speculated that Pickford could be used as trade bait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unsubstantiated rumors earlier this year suggested Pickford may have been part of the Canadiens’ pitch to the Toronto Maple Leafs for winger Matthew Knies. Whether management intends to peddle him for immediate roster help remains to be seen.
THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline suggested Cam Talbot as a replacement for Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who could miss the start of this season with an injured shoulder.
Talbot, 39, is an unrestricted free agent after spending the last two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Portzline proposed signing him to a low-salary contract with performance bonuses. He also pointed out that Talbot was a teammate of Blue Jackets netminder Jett Greaves on Team Canada at this year’s World Championships.
One thing about Kreider’s situation that becomes a bit clearer as he remains unsigned as each day goes by since he cleared waivers, is that there was no “pre-arranged” deal awaiting the end of the waiver period.
George, could it be a smokescreen? Wait a little bit to avoid circumvention suspicions?I wonder if Drury would consider bringing him back to NY. Would be weird if he landed with a local rival. IMO he’s a better option in top 6 than Bjorkstrand.
They never seem to worry about that during the UFA-frenzy each spring. Over the years some very convoluted signings have been announced within seconds or minutes of the opening bell.
What the delay in his signing signals to me is that he has at least 2 offers that he’s weighing carefully before signing.
Why would he go back to the NYR? His release was an embarrassment to him as a professional. Wouldn t it be ironic if he s in Bostons opening night lineup against them!
Sr, the more you examine each potential landing spot, the more Boston makes sense. Wouldn ‘t surprise me to see that announced today or tomorrow.
I’d be good with him in Boston but they’d have work to do as they are 1 D ,and if they resign Potsy ,will have 2 forwards over the roster limit if I read correctly.
Sr. Why not? Best friend still on team. Fans mostly like him. Not sure if bad blood is there or not but like he said after trade (not release) he spent his whole adult life in NY. Can’t see him playing with rival Isles or Devils. Drury can’t put his ego ahead of team. Biggest obstacle will be cap space and fact they brought Bjorkstrand in.
With regards to Kreider, he’s 35 and he’s down to his last few seasons to win a cup. Considering he forfeited $4M to terminate his deal I think money will have nothing to do with his decision. It will all be close to home and shot at a cup.
He will have certain destinations in mind and if they haven’t contacted him then his agent will likely reach out to see if they have interest.
Looking at all the teams:
– 16 West teams eliminated as he wants to come back East.
Now in the East:
– Flo = zero cap room
– Tor = zero cap room
– TB = a bit further from family than I expect he’d like.
– Bos = may be close to childhood home but may not even make the playoffs and definitely aren’t considered a cup contender.
– Det = like Bos may not even make the playoffs and definitely aren’t considered a cup contender.
– Buf = one of the top contender for him.
– Mtl = another team that may be an option.
– Ott = unlikely as not that close to NY, plus may struggle to make the playoffs and not considered a cup contender.
– NYR = can you always go home? Plus are they enough of a contender? I wouldn’t think so.
– NYI = good location but are they enough of a contender to interest him?
– NJ = Could be the perfect fit. Adding him could allow them to include a fwd like Meier in a deal for Hellebuyck or even Q Hughes.
– Pit = zero chance IMO, rebuilding team.
– Phi = zero chance again, they already have a surplus of wingers and aren’t considered a contender yet.
– CBJ = No cap with Fantilli to sign.
– Was = No cap and a surplus of wingers.
– Car = probably up with NJ as most likely.
So I’d puts odds at if he wants to win 30% Car, 30% NJ, 10% each of Mtl and Buf. If he wants to go home 10% each of Bos and NYR.
Welp. Montreal it is
Can’t wait for the haters to chime in. This is a perfect stop gap place holder deal.
Kreider would not have signed if he thought the fallout would be too much.
As I posted in the other thread, good for the Habs and good for him to put to rest the theory that he’d want no part of the Great White North (something with which I have agreed all along.
With just more than $7.6 mil left in the kitty, they should have enough to re-up both Bolduc and Xhekaj – if they’re not dealt.
Great pickup for Habs. Kreider is a quality person who still has a lot left in the tank.He s a physical specimen!
I still believe both those remaining RFAs are last minute deals in case something else is brewing. I still think there are more players than seats as St.Louis would say.
Every time I try to build a 4 line roster someone points out another player I forgot we still had, haha.
Cole-Suzy-Kreider?
Slaf-Kapper-Demi
Bolduc-Newhook-Dach
Andy-Evans-Danault
2 Cs on line 3/4 for FOs but…
where is Tex? no room for Beck, Florian, etc…so a deal must be coming or do we just stock depth for a run and burn years off our prospects?
Larkin for Kap, Newhook, Balduc and a 2nd
Johnny Z, update that to Kapanen, Dach, Engstrom and a 2nd. Even throw in another prospect like Beck or Pickford.
No Dach, thank you!
So, you want to get a number 1 center for the above crap. No way that starts the conversation, but something along this line would.
Hage, Pickford, Kapanen, 1st, would get it done.
Anything short Det passes, plus there probably not thrilled at the idea of Larkin going to a divisional rival. Price would be higher because of that fact.