NHL Rumor Mill – September 14, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, it’s the latest on Red Wings blueliner Simon Edvinsson, Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff recently cited Simon Edvisson as telling the Swedish website Aftonbladet that he received interest this summer from several clubs regarding a potential offer sheet.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images).
The 22-year-old Red Wings defenseman is a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract last season.
Edvinsson indicated that he’s not interested in signing with another team despite the Red Wings’ turmoil and uncertainty this summer. “I love Detroit, and I love the fans,” Edvinsson said. “Detroit is the place closest to my heart, absolutely. I love everything here. Now you want to have a talk with whoever becomes GM and see what happens.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks wondered if another club might take advantage of the situation and sign Edvinsson to an offer sheet. As I’ve noted whenever someone proposes such a gambit, the player has to be open to signing. If he’s not, it’s a waste of time.
Edvinsson’s contract negotiations with the Red Wings are in limbo until the club gets around to hiring a new general manager. He’s indicated he’ll report to training camp, but he can’t participate until he’s under contract.
The Red Wings may not have to worry about Edvinsson signing elsewhere, but that doesn’t excuse how badly they’ve botched their search for a new general manager. Edvinsson’s situation could’ve ended badly for them if he wasn’t so loyal to the team and the city.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander reports questions continue to swirl about defenseman Alexander Nikishin as the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to open training camp on Thursday.
Nikishin, 24, remains an unsigned restricted free agent. That’s generated speculation about whether he’ll be traded, signed to a short-term bridge deal, or hold out when training camp begins.
If he’s traded, the Hurricanes will need a replacement. Alexander suggested prospect Charles Alexis Legault, who saw action in 12 regular-season games with the Hurricanes last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The article is mostly about Legault’s career and why he might be a solid replacement for Nikishin if the latter gets traded. Nevertheless, the uncertainty about Nikishin’s future will increasingly make him a topic of discussion in the rumor mill.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio wondered if the St. Louis Blues might pivot to Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei if they’re unable to pry Alexander Nikishin away from the Hurricanes.
Gaudio believes Lohrei would be cheaper to acquire and more affordable given his $3.2 million AAV for this season. The 25-year-old has said he’d love to stay in Boston and compete for his spot on the Bruins’ blueline, but he could have a difficult time with veterans Nikita Zadorov and Hampus Lindholm on the left side.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei’s availability could depend on his performance during training camp and postseason play. Even then, the Bruins could hang onto him to start the season and see how things unfold.
Sure, the GM search is a disaster, however, why didnt Yzerman get this done when he was still the GM? Isnt that the bigger problem just as it was in Anaheim?
I will CONSTANTLY OFFER UP Stan Bowman of the
Oilers as Yzermans replacement. 57,000 signatures
on a petition AGAINST the signing of Alex Formenton.
From bringing in Bowman, to hiring Babcock, and now Formenton, what a disaster in Edmonton. I can’t help but cheer against this team after those moves. Would be so disappointing to be an Oilers fan
The Oilers aren’t a disaster.
The Red Wings aren’t a disaster.
This catastrophizing is amazing to me. Every thing now is a “disaster!”.
I’ll go out on a limb and predict:
The Wings will get a GM in place before the season starts.
Edvinsson will be signed. They could simply let Horcoff do this, but Edvinsson camp are likely the ones waiting, but that’s just a guess. Fair enough.
Larkin’s a goof, and started this ball rolling.
The Oilers will be a contender again, and if they stay healthy come playoff time will have a shot at the cup.
Babcock is a hard ass, and on the far end of the hard ass spectrum. No doubt about that. But he knows the game as well as anyone, and the Oilers top guys asked for someone like him. That includes Hyman who credits Babcock for helping his career while in Toronto.
Well, they got what they asked for, so pretty darn sure they will deal with it.
Formention is for depth in case of injury. I’m been very critical of all 5 of those players involved, and didn’t like the verdict. They did a very bad thing IMO, regardless of the verdict.
But they also served their suspensions, and of the 5, Formention is the least bad. Hockey Canada cleared him and put him in for immediate reinstatement.
Still think some of the others, McLeod in particular, deserved a harsher penalty. But that’s just me.
Ray Bark the book on Babcock is that he takes care of the top players and craps all over the bottom 6 forwards and 5-6 defensemen and goalies that are struggling. Used Marner as a scapegoat in Toronto. Wore out his welcome in CBJ before the season even started.
I’ll just say that Ray pretty much nailed it for me on every point.
I will add though. That Lyle’s points on the Detroit situation are pretty valid though. IF Detroit has just waited and taken their time on purpose, well then fine. “not a disaster”. But it sure looks like a bumbling clumsy way of doing things. And yes, they’re very lucky this young D man wants to be a part of it.
Sr, agree the Marner thing is weird and I wouldn’t do that.
Columbus, that’s a whatever for me. He asked to see their pictures on their phones. If anyone asks to see mine, I hand it over. But I’m not a big picture taker. Mostly my, G Kids, my dogs and fish I’ve caught.
Babcock is going to hard on the players and brutally honest. That ain’t for everyone. As far as tenders, it is supposedly one of the reasons Anderson came to Edmonton. Said Babcock was great when he struggled in Toronto.
He isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but some guys seem to like him, or at least respect him.
He takes care of the top players but craps on the bottom 6 but also crapped on Marner? Makes no sense.
“He asked to see their pictures on their phones.”
There’s a difference between your boss asking to see your pictures and your buddy asking, no?
I’ve read a lot of chatter that Yzerman did have deals “agreed to in principle” over the last year but they were vetoed or stalled by the owner.
Are those rumors all true? Not sure, but it makes you wonder if the owner’s over-involvement is part of the reason that Detroit is having a hard time filling the GM spot.
Sure… every owner has final say for their team, but there is a fine line between oversight and meddling.
True that folyed7.
I also heard, what are unsubstantiated rumors, of the senior Illich not wanting to go into the rebuild during the end of Holland’s tenure in Detroit. The reason being is he knew he wasn’t going to be around much longer and wanted the team to keep trying to win now. I can get with that. Might do the same in that position.
Hey, if you own a team you get to do what you want with it, but usually doesn’t work out.
“Edvinsson indicated that he’s not interested in signing with another team despite the Red Wings’ turmoil and uncertainty this summer”
While lack of new GM is the reason floated around, Yzerman is a senior advisor and the owner, Chris Ilitch makes the final decision anyways, so a contract with Edvinsson can be signed.
By the same token a Larkin trade can happen with Illitch authorization.
Why did Stan bowmen get a freebie from the oiler fans when he was hired. He chose to ignore his situation in Chicago and that person went on to assault a minor.
Formenton was proven innocence in a court of law. I’m not saying there was not bad decisions made but should we not trust the court of law and let this person live his life as an innocent man?
To clarify, Bowman overlooked the assault of one of his players, not a minor. Still bad, but it’s important to have your facts straight.
Bowman’s case is different because he worked with Kyle Beach and others in taking steps to own the situation and learn from it. Kyle Beach himself felt that Bowman deserved another chance based on the actions taken. Bowman got another chance because the victim vouched for him.
I agree EDM appears desperate, but Formenton deserves a shot because he wasn’t found guilty of anything. I’ve never heard anyone say Babcock took responsibility for anything. From his introductory presser he showed that he’s the same wolf in sheep’s closing.
Moreover, with regards to Babcock, with the teams he coached it can be argued they should have had more success, and that he’s simply overrated as a coach. I would tend to agree.
Pete “went on to assault a minor.” 2013, Houghton Michigan hockey camp. The Blackhawks were less than forthcoming about what went on, which allowed Aldrich to continue his pattern of behavior elsewhere. The two assaults in 2012 at Miami University were against adults.
Aldrich reported to Coach Q, and Q gave him a positive performance evaluation, which Aldrich shared with his new employer. So if you want to point fingers, that is the direction.
Yes, Bowman should have done more and he lost his job because of it. The question is how long should he have been kept out of the NHL. If folks think forever, OK, you’re entitled to your opinion.
Was his punishment fair? I would have preferred longer, but the league did what it thought was appropriate. Coach Q was out of the NHL longer, and I think that was right as well, but I also thought that should have been longer.
Addressing reporters after his signing, Formenton did not issue an apology, but mentioned that the past several years were difficult and that there are “lots of lessons to take from it moving forward”.
Regardless of the fact he was legally acquitted, there are still character issues with the player that indicate his inability to accept responsibility for at least putting himself in this position to begin with. And again, regardless of his legal status, I can’t imagine a team wanting that distraction for a 3rd liner. The Bowman and Babcock things are just more noise. If I’m a pending free agent, the noise is something I would consider when making a decision about my future.
Did Formenton or any of the other cowards take responsibility? They know they committed a sin. Let’s call it as it is. Even a elementary kid would know something sinister took place. Think about the victim and her mental state pal. They should be doing time. Go back to your little gentleman’s club.
Nav.
It was a healthy serving of non-disclosure agreements all around on this one. I doubt you’ll ever hear a word about this again, except from maybe Rick Westhead who loves talking about it.
I hope you are living a perfect life on your high horse.
The people involved were all willing and a court found them innocent of the accused crime. It is time to move on and let all involved continue to move forward.
The victims were the horny kids that were presented with a hornier woman. Sins can be forgiven except for by people like you.
I’m fine with Nav’s opinion, I agree these guys deserved punishment, though I’m not a religious guy so don’t use the word sin much.
No idea if he took responsibility publicly.
They were not found innocent, that would have been exonerated. That isn’t what happened. There wasn’t enough evidence to convict. Big difference.
Johnny Z, you have no clue. Have a hard time getting a date when you were young? You seem to have a certain opinion of women that I don’t think is based in reality.
To Nav’s point they haven’t done anything to deserve forgiveness, at least publicly. From what I can recall from my alter boy and church going days, I’m pretty sure you need to atone for your sins first.
That part seems to be missing for some of these guys and the discussion on this.
Not all 5 of these guys did the same thing, hence the difference in suspensions. Shouldn’t judge them all the same either.
They served their suspensions and can play again. Doesn’t mean you need to like them, or what the NHL is doing.
Why do the Canes want to move Nikishin ? Because he wants a market contract . He has missed out on at least one for his career and needs to ask for the money on this agreement
Unless he wants to be the highest paid on the team sign him. He is in his prime years and a solid defender
Not a rumor, but I really like the Ostlund signing. Plenty of upside there and skill in the third line.
Winnipeg Jets Baffled By Low-Ball Connor Hellebuyck Trade Offers
Goalies just do not have much as skaters in perceived value! Chevy is going to settle for a little less than what he wants. Looks like Carolina has the best chance of getting Helly with an offer of Nikishin and one of their tandem……..I would keep Bussi.
Niki, Kochetkov and a 3rd is well enough!
Two trade scenarios for Connor Hellebuyck
Oil trade Howard Savoie and a first turns to 2 firsts if win cup this year
Carolina trades Nikishin and the Bus for Hellebuyck
Two teams supposedly he agree too.
As far as the kid in Edmonton being signed leave it alone nobody knows went on stop pretending you do it’s ridiculous. Nothing ever is clear cut always way more to the story.