NHL Rumor Mill – September 2, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest takes on Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Zachary Bolduc, and Arber Xhekaj.
THE LATEST TAKES ON QUINN HUGHES, CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, AND DYLAN LARKIN
SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli believes the Minnesota Wild should act quickly and re-sign Quinn Hughes or trade him if the two sides fail to agree to a new contract. He believes it would be a mistake to let the team and the season be held hostage by this storyline.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
If the Wild decide to trade him, Seravalli believes the New Jersey Devils remain Hughes’ destination of choice, reuniting him with his brothers Jack and Luke.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I still believe Hughes and the Wild will agree to a short-term contract extension. However, Seravalli is right that they can’t allow this to become an unnecessary distraction this season.
If Hughes doesn’t want to sign, the Wild should move him to the team of his choice for the best possible return and move on. He lacks no-trade protection, but since everyone believes he wants to play with his brothers in New Jersey, it’s unlikely other suitors will emerge to bid for a player who will walk next summer.
Seravalli also weighed in on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request. He believes the Jets are content to slow-play this situation. They could either get close to an acceptable return for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, or Hellebuyck honors his contract and starts this season with the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers, like TSN’s Martin Biron, believe Hellebuyck might not report to the Jets for training camp and might even sit out the entire season to force a trade. However, it’s a big risk that could backfire.
Withholding his services would be seen as a breach of contract, enabling the Jets to suspend him without pay, fine him, and toll his contract forward a year if he sits out the season. Trading him would avoid all this, but not for pennies on the dollar.
Holding out for a year also wouldn’t do Hellebuyck’s playing career much good. He’s 33 now and doesn’t have many quality years left to chase the Stanley Cup, so he cannot afford to risk an entire season at this stage.
The Jets were reportedly close to a deal in June that would’ve sent Hellebucyk to the Buffalo Sabres. Perhaps those two clubs will revisit those discussions if they haven’t already.
Turning to Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin’s trade request, Seravalli wondered if a trade would happen now that Steve Yzerman is no longer the general manager.
Larkin is a Michigan native who loved playing for the Red Wings, but didn’t get along with Yzerman. With the latter out of the picture, Seravalli suggested it could give Larkin a chance to save face by rescinding his request and giving it another year with the Wings under new management.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some pundits wondered if Larkin would pull his trade request after Yzerman’s was removed as GM, but Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported he hadn’t changed his mind.
Larkin’s status remains in limbo until the Wings hire a new general manager. His camp has kept quiet about this situation for months, but he’ll have to face questions in two weeks when training camp opens.
UPDATES ON THE CANADIENS’ ZACHARY BOLDUC AND ARBER XHEKAJ
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels believes Montreal Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc could sign a new contract before the players arrive for their training camp physicals on Sept. 16.
The 23-year-old winger completed his entry-level contract last season. Engels speculated that he could receive a three-year contract with an average annual value of around $4 million. He believes the young forward will take a considerable step forward in his development now that he’s had a full season under head coach Martin St. Louis.
Meanwhile, there’s been no word from the Canadiens or Arber Xhekaj’s camp regarding the status of the 25-year-old defenseman’s contract talks. He completed a two-year deal worth $1.3 million annually, but his ice time was reduced, and he was a frequent healthy scratch last season.
Engels reports Xhekaj wants to stay in Montreal and the Canadiens prefer to keep him. However, he speculates that Xhekaj might not be ready to commit yet until he has more certainty about his role with the Canadiens. He knows that the club could draw from its overcrowded blueline to address its need for a top-six forward. Such a move could involve Xhekaj or clear room for him to get more runway in Montreal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no secret that the Canadiens have been shopping for a forward to play alongside budding superstar Ivan Demidov on their second line.
The contract situations involving Bolduc and Xhekaj prompted Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette to speculate that both could be part of a “sign-and-trade” scenario to bring in a top-six forward. With training camp two weeks away, we should find out soon what’s in store for both players.
Why trade for Hughes if he only wishes to go to NJ?
No other team will wish to spend what the Wild did for 1 yr of Hughes, and NJ just has to wait till he is FA. If NJ trades for him this year, it will cost a bit less than what Quinn is worth, but the Wild will need to cut their losses, so they should agree to say: Mercer, Siegenthaler and a 1st
Johnny: Trading for Quinn now means the Devils would have him right away. They’re trying to bounce back and get their fans excited again. Reuniting the Hughes brothers now would be a huge draw.
Contract-wise, it means they would have him for this entire season plus whatever else he agrees to on his next contract. For example, say he wants to sign up to 2030 when brother Jack’s contract expires. That means they’ll have him for this season, plus three more.
It might also be best to acquire and sign him now at this season’s going rate. Next summer’s will be much higher.
That is the only leverage Minny has at this point if indeed the have been quietly forced to deal him to the Devils. But, really if that extra year isn’t important…(now or then) let him wait it out another season in Minny then get him for free. Honestly the Devils hold all the cards here, assuming all of this hinges on him playing with his brothers. The only way Minnesota keeps him and comes out with a postive is loading up now and going on a cup run.
The path of least resistance seems to be Quinn waiting out the year and signing with the Devils and joining his brothers, maybe Guerin should swallow a bit of pride, (certainly not in his character and would seemingly be the first time), and flip Boldy and Faber to get Jack and Luke into Minny for a unification. The cost is high but allows them to retain Quinn and arguably the triplets outvalue the pair of Boldy/Faber. It would allow the Dev’s more cap space down the road and they have a lot of other bullets in the chamber to compete as is.
If Quinn doesnt want to resign in MIN I think they should hold off on trading him and make a push for the cup. They won’t ever be in a better position than they are now. At least not with this roster.
Or they can trade him to NJ and get a return that no one will be happy with. Winning a cup would now would be worth it though.
Agree PajaDa
A trade of Hughes to NJ is not going to make the Wild better this season. A return likely is Mercer plus.
They paid a price to get Hughes but 2 full seasons to try and win a cup was not the worse way to spend assets. I think the Wild should just go for it.
Are you sure it won’t make the Wild better? Don’t discount the psychological boost associated with the Hughes’ (eventual) departure. A middle finger, if you will, to the “you guys are ok, but I wanna play with my brothers” mentality.
Well, the Wild can trade him wherever they want as a 1 year rental if they decide to. Has to be a decent return, even though it will be picks a prospects likely.
I always thought this whole brother thing was goofy and overblown. Then Brady went to Florida.
From Jersey’s side, do you want 3 brothers on the same team?
I luv my family, enjoy spending time together. Always play golf with my brother when I’m back home. Not sure I want to work with him, let alone 2 of him.
Kinda strange if you ask me, they have all summer to hang out. Be your own man. What are ya 12?
Are you kidding me? Minny isn’t even the best team in their division. They just aren’t deep and talented enough down the middle. Good team but the stars would have to align to win it all.
I am a Devils fan. Sooooo tired of this Quinn drama.
Any Preds fans with any insight on Evangelista?
Evangelista is a Bratt lite, little less speed, see’s the ice well, not horribly aggressive, but very intelligent. Best results would be accommodating a scorer, definitely top 6. Great pick up, probably 20 goals and 60-65 pts next year if he has any PP time.
Thanks!
Bogosian and Spurgeon are also FA next summer. Both will be 37 years old. Minnesota needs to keep Hughes. I don’t think it’s a money issue. If he wants out, deal him now to NJ.
To Wild: Siegenthaler, Mercer, Silayev and 2 firsts.
NJ will wait for next July 1st and get him at no charge, zero chance NJ gives up a package like that
Still say Larkin stays and Hellebuyck joins him in Detroit. Maybe then Wings go after Werenski.
Xhekaj,a to NYR for Raddysh
Slick – this would work, if Detroit was still a preferred destination. That reputation needs repair.
St pats. This would help. Detroit needs back to playoffs. They have a ton of prospects. Need to start getting established players.
Drive for 25. Not happening. Schneider has top 4 value. X will never be more than a 6/7 option.
As a Habs fan, no thanks with regards to Raddysh. If you want to talk Braden Schneider for Xhekaj then maybe.
If the Wings ever straightened out the GM situation they could be a team to watch . Would Larkin rescind his trade request if the Wings trade for Hellebuyck? They have the assets that could make it happen.
Wings last need is yet ANOTHER goalie! They are not in a compete now situation but a regroup and recoup situation. No need to spend a great amount for another old player.
Gary, unfortunately for the story of Detroit over the past 10 seasons – and since they last made the playoffs in 2015-16 – while they have more or less improved … gradually … after staggering from 2016-17 through to 2020-21, most of the rest of the Division they’re in have also improved, but at a consistently greater pace.
In their last playoff season, a full 82-game schedule in 2015-16, they played at a .567 clip to finish 3rd in the Atlantic, but lost the opening series to Tampa 4-1. After that the real struggles began:
2016-17 – .482 pace – 79 pts – missed playoffs by 16 pts
2017-18 – .445 pace – 73 pts – missed playoffs by 24 pts
2018-19 – .451 pace – 74 pts – missed playoffs by 24 pts
2019-20 – .275 pace – 39 pts – last in Atlantic in shortened 70 games
2020-21 – .429 pace – 56 pts – 2nd last in Discover Central shorted 56 games
2021-22 – .451 pace – 74 pts – missed playoffs by 26 pts
2022-23 – .488 pace – 80 pts – missed playoffs by 12 pts
2023-24 – .555 pace – 91 pts – missed by 0 pts (lost tie-breaker to Washington)
2024-25 – .524 pace – 86 pts – missed playoffs by 5 pts
2025-26 – .561 pace – 93 pts – missed playoffs by 7 pts
So, in order for them to get back into the Cup run this coming season, at least one of these Atlantic Division playoffs teams will have to falter and fall back … which one?
Buffalo – 109 pts; Tampa – 106 pts; Montreal – 106 pts; Boston – 100 pts; Ottawa – 99 pts.
Remember, too, that early prognostications have both Florida and Toronto also getting back into the thick of things, so if all 3 do it, which 3 will accommodate by being bad enough to fall out?
Then there’s the WC race which will involve improved teams in the Metro such as Washington, New Jersey and perhaps the NYI further gumming up the works.
I’m not sure Detroit really cares much about next season at the moment? Or at least doing anything rash to try and get in. Larkin has tied their hands, so they need to stay patient and figure it out from here. Everything needs to be on the table.
New GM, takes a step back and evaluates everything. Players, coaching at all levels, pro and amateur scouting. All of it. Seems like lots of old Wing players scattered about.
I would sure ask that question in the interview – do I have the authority to purge where I see necessary?
That’s what I would do. Let Larkin play of sit if he won’t expand his list. If they struggle move DeBrincat at the TDL. Build around a younger core, maybe even get a solid lottery pick, they are due some luck in that regard.
I don’t begrudge Larkin for asking for a trade, I get that he wants to win. But seems like he wants a ready made top contender vs a team he can help get to the top over the next few years. He tied the hands of the Wings as his choices can’t provide anything close to value which is a pretty hardcore approach. Back at ya IMO.
While it sucks for the Jets, Helley is doing it the right way. Stayed quiet, waited the summer and then went public. And the way I understand it, is way more open about where he goes. Fair enough.
Great stuff, Ray……but Larkin did not go public. Everything has come from the media and managers of the Wings and maybe another team that a Larkin trade was being discussed with. Larkin has not come forward and said anything other than the 4 teams he would waive for and that was to Wing management.
Entirely possible Johnny, teams will let the press know on occasion. Or a lower level person did it without approval. I would suggest agents do it even more often to gain leverage/force the issue. Even friends of a player who were told in confidence can get a little blabby I suppose.
Say what you want about Yzerman, he kept things close to the vest over the years. So if it came from the team, likely wasn’t from Stevie IMO.
I hope it works out in Detroit for the fans.
Werenski for sieder would be the only logical move for Columbus.
I think it would be a win win for both teams. However if Sieder has a NMC it will not happen.
Strangely, he does not. I say strangely because, for whatever reason, a full NMC was given to Chiarot while Faulk has a 15-team modified NTC!
Just another unfathomable quirk in the reign of Yzerman.
George O Faulk’s contract was from the Blues which came over in the trade.
Ahh, thanks for the clarification, Snold49.
Even so, it looks a bit strange to see a top pairing D (on most teams) without any movement protection whatsoever, and two comparative lesser-lights having such clauses.
Head scratcher with Evangelista. Just coming into his own- 3 years in and only 24 . Definitely some pro level offensive ability -PP. He will fit nicely with Meir or Bratt and capable of clicking with Jack.
For a a late first and a middling second two years from now . Something is up. Looks like a steal on paper . He is pegged for a breakout year
Minnesota should accept whatever Quinn wants- 3 years @$20m. Get the paperwork ready.
That means they have him for the next 4 and can deal with the situation down the road. What happens if Jack gets a career ending injury. Possible with his track record.
4 years is a lifetime in the NHL
He will still have another brother to play with! Why push the issue down the road. Move him now,get Larkin and go on. Wild have never had a true first line center in their existence!
I would love to see Cheveldayoff play hardball with Hellebuyck. I believe if Hellebuyck doesn’t report to TC and the Jets suspend him, then his cap hit also comes off their books.
He is two season in on a seven year deal with a NTC and then he requests a trade. As a NHL fan I’m sick of players doing this! Let Hellebuyck sit and rot and not collecting a paycheck.
Where can someone find out the details to a Hellebuyck’s modified 10 trade list that kicks in next season? Specifically do the Jets have to request it? Or does Hellebuyck have to submit a list at the beginning of the season, and if no list is submitted than the MNTC is forfeited that season?
If Helle sits for a season the Jets will see their asset diminish horribly, the best opportunity is to work the phones hard for two weeks and get this completed by training camp to keep moral high in Jetville and the focus on the season ahead. Play the 4-5 contending teams against one another and take the best offer by sept 15th, it’ll probably net them a roster player and two other assets, (pick/prospect), that they can parlay into another roster player within the next 3-4 months if need be. Bite the bullet Chevy and get it done, the fans are getting super restless and they buy the tickets. Many in Manitoba are getting their torches and pitchforks ready. GM’s may want to steer clear of a disgruntled hold out player that can negatively impact a locker room culture, especially on a contending team.
Gotta say, I’m kinda sick of it to KevJam. I get players wanting to win and wanting to control where they work and live after putting in their time. We in the real world have the same choices after all.
But, to your point, then don’t sign the long extension. I suppose some fans wouldn’t like that either.
As I said above, Helley is at least giving the Jets a better opportunity to recoup a decent return. The Larkin thing rubs me the wrong way.
Icejester makes a good point, the asste value does go down if he doesn’t play for a long stretch.
Tough spot to be in.
The asset value does go down, but at the same time the Jets don’t have Hellebuyck’s cap hit on their books and that frees up cap space to bring in other assets, especially at the trade deadline.
The Jets already have their replacement for Hellebuyck in Skinner who they got AFTER Hellebuyck submitted his trade request.
Wanting revenge on a player for respectfully requesting a trade and being very civil about it and working with the GM to fulfill that trade is fandom at it’s worst.
What is so respectful about two years into a seven year contract demanding a trade and threatening to sit until a trade is granted? IMO that is neither respectful or civil.
What Tkachuck did in Ottawa was respect. Informing the GM that he didn’t plan on signing an extension BEFORE signing a long term contract.
Could the wild, devils, and wings work out a 3 way deal? Hughes obviously wants to be with his brothers so he goes to NJ. Larkin to the Wild. Maybe someone like Mercer to the wings. Just as the base of the deal obviously picks and some other players to make it even but everyone gets a little something and gets rid of their issues? I think the Wild would have to also get some kind of middle of the pack d man to cover some of those minutes in any deal they would be losing the best player after all