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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.