NHL Rumor Mill – September 4, 2026
Check out the latest on Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Red Wings center Dylan Larkin in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently looked at which goaltenders the Winnipeg Jets might target to replace Connor Hellebuyck, who publicly revealed his trade request last week.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Pickings are slim in the free-agent market, with the best options being 29-year-old Connor Ingram and 39-year-old Cam Talbot.
Ates also looked at what the Jets could get from several teams suggested as trade destinations for Hellebuyck in the rumor mill. Those clubs include the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Mammoth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ingram is the best option in a thin free-agent market, but adding him would give the Jets the same goalie tandem the Edmonton Oilers started last season with, after signing Stuart Skinner in July.
Getting a goalie via trade is the best option. I’m ruling out the Golden Knights because they lack the cap space and tradeable assets to acquire Hellebuyck. The Devils are limited in cap space and goalie depth, carrying a trio of backups in Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich.
The Sabres could offer up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, provided the Jets aren’t on his five-team no-trade list. The Mammoth could propose Karel Vejmelka for Hellebuyck. Still, both have had consistency issues that could hurt their trade value.
Brandon Bussi or Pyotr Kochetkov of the Hurricanes could be tempting. However, we don’t know if Bussi is for real or a one-year wonder, while Kochetkov has struggled to establish himself as a reliable starter. Yaroslav Askarov has the most potential and could interest the Jets most, but the Sharks might not want to part with him.
What do you think, folks? Feel free to weigh in on this topic in the comments section below.
TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie reports Dylan Larkin has not added the Montreal Canadiens to his list of preferred trade destinations.
Lavoie considers this to be “extremely unfortunate.” If Larkin is serious about winning the Stanley Cup, Montreal would be the place to do so. He also pointed out that the Canadiens have the trade capital to make an enticing trade offer to the Red Wings.
It’s believed the Red Wings seek a first-line center in return for Larkin. However, Lavoie believes a trade won’t happen until the Wings lower their asking price and Larkin expands his trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin has requested a trade to the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers. The Dallas Stars are also rumored to be on his list.
Based on that, Larkin’s preference seems to be joining a team in the United States. That rules out Montreal or the other seven Canadian cities.
If i was Jim Nill, I would figure out how to get Larkin. Maybe offer Roope Hintz as a conversation starter
Roope does possess one of those pesky NMC’s. Why would he waive that to Detroit?????
You assume that Larkin has added Dallas to his list of preferred destinations. At this time, that is only a rumor. Even if he has, we have to ask if Nill can send off enough players to afford both Larkin and Robertson. Don’t forget that Borque was sent to Nashville in a salary dump trade to clear enough cap space to sign Robertson.
Getting a goaltender back will not be the key for any Jets trade. Simply a position swap for them. Jets will get a 1st rd pick, a prospect, a salary dump and a goalie out of the deal.
UPL or Askarov will do for the goalie swap. UPL helps make the money work. It will be the other pieces that make the deal work for the Jets.
Has to be done before training camp. Can’t have this hanging over the start of the season.