In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some bold trade predictions for 2026-27.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. We know that Werenski would’ve accepted a trade to Toronto this summer. The Maple Leafs could come calling if the Blue Jackets struggle again and he resurfaces in trade rumors.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Maple Leafs traded power forward Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets for scoring winger Kirill Marchenko. The Leafs could be interested if Werenski pops up in the rumor mill before the March 1 trade deadline, but they probably lack sufficient trade assets now to win a bidding war.

Fluto Shinzawa believed the Boston Bruins will trade Pavel Zacha. He’s a very good center, is UFA-eligible next summer, and could seek to double his $4.75 million AAV on the open market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha turns 30 in April, meaning his next contract probably won’t age well in its final years. However, the Bruins could re-sign him if they’re trying to maintain a playoff contender. Much depends on the performance of promising centers Fraser Minten and James Hagens.

Shayna Goldman forecasted the Tampa Bay Lightning would trade for a top-four defenseman. A lack of speed on the blueline contributed to the Lightning’s early playoff exits. They must acquire “a more uptempo option) to play alongside Victor Hedman or John Carlson, depending on where J.J. Moser slots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning will have over $9 million in accrued cap space by the March 1 trade deadline to add that top-four blueliner. The question is whether they have sufficient tradeable assets to pull it off. They traded their 2027 first-round pick, and The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked their prospect pipeline 25th overall.

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli made 32 predictions for the coming season.

He forecasted that Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will be traded to the Minnesota Wild before Christmas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli didn’t indicate what type of return the Red Wings would get from the Wild. The Wings were rumored to have sought Matt Boldy, but everyone knows that’s a non-starter. The Wings probably still want a top-six forward in return, so unless they lower their asking price, Larkin won’t be going to Minnesota.

Zach Werenski will dominate the 2027 NHL trade deadline. He has a year remaining on his contract. Seravalli believes it’s a situation the Blue Jackets must address.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski won’t be going anywhere if the Blue Jackets are in the thick of the playoff chase. If they’re out of it, however, they could entertain trade offers if he’s noncommittal about an extension.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault would be the first player traded in 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Marchenko-for-Knies swap. Technically, however, this happened before opening night of the regular season on Tuesday.

Montembeault could be peddled if he rebounds from last season’s poor performance. He might even get packaged with another player (Kirby Dach?) in a larger deal for a second-line center or winger.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin predicts Auston Matthews will tell Toronto Maple Leafs management he wants to move on after they miss the playoffs again, suggesting he’ll be moved before the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That scenario could become reality if the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he seeks a trade if they make the postseason but get eliminated in the first round again.

Larkin then predicts that Matthews gets traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster move that includes young winger Matvei Mitchkov being part of the return to Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Now that’s a spicy hot take, but if Matthew did request a trade, and if the Flyers were on his list of preferred destinations, Michkov would have to be part of the asking price.

The Winnipeg Jets will trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before November. He pointed out that the Buffalo Sabres have had a double-injury scare with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are trying to resolve their Alexander Nikishin problem.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres could revisit their interest in Hellebuyck if Luukkonen, Lyon, and Colten Ellis struggle between the pipes. As for the Hurricanes, Nikishin reportedly isn’t interested in signing with the Jets, so if he’s going to be part of a trade for Hellebuyck, he’ll have to be going to a different club in a three-team deal.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson will be the biggest names on the move by the March 1 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Wings are out of contention, they could put DeBrincat on the trade block. He reportedly wants to stay, but they could tear things down and rebuild if they’re about to extend their postseason drought to 11 games.

The Penguins could try to move Karlsson if they’re out of contention by the deadline. However, if they surprise us again and are contenders by March 1, he’s not going anywhere.

Larkin also believes the Red Wings will trade Dylan Larkin before Christmas, though he didn’t indicate where he’ll land.