NHL Rumor Mill – May 14, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: what’s next for the Wild, more speculation about Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, and potential cost-cutting trade candidates for the Stars.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE WILD?
ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looks at what’s ahead for the Minnesota Wild following their second-round elimination by the Colorado Avalanche.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin has eight players slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer. They include Vladimir Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, Nick Foligno, Marcus Johansson, Michael McCarron, Zach Bogosian, and Jeff Petry.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild have just over $13.5 million in projected salary-cap space for 2026-27, with 17 active roster players under contract.
Zuccarello should be back for sure, given his value to the Wild. Johansson and Tarasenko might also return on affordable short-term deals if they remain interested in playing for a contender. McCarron’s physical style could also earn him a new contract.
Clark believes the Wild must consider adding top-six help. He noted that they will have limited cap space for next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that Guerin was in the market for a first or second-line center before the March trade deadline. The Wild were linked to Vincent Trocheck, but there’s no certainty the 33-year-old New York Rangers center would agree to be traded to Minnesota when his preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference.
Guerin must balance his need to add a center for his top-two forward lines with signing some of those pending UFAs to affordable contracts.
THE LATEST MATTHEW KNIES SPECULATION
TSN: During an appearance on “Overdrive” with Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan, Chris Johnston discussed the potential trade strategies this summer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Among them was what type of return Matthew Knies might fetch in the trade market.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).
Knies surfaced in the rumor mill before the March trade deadline as former Leafs general manager Brad Treliving was reportedly listening to offers for the 24-year-old power forward.
Johnston wondered if new Maple Leafs GM John Chayka would reopen those Knies discussions. He believes a key part of that deal would be what the Leafs would get back for a defenseman if they’re going to take a forward with the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.
Asked why Knies’ name came up in the trade market before the March deadline, Johnston said his lack of no-trade protection was the biggest factor. Trying to move someone like William Nylander would be difficult because his no-movement clause limits where he might prefer to go.
Johnston said he spoke with someone who works for an NHL team who claimed they would be willing to give up more for Knies than for Leafs superstar Auston Matthews. That’s because Matthews has only two years left on his deal, while they would have five years of Knies in his prime. Johnston claimed one team offered six pieces for Knies before the trade deadline, but it wasn’t good enough for Treliving.
There’s a new front office in Toronto now, and they might not be as willing to move Knies. However, Johnston isn’t ruling it out.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those six pieces were probably mostly draft picks and prospects, whereas Treliving was seeking a return that would provide more immediate help for his struggling roster.
Recent reports suggest Chayka thinks highly of Knies and doesn’t seem keen to move him. We’ll see if that’s the case as the offseason unfolds.
WHICH MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS STARS COULD BECOME COST-CUTTING CANDIDATES?
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos listed four players the Stars could trade to create enough cap space to sign winger Jason Robertson to a new contract.
Robertson, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who is also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He’s completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. Robertson could seek a deal comparable to the eight-year, $96 million contract ($12 million AAV) signed by teammate Mikko Rantanen last year.
Assimakopoulos listed forwards Radek Faksa ($2 million annually through 2027-28), Sam Steel (one year at $2.1 million), and defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin (one year, $3.25 million) and Tyler Myers (one year, $1.5 million) as potential trade candidates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars have a projected $11 million in cap space for next season with 19 active roster players signed. How much Robertson gets will determine which (or how many) of those four will be moved.
Myers seems the most likely, as he wasn’t a good fit after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks before the trade deadline. However, his struggles with the Stars could also hurt his trade value.
could see Myers getting bought out, especially after being a healthy scratch in the playoffs. but that barely leaves any space to resign Robertson. good luck getting other teams to bite on Lyubishkin’s contract w/o giving up a 1st and top prospect, or having to take a bad contract back. Faksa’s injuries might damper interest from other teams
Guerin also needs to reserve cap space for 2027-28 if he could get Quinn Hughes to resign, which would take the remainder of cap space (including whatever the cap goes up to for that season). so tough sledding for Guerin. There downfall came down to injuries, in the series vs the Avs. Would have been a closer series if Eriksson-Ek and Brodin were able to play
I think the market value was set with Dumba. 2nd round pick sweetener to move him would be my guess.
Myers only has a $1.5M cap hit! But OH! That pesky NMC!!!!! He should be kept.
Lyubushkin would have to be moved, maybe they get away with retaining half his salary and trading for FCs. That saves $1.625M
I think there are a handful of teams that would take Lyubishkins contract of Dallas´hands for the right price, doubt it would be that expensive
You don’t trade Knies unless you are in the position for a full tear down.
Toronto fits that description. Worst management in North American professional sports. What a waste of talent.
Would you take Owen Power for Knies?
I would make that deal tomorrow. Question though is, who takes Power’s spot in the Sabres’ top 4 defensive corps? That is another deal to be made. Money left over for Tuch’s new contract.
Power and Greenway for Knies and Carlo
No way Sabres make that deal. They have a Knies in Tuch. Don’t see many teams lining up to take Carlo.
Even then ….
Toronto wouldn’t do that deal and Tuch won’t be a Sabre after July 1st as someone is going to throw ALOT of money his way.!
Knies for Power +a first rounder and then some.! When they lose Tuch they will get desperate enough for the Leafs to take advantage.!
My comment – “even then” below was meant for your post Toronto St Pats. The inference being. he’d then be the very type of player they’d then be searching for in the re-build. Might as well do the re=build AROUND him.
So it seems officially Knoblauch has now been fired.
What a circus.
While I didnt view Knoblauch as the primary problem (it is hard to identify the primary issue when their are a dozen or more) i also didnt see how he could transform into the solution in the present conditions.
I think the rift was between mngt and coach. He wasn’t hired by Bowman and a challenging season was all the reason he needed i guess.
We will see how things unfold. It seems we all know who is at the top of their wishlist.
I do like the idea of an experienced NHL head coach. Will it make a difference…idk.
2008 – Craig MacTavish
2009 – Pat Quinn
2010 – Tom Renney
2012 – Ralph Krueger
2013 – Dallas Eakins
2014 – Todd Nelson interim
2015 – Todd McLellan
2018 – Ken Hitchcock interim
2019 – Dave Tippett
2022 – Jay Woodcroft
2024 – Kris Knoblauch
2026 – Bruce Cassidy (probably) David Carle???
Maybe it’s not the coach?
Between the D core and goaltending…
Even McDavid cannot will the last 4 playoff run goalies to a Cup
22 Mike Smith+Koskinen
23 Skinner
24 Skinner
25 Skinner/Pickard
Maybe not…but is that a list that inspires confidence? Not really a whos who of in the coaching world is it?
So is it all on coaching of course not.
Just like it wasnt all coaching as to why they got to back to back finals.
But as I said…this reeks more of Kris not being Bowman’s pick more than anything else.
The posts boy 1Oiler, Johnny and ds sum up the Oil’s situation pretty well, IMO.
And I have to think Kaprizov and his 17 million has put the Wild in the same boat as the Oil have been, too much money on too few players.
See my Coach’s Carousel in the Headlines thread 1Oilerfan. They’ll now be on their 12th coach in the past 2 decades – same as Ottawa and exceed in that span by only New Jersey, who’s on their 15th different bench boss.
Harley is the elephant in the room! He has no trade protection, so the Stars move him for a big return and cap savings!
Maybe Hronek waives for a contender like Dallas:
Hronek and Sharks 2nd for Harley
That gives Dallas over $3.25M more in cap space and the RD they need! There are many other D-men they could swap Harley for to make a similar impact.
Signing Robo is more important than keeping Harley!
This is too funny, 6 pieces for Kneis? It was turned down?
If it is true then it had to be 6 bags of hockey pucks.
I like Kneis, he’s on a good contract but he isn’t a guy you build around, he’s a player used to build around others.
He’s an added piece not the centerpiece on a team.
Kris Knoblauch was fired today, he’d get TML on their feet.
Berube going home to Edmonton. 👍👏
Avs 3rd line center would be the first line center for the Wild.
They need to find another center. missing EK was huge for them
Please take JT /Miller
Trochek remaining east is more geographic than conference. Is he ok going north of border to an EC team? It was more an issue at deadline. Not wanting to uproot his family during season. Not as much an issue in summer. Home for him is Pittsburgh. I don’t see Minnesota being on his ntc. 10 team list in JulyThey’re probably kicking themselves for not getting him at deadline.
agree
but PGH has cap space for him now too
ds. I think Pitt is definitely a possibility. Minny was heavily rumored at deadline. I’d add Buffalo, Philly, Columbus, Detroit as some top spots. Not sure how keen they’d be trading in division.
Minny makes more sense for Vinny T. if he wishes to pursue a cup.
Detroit makes sense if he wishes to stay East and he has many ties to SE MI from his pre-NHL days.
13,5m how is guerin fitting a 2nd line C with that and 5 more players?
Rangers trade them JT for 50% retained
Not happening Drury gave him the keys
He ain’t. That move for Hughes is looking like it was a big gamble for a cup this year. No way Hughes looks at this team and thinks it can win a cup as currently built down the middle.
If the Wild won the series with the Avalanche the 1st round pick they traded to the Canucks would have dropped from 24th to 28th. Now that the Wild are out it stays at 24th and can move up to 23rd if the Ducks rally to beat the the Golden knights.
How much does it cost to bring back Zuccarello? He’s 39 in September. Still has skill but he’s basically a PP specialist at this point. Only had 9 goals and 24 assists even strength. Misses time. Maybe time to move on. Johansson can still motor and had a minimal cap hit.
If Eriksson Ek was healthy the series is still going on, a healthy Brodin on top and the Wild are contending.
Bogosian was/is no impactful loss.
How far are they expected to go with their 1C injured? What “depth” is supposed to make up for that.
Sure they can use a top 6 centre along with almost every other team.