NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2026
Check out the latest on the Ducks, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS?
ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looked at the keys for the offseason for the Anaheim Ducks after they were eliminated from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights.
The biggest challenge facing general manager Pat Verbeek will be signing young stars Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson to new contracts as they emerge from their entry-level deals. Young defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are also completing their ELCs.
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verbeek has a reputation for playing hardball with players coming off their entry-level deals, as Mason McTavish learned last summer and former Duck Trevor Zegras discovered in 2023. Their negotiations dragged on throughout the summer and into training camp, which adversely affected their performances once they were under contract.
However, Gauthier, 22, and the 21-year-old Carlsson were their leading scorers during this season and in the playoffs, playing significant roles in the rebuilding Ducks ending their seven-year postseason drought. It will be interesting to see how Verbeek handles those two.
Mintuykov surfaced in the rumor mill earlier this season when he started seeing less playing time. However, that changed as the season went on, finishing this season with an average ice time of 18:26.
Clark also noted that veteran defensemen John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas are UFA-eligible this summer. He pointed out that the Ducks have plenty of projected salary-cap space, but it could be difficult to re-sign everyone.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have over $40 million in projected cap space, but that doesn’t mean they’ll spend to the cap ceiling. New deals for Gauthier and Carlsson will take up a significant portion.
They are reportedly in contract talks with Carlson. They could also bring back Trouba. The 35-year-old Gudas could be the odd man out.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens doesn’t rule out Verbeek making a franchise-altering move for an established star this summer. He pointed out that players such as Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, and “even Brady Tkachuk” of the Ottawa Senators could be available in the trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews could be available if he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with new Leafs GM John Chayka’s vision for the club. The Stars intend to re-sign Robertson even if it means shedding salary to free up room.
The Blues set a very high asking price for Thomas, who has a full no-trade clause and isn’t keen to move on. Tkachuk has already shot down the latest spate of trade rumors, so no, he’s going to be available this summer. Speaking of Tkachuk…
THE LATEST ON BRADY TKACHUK
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker looked at the obstacles preventing the Rangers from acquiring Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk. The speculation over his future persists despite his repeatedly reaffirming his commitment to the Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: “This is the song that doesn’t end. Yes, it goes on and on, my friends. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they’ll continue singing it forever just because this is the song that doesn’t end…”
I don’t deny that Tkachuk could decide at some point over the remaining two years of his contract that he won’t win a Stanley Cup in Ottawa and must move on. Or that the Senators could trade him next summer if he won’t commit to a contract extension.
However, we’re not there yet, and Tkachuk and the Senators have made it clear that he’s not going anywhere this summer. If the Rangers want Tkachuk, they’ll have to wait until at least next summer at the earliest to find out, and even then, they might not have sufficient tradeable assets to outbid other clubs on his list of preferred trade destinations.
THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle looked at what’s next for Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka after firing head coach Craig Berube earlier this week.
Apart from finding a new bench boss, Mirtle believes Chayka has a shopping list “filled with incredibly hard-to-add items.” They include finding a mobile top defenseman to anchor the power play, a top-six forward for Auston Matthews’ line, a “minute-eating center who can play difficult minutes,” and improved depth at nearly every position except perhaps in goal.
Mirtle pointed out that Chayka doesn’t have the luxury of a deep prospect pool or high draft picks to use as trade currency. He also doesn’t have much of value to trade from the roster if the goal is finding immediate help.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs do have the first-overall pick and young power forward Matthew Knies. Either of those could help land a player who can address one of those issues. However, trading that pick sacrifices a big piece of the future, while moving Knies to add, say, a No. 1 defenseman would mean finding two top-six forwards instead of one.
Meanwhile, Mirtle’s colleague Chris Johnston reports league sources claim Matthews is interested in seeing what changes occur during the draft and free-agent period rather than hearing what could theoretically happen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka has to sell Matthews on his vision for the Maple Leafs. That’s going to be difficult if he can’t sufficiently bolster the roster during that time.
Matthews has to know that the Leafs are in tough to augment their roster with him on it, right? They are more than one player from contending.
They have four high value items to offer in trade, two of which have full NMC which somewhat reduces their value.
Knies
1st Overall pick
Matthews
Nylander
Their biggest needs are 2C and #1D
Could they peddle Knies for a top D like Faber and use the 1st on McKenna to replace him? Not sure you want an 18 year old on the top line in TOR.
If the rumours are true and Knies is in demand, unfortunately you make the tough decision and add by subtraction.
I’m sure Colorado didn’t want to trade Rantanen but look at them now…
Sometimes, tough choices need to happen
Knies and Woll to the Ducks for Leo Carlsson?
Gives cost certainty, more grit without sacrificing offence and better goaltending for the Ducks, 2 great C’s for the Leafs.
Johnny Z – that is nuts.
Why would the ducks trade Leo when he is just scratching the surface of his potential and why would they want Woll who cant stay healthy when the have the durable and imo better Dostal?
Agreed Oilerfan.
Carlsson is going Nowhere, and certainly not for that package.
Ducks are not trading their number centre for a top line winger. Doesn’t make sense. Plus the Ducks already have an enough top wingers.
OK, I over valued Knies.
McTavish, Mintyukov, and the Blues 2027 2nd for Knies and Hilda-beast
That last paragraph is bang on Daryl.
I would just add Carolina to it, they wanted him long term as well. And when he said no, see ya.
Both teams refused to let a player walk for free to try and have success in that year’s playoffs.
Both looking pretty darn good this year. That would make for one heck of a series if they both get there.
Seems to be an obvious lesson in there somewhere.
Big difference there…one guy wanted to cash in, and not one but two teams said buh-bye to him…the other guy is 23 wanted to stay, signed a under market value contract that has him locked up most of him prime, and both sides saw a mutual interest in each other continuing, couldn’t be more different, as a starter.
What did the Avs and the Canes get for him? A similar player (scoring forward of some ilk) not talking from a strength in the line up to strengthen one of weakness. Again completely different scenario and I don’t see a commonality between the two teams situations.
I was responding to the last paragraph Ron, if you are responding to me.
Minnesotas biggest need is a center or centers #1 and #2 line. I don’t think they’d trade a guy like Faber for Knies.
Not sure they’d would have any interest in moving Faber at all. Especially with uncertainty facing Hughes beyond next year.
But even if they’re able to keep Hughes. Why give up what is probably the best looking d pair in the NHL?
Ultimately, Minnesota can’t afford another winger without getting a true 1-2 center.
Matthews has to know that the Leafs are better off without him! It’s been ten years he will not lead the Leafs to anything! Trade him, if possible, and start the rebuild around Knies, Cowan, McKenna et al! Anyone with any sense should be able to see this. Including Matthews.
True that, but it is so much easier to trade Knies.
Matthews only gets traded if he wants out, but early indications say he does not decide till after July 1………which is too late for a lot of teams because they already have made many of their decisions by then! Timing is everything. All would be clearer if he decided before the draft.
I don’t see it. Trade him and draw up your line up for this team….hows it looking? BTW just in case you’re not following, they are already weak at center.
You know, everyone is right. Trade away your best players is the only way teams like the Leafs or maybe just the Leafs, can improve, no other way…nor have we seen other ways by other teams…but yes, best players out, the better he is, the better the mystery boxes!
Captain. Steven
I agree that MIN doesn’t want to move Faber. However, how else do they acquire a #1C?
None are available as UFA. That means trade market.
Aside from Hughes or Faber…what does MIN have to offer a team for a #1C?
Guerin was gushing about Matthews after the Olympics. Would Hughes be more inclined to stay if Matthews was there?
I know I mentioned Knies for Faber because that would be a 1 for 1 deal. Similar age, term, and salary. Matthews would be a higher acquisition cost as well as a higher cap hit.
As to what Steven said, Matthews has to know the Leafs cannot become Cup contenders with the addition of one player via the draft or any of the available UFAs.
Unless they’re trading Nylander or Knies, the Leafs have little value to offer in trade to retool quickly enough to be Cup contenders in two seasons.
TOR may have some useful pieces to send to MIN to make a trade between them viable, including salary retention.
Tkachuk bros recent podcast they gushed over how much they loved playing with JT Miller. Guessing Molly Walker didn’t watch. Reminder that Brady’s wife is from NJ and they just built house on Jersey shore, close to her family. Doubt they’d want to move to west coast. Rumors won’t go away too soon.
Man if only I could figure out why these rumors just won’t go away!!! It’s like another day, someone repeats the rumor as dumb or “valid” it would be. At least with Matthews, you could point to how he stated he’s not sure about the future but Brady flat out said he likes where he’s at now…Matthews unsure, Tkchuck sure.
Just because many refuse to believe that 99% of crap they feed us is s#it doesn’t mean we need to eat it all up….ill give you an example.
Remember when Gaudreau informed his current team he wasn’t resigning with them? Where did he end up vs where the media and fans believe he was going? How about the, “why the Jackets” talk? It was a narrative that began with issue of picking the Jackets team over the “bigger and better” NJD or NYI like they all pegged he would. Then there was some character assassination aka wanted out of the spotlight. LOL
Don’t bite so hard on the BS no matter how tasty it looks.
Apart NY being NY, what could the Rangers ever have to offer Brady? If he moves he will want to go to a team that after giving up the pieces needed to get him, have the roster to win, and the Rangers isnt it.
Kent. You do realize teams in playoffs changes every year. Rangers are a couple years removed from 2 EC finals. What do they have? How about 1 of a few goalies that give you a chance to win every year. And close to his wife’s family.
yes, but to get Brady, the team would have to give something equal in value that the Sens would want, and Brady would have to give his permission. Who on Rangers is worth Brady by themselves…no one. I’d maybe entertain Brady + Spence for Fox and Lafreniere, but Fox and Brady would need to agree….aint happening.
Owen. It would be a package similar to Vancouver got for Hughes, but slightly less.
McTavish for Nemec would be a fairly even deal that helps both NJ and ANA immediately.
Anaheim has a few interesting story lines
1/ How hard will Verbeek treat his two stars? If to hard I can see an offersheet for Carlsson from a team like Chicago/Utah/SJ/Detroit/Philly/Wash etc or any team good but with cap space
2/ What will they do with McTavish
3/ How will they get better on D and younger
The issue with the offer sheet route is that Verbeek has the money/cap room to match.
Lots of GMs don’t like offersheets….last two I can think of haven’t turned out too well…
Owen
It worked out well for STL with Broberg and Holloway
Didn’t go so well for Carolina with Kotkaniemi
Offer sheets can be useful if utilized correctly.
If you’re talking about the two Anaheim players I’m not so sure. Anaheim has plenty of cap space and the compensation would likely be in the second tier meaning 2 x 1sts, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd
Either way, it will be interesting to see how Verbeek negotiates these two contracts
Even if Matthews waives his NMC it won’t be easy to move him. Players, picks, salary cap considerations. What is Matthews worth?
Leafs – 60 goal scorer, Hart winner, multiple Richard Trophies, Gold medal captain.
Trade Partner – Former 60 goal scorer. Injury prone 30 goal player currently with lengthy history of injury including back and knee. Overpaid for performance results.
What do you offer? What would Leafs accept?
Is Matthews actually worth what the Leafs think in an open market?
Will the market even be open or limited to 2 or 3 options?
This could actually get interesting, but only if Matthews decides he wants out.
I can only answer one of those questions with near certainty.
No it will not be an open market and I would set to over under on teams it will be limited to at 2.
And the teams he will sign an extension with at 1.
Ron – Ray, the details in the following link came out last July 25 from Josh Erickson of ProHockey Rumors, and it’s still largely factual as to team-by-team compilation of existing NMC, NTC and MNTC.
And that, of course, will be a constant roadblock going forward to making deals that the GM in question sees as improving his club. Even those with relatively few such clauses will find it extremely difficult unless they only deal with each other!
Hopefully, he updates it prior to the new season.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2025/07/players-with-trade-protection-in-2025-26.html
Verbeek’s best trade chip is Mason McTavish even though they lowered his value in negotiations and resultant underwhelming season.
Zegras has gone on to better things in Philadelphia after Verbeek treatment.
It’ll be interesting to see if he mucks up Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson the same way.
McTavish would look good in Minnesota, Boston, Philadelphia
I can see the bruins pulling at least two major trades this summer that will literally burn the hair right Ray Barks head. Looking forward to it.
JA who will the Bruins trade for and give up in the trades!
Hope not John, I still have good hair.
Quinn Hughes Interested In Contract Extension With Minnesota Wild
“Cassidy’s leverage on them is enormous… Bottom line is, with the way Edmonton’s done this, they have to get him. To me, if you get permission to talk to him, you lock him in the trunk of your car and you don’t allow him to leave without signing a contract… As far as I’m concerned, Edmonton has no choice, but to drop bags of money on him and make sure they get their man.”
Freidman
Many times, teams will sign a player that has been good for them to a contract that is too rich for who that player is today, but recognizes past , perhaps under- compensated, contributions. This is one of the reasons that clubs have contracts and/or players that are hard to move. We’ve see the player whose performance curves goes up, but we’re getting a player whose curve may be going down. Matthews and the Leafs may have to sleep in the bed they have made; both have reason to hope for good years and have already paid the risk premium.
The Rantanen trade was interesting in that all parties are happy, I think. Colo. is prospering, as has Dallas, and Stankhoven seem to have been born to be a Hurricane and play for Brindamour. So rare.
I notice that #1D conversations don’t often mention UFA Raddysh, and I’d agree. 22 goals, #1 pp and #1 D minutes on a 106 points year, yet if your look at his career trajectory he’s 30 and even if he duplicates this peak for a couple of years for an acquiring team (no trade required) what is the risk premium of the likely long term deal?
Aside from those no longer active like Jim Rutherford, with over 50 deals during his tenure with Pittsburgh alone, and Lou Lamorielo, who was prolific over his long career when it came to trading, if you query the Web as to the most likely to be active in that regard from among the current crop either still functioning as a GM somewhere, or likely looking for employment as one, this is who pops up as most likely to be at the forefront of off-season deals:
• Jim Nill (Dallas Stars) is viewed as a GM poised to take massive swings because his team is in a prime contention window, frequently sacrificing picks and prospects for established talent.
• Ken Holland (Edmonton Oilers/LA Kings): Having managed Detroit and Edmonton for over two decades, Holland has a massive body of work, including notable trades in both organizations.
• Doug Armstrong (St. Louis Blues): A long-tenured GM (since 2010), Armstrong is consistently active in shaping his roster.
• Kyle Dubas (Pittsburgh Penguins): Noted for high activity (both in Toronto and Pittsburgh), he has been a very busy GM in terms of total volume, including mid-season trades.
• Patrik Allvin (Vancouver Canucks): before being canned he was widely considered to be one of the most aggressive “trade cowboys” recently, with a high volume of moves.
• Bill Zito (Florida Panthers): Aggressive in upgrading his roster, particularly in the 2021-2023 period.
• Mike Grier (San Jose Sharks): Has shown high trade activity relative to his tenure, often involved in rebuild-oriented moves.
• Craig Conroy (Calgary Flames): In a short time, has made a high volume of trades in his first three drafts, totaling over 14+ trades.
Be interesting to to compare this list with the top “trade cowboys” who emerge this summer.
Matthews, Darren Dreger said it clearly yesterday. Matthews gas made it clear that he wants to stay in Toronto, and the only way that changes is if Chayka comes to him and asks him to accept the team shopping him. In other words a complete rebuild.
That would be an extremely hard sell to Leaf ownership.
Trading Knies, or doe that matter, Nylander are the same.
Far more likely, is the trade of Carlo, or Reilly or Tavares if Chayka is determined to re-stock the cupboards with prospects and second round picks. There are suddenly a lot of young teams making waves in the play-offs and good prospects log-jammed behind lots of young productive talent.
That could be an opening to do what the Bruins did last year – tap into AHLers and prospects who ready to take that extra step to full-time NHL roles.
Really a tough spot to be in if you are Chayka , but if I had my choice I would be hoping 34 wants out. you will spend 2 years hoping he stays and making deals that are short sighted . I would entertain 34 to Utah or San Jose if leads to some blue chip building blocks AND knies should be in play too but only if it bring you back a haul . Although I do believe the leafs as currently built do return the playoffs next year they aren’t real contenders. If you get the inkling Matthews is here to stay than great , you have to entertain trading Knies regardless