Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 17, 2026
Will the Penguins attempt to move one of their long-time veterans? What’s the latest speculation on the Bruins? Could the Kings make Darcy Kuemper a cost-cutting trade candidate? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
WILL THE PENGUINS MOVE ON FROM THEIR AGING CORE?
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes the time has come for Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas to make some decisions that could upset the fanbase, suggesting that it’s time to distance himself from nostalgia.
That means parting ways with Evgeni Malkin. Yohe believes the Penguins badly need young players to assert themselves. Giving Malkin a lesser role won’t solve the issue if he’s not good enough for his current one.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).
If Dubas brings back Malkin and Kris Letang, then it makes no sense to support their “Big Three” (which includes Sidney Crosby, whose star continues to shine at age 38) with aging players. In that scenario, Yohe suggested shopping the 34-year-old forward Bryan Rust and the 33-year-old winger Rickard Rakell while their value remains high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Malkin returns, Rust and/or Rakell could hit the trade block. Rust lacks no-trade protection, while Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list. Both would draw interest from playoff contenders looking for experienced depth among their top-six forwards.
In a recent mailbag segment, Yohe was asked if the Penguins could be in the sweepstakes for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews or Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid if they became available in the trade market.
Yohe doesn’t see either player landing in Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, he believes the Penguins could have a chance given the allure of playing with Crosby. Their deep prospect pool could also help their cause.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews and McDavid have reached the point in their careers where they need to win the Stanley Cup to cement their legacies among the game’s elite superstars. They’ll want to join teams that give them the best opportunity to achieve that goal. Given where the Penguins are right now in their rebuilding process, they’re unlikely to be on either player’s list of preferred trade destinations.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski listed Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes, Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks as potential trade targets for the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson could become the best player in this summer’s trade market if he and the Stars are unable to agree on a new contract. However, Stars management has made re-signing him a priority, making it unlikely that he’ll be available.
Svechnikov is also unlikely to be available. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an affordable AAV of $7.75 million and a 10-team trade list. The 26-year-old winger is the Hurricanes’ first-line left winger. They have no reason to move him.
Kyrou and Boeser have frequently surfaced in the rumor mill over the past two years and are on rebuilding teams. However, Kyrou has a full no-trade clause and Boeser a full no-move, giving them full control over their situations.
THE LATEST BRUINS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa looked at what a dream offseason would look like for the Boston Bruins.
They include signing Pavel Zacha to a contract extension; re-signing pending unrestricted free-agent winger Viktor Arvidsson; trading backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers for a fifth-round pick; shipping Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, and Christopher Pelosi to the Calgary Flames for Zach Whitecloud, and signing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh to a long-term deal if he becomes available in this summer’s UFA market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Zacha and trading Korpisalo seem the more likely to occur, although the latter could end up with another team besides the Rangers. They could re-sign Arvidson, but perhaps they’ll explore other options first. The Flames appear intent on retaining Whitecloud, and Raddysh could prove far too expensive.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley believes the Bruins face a decision with their backup goaltenders. Korpisalo isn’t a bad netminder, but his contract is. He has two more years left on his deal, with the Bruins paying him $3 million of his $4 million annual cap hit.
Meanwhile, promising Michael DiPietro was named the AHL’s MVP and the top goaltender. He carries an affordable $812,500 cap hit through 2026-27, but he’s UFA-eligible next July and must clear waivers to be sent back to their AHL affiliate in Providence.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of goaltending depth in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets could help the Bruins find a new home for Korpisalo this summer. His 10-team no-trade list could complicate things a bit.
COULD THE KINGS TRADE DARCY KUEMPER?
MAYOR’S MANOR: Scott Coffman recently observed that the Los Angeles Kings face a salary cap crunch this summer. While the salary cap is rising to $104 million for 2026-27, the Kings aren’t expected to spend to that ceiling.
The Kings need to re-sign restricted free-agent defenseman Brandt Clarke, potentially re-sign UFA-eligible forward Scott Laughton, and find a legitimate second-line center via a trade or free agency.
Trading Darcy Kuemper could be one way to free up salary cap space to address those needs. He has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.25 million. Backup Anton Forsberg played well this season, supplanting Kuemper as their starter in the playoffs. They also have Erik Portillo in their system, giving them three goalies under NHL contracts.
Demoting Portillo and his $833,333 would provide the least amount of cap relief. Trading Kuemper would free up $1.45 million after adding Portillo to replace him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuemper’s inconsistency in recent years could affect attempts to trade him if the Kings wish to go that route. He also has a 10-team no-trade list. Nevertheless, the limited number of quality goalies available in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets could improve the Kings’ chances of finding a suitable trade partner.
The goalie market is going to be difficult thus off season to move players.
Many teams have 3 waiver goalies on their roster, Sabres next year will have 4.
If the league does something on roster rules given the higher cap like raise the contract number to 24 or 25 ( with 3 goalies) thrn thst changes things.
You also have a few starting goalies in the free agency pool as well.
Dan the goaltending situation around the league might be the most interesting to watch this summer, from both the pending UFA market, where there are a few who could be targeted, or those with term, some of whom might be dangled by struggling teams needing immediate help elsewhere in their line-ups.
Where the UFA heap is concerned, the youngest who might be targeted – and at less than their expiring cap hits – include:
27 y/o Stuart Skinner who put up a decent 2.99gaa but wonky 0.855 save % with Pittsburgh at an expiring cap hit of $2.6 mil;
28 y/o Danil Tarasov who had a 3.05gaa and 0.895 save % with a struggling Florida at an expiring cap hit of $1,050,000;
30 y.o Connor Ingram posted a 2.66gaa and 0.899 save % in Edmonton at an expiring cap hit of $1,950,000;
31 y/o Vitek Vanecek had a 2/92gaa and 0.833 save % with Utah at an expiring $1.5 mil cap hit;
Senior citizens who could land short-term deals – and at far less than their current cap hits – include
37 y/o Frederik Andersen who posted a 3.05gaa and 0.874 save % with Carolina at a cost of $2,750,000;
38 y/o Sergei Bobrovsky, coming off a whopping $10 mil cap hit in Florida where he posted a 3.07gaa and 0.877 save % behind a devasted Florida line-up;
39 y/o Cam Talbot and his $2.5 mil cap hit in Detroit where he had a 3.19gaa 0.883 save %
39 y/o James Reimer who, at a bargain cost of $850,000, came up with a 2.42gaa and 0.886 save % in Ottawa;
As for potential trade candidates from teams that MIGHT dangle them to shore up other roster positions, you could see:
27 y/o Filip Gustavsson of the Wild who is locked up for the next 4 seasons at $6.8 mil per and who just posted a season of 2.60gaa and 0.904 save %;
36 y/o Darcy Kuemper of L.A. – with the Kings needing to free up cap space to target a top-six C, Kuemper, who has 1 year to go at a $5,250,000 cap hit, just posted a 2/78gaa and 0.891 save %;
32 y/o Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg – with rumblings that the Jets’ trajectory has not exactly made him happy this could generate THE biggest goalie deal in recent memory – although hampered to a degree by his $8.5M AAV which has 4 years to run, taking him to age 36. and his MNTC;
30 y/o Adin Hill of Vegas who might become the latest goalie “sacrifice” there to address seemingly perennial cap issues – he has 4 years to go at $6,250,000 per.
Good list George. I’d say there’s no chance NYR trade a pick for Korpisalo, who has a 3m cap hit. Over 3 g has and under .900 save %. Some experienced guys there in FA. Might just let young Dylan Garand handle backup role.
Déjà vu all over again with Pittsburgh. Rakell and Rust in rumors. Not long before EK is thrown in. Then we’ll talk about Crosby getting moved at deadline. Reminder they’re under cap floor by about 15 m.
Slick62, if If Dubas doesn’t bring back Malkin and Letang, there’s 22g 73a 95 pts they‘ll have to replace through the trades of Rust and Rakell, off the UFA heap and/or from within their system – or a combination of all 3. And, of course, the departures of Rust and Rakell would account for another 53g 60a 113 pts to find through that process, totalling 75g 133a 208 pts to be replaced.
Nor does dealing Rust and Rakell necessarily mean the assets he gets in return will be immediately better or even close to their lost production. That sounds more like the beginnings of a re-build than any sort of re-tooling, and another UFA like Mantha (19g 42a 61pts) might decide to seek a far better option on the open market. And if he does sign elsewhere, they’re now up to 94g 175a 269 pts needing to be replaced.
Plus they either have to get UFA Skinner to re-up there – or find someone as good or better through other means.
George. Letang has 2 more years on his contract.
Not sure how I keep miss typing name or why it doesn’t autofill
Yeah … thanks for pointing that out re Letang. Two more years at $6.1 mil per and at the end of which he’ll have turned 41!
He certainly retires a Penguin.
Yup. Tanger here to stay. Malkin likely back. But Erik not going anywhere until the deadline at best. One of rust or rakell might go if it brings back a mid twenties winger in a package. Slick is right about needing to get to the cap floor. I see more salary for picks à la Dumba again. Colton from avs? Sure. With a 2nd attached. Lubyishkin from Dallas? Sure. With a second attached.
Wings have 8 good goalie prospects in their system.
They cannot hang on to all of them. Postava has outdueled Cossa in the AHL. I am thinking that Cossa may be available and Postave is brought up to be Gibby’s BU. The Augustine would have the net in Grand Rapids along with Gylander or Pradel or Guimond.
If they are available, would you accept a low round pick or project player or one with a similar trajectory but no guarantees for any of them? What would you expect the return to be and why, considering the limited or no experience of this asset? How would that help your team?
Deep prospect pool for the pens? Much improved for sure. All three first rounders last year impressed. But deep? That’s a stretch.
They currently sit 16th in the league – exactly middle-ground – in the opinion of The Hockey Writers assessment.
Those rankings are very suggestive and I don’t know how valid they are…wasn’t the Rockets, Habs farm team one of the better ones and still lost to the Marlies who is ranked below the pens farm team?
https://chirpsfromcenterice.com/category/the-ahl/power-rankings/
Not necessarily, A LOT of AHL teams are riveted with veteran players who can still be effective at that level … but they aren’t “prospects.”
The Marlies, for example, have and/or are still using Logan Shaw (34), Brandon Baddock (31), Marc Johnston (30), Michael Pezzetta (29), Reese Johnson (29), Vinni Lettieri (31), Travis Boyd (33), Alex Nylander (28), Matt Benning (32), Marshall Rifai (29).
They are all was past the “prospect” phase of their careers. When the Hockey Writers assess the teams, they look at only those on the roster who qualify as prospects and assess them on the basis of things like production, size, where they were drafted.
“way past …”
So Crosby plays 68 games, scores 1.09 points per game and his star continues to shine whereas Malkin plays 56 games, scores at the same 1.09 points per game and must be moved. Well that makes sense.
C’mon, Gored1970. Everyone can see Malkin is in decline.
Here’s Malkin’s points per game per season since 2020-21:
2020-21: 0.85
2021-22: 1.02
2022-23: 1.01
2023-24: 0.82
2024-25: 0.74
2025-26: 1.09
One bounce-back season at age 39 doesn’t hide that fact. Why do you think Dubas has put off contract extension talks with him? If his decline wasn’t an issue, he’d have a new contract by now. Do you honestly think it’s feasible that at age 40 next season, Malkin will still produce at a point-per-game pace?
As for Crosby:
2020-21: 1.13
2021-22: 1.22
2022-23: 1.13
2023-24: 1.15
2024-25: 1.15
2025-26: 1.09
I’d put the severity of Crosby’s knee injury as a contributing factor to his slight drop this season. You notice that Dubas got him signed to an extension as soon as he was ready to put pen to paper.
I agree with fluto to a certain degree Raddysh would be an excellent pick up I think our number one priority is no. 1 centre bruins don’t have one. Dipietro has been the best goalie in the ahl for years he deserves a chance. Malkin is history the pens because of Malkins declining production and age are gonna low ball him and he won’t accept it.
Fluto is getting away from himself. Korpisalo is virtually non tradeable. 3 players for Whitecloud ,who is closer to a5-6,than a 4.if Raddysh has not already been extended by TB that tells me something and Ardvisson is a 33 yr old,undersized winger who has injury history!Now I hear Elias Lindholm has a back problem.Minten has given me some hope based on his play at the World Tournament!
Surprised Portillo has not made the NHL yet.
Also, look for Colton Ellis to be available at a reasonable cost this summer. He played well in spots for Buffalo.