NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2026
Check out the latest on the Sabres, Flyers, and Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn believes the Buffalo Sabres have a big summer ahead if they want to build on this season’s success.
Re-signing Alex Tuch will be the biggest roster issue facing the Sabres. Meeting his asking price could require making some moves to free up some salary-cap space.
Forward Beck Malenstyn is also an unrestricted free agent, while Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs are restricted free agents.
Defenseman Bowen Byram is a year away from UFA status and eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1.
Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)
Fairburn noted that Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen showed his willingness to attempt to make big moves with his pursuit of St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas.
Kekalainen could pursue a goaltending upgrade if an opportunity arises this summer. He could also try to bring in another center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I noted yesterday, it’s rumored that Tuch’s camp seeks a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract ($10.625 million annual average value) that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall.
Fairburn noted that the Sabres enter the offseason with $12.9 million in salary cap space for 2026-27. A new contract for Tuch will eat up most of that and would result in a couple of cost-cutting moves.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey noted that Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek recently claimed that the Sabres could part ways with young goaltender Devon Levi. Bailey suggested the Philadelphia Flyers should look into acquiring the 24-year-old netminder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi was a college star who made a promising debut with the Sabres in 2022-23, but struggled to crack their roster full-time. Maybe Kekalainen would include him in a trade package for a center.
UPDATE ON THE FLYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at who could stay or go for the Philadelphia Flyers during the offseason.
Sophomore winger Matvei Michkov and winger Owen Tippett are among the players Kurz believes won’t be moved unless it’s in a blockbuster trade. Others in the category include Jamie Drysdale, Noah Cates, and Tyson Foerster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov and Tippett surfaced in trade rumors this season. I expect they (and the others on that list) will be back in the Flyers’ lineup this fall.
Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Garnet Hathaway are among those who could be pushed out if the Flyers make additions via trades or free agency this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen was a fixture in the rumor mill for the past three seasons, but the Flyers held onto him. Barring a significant addition that would an upgrade on the blueline, it’s doubtful he’ll be moved this summer.
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco looked at what it could cost the Flyers to sign goaltender Dan Vladar to a contract extension.
Team sources claim the club is comfortable with a five-year deal worth slightly south of $6 million annually. If Vladar seeks closer to $7 million annually, a three-year deal might make sense for both sides.
Di Marco also claimed that the Flyers remain uncertain about what direction they’ll go with backup Samuel Ersson. If they decide to move on, Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a goalie they like.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar finally got the chance to be a full-time starting goalie when the Flyers signed him to his current two-year contract. He played a major role in the club exceeding expectations and reaching the playoffs. Both sides will get something done to their mutual satisfaction that ensures he sticks around for at least another three years after next season.
COULD GOLDEN KNIGHTS WINGER PAVEL DOROFEYEV RECEIVE AN OFFER SHEET?
THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman and Jesse Granger suggested that Pavel Dorofeyev’s scoring exploits in this postseason could make him the target for an offer sheet this summer.
The 25-year-old winger is completing a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.835 million. He has arbitration rights this summer. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights’ limited salary cap space could make Dorofeyev an enticing offer-sheet target for clubs seeking scoring depth.
A two-time 35-plus goal scorer, Dorofeyev could get a two-year deal with an AAV of $6.75 million. A six-year extension could reach $8.99 million annually, and an eight-year deal around $9.14.
The Golden Knights have about $11.7 million in projected salary-cap space. They must also re-sign pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames in January. It could cost a combined $16 million to retain Dorofeyev and Andersson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goldman and Granger are taking into account the $8.8 million that will be available with Alex Pietrangelo on LTIR. The Golden Knights could find themselves having to shed salary to re-sign Dorofeyev and Andersson or risk losing the former to an offer sheet and the latter to free agency.
Tuch sure didn’t help himself with that no show against Montreal.
I don’t care if he thinks Kempe is a comparable, because he isn’t. Kempe is better, at least 2m better
The defensive side of his game was glaringly visible as well, often seen to be “coasting” at times, and when the series was over he led he team with a minus 8 rating.
On the other side of the coin – and perhaps lending to the theory that he was just another among a string of normally high-scoring Fs to have been “snake-bitten” in a playoff series – he also led Buffalo with 26 shots on goal in that series and, now out, he sits 8th among all players in high-danger shots.
In the end, maybe he was just another among a long list in the history of the league who spent too much time trying to “figure things out” rather than just go out and continue to do what he does best.
Sometimes your brain can be your own worst enemy. In all aspects of life.
If someone does wind up getting him, we could also be looking at it later as “the best move they ever made.”
Tuch is a career .72 points per game in the regular season.
In 79 career playoff games, his numbers drop to .51 points per game.
Based on his quote that he wants to “do the best for him and his family” he will likely go to the highest bidder.
Buffalo would be wise to let him walk.
That cap hit for buying out Skinner is brutal.
Buffalo has a bright future with their young players like Benson, Doan, Helenius, and Quinn.
George, you’re being kind.
The stat line often looks bad in the playoffs, extra coverage, attention, no easy teams to feast on.
In Montreal, Caufield hasn’t performed these playoffs and it would be easy to come down on him for example.
Yet his work ethic is visible, he’s getting his looks, he’s moving from hash line to slot to point to corners, he’s backchecking hard, in other words he’s playing right but not having his usual success.
The same can’t be said for Tuch, he didn’t play like a power forward, he was pretty much invisible.
Not disagreeing there at all, habfan30. And good comparison with Caufield. in fact. Sort of underscores what I post above.
Unlike Tuch he, clearly, is not spending any time trying to “figure things out” and just continues to do what he does best. That approach could see him explode in the next series. Tuch “thought himself” into a series-long funk.
I get the idea of local boy etc, and the narrative that players leave, but they have lots of young prospects coming, they will be ok
Can’t believe Tuch didn’t have a single point in the Habs’ series. How does that happen?
Especially not even in that 8-3 s*&t-kicking of the Habs in game 6. You’d think ONE of those goals would have at least glanced off his butt into the net or at least onto the stick of another Sabres players, who then scored.
It seems that, when you’re in a funk of your own making, you can’t put the puck in the ocean from the end of the pier.
Just a point, that’s all. Just do we know he’s alive. This was the last guy I thought would tank in the series. He should have been the difference.
Tuch also seemed a bit perimeter. Zucker and others were in the dirtier areas compared to Tuch.
Most players ppg is better during season. IMO, Tuch not worth money he might want. Mentioned Laine yesterday. Younger, cheaper option. Kekalainen brought him to Columbus. Could see him looking into interest and what kind of deal his agent thinks he can get. Byram would fill the Rangers need for a pick moving LD.
A lot of posters on Twitter and elsewhere always seem to gloss over the “other” RFAs and FAs that need to be taken care of in the offseason.
The Athletic notes that Buffalo has about $12.9M of room next year which makes it seem possible to resign Tuch with just “a couple of cost cutting moves”.
But they also have to sign or replace 3 other forwards (Krebs, Benson, Malenstyn) plus 3 defensmen (Kesserling, Schenn, Stanley).
Even in make-believe world where those 6 roster spots are filled with league minimum salaries around $1M, that would only leave about $7M for Buffalo to throw at Tuch unless they cut A LOT elsewhere).
They are in a very similar situation as Dallas with Robertson. For Buffalo to keep Tuch and for Dallas to keep Robertson, the rest of the roster is going to need some big cuts that I think will hurt the team.
Krebs, Benson, Malenstyn and Kesserling are worth signing to join Doan in his prime years.
Stanley, Schenn can go, Boston likes these lumbering D, Tuch could be the Bruins power forward.
Start Helenius from day 1, hope Norris can finally stay healthy, Ostlund will be back.
Money not spent on Tuch, Stanley and Schenn can free Kekalainen to go hunting.
HF30,I won t let you draw me in but talking about your lumbering D man Xerox’s,are you going to get away with your 6th D man playing less than 10 minutes a game against Carolina?
Sr,
Honestly I was kidding about that and am aware of that neanderthal Neely (great player, awful exec) wanting to get some mobility on the team.
Mostly it was a shot at Buffalo, I said at the time they were robbed by the Jets.
I’m not worried about Xhekaj, he’s played very well when he’s on the ice. His biggest problem is the target on his jersey, if he frowns at somebody he gets a penalty.
That and the fact that no one wants to fight anymore especially with him. He would have killed Greenway if he obliged!
foleyd 7
I can see Benson getting a very nice offer from the Sabres. He was very noticeable and effective during the playoffs.
I can easily see him getting $4 -5M annually.
Krebs was close behind in points so another $4M ?
Kesselring will probably get a little raise to $1.75M
I don’t see how they sign a 30 year old Tuch to a long term, $8-10M contract by sacrificing their youth. He may be overtaken on the depth chart a few years in to the new deal.
Exactly!
With the salary cap rising so to will the salary demands from players. It sounds like some teams have solid cap space..but it’ll dry up quick with even marginally good talent needing deals. With the Penguins being over 40 million available (and not at the floor) teams have a dumping ground for the right price. I think Rust and Rakell should be getting moved since the market is so thin in free agency but at the same time they are combined like $10 million in space. So that would need to be replaced! Even players with perhaps 2-3 seasons that have contracts maybe less than tolerable for contending teams, they should be doing business with the Pens. Win win. Kesserling seems to be a younger player struggling to find his footing in Buffalo, someone id like to see come back along with some dead weight to help out the Sabres. I think alot of wheeling and dealing is in store this offseason can’t wait to see what some of these desperate GMs have in store
Re Ristolainen … there are still indications that Staios could re-visit his attempt to acquire the D-man
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/senators-circle-back-flyers-defenseman-165412323.html
Not sure what the Flyers would want in return, though.
Pinto for Risto?
We get the center we need you get the top 4 RD you need.
Whoa. Ristolainen turns 32 in October, is only under contract for 1 more season at $5.1 mil, then becomes a UFA, has missed 35% of his games due to injuries over the past 4 seasons – the worst being multiple triceps tendon ruptures that cut short 2023-24 at 31gp, and another in March last year that wound up delaying his start to this past season.
And you expect Ottawa to give up a top C for a risk of that magnitude?
If that is the equivalent of what Briere would want in return, the Rasmus is there for the duration of his career.
Just sayin’…. the attacks on Tuch’s performance sound eerily similar to Leaf’s media scapegoating Marner in past play-off years. Yet every team would like to have Marner this year. Sometimes a slump is just great checking by the other team.
Yep. Tuch will get what he wants and he’ll get it from the Sabres. As long as that’s where he wants to play. Alex Tuch is in the driver’s seat here. He was a proven playoff performer in Vegas. He had a fine first round against Boston. What’s not to like? 1 bad series and the non buffalo fans want to run him out of town. I wish he was on my team. I’d be fine with paying him 8×10.5 or whatever.
Randino
Proven playoff performers score more than .51 points per game.
There is a large enough sample size.
He should have made a difference in the series against Montreal. He was invisible during Game 7.
They will regret an 8 year deal, especially at $10.5M