NHL Rumor Mill – May 22, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest trade speculation about Devils defenseman Simon Nemec and Bruins blueliner Mason Lohrei, plus some proposed backup goalie candidates for the Senators.
TRADE RUMORS PERSIST ABOUT DEVILS DEFENSEMAN SIMON NEMEC
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited a report from overseas, claiming Simon Nemec had requested a trade from the Devils. Nichols reported the 22-year-old defenseman’s agent was unavailable for comment.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He’s been the subject of trade rumors this season, with some reports suggesting he could seek a new deal equivalent to that of fellow Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, who inked a seven-year contract last fall worth an average annual value of $9 million.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (NHL Images).
The report also claimed that the club’s new general manager, Sunny Mehta, had not reached out to the 22-year-old defenseman or his agent about a new contract. However, a source told Nichols that wasn’t the case.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichols reported that the Devils had yet to comment on this situation. However, Slovak hockey insider Tomas Prokop claimed Nemec has not requested a trade. Hopefully, we’ll have more clarity on this issue soon.
Speaking of the Devils, Nichols believes they face a real threat of at least one of their restricted free agents being targeted with an offer sheet during the offseason.
Nemec, winger Arseny Gritsyuk, and forward Paul Cotter are eligible to sign offer sheets on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils have $11.875 million in projected salary cap space for 2026-27 with 18 roster players under contract. Matching an expensive offer for Nemec (for example) wouldn’t leave much to fill out the rest of the roster, and would require a cost-cutting trade or two to address the issue.
Bear in mind that a player must be willing to sign an offer sheet from a rival club. If they’re not interested, the Devils have nothing to worry about. Gritsyuk and Cotter have arbitration rights. If they file by the July 5 deadline, they will be ineligible to receive an offer sheet.
Nemec is the most likely target, but it’s unlikely he’ll receive an unmatchable offer. He has plenty of potential as a puck-moving blueliner, but his defensive issues could make him a less attractive offer-sheet candidate.
WILL THE BRUINS PEDDLE MASON LOHREI THIS SUMMER?
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley believes the Bruins should use defenseman Mason Lohrei as a trade chip to acquire more skill and speed.
The 25-year-old Lohrei is the youngest player on the Bruins roster. General manager Don Sweeney spoke highly of the puck-moving blueliner, but he was the subject of trade rumors this season. He was also a healthy scratch for the Bruins final three playoff games.
Studley believes Lohrei remains a valuable trade asset with offensive upside, who has also improved his defensive game this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei remains the Bruin most likely to be traded this summer. He could be packaged with a draft pick or a prospect if they intend to pursue a top-six forward.
BACKUP GOALIE OPTIONS FOR THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently examined potential backup goaltending targets for the Senators.
They included Stuart Skinner of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor Ingram of the Edmonton Oilers. Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. They could also turn to Leevi Merilainen from their AHL affiliate in Belleville.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ingram might be the easier fit as a backup option. Skinner will likely want to play for a club where he’ll be the starter.
Garrioch also mentioned pending UFA Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes, but his performance in this year’s playoffs could raise his value in the free-agent market. Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild could be a trade option, but the asking price will be high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes could retain Andersen for another season. Wallstedt would be too costly to acquire, plus he won’t be available until the Wild knows if starter Filip Gustavsson has fully recovered from offseason hip surgery.
I am totally ok if bruins pkg Lohrei plus for a top 6 forward. But he is not the the youngest Bruin this season Several Bruin forwards are younger. Hagens Minton Khusnutdinov Reichel
Not sure why the Bruins are so intent on moving Lohrei. Can you explain why they want to move this young defenseman?
Toronto St Pats, from what I’ve read from Bruins fans in here and heard/read from various pundit sources,the belief is, he might be the one YOUNG trade chip they could afford best to dangle in order to acquire a RD or scoring winger.
While there’s no doubt he has high offensive potential from the back end, his high-risk approach leads to too many turnovers to suit Boston’s tightly structured D system, And even though that is certainly “fixable” over time, they need to find those other attributes sooner rather than later. and therefore he’s more valuable now as a trading chip.
Bruins fans … correct me if I’m wrong.
Thanks George, seems like he’s the guy who is most trade worthy. Of course, if they trade him the bruins will then have a hole in the backline. Add one, subtract another
He was a forward until 2 yrs before he was drafted by Boston. He’s not even top 10 of turnovers on the team. Don’t ever listen to what “fans” have to say because they are clueless about how the game works. They also had him playing his off side which makes it a lot harder to defend and get it out of the defense zone. He should’ve spent a couple years in the AHL but he didn’t.
As for the trade rumors
The Bruins are the most tight lipped in sports. There are zero Bruins insiders and local media hates them for it. So if you hear a rumor coming out of Boston it’s made up by the media or it came from another teams insiders. A prime example is when Swayman held out. Biz from Spitting chicklets got called out by Neely and threw the real offer out in a presser.Biz said the Bruins lowballed him which was false. Sway was signed the next day after Cam said he had 64 million reasons to be in camp.
Goalie may be Minny’s best chip for a trade to improve their roster, but Gustavsson’s rehab from hip surgery could force Minny to start the year with both goalies still on the roster, especially if Gus can’t get back in time for preseason games.
I think we’ve seen enough of the wildly inconsistent Merilainen in Ottawa, whose up-and=down pattern continued even in the AHL, and with both he and Reimer allowed to walk, one priority will HAVE to be a CONSISTENT veteran back-up to Ullmark – either through trade or off the UFA heap, and to bolster the system’s lack of goalie depth by using the 32nd pick to take the best goaltender available at the draft.
As I posted in the other thread in an exchange with Dark G, here is an article assessing the best goalies available at this draft:
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nhl-draft-10-goaltenders-you-need-to-know-knowling-orsulak-trejbal
Skinner put in some decent games in Pittsburgh where he posted a 2/99gaa albeit a bit wonky 0.855 save %. In Ottawa he’d of course be back-up to Ullmark, but even so, back of a good overall D structure, he could possibly see upwards of 35 starts, and if he signed here short term and put up good numbers he could parlay that into a long-term career-ending deal somewhere, He is just 27 y/o.
31 y/o Ingram is also intriguing after his 2/60gaa and 0.899 save % b/o a D structure in Edmonton that is somewhat less effective than that of Ottawa’s. But there are a couple of others as UFAs who might be considered as well – 28 y/o Danil Tarasov of Florida who posted a 3.05gaa and 0.895 save % b/o a devastated Panthers line-up, and 31 y/o Vitek Vanecek of Utah who had a 2.92gaa and 0.883 save % in 22gp.
Shane Pinto, Levi Merrilainen, Tyler Boucher and whoever Buffalo wants us to use the 1st round pick on (since we can’t trade it)
For Alex Lyon, Zach Benson and Logan Stanley
Stanley ufa
George, we have a couple of goalies with the Marlies that Ottawa could consider although the Leafs may prefer moving one of the NHL tandem.
The Leafs need help on the blueline. Is there a possible match?
Not really BCLeaf Fan. If Staios does go shopping for a back-up goalie, he’ll want a veteran in the 28 to maybe 33 y/o range with a good NHL track record as a back-up and, if possible, term left on the contract. At least, that’s how it seems to be viewed in several sources. The experience factor is seen as particularly important given that Ulmark, who logged a career-high 49 appearances this past season, also showed increased durability issues, resulting in frequent absences and leading to local headlines like “Minus Linus?”
The GM has freely admitted in conversations that his “goalie plan” heading into this past season was flawed by the coach being required to rely too heavily and too frequently on the AHL depth goalies and when that wasn’t panning out, signing older veteran Reimer to an AHL tryout for emergency depth.
None of the goalies with the Marlies have any NHL experience of which to speak. Rather than trade for one of them as a depth addition they may just as well hang onto Merilainen and Sogaard who at least have had considerably more NHL exposure.
Nemec almost definitely wants out. He’s made comments in the past about being unhappy with his use. NJ has Seamus Casey in the minors who, imo, will be the better of the 2 when all is said and done.
NJ should absolutely look to trade Nemec. Send him to ANA straight up for McTavish or package him for someone like Thomas.
Wouldn’t Nemec to SJ be something that could work for both sides and that both sides would have interest figuring out a deal?
Pajada, if Nemec has a hard time getting $ from NJ, he will have a harder time getting it from Verbeek who is well known for being hard nosed in bargaining. Besides, where does McTavish fit on a team with Hughes and Hischier at C? It would mean a lot of moving parts and teams including moving Hischier.
And a trade for Thomas would cost a lot more than just Nemec in assets, and would add 8 million to their cap.
Nemec is an RFA. He has little bargaining power. He can have a snit sit and threaten to not report, or demand a trade, of course, but what guarantee does that have of getting the $ he wants elsewhere?
I could see a situation where NJ tries to improve their 3C (sorry Glass). NJ needs depth scoring badly. Correct me if I’m wrong though, didnt McTavish play mostly wing last season?
McT was on the 4th line late in the season, and ended up as 3rd line C in the playoffs. He wa slso scratched early in the playoffs. Yeah he would fit right in as 3C with NJ.
I was a huge Lohrei believer a few years ago. Offensively he’ll only improve defensively he’s gotten a bit better. But they need a strong addition back there someone who can rush & get the puck out but is not afraid to hit and block shots.I’ve lost confidence in Mason to do all that. With bruins drafting 23rd really interested in this D Moncton Wildcats he’s been outstanding 13 g 68a he’s the top scoring d in the qmjhl.
JA Lohrei is being boxed out by Lindholm,Zadorov and Aspirot. There best player a Providence is LHD Brunet ,who is ready for a shot with the big club. Lohrei could be part of a significant trade if you package him with other players or draft picks.
I can’t believe I mentioned this junior hockey players team but not his name the guy I think the bs should draft at 23rd is Tommy Bleyl Moncton Wildcarts
NJ is in a tough spot as two of their RD were unhappy last season.
If Nemec and Hamilton are moved they would be down to Pesce and Kovasevic as their RHD. Would Casey be up to a full time spot next season?
A Nemec trade to SJ would be interesting as the Devils had a trade worked out for Hamilton that he used his NTC to block.
A 1 for 1 involving Nemec for Graf might make sense for both teams.
If Nemec is really looking for a $9M AAV I don’t think he’ll find it in NJ with Hamilton making nearly the same.
Daryl, NJ is being held hostage by Hamilton NTC. He won t accept trades to anyone,he makes to much money and he is soft. This might cost the Devils Nemec or Casey. NJ management did an awful job giving out NTC and NMC clauses to way to many players!
Sr: How is Hamilton holding the Devils hostage? They gave him the NTC – which you point out.
Could the devils goodrow hamilton? Not advocating they do but it could be an option
Lj , that s why Fitzgerald is out of a job!
Let’s keep it simple…Pinto for Josh Norris & Lyon. Benson is going nowhere.
Of course, I’m only being facetious about that trade proposal. But I DO think the Sabres need to move off that Norris contract somehow – 4 more 1//2 seasons at 7.9m just doesn’t cut it. That’s money that could go towards re-signing Tuch and Benson.
Harry O
Let Tuch walk.
The money he wants will not age well. He’s already 30. He’s a career .72 point per game score in the regular season, .51 in the playoffs.
The kids looked great in the playoffs. Benson, Krebs, Ostlund, and Helenius.
Use the money Tuch wants on something else they need.
Daryl – I wouldn’t be so quick to let Tuch walk…particularly without ensuring you can replace him.
While it is not the same exactly but…leafs did not adequately replace Marner – out of playoffs. Jets did not adequately replace Ehlers – out of the playoffs.
Obviously there were other factors that impacted those clubs but not replacing the production adequately either externally (Macelli) or expecting it to come from within (perfetti) definately hurt both the Leafs and Jets.
In the tough Atlantic…a small slip this summer by the Sabres (or most others in the division) could have them looking outside next spring.
Just food for thought…and I dont mean to imply sign at any cost either.
Nemec is not worth Luke Hughes money. Luke Hughes isnt even worth that money.
Honestly I would LOVE if the Sens could sign Skinner. He is the type of goalie that would give Ullmark more confidence the way that Swayman did and honestly Reimer as well.
Ullmark seems to suffer under the pressure of being the only real starter and it gets to him. Maybe he’s worked on that in his time away last season, but who knows?
Skinner would just add so much. But who knows how much he will go for in a lean market with so many other teams desperate for any upgrade.
I’d like to see that as well. I suppose – if he saw advantages to signing a short-term deal with Ottawa leading to good stats that he could parlay into a longer deal – it would boil down to how much more he’d want per than his expiring $2.6 mil (or what he might be offered by other teams needing goalie help).
He’s been pretty durable over the course of his career to date, with the most he’s missed in any one stretch being 7 games in 2025 when he suffered a head injury.
Ullmark showed up when it mattered down the stretch and the playoffs.
Agree with the comment above. Get a solid backup and Ottawa will have a solid goalie tandem.
Keep pinto move out tkachuck for nemec Mercer and New Jersey’s first round pick this year and next year.
That I could live with!
Makar out again tonight! Vegas will take advantage!
And they did.