NHL Rumor Mill – May 26, 2026
Check out the latest on Devils captain Nico Hischier, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, Kraken center Matty Beniers, Red Wings goalie Sebastian Cossa, and Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL THE DEVILS RE-SIGN OR TRADE NICO HISCHIER?
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports several teams are keeping an eye on what happens to New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier this summer.
The 27-year-old center has a year remaining on his contract with a salary cap hit of $7.25 million. He can sign a contract extension starting on July 1.
LeBrun reports preliminary discussions between Devils general manager Sunny Mehta and Hischier’s agent, Allain Roy, have been “amicable and positive.” Nevertheless, Mehta will want clarity on Hischier’s intentions. LeBrun doubts he’ll want to go into next season with his captain on an expiring contract.
The Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Montreal Canadiens would be among the clubs that will be interested if Hischier becomes available in this summer’s trade market. However, LeBrun believes an extension is the more likely outcome, though the discussions are at “an early and delicate stage”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could cost the Devils up to $13 million annually to re-sign Hischier. They have over $47 million in projected cap space for 2027-28, which would be the first season for his new contract. A new contract for Simon Nemec this summer could cost $9 million, but that could be offset by finding a suitable trade destination for blueliner Dougie Hamilton.
ARE THE PANTHERS PURSUING BRADY TKACHUK?
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg reports rumors “continue to swirl” claiming Panthers GM Bill Zito is attempting to acquire Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk might one day be united with his brother, Matthew, on the Panthers, but that day hasn’t arrived yet. Brady and Senators GM Steve Staios recently shot down any notion that he wants a trade or that they’re going to listen to trade offers.
If Tkachuk became available in this summer’s trade market, it would cost the Panthers at least two of their good young players, such as Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich. Unless Tkachuk only wants to go to Florida, the Panthers are unlikely to outbid other clubs that would be interested in his services.
The best way for the Panthers to land Tkachuk would be to wait until 2028, when he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent, assuming he wouldn’t re-sign with the Senators before then. That’s assuming they’ll have sufficient cap space to sign him.
WOULD MATTY BENIERS BE A GOOD TRADE TARGET FOR THE FLYERS?
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James suggested Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken could be a good “under-the-radar” trade target to address the Flyers’ need for depth at center.
With Chandler Stephenson locked up long-term and promising Berkly Catton knocking at the door, the 23-year-old Beniers could become the perfect trade candidate. James speculated it might take a scoring winger to tempt the Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Beniers to add a scoring winger would address one issue while creating another. The Kraken need more offense, but they’re unlikely to trade their first-line center to get him. Catton has promise, but he’s not ready for first-line duty yet, while Stephenson is best-suited as their second-line center.
SUGGESTED DESTINATIONS FOR RED WINGS GOALIE SEBASTIAN COSSA
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen noted the rise of promising goalies Trey Augustine and Michal Postava has made Sebastian Cossa the subject of trade rumors. It’s been reported that GM Steve Yzerman is considering moving the 23-year-old netminder.
Allen suggested the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and New York Rangers as potential trade destinations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cossa was expected to become the Red Wings’ backup goaltender next season. He could fill that role with those other clubs, but his struggles this season might be a cause for concern.
ARE THE PREDATORS INTERESTED IN THE AVALANCHE’S GENERAL MANAGER?
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland is a “logical target” for the Nashville Predators to fill their GM role.
Friedman doesn’t believe it’s guaranteed that MacFarland is leaving the Avalanche or going to Nashville. However, he thinks the amount of time it’s taking the Predators to find a new GM suggests they’re waiting to talk to somebody.
It’s been reported that MacFarland would be taking a VP of hockey operations position with the Predators. However, Friedman said he doesn’t think the Predators have permission to speak with him or that any agreement is in place.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators could be waiting until the Avalanche’s postseason is over before seeking permission to talk to MacFarland. Even then, there’s no certainty they’ll be allowed to, especially since he’s a finalist for the GM of the Year award.
Cossa having a .915 S% is not exactly “struggling”. It is just that Postava has outshined him at having a .937 S% regular season, and .912 S% in the playoffs.
Postava was used exclusively in the 8 games of the playoffs. (3rd round, a bye in the 1st round)
Heh. Maybe someone should start circulating rumours about the Tkachuk brothers uniting by claiming Staios is actively and aggressively pursuing Matthew!
Sure, the taxes would bite, but he’s made plenty by now and $9.5 mil – even in Canada (and in U.S. dollars) is nothing to sneeze at.
Imagine Brady – Stutzle – Batherson on one line and Matthew – Cozens – Greig on another.
George O. I have a better question…what makes people think every brother in the NHL wants to play together on the same club? Short tournaments, sure.
But I have a brother, we love one another…we enjoy each other’s company but we certainly don’t want to spend 260 days a year together, working, travelling and mingling in the same circle of colleagues days in and day out.
But that is just my perspective but I chuckle everything any sibling is rumored as a target.
Yeah, but you probably don’t have a podcast with your brother do you?
Chicklets- who doesn’t have a podcast?
Kidding.
I get that they are close but dammit there must a a Primeau family/style dynamic sprinkled among the sets of siblings currently in the nhl no?
Slick62 – that’s subjective. He did break out with stronger second full season than Semic’s to land the contract for sure and is the number 1 today.
But in 2023 24 Fowler was their number 1 dman, and in 2024 25 it was more of committee until he broke out and won it.
I am not arguing for Semic to get the same as Lacombe. Just made the comment that Lacombe’s contract was viewed as a shock by more people than not and that is would be surprised Simec gets big dollars as well.
And, no, I seriously doubt Ottawa is interested in a back-up goalie who has yet to show he can handle NHL play. They can’t afford another season finding out he can’t!
There are far better options even among UFAs!
Unproven goalies have very little trade value and in this case 100% not what will work in Ottawa. They need a goalie who can push their current number 1 and set up a 1a, 1b set up in goal which history shows works for Ullmark.
Never mind the won’t happen in the same division crap because if a move helps both teams in position of needs, they will trade if they know the move is exactly what they need. Having said that, would one of the two Leafs goalies, Woll or Stolie be something that will be a good trade for both teams to make? I’m asking simply because it’s exactly what that team needs – not either goalie per se but a tandem like what worked for the Leafs.
Ron, while there’s certainly no doubt that a Woll or Stolarz would do the trick b/o Ullmark, as I keep saying to other trade solutions, that would cost assets of a type that would adversely affect a team not very deep in overall depth. The ones I would pursue – and I bet Staios will at least see what they want insofar as term and cap hit are concerned – would be one of these UFAs who would only cost cash:
27 y/o Stuart Skinner, coming off a $2.6 mil cap hit who put up a decent 2.99gaa and, considering that D, a respectable 0.855 save %;
30 y/o Connor Ingram coming off a $1,950,000 cap hit and again, considering elements of that D and their overall defensive game, produced a very good 2.60gaa and 0.899 save % over 32gp;
28 y/o Danil Tarasov coming off a $1,050,000 cap hit who, playing 33 games b/o a devastated Florida line-up, came up with a 3.05gaa and 0.895 save%;
31 y/o Vitek Vanecek, $coming off a $1.5 mil cap hit in Utah where. Over 22gp, he had a 2.92gaa and 0.883 save %.
Agree that Skinner is a good option for Ottawa.
Can get hot, has done it in the playoffs, good team mate. Just goes through tough stretches where you scratch your head.
So I looked at the projected cap hit for these UFA tenders.
Skinner $4.4M/yr
Ingram $3M/yr
Tarasov – $1.6M/yr
Vanecek – $1.25M
I got these off capwages and the only reference I have is Vladar as I wanted the Oil to pursue him last year. They had him at $1.65/year if I recall and he signed for $3.3M, which now looks like a bargain.
The Oil need a guy who is inexpensive, Tarasov. Still relatively young, big, had better #’s than Bob playing behind the same beat up team. Doubt Skinner is coming back.
If Nico isnt extended by the beginning of July then the Devils need to move on from him, unfortunately. I think Hischier is worth $11mil/year.
Paja. If Q Hughes isn’t extended, that’ll seem like an obvious swap.
Flash forward to July 2028. Brady is a FA. Florida still least amount of cap space according to Puckpedia. 11 players under contract. Also the 11 highest paid players with Lundell only one under 30. Brady turns 29 that September.
And how the heck is Nemec considered a 9 mil player? Has done nothing. Is a rfa with no arb rights. He’ll get a 2 year deal and still be rfa at end. Lucky if he gets 4m a year.
My suspicion is that Nemec’s agent is using Luke Hughes as a comp within the same team. You could argue that Nemec is equal to or better than Hughes. So if Hughes is getting $9M…..
And that is why Luke should never have gotten that $9M inflated contract before. He didn’t prove anything yet and that contract now becomes a barometer for all other agents to lean on .
I’d be shocked if Nico was moved
No way Nemic. Getting any where close to 9million. IMHO
AFP predicts over $9M AAV for Nemec on a long term deal. Usually right on, and may be a conservative estimate.
I too, think it is excessive, but isn’t everything now days?!?!😊
Maybe the fact he’s represented by Craig Oster has something to do with those expectations.
https://www.athleteagent.com/agents/841/clients
No expected Lacombe to get the contract he did this time last season either.
LaCombe had 2 full seasons where he proved to be a top pair. Nemec played 62 games this past season and spent more time in AHL than NHL the year before. Maybe they project 9m on a long term deal, but why do that? Just cause he’s a 2OA? Unproven and under team control for 3 more seasons.
Luke Hughes already paid 9million.
The Wild best off trading Quinn for Nemec and Nico imho.
Having brothers on the same team is like having a parent coach. There are always hard feelings amongst some of the other players.
Managing 25 players is hard enough without the additional distraction.
Seemed to work OK with the Richards, Bentleys, Hulls, Howes, Staals and Sedins.
Glad you feel that way George.
To Ottawa: Malcolm Spence (Jordan’s brother), Cuylle, Schneider, 26th pick in this years draft.
To NYR: Brady Tkachuk.
Despite desperately wanting Brady you just couldnt stomach using that 5th to seal the deal.
5th pick not happening.
I’m not desperate for Brady. Just think it’s strong possibility based on Drurys preferences.
I’d much rather have the Tkachuks, thanks.
Gino back with Pens. 1 year. 5.5m
I’m fine trading Brady to St.Louis or some other western club. It’ll be like Karlsson. We’ll have gotten his best years at a reasonable price. Unfortunate to see him leave but if that’s his wish, ok. I don’t honestly believe any of the public rhetoric surrounding the guy. But if we gotta trade him send him to the wc. I don’t wanna have to see him 4 times a year.
Nemec will need to bridge like the many before him. To me a risk for 8 years at any price let alone $9m
Florida might have to sign Tarasov themselves. Definitely someone .
Bob could be in decline .There were signs last year .
That should be Panthers priority and not taking a lot of asset and resources in attempts to pry Brady T .
Beniers would be an ideal target for the Bruins too. Not as accomplished but a similar player to Patrice Bergeron might just be that centre that compliments Pastrnak to a T.