NHL Rumor Mill – June 8, 2026
More Dylan Larkin Trade Speculation, plus the latest on the Canadiens and the Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at whether Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin would be a fit with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 29-year-old center requested a trade last week. He has five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.7 million and a full no-trade clause.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Kurz believes it would make sense for the Flyers to pursue Larkin, who would fill their first-line center position.
If the Red Wings want to be in the playoff chase next season, they’ll likely want a top-two center in return for Larkin, which would take the Flyers out of the running. However, if the Wings are rebuilding, the Flyers have the tradeable assets to make a competitive trade offer.
Kurz considers it unlikely that the Flyers will land Larkin. He believes general manager Daniel Briere isn’t under pressure to take a big swing right now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin has spent the past decade outside the playoff picture. While the Flyers exceeded expectations this season by reaching the postseason, Larkin’s preference could be joining a club he believes will give him the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile, Aaron Portzline doubted that the Columbus Blue Jackets have a shot at acquiring Larkin.
Portzline noted the friendship between Larkin and Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, but that’s unlikely to put the Blue Jackets on Larkin’s short list of trade destinations. He noted that the Wings center’s preference could be to join an upper-echelon club, such as the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have come tantalizingly close to the playoffs the past two years but failed to break through. They probably aren’t the type of team Larkin would be keen to join.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Patrick Present believes the Anaheim Ducks could be well-positioned to make an enticing trade pitch for Larkin.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek knows Larkin from his days as the Red Wings’ assistant GM. He’s also been an active trade partner with his former club over the past two years.
Present wondered if an offer of young center Mason McTavish, a second-tier prospect such as Eric Nilsson or Lasse Boelius, and a first-round pick might be enough to acquire Larkin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have plenty of factors that would give them an advantage over other clubs pursuing Larkin. However, it will come down to whether they’re on his short list of trade destinations.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will have value in the trade market despite his struggles this season.
The 29-year-old Montembeault entered this season as the Canadiens’ starting goaltender. However, a combination of injuries and inconsistency shook his confidence and turned him into their third-stringer behind Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
Montembault has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.15 million. With several teams having goaltending issues, Cowan thinks the Canadiens shouldn’t have a problem trading him this summer.
TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie believes the Canadiens could find a buyer for Kirby Dach if they decide to put the 25-year-old forward on the trade block.
Injuries hampered Dach’s development since being acquired by the Canadiens in 2022. Nevertheless, Lavoie believed that Dach still has value. He felt that teams will be interested if he becomes available, suggesting the Canadiens could get a second or third-round pick for him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens likely won’t get much for either guy, but a draft pick for each could be used as trade chips to address other issues. One of them could even be part of a larger multi-player deal, though that possibility seems remote.
CAPITALS TO SHOP FOR A DEFENSEMAN
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently reported that Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin has started rehab as he begins his long recovery from surgery in April to repair a torn ACL.
Sandin is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months, meaning he might not return to the lineup until late January. Capitals GM Chris Patrick said he will explore options to address Sandin’s absence.
To add to the list, the Habs would probably be able to trade Gallagher as well. Won’t get much, but all of these dumps would open up cap space.
I disagree on Gallagher, the cap hit is too compared to what he brings. If they want the whole hit gone they have to add. Like him plus Dach for a 6th, teams might hope that Dach can turn healthy, teams like Vancouver, or rather Vancouver.
Aww come on, Howard. What teams out there will want a 34 y/o 5’ 9” 185lber who the Habs have decided must go simply because he’s literally run out of gas? And, to boot, is taking up $6.5 mil of the cap for another season. I know he’s said he’d prefer to go to Vancouver … but why would the Canucks want him if he can no longer do what kept him as a mainstay in Montreal all these years? Even if the Habs withheld a chunk of that cap hit?
As for Dach, same thing but for an entirely different reason. This guy has NEVER played a full season, not even the Covid-shortened one. Is there – realistically – a GM out there who’s thinking “yeah, all that will change once I get him here.” ??
Over the past 3 seasons alone he has missed 40% of the team’s games. Just look at his injury history
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/27907/Kirby_Dach/transactions
I knew I was being to kind to Montreal;)
Why do you think teams are just going to absorb Gallaghers contract.? Habs fan obviously, the Habs would have to absorb 50% and still add a 2nd round pick to get him off their hands.
Spector is my favorite morning read.!
Got to show some love.!
Appreciate it, Frank!
With an actual salary of 4 mil the Habs would not have to hold any salary to move him. Dumba made 4 mil and it cost Dallas a second with no money held. So there is precedent. Mont has zero value. Dach could maybe bring a mid rounder as a project for a team.
I would argue that the ducks are the perfect partner for Detroit, even if I think it will cost Verbeek more than the package suggested. Like Solberg/luneau, McTavish, a first and a second/third. Reason is that besides being a 2A c, he is on a good contract. If Larkin is smart, the Ducks are ON his trade list
It’s been reported Larkin gave three teams the Wild, Panthers and Vegas to be traded too I don’t see Detroit getting much in return if this list is true. All three teams will not move younger equivalent players and Detroit doesn’t want their older players.
Wild probably don’t have the prospects to get a trade done unless Detroit wants Wahlstrom as part of the return.
Vegas and Florida won’t have the cap space to take him on and their prospects pool isn’t great either. Florida looks like they have $15M in space right now, but they also don’t have any goalies currently under contract and also have several UFA forwards to handle.
If true, nhl is starting to become like the nba, where the stars pull a tantrum to get traded and then team up with a power house so they can get their cup. Hated that move by players in NBA and now it’s starting to become prevalent in NHL. Looks to be mostly an American kind of thing really if you look at the stats.
You give a guy a NMC (which nba doesn’t have to be fair) and they go around and demand a trade putting the team in a crap spot. Pretty weak if you ask me, where is honouring your contract?
I wouldn’t trade Montembeault, at least not now.
While he had a bad start to the year, the team wasn’t scoring for him at all at that point usually only 2 goals.
He got much better in Laval under Marco Marciano who is now the goalie coach of the Habs.
I’d start Fowler in Laval, have Dobes and Montembeault start the year as 1 and 2 then see.
History has shown him to be capable, to rebound well, he loves it in Montreal and is a solid teammate.
If after the first 1-15 games he doesn’t show change, his value can’t be lower than it is now, if he plays as I expect, HuGo have a tough decision.