NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, I attempt to answer some of the lingering offseason questions for the 32 NHL clubs.
SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen recently listed one lingering offseason question for each NHL team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a two-parter for me. Today, I’ll provide my answers for the first 16 teams on Boylen’s list, followed by the remaining 16 on Sunday.
Starting with the Anaheim Ducks, Boylen wondered how they would free up sufficient salary-cap space to re-sign scoring winger Cutter Gauthier. He speculated that a winger such as Frank Vatrano or Alex Killorn could become a cost-cutting trade candidate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano seems the more likely trade option largely because of his reduced role with the Ducks and his seven-team no-trade list.
The Boston Bruins must decide whether to re-sign or trade Pavel Zacha. He’ll be UFA-eligible next July. Boylen cited colleague Elliotte Friedman, who claimed the Bruins had spoken with other teams about the versatile 29-year-old forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of what I’ve read and heard out of Boston suggests the Bruins want to re-sign him. We’ll see if that pans out over the course of this summer.
Boylen wondered whether last season’s improvement by the Buffalo Sabres could help them land an impact player. He noted that Elliotte Friedman recently said that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebucyk was willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to Buffalo. He also felt Vincent Trocheck had been open to going there before he was traded last week to the Utah Mammoth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible, though the likelihood could fade over the course of the summer. Still, there’s no doubt the Sabres are a more desirable destination than they once were. If they pick up from where they left off last season, they shouldn’t have much difficulty finding significant additions in the trade market, provided they have the cap space to acquire them.
Zach Whitecloud has been a terrific addition to the Calgary Flames, but he’s also been the subject of trade rumors. Boylen mused over whether the 29-year-old defenseman could be moved this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whitecloud will draw attention from contenders seeking an affordable, experienced defenseman. He’s got two years remaining on his contract, so the Flames aren’t in any hurry to move him.
The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t made a big play yet, prompting Boylen to ponder if they might have something up their sleeve. He noted Friedman saying they were thinking of signing a player to an offer sheet and then attempting to trade them to another club.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated this week that a team that matches an offer sheet cannot trade the player for one year, but the team that successfully signs away a player from another club has no restrictions on moving them. The Hurricanes could go that route, but after the Carlsson offer sheet, they could find it more difficult now to sign away another club’s restricted free agents.
Boylen pondered what Connor Bedard’s next contract with the Chicago Blackhawks would look like.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One rumor has Bedard seeking a long-term deal worth $17 million. Take it for what it’s worth.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)
“Will Cale Makar become the highest-paid player in the NHL?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes. The league’s maximum salary for 2027-28 is $22.6 million. The Colorado Avalanche superstar’s next AAV will be close to that.
Boylen wondered what was next for Columbus Blue Jackets’ forwards Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli. He also asked, “Is the Zach Werenski saga truly over?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said they aren’t trading Marchenko despite his camp’s claim that their client isn’t interested in signing a contract extension. Fantilli has been mentioned as an offer-sheet candidate by the Philadelphia Flyers after their failed attempt to sign Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, but reports out of Philadelphia claim they won’t shift their sights to the young Blue Jackets center.
As for Werenski, he claims he wants to stay in Columbus after vetoing a trade to the Dallas Stars last week. However, he could change his mind about staying if the Blue Jackets fail to improve this season.
“How will the Jason Robertson situation be resolved?
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson could get a one-year, $13 million contract through arbitration, setting the stage for his departure from the Dallas Stars via free agency next summer.
Boylen mused over whether the Detroit Red Wings will honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not as long as Larkin insists on a short list of trade destinations. He recently expanded it to four teams by including the Dallas Stars, but Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants more options. Yzerman has set a high asking price for Larkin, seeking Wyatt Johnston from the Stars and Matt Boldy from the Minnesota Wild, which are pretty much deal-breakers for those teams.
The Edmonton Oilers have a lot of cap space remaining, prompting Boylen to ask how they intend to use it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could still try to add to their roster before next season. Some Oilers observers believe they could use a second-line winger, with some suggesting UFA Vladimir Tarasenko as an option.
Boylen wondered if the Florida Panthers might have any more surprises up their sleeves regarding their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything’s possible, but they’re probably done after acquiring winger Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They don’t have much tempting trade bait left, and they’re not parting with two-way center Anton Lundell.
The Los Angeles Kings could use more blueline depth. Boylen cited Elliotte Friedman, who recently suggested they could use another puck-moving rearguard. Given their limited cap space, it would have to be a money-in, money-out move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means they won’t be looking at the free-agent market, where the pickings were slim to begin with. They could have better odds through a trade, but there don’t seem to be any expendable assets on their roster that they could move to address that need. This could be an issue that carries over into the regular season.
Boylen wondered if Quinn Hughes would sign with the Minnesota Wild and for how much.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he was open to a contract extension, and Wild owner Craig Leipold recently insisted that his club would re-sign the 27-year-old superstar defenseman. However, that was before the Leo Carlsson offer-sheet saga set a new benchmark for superstar talent. It could cost them between $18 million and $20 million to get Hughes under contract.
The Montreal Canadiens still need a top-six forward. Boylen pondered over whether they might find one this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ biggest need is for a second-line center. However, the rumors linking them to Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets suggest that they believe they stand a better chance of adding a young top-six winger. They have the tradeable assets to make a tempting offer, but their search could continue into the regular season before a suitable option is found.
For the Nashville Predators, the question is where they can find more skill. Elliotte Friedman believes they’re going to try to add more to their blue line to help team captain Roman Josi.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s very little help left in the free-agent market, so it’s off to the trade market. Alexander Nikishin could be an option, as the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly willing to move the 24-year-old RFA blueliner.
With Robertson, my guess is that Nill gets Robertson to sign for 12 million this year, before the court hearing. (He’ll make a cost cutting move to get complient) Then once Seguin’s contract is done next season, or the Stars trade Seguin at the deadline for draft picks they’ll use that 9.85million of his money to compensate Robertson once Seguin is off the books.
I don’t think at this point that Robertson will take a one-year deal for $12 mill.
If I’m not mistaken, and I could be, once an arbitrator makes a decision at the end of that contract. The player becomes UFA. So if I’m Robertson, I’d take that 12 million for a year or whatever an arbitrator decides and be UFA next year.
So what stopped him from signing an offer sheet? I think he wants to stay in Dallas.
Robertson is going to have to accept a deal in the 12 million range as he’s elected for arbitration.!
He needs a new agent.!
Frank,
The reason why Robertson filed for arbitration is to become UFA next summer. He will take whatever amount the arbitrator decide for season 26-27 and then be free to play for the team of his choice next year and the $$$ he wants. No need for a new agent, its his decision.
Agreed. And where does the $12m figure come from? Is that some sort of arbitration maximum? His numbers are very comparable to Kaprisov’s.
Unless there’s a cap, an arbitrator is going to award him at least $15m.
Arbitrators tend to find a number midway between what each side seeks. The Stars reportedly have proposed $12 million, while the Robertson camp wants $14 million. I chose $13 million as the midpoint.
Numbers are hard Lyle. The mid point is 13.25 hahahhahaha
Players and teams can only use RFA contracts as comparables, not UFA contracts.
Seguin has a full NMC for this year. Highly doubt he accepts a trade unless one of two things happen:
a) Dallas is out of contention and he gets shipped to a team that has a shot at a Cup as a rental
b) He accepts a trade only if he is given an extension for a couple more seasons at the time of the trade.
It would make it tougher to trade him, especially if he asks for 2yr x $6M a season for the next 2.
Since Detroit has some interesting prospects maybe they should try to include some top end prospects in a Larkin trade to Dallas Johnston, Florida Lundel or Minnesota Boldy. I would rather get a high end player back.
I always through the Flames did well by getting Whitecloud in the trade with Vegas. Very underrated d man I wouldn’t trade him either, unless that return was overwhelmingly.
Roman Josi – would the Preds be better off trying to move the 38 year old defenseman as part of a rebuild? I think he has 2-3 years left as a second pairing defenseman and the return would be substantial.
Larkin should accept trade to Columbus and play with his pal Werenski. Send Marchenko to Detroit as part of deal. 3 problems solved with 1 deal.
Gauthier should sign an OS with Penguins.
If not, Ducks should sign him and look to trade Granlund Montreal or another center needy team. Otherwise trade Killorn with some retention.
Marchenko is a winger. I think they would like to get a centre back.
Larkin would be in the same position he is in with Detroit. Just a different defencemans name.
Gauthier can’t sign an offer sheet.
Gauthier is ineligible for an OS.
Maybe Dallas should look to trade Rantanen. Last 2 teams that did went pretty far this year.
Because of the offer sheet fro. Philadelphia….they just increased the pay for all NHL players….average to superstars
Way to Flyers ..so stupid
I cannot picture Boston trading Zacha as he fits in so well with them.! Unless it’s a package for Larkin if he wants to expand his list.!
But cannot picture that either, this is the craziest off season in years maybe ever.!
Frank for what it takes to sign Zacha in salary and years I think Boston should be seriously consider trading him. Look at the long term,without being able to move Lindholm,you have several young centers waiting for the opportunity to play. Minten,Hagens,Letourneau,Poitras,Locmelis,Moore to name young players in their system.The Bruins will be fortunate to be a wild card team this year.