NHL Rumor Mill – August 24, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have an update on some of the top remaining unrestricted free agents, and three proposed offer sheet candidates for Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli.
DAILY FACEOFF: No changes to Matt Larkin’s listing of the top remaining unrestricted free agents.
Wingers Patrik Laine and Eeli Tolvanen and defenseman Logan Stanley remain among the best players in a shallow pool of UFA talent. Laine tops Larkin’s list, with Stanley ranked second and Tolvanen fifth.
Former Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).
Other noteworthy UFAs include forwards Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron; goaltenders Cam Talbot and Connor Ingram; and defensemen John Klingberg and Nick Blankenburg.
DFO RUNDOWN: NHL Network’s Mike Rupp talked to host Jason Gregor about potential landing spots for Patrik Laine.
Rupp believes the 28-year-old winger could help clubs looking to improve their power play. He suggested the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers, whose power-play percentages were among the league’s worst last season.
Turning to the Anaheim Ducks, Rupp believes they must improve their defense and suggested Logan Stanley as a potential solution. However, he noted that they would have their work cut out for them, given their limited salary-cap space and efforts to re-sign winger Cutter Gauthier.
PACIFIC NORTH HOCKEY: Rob Simpson reports Eeli Tolvanen’s camp claims they’ve had conversations with multiple NHL teams. However, his former club, the Seattle Kraken, are not among them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There could be a flurry of free-agent signings once the calendar flips to September. With training camps opening in mid-September, some NHL clubs could scramble to address their lingering roster needs through free agency and trades.
Most of the players remaining on Larkin’s list, including Laine, Stanley, and Tolvanen, could find themselves signing one-year contracts for much less than they anticipated when the free-agent market opened on July 1. Some could sign professional tryout offers in the hope of earning a one-year deal.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert listed three teams that he believes should attempt to sign center Adam Fantilli to an offer sheet.
Fantilli, 21, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He suggested the Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames should make a pitch.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lambert lays out good reasons why the Red Wings, Kraken, and Flames would benefit from signing Fantilli if the young center is open to signing an offer sheet. However, if he were willing to sign an offer sheet, he probably would’ve done it by now. At this stage in the offseason, with training camps opening in a month, the offer sheet becomes a more remote possibility.
Larkin and a 2nd for Fantilli might do it!
JZ
Was thinking same. Been touting Larkin to CBJ for awhile. Can unite with childhood buddy/teamate Werenski. Detroit has the cap space to do an offer sheet that Columbus can’t match. Losing Fantilli for futures would be nail in coffin for Werenski. Already unhappy.
Logan Stanley is a big guy with serious defensive weaknesses, who for some unknown reason was talked about as a $5Mx5 contender.
Great for the ego but no grounding in reality as he doesn’t bring value to an NHL team. Buffalo got sucked in by his size and realized too late that they were taken in by Winnipeg when trading for him and Schenn.
It’s no surprise that he’s a PTO candidate at best.
Werenski and Fantilli to Minnesota for boldy and Farber.
Fantilli to Detroit for Larkin.
Solid trade suggestion. I have not checked to see if the dollars work but a solid frame for a 3 way trade.
Detroit may need to add a sweetener to land the young Fantilli though.
Werenski and Quinn play the same side. Neither is a 2nd pairing
Kekalainen gave Laine last contract in Columbus. Can see him signing Laine in Buffalo. They had 21st ranked PP in regular season. Lost offense from Tuch and Byram. Both averaged over a minute and a half on PP