Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 20, 2026
Check out the latest on Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Samuel Montembeault, and Shane Wright in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Erik Karlsson have not discussed a new contract. The 36-year-old defenseman’s current deal expires next July.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).
Both sides appear open to having those talks in the future. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza said the club thinks highly of Karlsson and he’s enjoying his time in Pittsburgh. He anticipates the situation will play itself out as the season progresses.
Spezza was also asked about team captain Sidney Crosby not signing an extension yet. He believes the 39-year-old center wants to see how he feels and whether he can meet his standard of play. He indicated it wasn’t a concern for either side at this point.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby will re-sign if he feels he can still perform at the level he’s accustomed to. Karlsson could also return, depending on his career goals and what he’ll seek in his next contract. It wouldn’t be surprising if both players return with the Penguins next season.
THE JASON GREGOR SHOW: NHL insider Frank Seravalli said Thursday that he believes Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will be the first player traded this season.
Seravalli pointed to the 30-year-old Montembeault becoming the Canadiens’ third-string goalie last season and the difficulty he’ll face moving up against Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault frequently appeared in the offseason rumor mill, but his poor performance last season made peddling him difficult.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he’s fine carrying three goalies in the preseason, but he’d rather not do so in the regular season. However, he could avoid that by starting the season with Dobes and Montembeault as his goalie tandem, and sending Fowler (who is waiver-exempt) to their AHL affiliate in Laval.
Hughes could showcase Montembeault in the regular season, hoping an improved effort by him will boost his value. Some Canadiens followers, like Brendan Kelly of The Montreal Gazette, are fearful that giving “Monty” too much time to regain his form could cost them wins this season. However, he’s likely on a shorter leash than he was last season and could end up cooling his heels in the press box if Fowler has to be recalled.
A better effort by Montembeault might not help his trade stock because of the limited value for goalies right now. If the Winnipeg Jets can’t find a suitable deal for three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, the Canadiens won’t have better luck moving Montembeault.
However, Montembeault lacks no-trade protection and carries an affordable $3.15 million cap hit on a contract that expires next July. It could become even more cost-effective if the Canadiens retained part of it to facilitate a trade. If his performance improves, he could be more enticing as a quick fix for teams seeking short-term help.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kate Shefte looked at whether Shane Wright remains part of the Kraken’s long-term future.
She noted that Wright’s agent attempted to stir the pot this summer by pushing for a trade, but it didn’t materialize. The Kraken may have set a high price for the 22-year-old center, but his NHL record is spotty, “thanks in part to bottom-six deployment and limited responsibilities.”
Shefte reports Kraken GM Jason Botterill has kept his conversations with Wright private, but said the club’s goal is to help the young center become a better NHL player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wright seemed poised for a breakout campaign after a promising 44-point performance in 2024-25, but managed just 27 points in 74 games last season. Part of that was because the Kraken replaced Dan Bylsma as head coach with Lane Lambert in 2025.
Wright could improve this season if he’s better-prepared for Lambert’s system. That would bolster his value in the trade market, but it would also make him more beneficial to the Kraken.
if the Hellyebuck situations carries on into the regular season, the Jets will need an NHL goalie to tandem with Skinner, why not take a flyer on Montembault ?
Agreed MIKEP. Send habs a 6th rounder and ask them to pay 500 000 to a million. Helle is not coming back.
I’m almost thinking that old Jet and capable back Brossoit will be waiver claim material from the Ducks end of training camp, I’d think Chevy and goalie coach Wade Flaherty would be in on that.
Eric Comrie makes more sense. Brossoit is awful!
Sorry Lyle but, first of all, as every Habs fan knows, citing Brendan Kelly never helps the argument one is trying to make.
Secondly, you obviously cannot compare the difficulty the Jets are having finding fair value in a trade for a Vezina and Hart trophy with the Habs situation with Monty. I agree that goalies normally don’t bring in a high return. But the Jets reasonably expect a solid return for Helly that could provide immediate help. The best the Habs can hope for is that Monty starts the season with a few solid games and they could trade him for a mid round pick without having to retain salary. If he struggles they’ll have no choice but to waive him to the NHL and recall Fowler. He’ll clear because no team will claim a struggling goalie with a cap hit over $3m.
I think the point Lyle was making is that teams are set for backup goalies. If there’s not much of a market for a starter, who’s going to add a backup?
Good take Ed.
In any event as long as Montembeault plays well in pre season it makes more sense to me that he stays and Fowler goes to Laval and gets experience as a starter. It won’t help his development to play every third game in Montreal.
I think the first trade Montreal makes is a D, and I am betting it’s Struble.
Spot on, Ed. My apologies, Howard, for any confusion regarding my comments.
There could be teams looking for a backup a month or so into the season if their current backup looks shaky or someone gets hurt. I agree with LJ that if Monty looks good in preseason it’s best to keep him as a backup this season and let Fowler get playing time in the AHL.
LJ,
While we are the Yin and Yang of Hab fandom every now and then we fall on the same side.
Montembeault played against the TML home team and was steadier than both Dobes and Fowler who played the TML away team.
I also think Fowler belongs in Laval, he has 17 NHL games under his belt, he needs work and he can be waived freely.
I think Struble will be the first guy traded, not because he isn’t good but he just doesn’t fit in the overstock of LD on the team.
There are a few teams that have the same problem on the other side, too many RD that don’t fit.
Yes. You are far more adventuresome than I am, though I am now about to change my tune:
I know you would trade Guhle, and I am starting to weaken as he seems to be cut from the same cloth as Dach.
But I wonder also if Carrier (one year left), and Texier are also vulnerable to being traded. For the first time in a long time we have a decent roster, several solid AHLers pushing for a position, and Hage and Zharovski in the wings. The Habs can only keep sending legit talent down for so long.
I expect that shortly after the rosters need to be finalized we will see movement.
Montreal won’t carry three goalies, Dobes will drive the bus, And, Montembeault will be the backup, Fowler will be sent down.