NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2026
Could the Canadiens or Oilers acquire Connor Hellebuyck? Where could Quinn Hughes end up next season? What’s the latest on the Blues? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons recently dismissed the notion that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t want to play for Canadian teams, calling it “senseless.”
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Hellebuyck, 33, requested a trade and is currently suspended without pay by the Jets for not reporting to training camp.
“If he were dealt to Edmonton or Montreal, he would report in a minute,” Simmons wrote. “He wants out of Winnipeg, not because the Jets are lousy, but because his family has apparently been treated poorly by the local community.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In March, Hellebuyck spoke about backlash he and his family received on social media after he backstopped Team USA to gold against Canada in the Winter Olympics. However, he also said he wasn’t booed by Jets fans following the Olympics.
Hellebucyk never mentioned any poor treatment by the Winnipeg community during his end-of-season comments, when he was critical of his performance and that of his teammates. He instead spoke about how much he loved playing in Winnipeg and the connection he had with the fans.
THE SICK PODCAST: James Murphy reports an NHL source confirmed the Montreal Canadiens have not expressed any interest in Hellebuyck. The source believes Simmons’ report likely came from Hellebuyck’s camp, led by his longtime agent, Ray Petkau.
Assuming Hellebuyck would be interested in joining the Canadiens, Murphy’s source said the feeling isn’t mutual. “The Habs are very content with their goaltending situation right now and aren’t going to pay the ransom of roster players the Jets will want for something they’re not looking for right now.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ biggest needs are an established second-line center and an experienced right-shot defenseman. Goaltending isn’t an issue. They’re currently carrying Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, and Samuel Montembeault, with the latter regularly surfacing in trade rumors.
As for the Oilers, they’d probably love to acquire Hellebuyck, but they can’t afford his $8.5 million AAV and lack the assets necessary to meet the Jets’ asking price.
THE SCORE: Kyle Cushman, Sean O’Leary, and Josh Wegman looked at whether Hellebuyck or Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin would be traded first. O’Leary and Cushman believe it’ll be Hellebuyck, partly because his holdout could force a quick resolution.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m with Wegman that it’ll likely be Larkin before Hellebuyck. He believes there’s a larger market for a first-line center in his prime than a high-priced goaltender.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience when shopping players who have requested trades, moving them when he gets a return that helps his team.
THE SCORE: Cushman, O’Leary, and Wegman also predicted Quinn Hughes’ future. The 26-year-old superstar defenseman is UFA-eligible next summer, raising questions about whether he’ll re-sign with the Minnesota Wild or join his brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils.
Wegman believes Hughes will sign a three-year contract extension and the average annual value would be $19.5 million. O’Leary believes he’ll get traded to New Jersey, and Cushman thinks he’ll sign with the Devils next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes’ future will remain a hot topic for speculation the longer he goes without a new contract. I think he’ll re-sign with the Wild because they should give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup, especially if they can suitably address their need for a first-line center.
32 THOUGHTS: THE PODCAST: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the St. Louis Blues could be open to trade offers for some of their bottom-six forwards.
Friedman said not all of their bottom-six forwards will make their team for this season. He believes Blues management have let it be known around the league that they have extra players to spare if teams are seeking roster depth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News listed Alexey Toropchenko, Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist, Jack Finley, and Dillon Dube as players who could be fighting for roster spots.
Gaudio suggested three of them could end up on waivers, where they could be claimed by other clubs. He also speculated that Pius Suter could be moved if Aleksanteri Kaskimaki or Zach Dean challenge for the fourth-line center role.
Helly had to beef up his and his family’s security when he returned from his victorious Olympic journey. He took the high road and did not mention it at the time.
Johnny Z: The Jets also look into security for Hellebuyck and spoke to police about the online threats his family received. However, given his comments about his love of the city of Winnipeg and of its fans, and his praise for them, it’s unlikely that’s the reason why he wants out of Winnipeg. He wants to win a Stanley Cup, and no longer believes he can do so with the Jets.
Well it certainly did not help his cause to stay in the Peg!
I agree. I am sure the Oil would love to have the pedigree of a goalie like hellebucyk in net but the pkg has to start with Jarry just to start to make the money work…and then what?
So the dollars is troubling and even more, a pkg to satisfy the jets is a bigger hurdle imo. While we have prospects trending to an nhl career they are not of star quality. I think we have our 2028 1st pick.
What would the jets want? RNH not happening imo. Savoie – while they may have interest i doubt alone with Jarry (limited value especially after last season) and picks is strong enough.
I just dont see a path where the Oil and Jets find common ground for a deal.
Would love to see it, but dont see how it happens.
1Oilerfan: Agreed. The cap dollars and the tradeable assets aren’t there.
Oilers won’t trade for him but it would take a 3 way trade with probably either Savoie or Howard and Mukhamadullin involved.
I think there would be interest from the Oilers just not the level the jets need them to be.
They also didn’t trade for Levi for him to be the backup for a long time.
I’m betting that Prime Minister Carney does a trade deal with the US before Chevy does a trade involving Helle. Unless he’s prepared to accept a 60-70 cents on the dollar return, this is likely to go to Christmas. Also, Simmons is delusional , I seriously think that his so called sources regularly punk him with intel to see if he actually writes an article on it.
Lyle, have to disagree with you and Wegman. A lot of teams need a center but if reports are true, only 3-4 teams he wanted to go to. Maybe willing to stay if Yzerman as GM was the problem. Hellebuyck open to more destinations and price to acquire won’t be ridiculous.
Amazing! How did I know yesterday what Lyle would post today!
I’ll repeat what I posted yesterday. Hughes has confidence in his young goalies. He will not use his tradable assets, not to mention cap space, on a goalie in his mid 30s with a huge cap hit. Both are better spent on a #2 center or a goal scoring winger.
Waivers this year are going to have a few good players on there up for grabs. I’m hoping a few get overlooked and picked up by my team.