NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2026
Check out the latest on Dylan Larkin, Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Kirill Marchenko, Alexander Nikishin, Jason Robertson, and Matthew Knies in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos published his first trade board of this season. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting rumors:
The Montreal Canadiens tried to convince Dylan Larkin to accept a trade “to come and help Nick Suzuki.” However, the 30-year-old Detroit Red Wings center “still has no interest in coming to Canada.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors surfaced earlier this month linking the Canadiens to Larkin, who hasn’t expanded his three-team list of trade destinations, with the Minnesota Wild at the top. He’s made it clear where he wants to go.
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images)
Kypreos also claimed the Canadiens are among the teams asking about Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele. He believes it would cost a hefty price that could include top prospect Michael Hage, or center Oliver Kapanen, “among others”, claiming Kirby Dach “is wrapped up in this too.” He also stated that the thought of adding goalie Samuel Montembeault to work in tandem with Stuart Skinner is intriguing to the Jets because they wouldn’t need to get a goalie back in a Connor Hellebuyck trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Kypreos, if Hellebuyck is on his way out of Winnipeg, the Jets are asking themselves if it’s better to keep or trade Scheifele.
Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont pointed out that Scheifele is a villain among Canadiens fans for his illegal hit on Jake Evans during the 2021 playoffs, earning the Jets center a suspension. However, given the Canadiens signed former public enemy No. 1 Chris Kreider, they probably wouldn’t be too troubled about Scheifele’s history.
Acquiring Scheifele would more than address the Canadiens’ need for an experienced second-line center. However, the 33-year-old center is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause this season.
Assuming Scheifele would be open to a trade to Montreal, the Jets will set a high price, as Kypreos suggested. While he’s coming off a career-high 103-point campaign last season, he’s approaching the stage in his career when decline is inevitable, which could make his contract burdensome over its final years despite the anticipated rise in the salary cap during that period.
Speaking of Hellebucyk, Kypreos reports the Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and San Jose Sharks are among the teams monitoring the 33-year-old goalie’s situation. He claimed those clubs are trying to convince the Jets to accept returns of blue-chip prospects over roster players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has stressed he wants a return that’s fair for both sides. He’s indicated he has no intention of rebuilding his roster, and wants players over futures. Given Cheveldayoff’s well-earned reputation for patience in trade talks, he’s unlikely to bend on his asking price.
Kypreos believes the Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers “seem poised to try and make something work” for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ addition of Chris Kreider takes them out of the market for Marchenko, at least for now, but that could change later in the season if he remains available. Like Cheveldayoff in Winnipeg with Hellebucyk, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell isn’t interested in futures for Marchenko.
Kypreos believes the reason why restricted free-agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin hasn’t been signed and/or traded by the Carolina Hurricanes isn’t necessarily because he’s seeking a massive contract. The young blueliner seeks an opportunity where he can become a top-three defenseman.
Jason Robertson has a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars, but Kypreos wonders what happens next. The two sides can start extension talks on Jan. 1, but Kypreos doesn’t think that could happen because the 27-year-old winger lacks no-trade protection. He envisioned a scenario where the Stars sign him and then trade him to the Seattle Kraken, where Robertson already rejected a move to. Kypreos also noted that Robertson is the radar of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who acquired his younger brother Nick this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars GM Jim Nill recently said he met with Robertson and his family to mend their relationship. He insisted that re-signing the high-scoring winger remains his priority.
The Matthew Knies trade rumors won’t go away. Kypreos believes the 24-year-old power forward remains the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best trade chip if they want to land a big fish this season, especially because he lacks no-trade protection.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knies could still be a valuable trade asset for the Maple Leafs, but I think GM John Chayka sees him as a key part of the roster core regardless of whether they’re retooling or rebuilding.
So realistically speaking, adding Scheifele w Helle would help facilitate the trade and prompt a better return….however
They are not going to come out of that with a better forward or goalie than they are trading.
There is no indication they want to go into a rebuild or that Scheifele wants out. Also trading Helle AND Scheifele may ikely also be followed by a request from Connor for a trade
So no they had 3 stars locked up, 1 wants out…you dont add 1 of the other 2 to help make that deal happen unless the goal is full rebuild.
Scheifele to MTL makes them a contender…waiting to see how Hage develops does not. It could but not necessarily. It’s probably worth it for the Canadiens to make that trade.
More nonsense outta toronto.
No the Jets are not trading Scheifele.
No the Jets are NOT going into a rebuild.
The return for Hellebuyck will stabilize the 2nd line, a problem for years, and make them a more complete team.
Not sure why the Jets would go into a rebuild after they strengthen the team via a Hellebuyck trade.
If the Jets were rebuilding they would have accepted picks & prospects months ago and moved from Hellebuyck.
Its amazing how clueless the so called ‘experts’ are.
Currently that’s the case. It all depends what the offers are and what will entice. If the team trading for CH isn’t willing to give up a second like player because it makes a hole while filling a hole, then the Jets are SOL.
Who knows what the offers are and what the Jets consider a solid second line player.
Lots of ways it could play out.
I understand what youre saying, but the Jets are not going to trade for something they dont want or need.
Are you familiar with Cheveldayoff’s trading style? He will wait till he gets want he wants. There will be a team that will offer the Jets legit 2nd line help.
If that wasnt the case the Jets would have traded him by now for what ever package they could get.
Either way I’m sure we’re all bored of this story and hope it goes away!!!
Amen HockeySwami, not surprisingly these types of comments come out of Toronto and Montreal about nearly every high end player. Scheifele has continued to announce how he wants to retire a Jet, he’ll end up within the Jet upper management team eventually, ala the Yzerman and Sakic’s.
HockeySwami
By Toronto I’m guessing you mean coming out of Kypreos? Honestly feel he has no inside info and just makes it all up. How exactly do teams mentioned fit Hellebuyck under their cap if they’re trying to convince Jets to only take prospects? Utah has the most cap space out of the 3 but they’d still need to clear space. They gave up a 1st round pick at draft to acquire Cossa from Detroit. Maybe they send Vejmelka the other way but then Cossa is a backup for foreseeable future? I’ve picked Detroit as landing spot for Hellebuyck but they have another highly drafted goalie in Augustine. Did Detroit figure he was goalie of future when they traded away Cossa? They signed Tarasov to backup Gibson so future isn’t this year. Would think a lot of these questions get answered before regular season
Kapanen, Dach and Montembeault for Scheifele is a trade I’d make all day long.
I like Montembeault and feel he’ll bounce back this year, he’d be a good tandem with Skinner.
Dach is in his show me year and execs around the league see a big western boy ready to break through.
Kapanen was to our surprise a competent 2C last year that we are trying to find fault with and can’t, other than the season was too long and grinding for a European rookie.
Cheveldayoff has the time to maximise a return on Hellebuyck while seeing the impact of these three guys.
Scheifele is a contract that won’t look good in a few years, he’s 33y/o and it runs till he’s 38y/o.
Until and during the decline he mentors Beck and Hage for continuity and he’d slide down in the roster to bottom 6.
Interestingly the one weak facet of his game that is face off%.
Money balances out, Habs pay $800k more after trade.
Scheifele has a NMC and Winnipeg says no because losing Scheifele after Ehlers and Hellebuyck soon probably upsets the fanbase.