Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 27, 2026
In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup, we look at the latest on Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko, and Canadiens forward Kirby Dach.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s recent report suggesting the Sharks may have “kicked tires” on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
The 33-year-old Hellebuyck revealed last month that he requested a trade. He’s currently suspended without pay by the Jets for refusing to report to training camp.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Hellebuyck is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.7 million. He has a full no-movement clause until July 1, after which it reverts to a 10-team trade list.
Friedman believes it’s a question of whether Hellebuyck believes the Sharks can become a winner while he’s still at his peak.
Peng wondered if the Sharks should take a chance on Hellebuyck. He speculated that it could cost them a first-round pick, winger Collin Graf, and goalie Yaroslav Askarov. “That’s a high price for an aging, expensive goaltender,” Peng wrote.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks general manager Mike Grier was likely doing due diligence by contacting the Jets to inquire about Hellebuyck. However, I agree with Peng that the asking price is too high for the Sharks. By the time the Sharks are contenders, Hellebuyck could be past his prime.
The Sharks seem content to stick with their current tandem of Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic this season. That might change if they struggle or injuries strike, but for now, they still believe in Askarov as their starter.
THE SICK PODCAST: Nick Lariviere did a round-up of reports about the trade rumors swirling around Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko.
Lariviere noted the Montreal Canadiens were among the most aggressive suitors for Marchenko. An NHL scout speculated it could cost the Canadiens a “solid middle-six forward and/or a top-four defenseman.” However, the scout wondered if they’re willing to risk the chemistry they currently have.
Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe believes it could cost the Bruins a promising young forward like Fraser Minten or James Hagens, a first-round pick, and another young asset like Mason Lohrei or better.
Long-time NHL analyst and co-host of The Eye Test Podcast listed the Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers as possible landing spots for Marchenko.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Canadiens, Golden Knights, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Seattle Kraken as potential suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ interest in Marchenko may have waned since signing Chris Kreider earlier this month. Of course, they could still keep tabs on his availability and the asking price, but they don’t seem to be currently in a rush to make a big addition to their roster.
The asking price will be a sticking point for any club interested in Marchenko. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell insists he doesn’t want a return of futures, preferring instead a comparable young scorer. Because Marchenko will be a restricted free agent next summer, Waddell isn’t facing the same pressure to move him as he would if the winger were UFA-eligible.
CASINO.ORG: NHL insider Frank Seravalli reports sources claim the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are among the teams interested in Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach.
According to Seravalli, multiple teams offered the Canadiens a second-round pick for Dach, who has struggled through injuries during his tenure in Montreal. However, the Canadiens sought more immediate help and could use him as a trade chip to land a bigger fish like Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko.
Seravalli claimed the Oilers’ interest in Dach “bordered on drooling.” He noted that the 25-year-old forward was drafted by Oilers general manager Stan Bowman when he was GM of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019. Bowman feels a poor run of bad luck due to injuries has prevented Dach from reaching his full potential.
Meanwhile, the Flames are believed to be interested in Dach “to play in concert with someone like Morgan Frost.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dach could become available if promising Florian Xhekaj earns a roster spot because of his strong preseason play. However, as Seravalli observed, the Canadiens could send the waiver-exempt Xhekaj back to Laval to start the season, wait for a better offer for Dach, and recall him after Dach has been traded.
As for the Oilers’ rumored interest in Dach, Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal believes they should proceed with caution, given the risk in acquiring an oft-injured player. The same advice applies to the Flames.
Who’d have thought that there were hockey execs out west interested in Kirby Dach??????
Shocker eh.
Even more shocking , nobody is offering their top prospect or established layer for a guy that can’t tie his shoe without breaking something!
Even more shocking that list isn’t 31 teams of eager gms “ waiting for the big boy to break through “ or break something.
A 2nd round pick? Wow ! Far cry from Stramel , Scheifele or Marchenko!? But hey, he may get traded somewhere for something!
EVEN MORE SHOCKING…is anyone…(come on Lyle) referring to Florian as promising.
He can’t even skate at a beer league level. He’s got one schtick which is frightening opponents into coughing up the puck. It works real well in pre-season and doesn’t in actual regular season play.
shocking he didn’t get waived
No way the Bruins give up Minten after signing him to a seven year deal PLUS Lorei and more. Also Sweeney never gets players when he has to compete with other teams to acquire. He is way too afraid of losing his job which he should with his tendency to give fourth liners like Jeannot and others player-friendly contracts and then having little cap space to sign better players .
Barry’s,Sweeney signs players so they can crawl into the playoffs,satisfying management because all they want is playoff revenues!
Story of that franchise since Sweeney was a player there
I agree that it is more than Sweeney when it comes to the Bruins management. The upper management agrees with a cautious and non aggressive approach and that is what keeps Sweeney as GM.
I could be wrong, but I don’t see Waddell trading anyone for Dach. Why would the Jackets want an injury prone center when one of the team’s strengths is the center position?
HF 30, many hockey people take on the idea that they can bring out what is missing in a player once he gets that big time reputation. You guys have a nice situation if they are drilling over Dach. Of course some teams might compare him to Morgan Geekie when he got his shot to be put in offensive situations he has recorded 33 and 39 goals the last 2 seasons. Doesn t hurt to be playing a lot with Pasternak!
Once again the Dach talk isn’t coming out of Montreal, I’m just laughing at all the reasons people were calling him useless and nobody wants him in reply to my stating there are hockey execs out there that want him.
Sr, I don’t think Boston’s problem is Sweeney, it’s higher up Neely, great player poor exec.
Actually nobody said he isn’t tradable or useless. He’s broken and nowhere near the ridiculous value you’re constantly selling would be more like it.
Again, a 2nd or a 3rd isn’t near the ridiculous nonsense you’re putting out. Like Stramel , Scheifele etc.
So prance around like you’re right all you like …..It’s a rumor and the value is considerably less than anything you have stated.
So you’re really still ll wrong / delusional.
Dach is garbage. No one is giving anything of value for him. Maybe a 3rd and reclamation project.
I don’t get the bile, Captain.
Yesterday HF30 said he’d make the trade as proposed by Kyprios, he didn’t propose it. Indeed, he stated it was tilted in Montreal’s favour.
As for your opinion of Dach: from yesterday: “I’d have more faith in a can of Pringle’s surviving a drop from a 50 story building than Dach staying healthy.”
Today you say he is broken. I don’t have faith in Dach’s health either but if your comments aren’t saying he is un-tradeable or useless I don’t know what is.
I’m just reading these posts as presented. Who is wrong or delusional?
Lj,
He has put together endless trade proposals with Dach. None of which are even remotely probable.
Saying a guy is fragile / broken doesn’t mean he “can’t be or won’t be traded” plenty of cases of guys like this being traded. Are they traded for a top prospect as he’s suggested? Or a 1st line center ? No.
There is a difference of being able to be traded and reality of what the return should be expected. You’re not getting anything of better value for Dach. Not a chance.
It’s not “bile”. It’s a response to his constant passive aggressive nonsense. He’s dancing around like he’s somehow right over a rumor of a much less return than he’s ever dreamed up.
I understand the allure of Dach for the Oilers , that elusive right hand center, a dynamic the team has long yearned for. it simply depends on the cost of the acquisition should the path be taken.
Somewhat related, on the other hand, Owen Michaels also a right hand center has stuck around camp right to the end. Longer than anyone expected i would say making the most of his opportunity with Dickinson injured he may more likely start the season with the big club than not.
I suspect he returns to the AHL to get more minutes as a pro with a healthy roster but for the first time in a long time, I feel the oilers farm club has legitate options for call ups and likely a number of future nhlers. Granted these range from middle 6 to depth players but still. Bowman has done well stocking the cupboards from alternatives to the draft.
Anyway kinda of a tangent there but as a guy that mourns the end of each summer the season being a few days away makes it a tad more bearable.
The same sources said that Montreal was drooling over penguins d man Ryan graves. But the pens won’t accept just a second round pick. With how obvious the league wide interest is in the fellow the pens will wait for a better offer.
Someone is drooling over Ryan Graves??? He has no place in the Penguins lineup, so trading him for any pick would be a win. And why trade anything for him when he’ll hit waivers shortly?
Whoosh
My bad. The idea of dealing Graves made me loopy.
I just saw what the bruins might have to give up for Marchenko if it means Hagens a #1, and Lohrei no way. Hagens in my estimation will be better than Marchenko. Minten maybe.
Man alive good trades used to happen quickly in 80s and 90s nowadays it seems to take forever. Someone like Sammy Pollack, or Bowman would even have trouble pieces in this day and age.
John Apple,your not trading for players anymore,it’s contract for contract!
I don’t doubt Rangers would be interested in Marchenko. Same age as recently acquired Dorofeyev. Have played together before. But. Will probably be looking to get paid the same next year. Rangers also signed Bjorkstrand and Tolvanen to 1 year deals. Pretty full on wings right now. If they were going to trade for him it would’ve happened already. Columbus has a good player in last year with a bargain cap hit. Getting good value for him will be hard to do with limited cap space after Fantilli deal. Unless they’re taking in prospects and picks, which I don’t see happening now. Maybe at deadline.
The Jackets may be sneaky good this year, if they can buy into Bowness’s defensive system they have depth throughout the lineup and could be the surprise wild card team in the East, winning cures a lot of player grumblings and if they’re looking like a playoff team come the trade deadline the Marchenko and Werenski talk may die down.
A Marchenko trade has two problems, the trade cost and the contract cost. Many of the teams mentioned might pay the trade cost, but are you paying him 11m or more as he is rumoured to want?
Hawks have the space and the assets.
Lardis and the 2027 oilers 1st and the Panthers 1st and Sacha Boisvert
Why ?? Two firsts plus Boisvert ( 24 or 25 Hawks first rounder ) plus Lardis for Marchenko ????? Are you serious ?? You can’t possibly be a Hawks fan with that proposal . This will be Lardis rookie year and he will score 20-35 goals . And is cost controlled RFA for three more years . What happens when Marchenko asked for 15 mil after this season ?
Like that trade proposal. You should be GM in Chicago because the guy they got now has wasted Bedards first 3 years without getting him a skilled winger that Marchenko is. That moron also pays Connor 15m for only 5 years so he can walk at 26. Atleast Waddell got Fantilli to sign for 6 to eat a free agent year up. thx
I don’t agree that the Habs interest in Marchenko has waned with the Kreider signing. Kreider is 35 years old. Still a solid player but not a long term solution. Signing Kreider is more of a sign that Hughes believes that Waddell is not inclined to trade him at this time unless he gets a ridiculous offer. But when the time comes when Waddell realizes he has no choice but to trade him, the Habs will certainly take a shot.
Dont see Jets in the playoffs as presently rostered which I am bummed about. Move Helle and get something back who can help them. Move him and a second rounder for Nikishin, then move Nikishin to the Flyers for Tippett or Forester. Time for Kevin to get creative. If not there could be 2 000 empty seats every night and we will here Gary Bettman talk about community stepping up. thx
Agree Cosmo m. Helly going public killed Kevin’s leverage. Take the best ‘reduced’ trade and get him off the team. Expect the team to have a very good D with Ferraro added. Need to be patient this season
my belief is the blue jackets should not trade marchenko to any eastern conference team unless its a deal that just blows them out of the water. trade him to the western conference and if u can get a good enough offer trade him to one of the lesser teams out there. no says we have to make marchenko happy with his trade.. just my thoughts