NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some bold trade predictions for 2026-27.
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. We know that Werenski would’ve accepted a trade to Toronto this summer. The Maple Leafs could come calling if the Blue Jackets struggle again and he resurfaces in trade rumors.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Maple Leafs traded power forward Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets for scoring winger Kirill Marchenko. The Leafs could be interested if Werenski pops up in the rumor mill before the March 1 trade deadline, but they probably lack sufficient trade assets now to win a bidding war.
Fluto Shinzawa believed the Boston Bruins will trade Pavel Zacha. He’s a very good center, is UFA-eligible next summer, and could seek to double his $4.75 million AAV on the open market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha turns 30 in April, meaning his next contract probably won’t age well in its final years. However, the Bruins could re-sign him if they’re trying to maintain a playoff contender. Much depends on the performance of promising centers Fraser Minten and James Hagens.
Shayna Goldman forecasted the Tampa Bay Lightning would trade for a top-four defenseman. A lack of speed on the blueline contributed to the Lightning’s early playoff exits. They must acquire “a more uptempo option) to play alongside Victor Hedman or John Carlson, depending on where J.J. Moser slots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning will have over $9 million in accrued cap space by the March 1 trade deadline to add that top-four blueliner. The question is whether they have sufficient tradeable assets to pull it off. They traded their 2027 first-round pick, and The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked their prospect pipeline 25th overall.
SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli made 32 predictions for the coming season.
He forecasted that Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will be traded to the Minnesota Wild before Christmas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli didn’t indicate what type of return the Red Wings would get from the Wild. The Wings were rumored to have sought Matt Boldy, but everyone knows that’s a non-starter. The Wings probably still want a top-six forward in return, so unless they lower their asking price, Larkin won’t be going to Minnesota.
Zach Werenski will dominate the 2027 NHL trade deadline. He has a year remaining on his contract. Seravalli believes it’s a situation the Blue Jackets must address.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski won’t be going anywhere if the Blue Jackets are in the thick of the playoff chase. If they’re out of it, however, they could entertain trade offers if he’s noncommittal about an extension.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault would be the first player traded in 2026-27.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Marchenko-for-Knies swap. Technically, however, this happened before opening night of the regular season on Tuesday.
Montembeault could be peddled if he rebounds from last season’s poor performance. He might even get packaged with another player (Kirby Dach?) in a larger deal for a second-line center or winger.
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin predicts Auston Matthews will tell Toronto Maple Leafs management he wants to move on after they miss the playoffs again, suggesting he’ll be moved before the 2027 NHL Draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That scenario could become reality if the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he seeks a trade if they make the postseason but get eliminated in the first round again.
Larkin then predicts that Matthews gets traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster move that includes young winger Matvei Mitchkov being part of the return to Toronto.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Now that’s a spicy hot take, but if Matthew did request a trade, and if the Flyers were on his list of preferred destinations, Michkov would have to be part of the asking price.
The Winnipeg Jets will trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before November. He pointed out that the Buffalo Sabres have had a double-injury scare with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are trying to resolve their Alexander Nikishin problem.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres could revisit their interest in Hellebuyck if Luukkonen, Lyon, and Colten Ellis struggle between the pipes. As for the Hurricanes, Nikishin reportedly isn’t interested in signing with the Jets, so if he’s going to be part of a trade for Hellebuyck, he’ll have to be going to a different club in a three-team deal.
Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson will be the biggest names on the move by the March 1 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Wings are out of contention, they could put DeBrincat on the trade block. He reportedly wants to stay, but they could tear things down and rebuild if they’re about to extend their postseason drought to 11 years.
The Penguins could try to move Karlsson if they’re out of contention by the deadline. However, if they surprise us again and are contenders by March 1, he’s not going anywhere.
Larkin also believes the Red Wings will trade Dylan Larkin before Christmas, though he didn’t indicate where he’ll land.
I wish the bruins would try for Werenski MacAvoy and first ought to do it. I’ll tell you The leafs get this guy they are going to be tough team to beat.
But what do the Leafs have left that either Columbus would want (and please don’t say Rielly) … OR the Leafs would be prepared to relinquish?
Further complicating matters is the plethora of movement restriction clauses on their roster:
NTC – Duhaime, McCabe
MNTC – Sissons, Domi, Joshua, Paul, Ekman-Larsson, Merzlikins, Stolarz
NMC – Rielly, Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Raddysh, Tanev, Bobrovsky
The trade would gut leafs roster.
Makenna. Nylander would probably be the ask
The Jets dont need defensive help, they need 2nd line help. Thats why all this talk about nikishin going to the Jets doesnt make any sense.
The Jets are not going to give some rookie the $9mil + he’s looking for.
nikishin is Caroline’s problem, not the Jets.
Those who continue to watch DeMelo play considerably above his weight class as a top pairing RHD may have a different opinion on if the Jets need defensive help or not. They absolutely need secondary scoring, preferably an experienced centerman, but a top end RHD that they haven’t had since Buff walked away has been a huge gap in their lineup ever since. Chevy has an opportunity to flip Helle the asset and try to acquire both, even if he needs to sweeten his side of the deal to get it. Maybe a three way with the Canes and the Canucks could somehow end up with Boeser and Hronek.
Helle the Canes
Boeser/Hronek the Jets
Nadeau/Nikishin/Perfetti to the Nucks
Hey Lyle,
“extend their postseason drought to 11 games.” I think you meant “years”
Fixed, thanks. Time to give my editor more coffee in the morning…😉
Carolina had a goals against average of 1.62 in playoffs last season. I really don’t see why defending champs would give up anyone for Hellebuyck.
Commented late yesterday on Larkin.
I’ll keep my prediction that Werenski ends up in Detroit if Larkin takes back trade request. And Edvinsson will be part of package. Then possibly trade for Hellebuyck. If Larkin does move then Edvinsson stays. DeBrincat would be next up in trade talks
How is Detroit’s next GM not in one of the best positions ever.
Yeah it’s a mess, right now, but you currently have 17M, next year 60M with 7 roster spots to fill and only 4 players signed in 2028-2029.
Address the fans, tell them politely that you had nothing to do with the previous head office and some blah blah about how they drafted well to not throw Steve under the bus.
Then you tell them you’re going to take the year to evaluate players and you’re going to see who wants to be there (more blah blah to calm people down) .
Then you actually use the year to evaluate the kids and you get a good pick.
The year after, a bit of the same but quietly (start shopping and offering to take a bad contract if they include a third liner with term ) I’ll explain further on.
Assuming you signed Debrincat and Edvinsson.
2028-2029 Roster:
– Raymond
-Debrincat
– Seider
– Edvinsson
– Augustine.
I KNOW IT’S NOT THAT EASY
Obviously I make it sound like I believe things can magically happen and everything will fall in line.
My point is that to inherit a team with no bad lengthy contract is a gift from God.
I mentioned 3rd liners because I’m my opinion, if you have your first line, your shutdown line a good pair and alright goalie. You can kind of overpay for your second line if you’re forced.
Larkin for 2 solid shut down guys.
Again, you guys will think I’m nuts if you read line for line, but remove an idea and insert your own and I think it’s a sad situation for fans but for a GM?
I’m not a Wings fan but I don’t believe things are that dire. Agree team is in a good place with their cap. Have a really good prospect pool. Disagree that they should tank a year. Can’t be in a constant state of rebuild. Made a deadline deal last year that didn’t get you in playoffs but imo was the right move. Need to finalize the Larkin situation. Come clean with reasons for trade request. If I was a fan id be pretty pissed off with lack of communication.
Boston has 2 players to move if their season goes sideways or they don’t t make the playoffs. Zacha and Middlestadt. Both are in their last year of their contracts and Boston looks like they have bought into being younger. If you want to move now,Philly is ripe and needs centers. How about Tippett for a combination of those Boston guys and Lohrei.