NHL Rumor Mill – November 2, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, plus updates on the Canadiens and Flyers.
THE LATEST KUCHEROV SPECULATION
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parsons wondered if the Edmonton Oilers might make a pitch for Nikita Kucherov. The 33-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning winger surprised the hockey world by requesting a trade after contract extension talks fell apart.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images)
Parsons noted the Oilers tried to acquire Kucherov in 2019 by offering up Leon Draisaitl, but the deal fell apart when they asked for Anthony Cirelli to be included. This came after the Lightning were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets and before Draisaitl emerged as a superstar in his own right.
Ultimately, Parson believes too many obstacles stand in the way, including Kucherov’s $20 million AAV asking price for his next contract, the Lightning’s current unwillingness to trade him, and the Oilers’ limited trade capital.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have a better chance of acquiring center Matt Rempe from the New York Rangers. According to Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli, Oilers GM Stan Bowman is seeking more toughness for his lineup, and head coach Mike Babcock is believed to be an admirer of the big Rangers enforcer.
ESPN: Kevin Weekes reported sources told him that the Lightning’s first contract offer to Kucherov this year was $13 million AAV. They raised it to $15 million AAV following the Leo Carlsson offer sheet ($18 million AAV) and Cale Makar’s contract extension ($20.4 million AAV)
HOW WILL THE CANADIENS ADDRESS THEIR DEPTH AT CENTER?
TVA SPORTS: Nicolas Cloutier recently suggested how the Montreal Canadiens could acquire Dylan Larkin if the Detroit Red Wings center added them to his trade list.
Cloutier noted the Canadiens had $1.7 million in salary-cap space (now $1.820 million). To make room for Larkin’s $8.7 million average annual value, he proposed an offer of forwards Alex Newhook ($2.9 million), Kirby Dach ($3.6 million), defenseman Adam Engstrom ($896,667), and prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Assuming the Red Wings approve that offer, those combined salaries ($7,396,667) might be enough to take on the remainder of Larkin’s AAV and salary for this season.
Still, Canadiens management could prefer shedding more salary for more cap flexibility. Meanwhile, the Wings could want a better return than Cloutier’s proposal. They’ll likely want top prospect Michael Hage as part of the return, which could be a deal-breaker for the Canadiens.
Anyway, it’s irrelevant if Larkin only wants to be traded to American clubs.
Jean-Charles Lajoie recently examined seven centers who could address the Canadiens’ need for depth at that position.
They include Larkin, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets, Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders, and Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings. Lajoie also suggested waiting for Hage to join the team after his college season ends.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lajoie prefaced his list by saying some were realistic and others were “dreams”. I’ll let you decide which players fall into those categories. I will say that Byfield would be the player I would pursue if he were available, but the Kings aren’t parting with him given their own lack of depth.
WHICH CENTERS COULD THE FLYERS PURSUE?
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco recently looked at possible trade targets for the Philadelphia Flyers to bolster their depth at center.
Sources told him the Flyers were interested in Dylan Cozens and Ridly Greig of the Ottawa Senators. However, they no longer see Cozens fitting within their top six, and they’re unsure about Greig’s upside.
Di Marco indicated that the Flyers could have varying degrees of interest in Chicago Blackhawks forwards Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. They like Nazar’s upside, but the Blackhawks don’t seem to be in the market to move him. They’re skeptical about whether Moore can be a long-term, top-six center.
Time for Tampa Bay to trade their aging (but very great star):
SJ gets Kuch, Lileberg
TB gets Larkin and Edvinsson
Misa and Graf and SJ 2029 1st, Mosser, TB 2nd
TB has enough space to sign Eddy to a $10M AAV x 7 contract
Kuch plays with Macklin and Smith
Johnny, you seem a lot more open to trading Misa than SJ likely is. I’m sure they would move Graf for the right return.
I can see SJ trying to land Edvinsson and give to get (not Misa), as they can sure use young quality D. Not sure Kuch fits the long term strategy in SJ.
Larkin’s a dream unless and until he agrees to come to Montreal. Crosby is even less likely. He’s staying in Pittsburgh. The Isles aren’t trading Horvat anytime soon. Byfield has been too inconsistent. Reilly may be an option as a pending UFA if Nashville struggles. Schiefele may be available if the Jets fall further and decide to sell. Waiting for Hage may be the most realistic scenario.
“Anyway, it’s irrelevant if Larkin only wants to be traded to American clubs.”
Not enough people are saying this. He doesn’t want to go to Canada. Period.
Why? Has you-know-who threatened to slap a tariff on him each time he crosses back into the U.S?
All these reports need to understand 3 things when it comes to listing available players.
One – Crosby IS NOT leaving Pittsburg.
Two – Larkin IS NOT going to go to Canada.
Three – O’Reilly IS NOT leaving Nashville.
That said, if any center is going to be traded from Pittsburg it will be Melkin. He is the one that Montreal should be targeting. Yeah, he might be a one playoff run stop gap, but then that will give them the whole next offseason to get a permanent 2nd line center.
As for Larkin, I think the best way for him to find his way to Minnesota is by a three way trade with NJ and Detroit.
Minnesota receives Larken plus a protected 1st round pick.
NJ receives Hughes
Detroit receives whatever it can from NJ considering all of their NTCs and NMCs plus their 1st rounder to replace the one they sent Minny.
What’s with these writers and their trade proposals? Alex Newhook with 6 pts/14 games, oft injured Kirby Dache with 3 pts/13 games, Adam Engstrom with 1pt/8 games and a player picked in the 2nd round. Does Cloutier really think Detroit would even consider trading Larkin for this package? If these writers have nothing to do but dream up trades at least they could try to put forward packages that make sense.
And why even ponder about the Oilers making a pitch for Kucherov (at an estimated $20 million/year) when everyone knows they lack cap space and trade assets? These guys are getting in Johnny Z territory.
Would Nashville be interested in trading Stamkos. This would be an ideal pickup for Mtl. providing Hage with some insulation next year before taking over the 2C full time. I realize its a long shot, but Stamkos does have history with St. Louis and Lecavalier. He may be excited to join a team with the young talent Montreal has