NHL Rumor Mill – August 25, 2026

by | Aug 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 25, 2026

Which goaltenders could be traded this offseason? Why hasn’t a team signed Connor Ingram yet? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael DeRosa recently looked at three NHL goaltenders who could be traded before the offseason ends in mid-September.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Connor Hellebuyck topped DeRosa’s list. The 33-year-old Winnipeg Jets netminder has been the frequent subject of offseason trade speculation. With the Jets suffering a downturn last season, DeRosa suggests this could be a good opportunity to peddle Hellebuyck while his value is still high.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Massimo De Luca-Taronno of The Winnipeg Sun noted the uncertainty surrounding Hellebuyck as training camp approaches. He doesn’t blame Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff for refusing to make a trade for the sake of doing so, or accepting a less-than-fair return. However, he also noted that the Jets GM risks Hellebuyck’s trade status becoming an unnecessary distraction for the team.

De Luca-Taronno believes Hellebuyck will likely start this season with the Jets as both sides see how things shake out. A bounce-back performance could quell any further speculation about his future in Winnipeg. However, if this season goes sideways, Cheveldayoff will feel the pressure to find a suitable trade partner.

Samuel Montembeault could be another trade candidate. The 30-year-old netminder dropped from being the Montreal Canadiens’ starting goalie to their third-stringer last season. With young goalies Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler ahead of him on the depth chart, it would make sense for the Canadiens to trade him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeRosa noted that Montembeault’s trade value is low right now, but feels a rival club might buy low on him if they feel he can rebound from last season’s struggles. So far, no club seems willing to make that gamble. They’ll want to see him play some games first, and that could be difficult if he remains behind Dobes and Fowler.

DeRosa noted that Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues was the subject of trade rumors throughout last season. With Joel Hofer taking over as the Blues’ starter, the 31-year-old Binnington could benefit from a change of scenery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington is in the final season of his contract. DeRosa acknowledged he’s more likely to be moved by the March 1 trade deadline, but still feels an offseason move is possible.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discussed why an NHL team hasn’t signed Connor Ingram yet.

They believe there should be a market for the 29-year-old goaltender, who has a career save percentage above .900. Hutton believes he had a great year with the Edmonton Oilers last season, suggesting the Pittsburgh Penguins could be a destination given their need for some experienced depth in goal. The Ottawa Senators could be another possibility as a backup for Linus Ullmark.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ingram has proven himself as a reliable backup. A club could sign him to a one-year contract before training camps open next month. Whether the Penguins or Senators will be among the suitors remains to be seen.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 25, 2026

by | Aug 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 25, 2026

A look at the big questions facing the Kraken, several stars could reach significant individual milestones this season, Anze Kopitar has no regrets about retiring, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Seattle Kraken face questions about their offense, their penalty kill, and their young players as they prepare for the coming season.

Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann (NHL Images).

The Kraken acquired promising forward Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers earlier this summer, and they’re hoping for a healthy season from leading scorer Jared McCann. They also re-signed winger Bobby McMann, who tallied 10 goals in 18 games after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the March trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken’s limited scoring punch has been their downfall in recent years. A full season with Samoskevich, McMann, and a healthy McCann should help, but they’re still lacking a scoring superstar.

The Kraken have attempted to address that need. They tried to acquire Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in February and made a trade offer to the Dallas Stars for Jason Robertson in June. Barring one of their prospects emerging as a scoring star, they’ll likely keep pursuing one through a trade or free agency.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Several major individual career milestones could be achieved this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby could move into sixth place on the overall points list. With 1,761 points, he needs only 11 more to pass Marcel Dionne. He’s also within reach of 1,800 career points, which would vault him past Ron Francis into fifth place overall.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane could reach 1,400 career games and 900 career assists. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is 80 points away from the 1,300 career-points plateau.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak could reach 1,000 career points, 900 career games, and the 450-goal plateau. Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele is in range of 1,000 games and 1,000 points.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper is 11 games away from the 500-game mark. He also needs 22 wins to reach 250 for his career.

NHL.COM: Anze Kopitar said he’s very happy in retirement after a 20-season career with the Los Angeles Kings. He is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

The 39-year-old center announced his intention to retire at the start of last season. He finished as the Kings’ all-time leader in games played (1,521), assists (864) and points (1,316). Kopitar won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times, the Selke Trophy twice, and helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kopitar was the rare superstar to spend his entire career with one team. He was one of the greatest players in Kings’ history. Best of luck to him in his future endeavours.

NHL.COM: Simon Nemec believes he has something to prove after the New Jersey Devils traded him to the Calgary Flames on June 23.

The 22-year-old defenseman said he’s looking forward to the challenge of playing for a new team. “I didn’t ask for a trade, but there were some conversations that didn’t work out for me, for the team,” Nemec said. “New Jersey got a new GM, and he decided to go this way, and I’m totally fine with that.”

Nemec said he was happy with the trade, claiming that he didn’t have an easy time in New Jersey. He believes he’ll be a good fit with the Flames. “I feel like they need a player like me. I can play a lot of minutes there and be one of the leaders of the team.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec could be a key piece of the Flames’ rebuilding plans. If he can build on his offensive game while improving his defensive play, he could become one of their top blueliners.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin recently listed five teams that he feels look noticeably weaker heading into 2026-27. They included the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights.

The Ducks’ matching Leo Carlsson’s expensive offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers leaves them with limited cap space to re-sign Cutter Gauthier. They’ll eventually have to make a cost-cutting move or two that weakens their roster depth.

The Sabres could struggle to adjust after trading power forward Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals and defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the Avalanche traded away several veteran depth players, replacing them with lower-cost players.

Re-signing Jason Robertson to a one-year, $12 million contract left them with limited salary cap space, forcing them to trade young center Mavrik Bourque. It also prevented them from adding another top-four defenseman while Robertson’s future remains in question.

Limited cap space proved costly for the Golden Knights, forcing them to trade scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Do you agree with Larkin’s assessments of those five teams? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 24, 2026

by | Aug 24, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 24, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have an update on some of the top remaining unrestricted free agents, and three proposed offer sheet candidates for Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli.

DAILY FACEOFF: No changes to Matt Larkin’s listing of the top remaining unrestricted free agents.

Wingers Patrik Laine and Eeli Tolvanen and defenseman Logan Stanley remain among the best players in a shallow pool of UFA talent. Laine tops Larkin’s list, with Stanley ranked second and Tolvanen fifth.

Former Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Other noteworthy UFAs include forwards Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron; goaltenders Cam Talbot and Connor Ingram; and defensemen John Klingberg and Nick Blankenburg.

DFO RUNDOWN: NHL Network’s Mike Rupp talked to host Jason Gregor about potential landing spots for Patrik Laine.

Rupp believes the 28-year-old winger could help clubs looking to improve their power play. He suggested the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers, whose power-play percentages were among the league’s worst last season.

Turning to the Anaheim Ducks, Rupp believes they must improve their defense and suggested Logan Stanley as a potential solution. However, he noted that they would have their work cut out for them, given their limited salary-cap space and efforts to re-sign winger Cutter Gauthier.

PACIFIC NORTH HOCKEY: Rob Simpson reports Eeli Tolvanen’s camp claims they’ve had conversations with multiple NHL teams. However, his former club, the Seattle Kraken, are not among them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There could be a flurry of free-agent signings once the calendar flips to September. With training camps opening in mid-September, some NHL clubs could scramble to address their lingering roster needs through free agency and trades.

Most of the players remaining on Larkin’s list, including Laine, Stanley, and Tolvanen, could find themselves signing one-year contracts for much less than they anticipated when the free-agent market opened on July 1. Some could sign professional tryout offers in the hope of earning a one-year deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert listed three teams that he believes should attempt to sign center Adam Fantilli to an offer sheet.

Fantilli, 21, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He suggested the Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames should make a pitch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lambert lays out good reasons why the Red Wings, Kraken, and Flames would benefit from signing Fantilli if the young center is open to signing an offer sheet. However, if he were willing to sign an offer sheet, he probably would’ve done it by now. At this stage in the offseason, with training camps opening in a month, the offer sheet becomes a more remote possibility.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2026

by | Aug 24, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 24, 2026

The top 20 centers for 2026-27, an update on Cale Makar’s contract talks with the Avalanche, three questions facing the Sharks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights are among the NHL Network’s top 20 centers entering 2026-27.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, and Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens also ranked in the top 20, as did Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above to see the full list and where the aforementioned players were ranked. Let us know what you think about the ranking and who you think they excluded in the comments section below.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said contract extension talks with Cale Makar are ongoing. He provided no details, but said he’s “pretty confident” the two sides will agree to a new deal before the regular season begins.

“I’m not worried about it,” Sakic said. “I don’t think Cale is worried about it. The dialogue has been great. When there’s an agreement, we’ll be glad to announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar, 27, is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. As one of the league’s elite players, he’s due for a substantial raise. Makar could become the first player in NHL history to earn a $20 million AAV.

NHL.COM: Whether Macklin Celebrini can build on his outstanding sophomore performance in 2025-26 is among three notable questions facing the San Jose Sharks this season.

Celebrini, 20, enjoyed an amazing breakout campaign, setting the Sharks’ single-season points record (115) and finishing fourth among league scorers. He led his rebuilding club to within four points of a playoff berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another strong effort by Celebrini could clinch the Sharks’ first postseason berth since 2018-19. Meanwhile, there’s talk that he’s “all but certain” to be named their new captain.

Whether their young core can take another step forward and the impact of offseason additions Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba to the defense corps are the other big questions facing the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are a better team on paper entering this season than they were a year ago. Celebrini is their foundation player, but they’ll also need improvement from youngsters Will Smith, Michael Misa, Collin Graf, Igor Chernyshov, and Sam Dickinson if they’re to end their seven-year playoff drought.

Nurse and Trouba bring experience, physicality, and leadership to the Sharks’ blueline. Nurse in particular should benefit from playing under a less harsh spotlight than what he experienced in Edmonton over the past three seasons.

DAILY FACEOFF: Scott Maxwell listed five players that he believes will thrive with their new teams this season.

They include Oliver Bjorkstrand of the New York Rangers, Andrei Kuzmenko of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Kyrou of the Washington Capitals, JJ Peterka of the Boston Bruins, and Mackie Samoskevich of the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peterka and Samoskevich are two young players worth watching closely this season.

Peterka was a bust in his only season with the Utah Mammoth, but he could regain his scoring form playing for Bruins coach Marco Sturm. Samoskevich could shine with more playing time on the struggling Kraken than what he received on a deeper Florida Panthers roster.

BOSTON HERALD: Lukas Reichel hopes to finally establish himself as a full-time NHL forward with the Bruins. The 24-year-old winger was chosen 17th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Reichel struggled to stick with the Blackhawks over four seasons. Traded to the Vancouver Canucks last season, he played only 14 games with them before being shipped to the Bruins at the March trade deadline.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 23, 2026

by | Aug 23, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 23, 2026

Why hasn’t Connor Hellebuyck been traded yet? Will we see more eight-year contract signings before the Sept. 15 deadline? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: The status of trade talks for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck topped Emily Sadler’s recent list of lingering offseason questions.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Sadler pointed out that a Hellebuyck trade seemed imminent two months ago. Since then, the chatter regarding the 33-year-old netminder has grown quiet. However, she noted that her colleague, Elliotte Friedman, recently suggested that it could pick up around training camp next month.

Hellebuyck’s teammate, defenseman Josh Morrissey, hopes that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner will stay put. “You can’t believe everything you might see or hear out there,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets captain Adam Lowry also hopes Hellebuyck stays. “Until something happens, he’s a Jet, he’s a good friend, and we’re excited to get him back”, Lowry said.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently discussed why Hellebuyck hasn’t been traded yet.

Hutton doubted that there’s any “buyer beware” attached to Hellebuyck. He thinks the Jets should move him at some point because of his age, pointing out that he won’t have much value left if they wait two or three years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets were reportedly working on a trade before the draft in late June that would’ve sent Hellebuyck to the Buffalo Sabres, but the deal fell through. There’s been no indication that the two sides have revisited those discussions, and nary a peep from the vacationing insiders (such as Friedman) that they’re having any trade talks with other clubs.

That doesn’t mean a trade won’t happen once the calendar flips to September when training camps approach. It seems like the Jets prefer to hang onto Hellebucyk, hoping he’ll backstop them to a bounce-back performance following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, but that could change if a rival club steps up with an acceptable offer, whatever that might be.

TSN: With the maximum term for re-signing players to eight-year contracts dropping to seven years for deals signed after Sept. 15, some observers wonder if we’ll see any further eight-year deals signed before then.

The last eight-year contract signed was Ville Koivunen’s recent deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for an average annual value of $4 million. It could be the last one ever signed. 

Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Ducks is the top player still unsigned among this summer’s restricted free agents. Others include Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings, and Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gauthier and Fantilli could be considered the most worthy of inking eight-year contracts, but they could follow the recent trend of short-term deals for higher average annual salaries.

Next summer’s unrestricted free-agent class includes defensemen Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild. Both are in their late-twenties and prime candidates for eight-year contract extensions before Sept 15. While Makar may be open to that deal, Hughes reportedly prefers a three-year extension.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the top forward in that UFA class, but at 33, he’s unlikely to get an eight-year extension offer.

Others include Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson, Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha, and Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrincat’s status remains in limbo until the Wings find a new general manager, who might not be hired until sometime in September. Batherson reportedly wants an eight-year deal, but the Senators seem cool to that possibility. The Bruins are believed to be interested in re-signing Zacha, but nothing suggests the two sides are close.

Robertson recently signed a one-year contract. Given how contentious those negotiations were, which included his rejection of a trade to the Seattle Kraken because he wouldn’t sign an eight-year deal with them, it’s unlikely he’ll be inking an eight-year contract with the Stars before Sept. 15.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2026

by | Aug 23, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 23, 2026

The Lightning could face difficult extension talks with Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitil weighs in on new Oilers coach Mike Babcock, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato recently suggested that Nikita Kucherov’s contract extension talks with the Tampa Bay Lightning could get complicated.

Kucherov is coming off a 130-point performance in 2025-26, including a remarkable stretch in which he netted 107 points in a 53-game stretch. That effort earned the 33-year-old winger his second Hart Memorial Trophy.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July, Kucherov can now sign an extension with the Lightning. He’s in the final season of an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.5 million.

Amato doesn’t think it’s unreasonable for Kucherov to seek an $18 million AAV on his next contract. However, his age suggests he’s unlikely to accept a modest raise over his current salary. He suggested something comparable to the $14 million AAV that Leon Draisaitl is currently earning with the Edmonton Oilers.

Given Kucherov’s age, he’ll likely try to get as much term as possible, while the Lightning could prefer a shorter term. However, Amato speculated that the Bolts could entertain a league-maximum seven-year deal if signed before the maximum is shortened by a year after Sept. 15 or a six-year deal if signed after Sept. 15 if it’ll reduce the AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Lightning have $30.675 million in projected cap space for 2027-28, with 14 active roster players (including all core players except Kucherov) under contract.

A new contract for Kucherov could take up half that cap space, but it should leave enough for the Lightning to fill out their roster and ice a competitive team.

Being in a no-tax state could also work in the Lightning’s favor as in the past. Nevertheless, Kucherov will get a lucrative new deal, either with Tampa Bay or another club if he goes to market next summer.

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl is looking forward to playing under Mike Babcock, the controversial new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

“I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable, and I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability, you know?” Draisaitl said. “Like, we’re looking to be coached. We’re looking to get better, and I sometimes deserve (to be yelled at) too, just like anyone else does. I don’t think Babs is going to care overly much who we are in terms of that. I think sometimes that’s needed.”

Draisaitl also said that he believes Babcock will bring a different attitude and mentality to the Oilers. He claimed that everyone on the team is excited about the coming season and is looking forward to playing for their new coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is gambling that Babcock can help the Oilers return to Stanley Cup contention. If it pays off, he’ll look like a genius for taking that risk. But if this gambit fails, it could have far-reaching consequences for the Oilers, especially the future of superstar Connor McDavid, who is in the first season of a two-year contract.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Traikos dismissed recent speculation suggesting Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper might leave at the end of this season to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Traikos pointed out that Cooper won the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach for the first time last season. He also noted that Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois intends to keep him around for a long time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Traikos also noted that the Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller this spring as their new bench boss. Unless the Maple Leafs repeat last season’s disappointing performance, they’re unlikely to seek a replacement next summer.

Anything’s possible, of course, and maybe Cooper decides he needs a change and a new challenge, or maybe he and the Bolts won’t agree to a new contract. Ending the Maple Leafs six-decades-and-counting Cup drought would be the ultimate test of his coaching abilities. Nevertheless, it seems more likely that he stays in Tampa Bay.

BOSTON HERALD: Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said conversations are ongoing with management and the front office about selecting a suitable player as the club’s next captain. They were without one last season, spreading the duties between alternate captains David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm.

Sturm also believes that Michael DiPietro will do a good job as the Bruins’ new backup goaltender. He pointed out that DiPietro was outstanding for their AHL affiliate in Providence over the last two seasons.

The Bruins coach also hasn’t decided yet which of his centers will skate alongside Pastrnak, but feels he has some good options. He noted that Pavel Zacha had a solid season in that role, and believes Elias Lindholm has proven he can play with Pastrnak.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin listed five NHL teams that he believes improved during the offseason.

The Florida Panthers are on Larkin’s list as he cited what should be a healthier roster this season and the addition of winger Brady Tkachuk. Larkin also included the Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth, and Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe the Capitals’ addition of Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner will make them the most improved on Larkin’s list.

Do you agree with this list? Is there another team that you think should be here? Let us know in the comments section below.