NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2026

by | Aug 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2026

Check out the latest on the Ducks and Stars in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NHL.COM: How Leo Carlsson’s new contract will affect the Anaheim Ducks is among the big questions facing the club this season.

Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers last month worth an average annual value of $18 million. The Ducks matched the offer, but it was far more expensive than what they had been prepared to pay.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The most immediate effect will be on the cost of signing restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier. Like Carlsson, the 21-year-old winger is coming off his entry-level contract. Unlike Carlsson, he’s ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

After matching the Carlsson offer, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said the intent was to get Gauthier signed. However, he acknowledged he had work to do to fit everyone within their salary-cap space for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have just over $9 million in cap space for this season. It’s rumored Gauthier could seek as much as $15 million. Verbeek will attempt to get him signed for less than that, but he could still end up having to make a cost-cutting trade or two at some point during this season to free up enough cap room.

The Ducks could get some relief by placing sidelined winger Troy Terry ($7 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve before their regular-season schedule begins next month. However, they’ll have to free up room to become cap-compliant once Terry returns from hip surgery later this year.

Veteran forwards Alex Killorn ($6.5 million) and Frank Vatrano ($4.57 million) have been rumored as trade candidates.

NHL.COM: Jason Robertson’s future is among the three big questions facing the Dallas Stars this season.

Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract for this season. The 27-year-old Stars winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

The two sides can open contract talks on Jan. 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was the subject of trade rumors stretching back to last summer. Stars GM Jim Nill maintained his club wanted to keep the high-scoring winger in the fold, while Robertson insisted he wanted to stay with the Stars.

Nevertheless, the Stars had a deal in place to trade Robertson to the Seattle Kraken in late June, but the deal fell through when he declined to sign a contract extension.

The one-year deal buys time for both sides. It gives Robertson another season to prove his worth, while giving the Stars another opportunity to negotiate with him knowing they’ll have more salary cap flexibility with which to sign him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 10, 2026

by | Aug 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 10, 2026

Questions facing the Hurricanes and Avalanche, the top defensemen for 2026-27, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Who steps up for the sidelined Seth Jarvis and Jordan Staal’s uncertain future are among the three questions facing the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Jarvis, 24, underwent shoulder surgery in late June and faces a recovery period of 4-to-6 months. It could open the door for prospects such as Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum to fill Jarvis’ role until his return.

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal (NHL Images).

This season could be the final one for Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. The 38-year-old center won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and is entering the final season of his four-year-contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staal is entering his 21st NHL campaign. Another solid performance on his part could convince him to return, though it could be on a one- or two-year contract.

Questions about their goaltending linger with the departure of veteran starter Frederik Andersen. Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov will be their goalie tandem this season. Bussi excelled after taking over for the injured Andersen in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and the final three games of the series, but he must prove he can do it again.

NHL.COM: The biggest question facing the Colorado Avalanche is, “When will Cale Makar sign?” The 28-year-old superstar defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He can sign an extension now, but so far, there’s no indication that a deal is close.

Avalanche president Joe Sakic isn’t concerned. In June, he claimed that Makar would finish his career in Colorado.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: How much Makar will be paid and for how long are the main questions. He could become the first NHL player to earn an average annual value of $20 million. It could be an eight-year contract if he signs before the change to the maximum term for extensions drops to seven years on Sept. 16.

Whether the goaltending and the power play can improve are the other notable questions facing the Avalanche this season.

NHL.COM: Speaking of Cale Makar, he topped the NHL Network’s ranking of the top-20 defensemen in the league heading into 2026-27.

Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets finished second and third, respectively, followed by Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres and Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars.

Other notables included Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders, and Jake Sanderson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can see the complete list by following the link. Let us know what you thought in the comments section below.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs promoted Patrick O’Sullivan as their director of NHL development. He’d served as their development coach since 2023-24.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 9, 2026

by | Aug 9, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 9, 2026

Which players could get eight-year contracts before the Sept. 16 deadline? Will the Canadiens move on from Samuel Montembeault? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ signing Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract extension prompted Eric Cruickshank to ponder which NHL players could also get eight-year deals before the Sept. 16 deadline.

On that date, the maximum term for teams re-signing players drops to seven years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The maximum term for signing unrestricted free agents will also drop on that date from seven years to six.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (NHL Images).

Cruickshank listed five players who could get eight-year deals before Sept. 16, with Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets topping his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets would probably love to get the 21-year-old Fantilli under contract for eight seasons. He’s their first-line center and will play a critical role in the club’s development.

Fantilli could prefer a shorter term closer to five years at an average annual value of around $15 million. That will ensure he gets a chance at a more lucrative deal while still in his prime.

Detroit Red Wings forward Marco Kasper, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie, Edmonton Oilers prospect Matthew Savoie, and Montreal Canadiens winger Zachary Bolduc could also become candidates for eight-year contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those players would fall under the same category as Koivunen of the Penguins.

Eyebrows were raised when the Penguins signed him to such a lengthy term despite his limited NHL experience. However, general manager Kyle Dubas justified it by saying they were betting on him developing into a top-six forward.

The same principle could apply to Kasper, Geekie, Savoie, and Bolduc. Whether their respective teams are willing to make those gambles remains to be seen.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Brendan Kelly believes the Canadiens must move on from Samuel Montembeault and trade him as soon as possible.

Montembeault, 29, is in the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $3.15 million. His struggles last season cost him the starter’s job to Jakub Dobes, and he was relegated to third-stringer behind promising Jacob Fowler.

Kelly noted that the Canadiens stubbornly stuck with Montembeault, hoping he’d be able to regain his form. He believes they cannot make the same mistake this season, insisting that they try to trade him to another club and stick with the young tandem of Dobes and Fowler.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was assumed the Canadiens would trade or buy out Montembeault this summer. The buyout period has passed, and if they were peddling him, it appears that there weren’t any takers.

Montembeault’s struggles last season hurt his value in the trade market. They’ll have to give him some playing time and hope he does well enough to become enticing to another team. Until they can find a suitable trade partner for him, they might have to send the promising Fowler to their AHL affiliate to ensure the 22-year-old gets sufficient playing time.

Failing that, the Canadiens could keep Dobes and Fowler as their tandem and send Montembeault to the minors. It’ll free up a bit of extra cap space for them ($1.225 million) while providing him with more time and less pressure to work on his game.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 9, 2026

by | Aug 9, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 9, 2026

The league’s best value contracts for 2026-27, plus the latest on Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri, Oilers goaltender Devon Levi, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson and winger Ivan Demidov are among Michael Amato’s list of the best value contracts among the NHL’s high-value players.

Hutson, 22, is starting an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $8.85 million. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Demidov recently inked an eight-year extension with an AAV of $9.15 million.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

The Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Carolina Hurricanes also each have two young players on value contracts.

Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson, 24, has six years remaining on his deal with an AAV of $8.05 million, and center Tim Stutzle (also 24) has five years left at $8.35 million annually.

Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond (24) has six years left at $8.07 million AAV while defenseman Moritz Seider (25) has five years remaining at $8.55 million AAV.

Hurricanes forwards Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven are each 23 and have eight-year deals, with the 23-year-old Blake earning $5.11 million annually while Stankoven’s AAV is $6 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the complete list. Let us know in the comments section if you agree with Amato’s listing or if any players are missing from his list.

NEWSDAY: New York Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri is hoping to be fully recovered from knee surgery in time for training camp in September. The 35-year-old Palmieri underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL that he suffered last November.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Palmieri was enjoying a good start to last season (18 points in 25 games) before the injury. His absence contributed to the low-scoring Islanders missing the playoffs last spring. Given his age and the lengthy recovery period, it could take some time before he returns to form.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Devon Levi is looking forward to a fresh start with the Oilers after failing to crack the Buffalo Sabres roster on a full-time basis.

Levi was a promising young goalie when the Sabres acquired him from the Florida Panthers in July 2021 as part of the return in the Sam Reinhart trade. He appeared in only 39 games with the Sabres between 2022-23 and 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers’ goaltending has been their Achilles’ heel for some time. They brought in recent Stanley Cup champion Frederik Andersen to share the duties with the inconsistent Tristan Jarry. However, the 36-year-old Andersen’s age and lengthy injury history make him a risky addition.

This could provide the 24-year-old Levi with a golden opportunity to establish himself as an NHL goaltender. If he can rise to the occasion, it’ll provide invaluable stability in the crease for the Oilers.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL forward Noah Philp has announced his retirement at the age of 27. He signed with Swedish Hockey League club HV71 for this season. However, in a social media post, he apologized to the team, explaining that he no longer has the motivation for hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Philp played for the Oilers and Hurricanes from 2024-25 to 2025-26, finishing with five points in 32 games.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets have an ECHL affiliate after signing a two-year agreement with the Wheeling Nailers.

The Nailers were the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1998 to 2026.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 8, 2026

by | Aug 8, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 8, 2026

Could the new contracts for Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard affect contract talks for Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Cutter Gauthier, and Adam Fantilli? What’s the latest on Connor Hellebuyck and Alexander Nikishin? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes Connor Bedard’s new contract with the Chicago Blackhawks (five years, $15 million average annual value) has affected the contract negotiations of Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

Gauthier, 21, scored 41 goals last season. While he might not be seeking a contract similar to that of teammate Leo Carlsson (five years, $18 million) or San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (five years, $18.8 million), he could consider his worth to be between $15 million and $16 million. That could make it challenging for the Ducks.

The 21-year-old Fantilli could also seek something in a range similar to Bedard, but the Blue Jackets’ preference could be in the $12 million to $12.5 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have over $13.4 million in cap space for this season, so it’s understandable why they’d want Fantilli inked to $12.5 million or less.

Meanwhile, the Ducks have just over $9 million in cap space, so they’ll have to shed some salary at some point to make room for Gauthier’s new contract. They can start the season with Troy Terry on long-term injury reserve, but they must free up cap space when he returns to the lineup, and that means a cost-cutting trade or two.

Friedman also believes the Carlsson and Celebrini contracts will affect the contract extension negotiations for Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Minnesota Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes. Both are established veteran superstars who are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July.

According to Friedman, the big question for Makar could be term, as he might not prefer doing the current league maximum of eight years. The cap number will also be a factor.

Friedman thinks Makar and Hughes are looking at each other’s situations and want to be in the same range contract-wise. He predicts that Hughes will sign a three-year deal worth $18 million annually with the Wild.

Some observers are surprised that Hughes hasn’t been re-signed yet. That’s raised speculation about his future in Minnesota and the possibility of reuniting with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey. Friedman believes the time to worry is if Hughes and the Wild haven’t agreed to a new contract by the start of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar is more of a certainty to re-sign with his club than Hughes is with his because of the latter’s family links with the New Jersey Devils. As James Nicholls of New Jersey Hockey Now put it, the longer Quinn goes without an extension with the Wild, the more it favors the Devils.

Nevertheless, the Wild have been having ongoing discussions with Hughes and his representatives this summer. It must be remembered that they didn’t get superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov re-signed until the end of training camp last year, so it could take as long to get Hughes under contract.

Friedman was asked about the possibility of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck getting traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He indicated that things are quiet on that front. While Friedman believes Hellebuyck will get moved at some point, there’s nothing new to report thus far, though things might pick up closer to training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The two clubs were reportedly close to a deal before the NHL Draft weekend, but things fell through. So far, there’s been nothing but silence from both clubs, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the trade discussions are over.

However, Hellebuyck is the Jets’ most valuable asset. He is under contract through 2030-31, so they’re in no hurry to move him even if the 33-year-old goaltender were trying to force the issue.

It will take a substantial return to pry Hellebuyck away from the Jets. The Sabres have plenty of good young players (especially forwards) to draw on for trade bait, but the Jets’ asking price could involve moving one or two that they don’t want to part with.

Friedman suggests keeping a close eye on Alexander Nikishin. The 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is a restricted free agent, and it’s been rumored the Hurricanes could attempt to trade him.

Nothing seems to be close to a deal right now, but Friedman thinks Nikishin could get moved at some point, perhaps around the start of training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News listed five NHL teams that should make Nikishin a trade target. They include the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. It’ll be interesting to see if one of them ends up landing the promising blueliner.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2026

by | Aug 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2026

Check out the latest on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, former Kings captain Anze Kopitar, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe commemorated Sidney Crosby’s 39th birthday (August 7) by examining his legacy and what the future could hold for the long-time Pittsburgh Penguins captain.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Yohe noted that Crosby told him in May that he’s not finished with his playing career. He’ll be starting his 22nd NHL season in 2026-27, and Yohe believes the Penguins superstar would like to reach the 25-season milestone if his health allows it. That could put him within range of 750 goals and 2,000 points.

Crosby is poised to become the longest-tenure professional athlete in Pittsburgh sports history, surpassing Pittsburgh Pirates star Willie Stargell (21 years). He’s also ahead of Penguins teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who will be starting their 21st seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is unquestionably one of the greatest athletes in Pittsburgh sports history, one of the greatest players in NHL history, and the greatest player of his generation. While he’s not the player he was in his prime, he still performs at a level that exceeds that of his younger peers. While decline is inevitable for Crosby at this stage of his career, it hasn’t reached the point where retirement is unavoidable.

If Crosby reaches 750 goals, he’ll become the fifth player in NHL history to do so. If he tallies 2,000 points, he’ll join Wayne Gretzky as the only two players to reach that plateau.

Crosby is also in the final season of his two-year contract, which will likely result in the resumption of media conjecture about where he’ll continue his playing career, especially if the retooling Penguins miss the playoffs. Until we hear otherwise, expect Crosby to ink a one-year extension with the Penguins at some point before 2027-28.

TSN: The Los Angeles Kings will retire former captain Anze Kopitar’s No. 11 during the 2026-27 campaign. They will also honor him with a bronze statue outside of Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings will unveil the statue and hold the retirement ceremony before their game against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 24, 2027.

Kopitar spent his entire 20-season NHL career with the Kings, retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, and is the franchise leader in games played (1,521), assists (864) and points (1,316). He’s third in goals among the Kings’ all-time leaders (452), behind Luc Robitaille (557) and Marcel Dionne (550).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Well-deserved honors for the player I consider to be the greatest in Kings history. He was among the best and most self-disciplined two-way forwards of his generation, winning the Selke Trophy twice and the Lady Byng Trophy three times. Kopitar tied with teammate Dustin Brown for the playoff scoring lead in 2012 (20 points each) and led all postseason scorers with 26 points in 2014.

NHL.COM: Whether Zach Werenski can block out the noise about his future is among the three big questions facing the Columbus Blue Jackets this season.

The 28-year-old Werenski led the Blue Jackets with 81 points last season, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman. However, he was dogged by weeks of trade speculation, prompting him to release a statement affirming his commitment to the franchise.

Werenski has two years remaining on his contract, which means his future will remain the subject of conjecture until he signs an extension this summer or is traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season could become a critical one for the current incarnation of the Blue Jackets. Whether they can improve under a full season with head coach Rick Bowness could be a significant factor in determining Werenski’s future in Columbus.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Russell Macias examined why the New York Islanders didn’t bother to buy out the final season of aging winger Ondrej Palat’s contract this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Palat’s performance has steadily declined in recent years. The 35-year-old winger’s contract is a $6 million hit against the Islanders’ salary cap for this season. Buying him out would’ve saved the Isles $3.3 million this season, but it also would’ve resulted in $1.65 million of dead cap space for 2027-28.

The fact the Isles didn’t do it is likely because there was no reason to do so. They have over $2.9 million in cap space for 2026-27, giving them over $13 million in projected accrued cap space by the March 1 trade deadline.

It’s also a signal that Isles management isn’t planning on making any significant roster additions before the start of the regular season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: NHL Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara was involved in a bicycle accident in Slovakia when he accidentally collided with a jogger on a bike path.

Chara remained on the scene, provided first aid to the injured jogger, and cooperated with authorities. It was determined the jogger was at fault, as he wasn’t supposed to be on the bike path.