NHL Rumor Mill – August 31, 2026

by | Aug 31, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 31, 2026

Would Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck be a good fit with the Sabres or Sharks? Could he stage a holdout to force a trade? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe looked at whether trading for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would be worth the steep asking price.

Hellebuyck, 33, revealed his trade request last week. The 33-year-old netminder is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2024-25, and backstopped Team USA to Olympic gold earlier this year.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

The Sabres and Jets reportedly held trade talks about Hellebuyck in late June, but those discussions fell through before the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Hoppe believes Hellebuyck could be an upgrade in goal for the Sabres. However, he feels the cost of acquiring the veteran netminder and taking on the remaining five years of his contract (with an average annual value of $8.5 million) outweighs the benefits.

Hellebuyck is coming off his worst NHL season, which included missing three weeks in November due to arthroscopic knee surgery. He’s also played more games than any other goalie since his big-league debut in 2015-16, and that wear and tear could be taking a toll.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoppe makes a solid case against acquiring Hellebuyck. Nevertheless, Sabres management didn’t seem concerned about those issues when they held those rumored trade talks with the Jets in June. It’s believed the deal fell through because the Sabres asked for too much, wanting the Jets first-round pick (eighth overall) as part of the return.

At that time, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he believed Hellebuyck would waive his no-movement clause to go to Buffalo. It’ll be interesting to see if he still feels that way, and if the Sabres would be interested.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka wondered if the San Jose Sharks should be interested in pursuing Hellebuyck. If they spent the assets necessary to acquire the Jets goalie, it could transform the Sharks from a rebuilding team to one in “win-now” mode.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier has amassed the league’s deepest pool of prospects to draw on for trade bait. Pashelka thinks Grier may have done his due diligence to see what the Jets’ asking price would be.

However, Pashelka also cited the risks for the Sharks, citing many of the issues Hoope did for the Sabres. He also believes the Jets’ asking price would include promising goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Sabres, the Sharks are expected to be a competitive playoff team this season regardless of their starting goaltender. It remains to be seen if either club is willing to accept the risks for what could be a significant reward.

TSN: Analyst and former NHL goalie Martin Biron recently raised the possibility of Hellebuyck staging a holdout for perhaps the entire season to force the Jets into trading him.

Biron suggested that Hellebuyck would risk the suspension that would come from that action, that the goalie has made good money and put it away, and would be fine spending the year with his family while awaiting a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck could go that route, but it’s a tactic that could backfire.

By staging a holdout to force a trade, he’d be breaching his contract. The Jets could suspend him without pay, fine him, and toll his contract, meaning he’d still have five years remaining on his deal when he would end the holdout.

Hellebuyck might not miss the paycheque if he’s managed his money properly, but he would miss not playing. Losing a year could adversely affect his performance when he returns, especially now that he’s approaching his mid-thirties.

Holding out could also cause some suitors to have second thoughts. If he’s willing to stage a holdout to force the Jets to trade him, nothing is stopping him from doing it again if things go sour with another club.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 31, 2026

by | Aug 31, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 31, 2026

The questions facing the Canucks this season, the latest on Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Vancouver Canucks face three big questions entering 2026-27.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

The biggest is whether Elias Pettersson can regain his high-scoring ways. It’s been three years since his career-best 102-point performance. He had 89 points in 2023-24, 45 points in 64 games in 2024-25, and 51 points in 74 games last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries and a well-publicized rift with now-former teammate J.T. Miller hampered the 28-year-old center’s play over the past two years. He’s also been under pressure to meet the expectations that come with the expensive contract he signed over two years ago, and has faced criticism for his poor offseason training and preparation.

Pettersson’s been a fixture in the NHL rumor mill, but the steep drop in his production and his contract make him almost impossible to move. He and the Canucks are stuck with each other for better or worse.

Another big question is how many games oft-injured starting goaltender Thatcher Demko can play during the 2026-27 campaign. A Vezina Trophy finalist in 2023-24, he’s played 43 games over the past two seasons, and there’s no timeline as to when he’ll be ready to play this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks signed free-agent goalie Chris Driedger to a professional tryout offer last week. That move suggests Demko won’t be ready when the regular season begins a month from now.

Another question is whether a young defenseman like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, Elias Nils Pettersson, or Victor Mancini will step up this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buium is the blueliner Canucks fans will be focused on this season. He was part of the return in the Quinn Hughes trade last season and is ranked No. 2 among their top prospects by The Athletic.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger reports Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said he expects winger Kirill Marchenko to play for the club starting on Sept. 16 when training camp opens.

Marchenko, 25, became the subject of trade rumors after ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported he wasn’t interested in signing a contract extension. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent next July, and is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent in July 2028.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A report out of Russia claiming the Blue Jackets were working on trading Marchenko last month created a stir for several days. However, Waddell quickly denied the speculation, insisting that the young winger would be with the Blue Jackets when this season began.

Hedger also reports that Waddell remains confident of signing Adam Fantilli to a new contract before training camp begins.

The 21-year-old center is a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract. Waddell said there is a “little difference of opinion” between the two sides, but they “remain in communication”.

Re-signing Fantilli got more expensive after the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90-million contract on July 3 ($18 million AAV), which the Ducks matched less than a week later.

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks signed a five-year deal last month worth $15 million AAV, leaving Fantilli as the lone unsigned player among the top-three picks in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Fantilli’s numbers are nearly identical to Carlsson, meaning the Blue Jackets center is due for a significant raise.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantilli won’t get what Carlsson got, and he probably won’t get a deal similar to Bedard’s. Nevertheless, he could receive around $13 million annually on a five-year contract.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar has put a stronger emphasis on his conditioning during the offseason. He shares teammate Alex Vlasic’s belief that the rebuilding club can push for a playoff berth this season, and has spent time studying new teammate Patrick Kane’s stickhandling abilities.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 30, 2026

by | Aug 30, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 30, 2026

Could Dylan Larkin accept a trade to the Mammoth or Canadiens? Could the latter attempt to trade Samuel Montembeault to the Oilers? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LARKIN TO THE MAMMOTH OR CANADIENS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara believes the Utah Mammoth makes the most sense for Dylan Larkin if the Detroit Red Wings center is serious about chasing the Stanley Cup.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).

The Mammoth are an up-and-coming team who recently added veteran forwards Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck. They have the draft capital to make an enticing offer and have a bit of a trade history with the Red Wings after acquiring goalie Sebastian Cossa earlier this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s trade list includes the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, though it’s rumored the Dallas Stars are also on his list. So far, the 30-year-old center hasn’t indicated that he’s willing to widen that list, though he might have to if he seriously wants to be moved before the start of the regular season in four weeks.

The Mammoth tick the right boxes, but whether they seriously want him or if he’s willing to include them on his list of preferred destinations remains to be seen.

NHL NETWORK: Mike Johnson suggested the Montreal Canadiens as a landing spot for Larkin. The Canadiens are stacked with young talent that Johnson believes makes them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender over the next four or five years.

Johnson noted that the Canadiens can draw on their “boatload” of young prospects to build a trade package for the Red Wings, including University of Michigan winger Michael Hage. He acknowledged the Canadiens weren’t on Larkin’s four-team trade list. However, if it’s about winning for Larkin, the Habs are on the precipice of winning for the next half-decade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin would be a terrific addition to the Canadiens, but he doesn’t seem interested in joining a Canadian club.

MONTEMBEAULT TO THE OILERS?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the goalie market should start heating up with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets requesting a trade and Frederik Andersen of the Edmonton Oilers to miss training camp after suffering an injury during offseason training.

That could make it possible for the Canadiens to trade Samuel Montembeault. Cowan doesn’t expect they’ll start the season carrying Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, and Jacob Fowler. He believes Montembeault can regain his form after struggling through injury and inconsistency last season, but he will have a short leash.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Karine Haines wondered if Andersen’s injury might create an opportunity for the Canadiens to ship Montembeault to the Oilers. She noted Montembeault has a cap hit of $3.15 million and the Oilers have $2 million in cap space, which would mean the Canadiens would have to take back some salary in such a deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said last week that he wasn’t too concerned over the rash of early injuries plaguing his club. He’ll likely look at internal options first (such as offseason acquisition Devon Levi) or a dip into free agency where a few affordable veterans are available, including former Oiler Cam Talbot.

Montembeault could be a trade target for the Oilers, but he’ll probably be further down Bowman’s list.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2026

by | Aug 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2026

The questions facing the Mammoth this season, the latest on Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson, Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Kevin Korchinski, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Logan Cooley’s performance and those of offseason additions Vincent Trocheck, Anders Lee, and Sebastian Cossa are among the questions facing the Utah Mammoth this season.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (NHL Images).

The biggest question is whether the 22-year-old Cooley will have his breakout season. He seemed poised to do so entering the 2025-26 campaign, but a lower-body injury limited him to 54 games.

Trocheck could help Cooley reach that goal. The Pittsburgh natives train together during the offseason. Trocheck, 33, and the 37-year-old Anders Lee will bring experience and leadership to the young Mammoth roster.

Cossa, 23, is a highly touted goaltender acquired from the Detroit Red Wings. He’s almost guaranteed to fill the backup role behind starter Karel Vejmelka, and has the potential to take over that spot one day.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth are among the promising young teams poised to rise in the Western Conference. After reaching the playoffs and throwing a scare into the Stanley Cup finalist Vegas Golden Knights last spring, they could challenge for a top-four Conference spot if Cooley stays healthy and Trocheck, Lee, and Cossa have a positive impact on their roster.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan profiled Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson’s Prince Edward Island roots. The 26-year-old Dobson returns to his Summerside, PEI hometown every summer for his HockeyFest fundraiser billed as the world’s largest street hockey event.

The fourth annual event, held over three days in June, attracted 167 teams and raised $45,000 for Community Connections, a non-profit organization in Summerside that provides support for adults with intellectual disabilities.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman Kevin Korchinski to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.325 million.

Korchinski, 22, split last season between Chicago and their AHL affiliate in Rockford, playing 13 games with the Blackhawks.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers hired Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant on Thursday.

Donskov joined the Vegas Golden Knights as director of hockey operations before their 2017-18 inaugural season. He was one of their assistant coaches when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022-23. He spent the next two seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.

Donskov was part of the coaching staff for Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

THE ATHLETIC: NHLPA executive commissioner Marty Walsh believes it won’t be difficult to convince NHL players to participate in future Winter Olympics. He believes the experience of the 2026 Winter Games was so positive that it will convince all stakeholders to work out a deal in time for the 2030 Games in France.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2026

by | Aug 29, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: more proposed trade destinations for Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

BLEACHER REPORT: Joe Yerdon looked at eight potential landing spots for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy winner publicly admitted this week that he requested a trade earlier in this offseason.

Yerdon’s list included the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those five clubs were also among the landing spots suggested by Murat Ates of The Athletic, Ryan Lambert of The Hockey News, and Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler. You can read my reaction to those selections by following this link.

Yerdon also included the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks on his list. He acknowledged the difficulty the Oilers would face in putting together a suitable offer and in getting Hellebuyck to waive his no-movement clause to join them. Still, the possibility of him on the same team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is incredible.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be amazing, but as Yerdon noted, the odds of it happening are low.

Hellebuyck returning to Michigan to backstop the Red Wings would also be an amazing, but unlikely story. The Wings aren’t making any moves until they hire a new general manager, and their first order of business is sorting out center Dylan Larkin’s trade request. And no, Larkin wouldn’t be swapped straight up for Hellebuyck because they’re not on his three-time trade list.

The Blackhawks are probably an unsuitable destination for Hellebuyck. They’re a rebuilding club, but he wants to play for a contender.

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger included the Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars on his list of potential destinations for Hellebuyck.

Granger noted the Mammoth have plenty of future assets and top-six forwards to compile an enticing trade package. He also suggested adding goalie Karel Vejmelka to the deal.

As for the Stars, Granger suggested a one-for-one swap of Hellebuyck for Jake Oettinger. However, he admitted that’s unlikely to happen because the latter also has a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth could be a dark horse in the Hellebuyck sweepstakes if he’s willing to go there and if they’re willing to make that investment. Forget about the Stars; they’re sticking with Oettinger, and he won’t want to move anyway.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon noted the Sabres were close to a deal that would’ve landed Hellebucyk in June. While it ultimately fell through, Dixon believes there’s a deal to be had between the two clubs.

Dixon proposed a deal that sends goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, forwards Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets would do that deal in a heartbeat. As for the Sabres, I’ll leave the last word with Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards dismissed the notion of the Panthers as a trade destination for Hellebuyck. Having acquired Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils to replace the departed Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers have moved on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of you might suggest the Panthers could pursue Hellebuyck if Markstrom has a poor start to this season. However, even if Hellebuyck is still available in the trade market later this season, the Panthers lack the cap space to absorb his contract and the tradeable assets to make a tempting offer.

No, the Jets won’t want Markstrom in return, and he probably has Winnipeg on his 20-team no-trade list. And no, the Jets won’t retain salary to facilitate a trade. If you want Hellebuyck, you’re taking on his full $8.5 million average annual value.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Jame Nichols doesn’t see the Devils getting into the bidding for Hellebuyck.

Nichols believes Sunny Mehta, the Devils’ new GM, already made his goaltending moves by sending Markstrom to the Panthers earlier this summer, adding free agent David Rittich, and re-signing Nico Daws to a two-year contract. He’s sticking with the trio of Rittich, Daws and Jake Allen, with Daws expected to push for the starter’s job this season.

Hellebuyck’s contract would also take up a significant chunk of the Devils’ salary-cap space. That could complicate efforts to acquire Quinn Hughes if the Minnesota Wild defenseman becomes available in this season’s trade market or next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is expected to re-sign with the Wild, but if he doesn’t, the Devils could be keen to bring him to New Jersey for a reunion with his brothers Jack and Luke. Adding Hellebuyck (assuming he’d accept a trade to New Jersey) would throw a spanner in the works.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James believes the Flyers shouldn’t attempt to acquire Hellebuyck. He believes the asking price would be too high, plus the Flyers signed current starter Dan Vladar to a five-year contract extension that begins next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers weren’t on the suggested trade destinations for Hellebuyck. However, they already signalled what their biggest need was by their failed attempt to land Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson with an offer sheet last month. They won’t waste their cap space and valuable trade assets on a need they believe they’ve already addressed.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2026

by | Aug 29, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2026

The Avalanche signed Cale Makar to the largest contract in league history, Macklin Celebrini talks about his new contract, the questions facing the Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed Cale Makar to an eight-year contract extension worth a league-record average annual value of $20.4 million.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

Makar is in the final season of a six-year deal with a $9 million AAV. The 27-year-old is considered the NHL’s top defenseman. In his seven NHL seasons, he’s been a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best blueliner six times, winning the award in 2021-22 and 2024-25.

Makar led the Avalanche to the 2022 Stanley Cup, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He’s also been a First Team All-Star twice (2021-22 and 2024-25) and a Second Team All-Star in 2020-21 and 2025-26.

SPORTSNET: NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes Makar’s new contract solidifies the landscape for new NHL contracts.

Makar’s new deal comes during a summer when AAVs for elite players have been rising with the salary cap. Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks is earning an $18 million AAV on a five-year offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers (which the Ducks matched), and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will take home an AAV of $18.8 million on a five-year extension.

THE DENVER POST: Before Makar signed his extension, Troy Renck felt he’d be worth whatever the Avalanche might pay him. However, that hefty new deal also comes with the weight of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Colorado.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert wondered what effect Makar’s record-setting deal would have on Quinn Hughes’ contract extension talks with the Minnesota Wild. Like Makar, Hughes is among the league’s elite defensemen, and he could use it as a benchmark for his own contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I said earlier this month that Makar or Hughes would become the league’s first $20-million player. Given Makar’s resume, it’s no surprise that he got this deal, and it will set the bar for Hughes’ next deal.

Makar won’t have difficulty meeting expectations that come with this league-leading (for now) contract. However, winning the Cup won’t be easy. The Avalanche lack promising young talent and have a depleted supporting cast around Makar and core players Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, and Devon Toews.

THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini made his first public comments since signing his five-year, $94-million contract with what was then a league-leading AAV of $18.8 million.

Celebrini said he wanted to ensure his new deal would still leave the Sharks with salary-cap flexibility to keep its young roster core intact and competitive for the long term.

“That was at the front of my mind throughout the whole negotiation,” Celebrini said. “I wanted to make sure that with where the cap was going, that the number made sense to the team first and foremost, making sure that everyone can get paid, and that we’re in a good spot to build the way we want to build.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini earned that expensive extension by establishing himself as a superstar and the foundation of the Sharks within his first two NHL seasons.

The other promising young Sharks (Will Smith, Michael Misa, Igor Chernyshov, Ivar Stenberg, Sam Dickinson, and Yaroslav Askarov) should be more affordable re-signings. However, if any of them have big breakout performances this season, their new contracts could become much more expensive.

NHL.COM: The biggest question facing the Toronto Maple Leafs is how long it will take for the roster to gel on and off the ice after so many offseason changes.

The Maple Leafs underwent significant changes to their front office staff and their coaching staff. Their roster was also shaken up, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defenseman Darren Raddysh, and forwards such as Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, and rookie winger Gavin McKenna among their key additions.

How well McKenna adjusts to playing under the hockey microscope in Toronto and whether team captain Auston Matthews can rebound from season-ending knee surgery are the other big questions entering this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On paper, the Maple Leafs appear to be a better team than they were last season. However, if the new additions struggle to adjust to life in hockey’s most demanding market, and if Matthews’ performance is below expectations, it could become a long, unhappy season that leads to a rebuild instead of further retooling.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Columbus Blue Jackets named Trevor Timmins as director of amateur scouting and Ville Siren as director of European scouting.

THE ATHLETIC: Arizona State University defenseman and St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich collapsed during an offseason military-style workout last Thursday, sending him to the hospital with a heat-related illness.

Mayich reportedly remains in hospital in critical condition. He and his teammates were participating in a 60-minute morning workout outdoors at Sun Angel Stadium. The temperature was 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit when first responders were called. The instructor is a former military service member and non-University employee.

The incident has sparked criticism of Greg Powers, the team’s head coach. Meanwhile, the practice of military-style workouts is under scrutiny.