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.










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 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 Rumor Mill – August 28, 2026

by | Aug 28, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2026

Now that Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has made his trade request public, where are the potential destinations and what could the Jets seek in return? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates believes Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff faces a big challenge finding a suitable trade partner to meet his asking price for Connor Hellebuyck.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

In a statement through his agent on Thursday, the 33-year-old goaltender made his trade request public. Cheveldayoff also released a statement indicating that the two sides will continue to work toward a resolution, but provided no updates about trade talks.

Ates suggested the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes could be among several Cup contenders in need of a goaltending upgrade. Others include the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.

According to Ates, the Jets’ biggest needs are a top-six forward (preferably a center or right wing) and a goaltender who can help ease Hellebuyck’s loss. He acknowledged that goalies of Hellebuyck’s caliber are rarely moved, and those who were in the past (Ryan Miller, Roberto Luongo) fetched a lesser goaltender, a mid-tier roster player, and a first-round draft pick.

The Sabres were the team most closely tied to Hellebuyck in trade rumors. Ates believes they’re the best-stocked to address the Jets’ needs. Their goalies include Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, while potentially available forwards could include Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn.

SPORTSNET: Emily Sadler looked at five potential landing spots for Hellebuyck.

The Sabres, Devils, and Hurricanes are on her list, along with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert also explored where Hellebuyck might end up, pointing out that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner’s preference would be joining an already-competitive American team.

The Sabres and Hurricanes are on Lambert’s list, along with the Golden Knights, Panthers, and Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck will be a very attractive trade target, but his contract will be a sticking point. He’s signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause.

It’s rumored that Hellebuyck could have more trade destinations in mind than Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, who followed up his trade request with a three-or four-team list that has significantly hampered the Wings’ ability to move him.

However, Hellebuyck’s AAV could be difficult for some clubs to absorb unless they send some significant salary to Winnipeg or make separate cost-cutting deals with other clubs.

Buffalo was reportedly close to acquiring Hellebuyck in June, but the deal fell through before the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft. However, the Jets weren’t willing to part with their first-round pick (eighth overall). It was also rumored that one of the Sabres goalies (believed to be Luukkonen) declined to waive their no-trade clause, but that clause didn’t go into effect until July 1.

San Jose and Carolina have the trade capital, with the Hurricanes having the advantage of carrying $9.98 million in salary-cap space. Hellebuyck would make the Canes stronger in goal, but it could cost them a goalie (Brandon Bussi or Pyotr Kochetkov) and a good young forward to get him. Winnipeg native Seth Jarvis would be a natural fit, but the Hurricanes won’t part with him. Jackson Blake or Logan Stankoven could be part of the Jets’ asking price.

The Sharks have plenty of promising young forwards to tempt the Jets. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and top prospect Ivar Stenberg are out of bounds, but Michael Misa, Collin Graf, or Igor Chernyshov might be available. The Jets could also ask for promising goalie Yaroslav Askarov, but the Sharks could be unwilling to part with him.

New Jersey could offer Nico Daws in a trade package, but he hasn’t fully established himself as an NHL goalie. Dawson Mercer or Arseny Gritsyuk could fill the top-six forward spot, and they have two first-rounders in 2027 and 2028.

Florida and Vegas are the least-likely destinations. If those clubs can’t afford to acquire Larkin ($8.7 million AAV), they can’t afford Hellebuyck, and even if they could, they lack the tradeable assets to entice the Jets, unless they can somehow get a third team involved in the deal to send them the necessary assets to make it happen.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2026

by | Aug 27, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup, we look at three defensemen who could still be moved during the offseason, and the latest on Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael DeRosa recently listed three NHL defensemen who could still be traded before training camp opens next month.

Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes topped the list. The 24-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and is ineligible to sign an offer sheet. However, he’s also surfaced in trade rumors this summer.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (NHL Images).

DeRosa believes Nikishin is a young blueliner with strong upside who could be a solid addition to a playoff contender or a rebuilding club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The trade buzz around Nikishin faded away throughout August, but it could resurface as training camp approaches in September. The St. Louis Blues reportedly had considerable interest.

Mason Lohrei of the Boston Bruins was a fixture in the rumor mill last season. He struggled last season and was scratched from three of their six playoff games. The Bruins have a surplus of defensemen, which could make the 25-year-old Lohrei a trade chip.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei might not be going anywhere for now. He’s reportedly spent the offseason building up his strength and improving his overall game. He said he’s looking forward to the challenge of earning a full-time roster spot this season.

Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers rounds out DeRosa’s list. The 32-year-old veteran right-shot blueliner has been the subject of trade rumors for years, and he’s due to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers will likely hang onto Ristolainen for this season. However, they could peddle him by the March 1 trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then.

THE ATHLETIC: Whether Jake DeBrusk can rebuild his trade value is among Thomas Drance’s five summer thoughts regarding the Vancouver Canucks forwards.

DeBrusk managed three five-on-five goals on 121 shots on goal, for a “wildly anemic 2.48 shooting percentage.”

Drance expects the 29-year-old winger’s production will improve at even strength this season, pointing out he’s been “a modestly above-average finisher throughout his career, and has a serious nose for cashing in greasy goals at the net front.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk was the frequent subject of trade speculation last season, especially after he indicated that he wasn’t keen on playing for a rebuilding team. He was linked at one point to the Ottawa Senators, but they opted for winger William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky.

DeBrusk still managed to score 23 goals and 42 points in 81 games with the imploding Canucks last season. An improvement in his even-strength production will bolster his stats and improve his chances of getting moved to a contender before the March 1 trade deadline, provided he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2026

by | Aug 26, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2026

Check out the latest on Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, and Canucks winger Brock Boeser in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo reports league sources are “emphatically” dismissing rumors that the Minnesota Wild are in trade talks with the New Jersey Devils regarding Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Russo indicated that Wild management is in ongoing discussions with Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, regarding a contract extension. They remain confident of signing the 26-year-old defenseman before the start of the regular season.

Hughes is in the final season of his six-year contract with a cap hit of $7.85 million. He can become an unrestricted free agent next July.

The rising salary cap is also raising the cost of new contracts, especially for superstars like Hughes. Russo speculated his next deal could be in the $19 million or $20 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Russo has previously reported that the Wild would prefer to sign Hughes to the league maximum contract term of eight years before it is reduced on Sept. 16 to seven years, but the Hughes camp prefers a shorter term, perhaps between three and five years.

As for the Devils rumors, it sounds like wishful thinking because he hasn’t signed an extension with the Wild yet. Everyone knows Quinn would love to play alongside his brothers Jack and Luke one day, but that could be in 2030, when Jack’s contract with the Devils is set to expire. Signing Quinn by that stage would be a great incentive for Jack to stay in New Jersey.

Predictions are for gypsies, but for now, I think Hughes agrees to a three-year deal with the Wild worth around $20 million annually. Feel free to weigh in on this topic in the comments section below.

SPORTSNET: During Tuesday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman proposed a theory that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson goes to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

Friedman cited a source who predicted the 36-year-old Karlsson becomes a Maple Leaf depending on how this season goes for both teams.

Karlsson is in the final season of his contract. If he and the Penguins have another solid performance like last season, Friedman doubts he’ll be traded. However, if Karlsson is in the trade market, his source believes Maple Leafs executives Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson could help to entice the Penguins blueliner to come to Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that this is a prediction from one of Friedman’s sources and not an actual trade rumor. There is no indication the Maple Leafs are pursuing Karlsson, nor are the Penguins shopping him.

Nevertheless, if the Penguins are out of playoff contention by March 1, they will likely peddle some of their veterans. That would include Karlsson, as they probably won’t re-sign him given his age and their ongoing transition toward a younger roster.

If Karlsson becomes available, he might consider waiving his no-movement clause to join the Maple Leafs if they’re having a good season. If they’re not, he’ll likely prefer going to a Stanley Cup contender.

TSN: Travis Yost believes Brock Boeser could become a trade candidate as the Vancouver Canucks continue their rebuilding program.

Boeser, 29, is entering the second season of a seven-year contract ($7.25 million average annual value) with a full no-movement clause.

Yost believes Boeser is a better player than his stats over the past two years suggest. Nevertheless, he thinks his best seasons may be behind him, and it would be worthwhile moving him while his value remains high.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That depends on whether Boeser wants to stay and be part of the solution for the Canucks. If he’s unwilling to waive his no-movement clause, they will rely on his leadership and experience to mentor their younger players.

However, Boeser could decide his future lies elsewhere if the rebuild takes longer than expected. This season could decide where that might be.

THE PROVINCE: Speaking of the Canucks, Patrick Johnston reports first-year GM Ryan Johnson is open to adding a veteran to his roster on a PTO or a full-on free-agent agreement.

Johnston noted that a handful of notable players remain in what was a talent-thin UFA market. Forwards include Michael Bunting, Patrik Laine, and Vladimir Tarasenko, while Logan Stanley and John Klingberg are among the noteworthy defensemen.

Johnson could sign one of them, hoping they’ll have a good enough season to make them a worthwhile trade chip later in the season.