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 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.










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 Rumor Mill – August 22, 2026

by | Aug 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: suggested destinations for Oilers captain Connor McDavid as the offseason silliness continues, and a look at the Red Wings’ cap space.

BLEED OIL BLUE: NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek recently discussed hypothetical destinations for Connor McDavid if he were to leave the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid, 28, is entering the first season of his two-year contract extension with the Oilers. That has generated speculation about what the superstar center might do if the club fails to return to Stanley Cup contender status after last season’s disappointing performance.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Hradek said he doesn’t have a close relationship with McDavid. However, speaking with “a couple of different sources,” he said that if McDavid were to leave Edmonton, perhaps the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings were locations that he might be amenable to.

The New York Rangers come up “because the Rangers are gonna have a lot of cap space, and it is New York, after all.” Hradek suggested that seeing the outpouring of love for the New York Knicks after winning the NBA championship could influence someone to join the Rangers.

Hradek ultimately believes that if McDavid leaves, it’ll be to join a club where he can win the Stanley Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With all due respect to Hradek and his sources, the Flyers, Red Wings, and Rangers won’t give McDavid the best chances to win hockey’s holy grail.

The Flyers are a promising team, and they definitely need a first-line center. They exceeded expectations last season by reaching the playoffs and advancing to the second round. However, even the most die-hard Flyers fan knows that their team is still several years away from Cup contention.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Red Wings have become a soap opera. A decade-long playoff drought prompted team captain Dylan Larkin to request a trade, forcing ownership to relieve franchise icon Steve Yzerman of his duties as general manager and sparking speculation about his eventual replacement. Of the teams Hradek mentioned, the Wings are the furthest from Cup contention.

As for the Rangers, GM Chris Drury has been attempting to retool his roster on the fly over the past two years. While this season’s edition is bound to be better than last season’s, they are no closer to regaining their Cup contention status from two years ago.

I realize I’m noting where these teams are now and that a lot can change by the time McDavid’s contract expires in 2028, assuming he departs as a free agent and doesn’t push for a trade beforehand.

Nevertheless, I don’t see those three clubs improving over that period to become certain Cup contenders, which I believe is what it would take to entice McDavid.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen recently reported that whoever becomes the next general manager of the Red Wings will be swimming in salary-cap space this season.

According to PuckPedia, the Red Wings have a league-leading $19,572,084 of cap space for 2026-27. That will go down once restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson is re-signed. Assuming he gets an average annual value of $9 million, it would still leave the Wings with over $10 million to work with. They could also gain another $8.7 million, depending on what they gain if they trade Dylan Larkin.

Allen noted that the Red Wings could have over $40 million in projected cap space for 2027-28. Next summer’s free-agent pool could be deep. Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild are among the stars who could be available. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having lots of salary-cap space won’t matter if the top players in next summer’s UFA market aren’t willing to sign with your club. The Red Wings’ current status suggests they could have a difficult time wooing the best free-agent talent.

They could put that cap space to better use in the trade market, provided they target players lacking no-trade protection or those who would be willing to waive their clauses to come to Detroit.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2026

by | Aug 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2026

Sidney Crosby to the Canadiens? Cutter Gauthier back to the Flyers? We’ve truly hit the silliest part of the offseason dog days, folks. Check it out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE SID SEIXEIRO SHOW: On Wednesday, Seixeiro dismissed the notion of Sidney Crosby signing a contract extension for one or two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins before the start of the season. “I’ll believe that when I see it,” he said.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Despite Crosby’s loyalty to the Penguins, Seixeiro believes the day will come when the future Hall of Famer will lose faith in general manager Kyle Dubas’ roster building. He suggested that the Montreal Canadiens should make a pitch for Crosby. Addressing Canadiens fans, Seixeiro asked if they would swap prospect Michael Hage and a first-round pick for Crosby.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported earlier this week that contract extension talks between Crosby and the Penguins will start when the summer ends. He believes it’ll likely be a one- or two-year deal. Yohe hasn’t been wrong in any of his reports about Crosby’s contract intentions yet.

The “Crosby-to-Montreal” talk began among several pundits (some based in Toronto) two years ago when the Penguins captain was approaching the final season of his previous contract. It was merely suggestions or wishful thinking rather than anything based in fact.

Seixeiro loves to stir the pot, and since there’s been a dire dearth of real hockey news to talk about, he’s just resurrecting the Crosby-to-Montreal speculation for his own amusement and that of his listeners.

TSN 690: During a recent appearance on the Campbell vs Gallo show, Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff was asked if the Philadelphia Flyers might hit the Anaheim Ducks with another offer sheet, this time by targeting winger Cutter Gauthier.

The Flyers signed Ducks center Leo Carlsson last month to a five-year offer sheet worth an average annual value of $18 million, which the Ducks subsequently matched. Gauthier was a Flyers prospect who was traded to the Ducks in January 2024 after refusing to sign an entry-level contract.

Gauthier is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. Di Marco doubted that the 21-year-old winger would be interested in signing with the Flyers. If there were another RFA they might take a shot at signing, it would be Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets, but Di Marco’s sources said it’s something the Flyers aren’t willing to do.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier is ineligible to sign an offer sheet because he hasn’t played the mandatory number of games to qualify. Even if he were eligible, Di Marco is right that he won’t sign with the Flyers.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio wondered if the St. Louis Blues might be forced to explore a trade for Pavel Buchnevich.

The 31-year-old winger has struggled over the past two seasons. He’s entering the second season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8 million, and he carries a full no-trade clause.

Gaudio doesn’t believe Buchnevich’s situation has reached the “must-trade” stage. However, Blues GM Alex Steen may have to consider his options if the winger’s performance doesn’t improve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We finish with some conjecture that isn’t silly. Nevertheless, another subpar performance will make Buchnevich difficult to move given his cap hit and no-trade protection. They could be stuck with him for a while.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2026

by | Aug 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2026

Potential trade candidates for the Flames, how the Panthers might replace sidelined winger Brad Marchand, and the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson expects the rebuilding Flames will be outside the playoff picture again by the March trade deadline. He looked at several players who could be moved out by then.

Morgan Frost is one candidate. The 27-year-old center can become an unrestricted free agent next July. A strong performance by Frost this season could make him an attractive trade target for clubs seeking depth at center.

Zach Whitecloud could be the Flames’ most valuable trade chip. The 29-year-old defenseman has two years remaining on his contract with an affordable average annual value of $2.75 million. Wilson believes the Flames will retain him for this season to mentor their younger defensemen, but he could be moved this season if Simon Nemec and Zayne Parekh make major strides.

Calgary Flames center Morgan Frost (NHL Images)

Like Frost, Ryan Strome is a center who is UFA-eligible next July. However, the 33-year-old must have a better effort than his disappointing 21-point effort last season to garner much interest in the trade market.

Winger Joel Farabee and young defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz could also become trade candidates. However, the Flames could re-sign Farabee while Brzustewicz could be stashed in the minors for another season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frost and Whitecloud have the most value as trade chips, with the latter likely to draw the most attention if he becomes available. It would be worthwhile to monitor their performances this season if the Flames are sellers again at the trade deadline.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Lambert recently examined ways the Florida Panthers could replace sidelined winger Brad Marchand until the 37-year-old returns from surgery later this season.

One option is to work the waiver wire in the hope a reasonable short-term solution becomes available. Lambert also recommended signing free-agent forward Michael Bunting, or simply gutting it out until Marchand returns, with the latter perhaps the most likely outcome.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lambert observed the Panthers don’t have much salary-cap space, plus Marchand might return by the end of October at the latest. Given those factors and the overall improvement in their roster’s health entering this season, they’ll likely wait for Marchand to return.

THE ATHLETIC: In his latest mailbag segment, Arpon Basu reported Montreal Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom has appeared in trade rumors.

Engstrom, 22, is among the Canadiens’ top prospects. He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 15 games.

According to Basu, teams have asked about Engstrom in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to moving him. However, they haven’t moved him yet because they see him as having considerable value.

Basu also noted that Engstrom is among several mobile puck-moving defensemen on the Canadiens blueline who aren’t overly imposing physically. He feels that could elevate the importance of Arber Xhekaj and/or Jayden Struble to the Habs’ defense corps.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Basu pointed out the Canadiens have Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson and Alex Carrier, who play a style similar to Engstrom’s. David Reinbacher is another, but Basu pointed out that he has a bit of a physical edge to his game when he reaches his peak comfort zone.

Xhekaj and Struble have been mentioned as trade candidates this summer, especially Xhekaj. However, they could stick around to maintain some physicality within their defense corps if the Canadiens are open to including Engstrom in a deal that addresses their need for a second-line forward, preferably a center.