NHL Rumor Mill – June 15, 2026

by | Jun 15, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 15, 2026

What’s next for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights? Could Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck request a trade? What’s the latest on the Flyers? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE 2026 STANLEY CUP FINALISTS?

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark examined the keys to the offseason for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.

Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. They have Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov under contract for next season, so unless the Canes are comfortable carrying three goalies, Andersen could be the odd man out.

The Hurricanes must also negotiate with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but after that, they’ll likely fill in around the edges rather than make a big move as they did last summer when they signed Nikolaj Ehlers. They could extend defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield or look for third-pairing help elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Justin Pelletier of The News & Observer pointed out that the Hurricanes’ championship window remains wide open.

The Hurricanes have $11.9 million in cap space for 2026-27 to re-sign or replace their UFAs and to re-sign Nikishin. Thirteen of their 14 roster forwards, five of their seven defensemen, and two of their three goalies are under contract next season.

Pelletier pointed out the Hurricanes have 20 players signed through next season, and 15 signed beyond that. They won’t have any need to rebuild anytime soon.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights have salary-cap issues to address. They must decide if they’ll re-sign pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and they have to re-sign restricted free-agent winger Pavel Dorofeyev.

Goaltender Adin Hill backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup three years ago, but didn’t play in this postseason. He’s got five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million, and is a trade candidate this summer. They could also look at moving other players to free up salary cap room.

Alex Pietrangelo’s status is another factor. He missed this season recovering from hip surgery, but indicated he’ll try to come back next season. Pietrangelo has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $8.8 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have $4.625 million in cap space for 2026-27. They’ll get $8.8 million in cap relief if Pietrangelo remains on long-term injury reserve next season. They can exceed the $104 million cap by 10 percent starting on July 1, but must be cap-compliant when their regular season begins in October.

If Pietrangelo stays on LTIR and they take the 10 percent offseason overage, the Golden Knights could still lack sufficient cap room to re-sign Andersson and Dorofeyev. That means losing the former to free agency and potentially the latter to an offer sheet unless they make one or two cost-cutting moves.

COULD JETS GOALIE CONNOR HELLEBUYCK REQUEST A TRADE?

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: A reader asked Ken Wiebe if goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would follow the example of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin by requesting a trade.

Wiebe noted that Hellebuyck expressed displeasure with the Jets’ direction during his end-of-season media availability in April. However, there hasn’t been any real fallout yet.

Hellebuyck could be waiting to see what general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff does during the offseason to improve the roster during the upcoming draft weekend, free agency, and the summer trade market.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested the New Jersey Devils could chase Hellebuyck if they manage to trade away starter Jacob Markstrom. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes recently reported the Devils are gauging Markstrom’s value in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers have taken Hellebuyck’s comments to suggest that he wants out. However, what he actually said was the Jets had to improve to win the Stanley Cup. However, he could seek a trade in a year or two if they fail to make any meaningful improvement this summer.

THE LATEST FLYERS SPECULATION

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER’s Jackie Spiegel recently reported hearing there is mutual interest between the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who requested a trade last week.

Spiegel indicated that Nurse is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. She wondered what he might cost to acquire, whether the Oilers would retain part of his $9.25 million AAV, and if there was another move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers could have a bigger need for a right-shot defenseman with Rasmus Ristolainen having a year left on his contract. Nurse is also in his early thirties and earns the salary of a first-pairing defenseman, but his play is that of a second-pairing blueliner.

Unless the Oilers will retain a hefty chunk of Nurse’s salary, he might not be a fit for the Flyers.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources claimed the Flyers are close to a contract extension with goaltender Dan Vladar. According to Weekes, it’s a five-year extension with an AAV that could be in the mid-$5 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar’s goaltending played a significant role in the Flyers exceeding expectations this season by qualifying for the playoffs and advancing to the second round. The 28-year-old is completing the first season of a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.35 million.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – June 14, 2026

by | Jun 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – June 14, 2026

The latest on the Hurricanes and Golden Knights on the eve of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Devils gauge the trade market for Jacob Markstrom, the latest Dylan Larkin speculation, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors. 

THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille listed three keys for the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.

Whether Mitch Marner can restart his push for the Conn Smythe Trophy and dealing with the absence of two-way center William Karlsson are among the keys for the Golden Knights.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Since his hat trick performance in Game 3, Marner has only one point in five-on-five play. Meanwhile, Karlsson will miss Game 6 (and possibly Game 7 if required) with an upper-body injury.

Meanwhile, Gentille wondered how Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers follows up his “worst game” of the playoffs. He also wondered if their struggling power play can produce as well as it did in Game 5, when they scored twice with the man advantage.

Ehlers had three assists in Game 5, but also took two uncharacteristic delay-of-game penalties, with the first resulting in a Golden Knights goal.

TSN: Hurricanes former starting goaltender Frederik Andersen remained the team’s third-stringer during practice on Saturday. Brandon Bussi will be their starter for the third straight game, while Pyotr Kochetkov will serve as his backup.

Bussi replaced Andersen after the latter gave up four goals in the second period of Game 3.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is doubling down on Carter Hart as his starting goaltender. Despite Hart giving up at least four goals in each of the previous five games in this series, Tortorella believes the netminder has a better game in him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes can become Stanley Cup champions with a win in Game 6 on Sunday in Las Vegas. A win for the Golden Knights will force the seventh and deciding game on Wednesday.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports sources claim the New Jersey Devils are gauging the trade market for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. He also indicated that a deal isn’t imminent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lack of quality goaltending depth in this summer’s free-agent market could push teams into the trade market for help.

Markstrom’s coming off a difficult season, finishing with a record of 23-19-1, a 3.07 goals-against average, and an .883 save percentage. He’s in the final season of his six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million and a full no-movement clause. He starts a two-year contract extension on July 1 with an average annual value of $6 million and a 20-team no-trade list in 2026-27 and a 5-team NTC in 2027-28.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Detroit Red Wings must land a first-line center for Dylan Larkin. Proposed packages of draft picks, prospects, wingers or goaltenders won’t address their need for a suitable replacement for Larkin.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman recently reported the Florida Panthers have made an offer for Larkin, but he didn’t reveal the details.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely the Red Wings will get a first-line center straight up for Larkin. They’ll either have to swing a three-team deal or use whatever assets they receive and try to make a separate move to address that need.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen speculated that Larkin’s addition in the trade market could delay the New York Rangers’ efforts to trade Vincent Trocheck. He noted that the Red Wings’ interest in the 33-year-old center could intensify if they don’t get a center back in the Larkin trade.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Trocheck, Jack Studley believes he’ll remain on the Boston Bruins radar as they search for a No. 1 center this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin has a three-team trade list, though his camp is reportedly open to expanding it. Teams seeking a first-line center that aren’t among his preferred destinations could continue to pursue Trocheck, but the latter will likely have to wait until the Larkin saga is settled.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato listed four players who could become contract buyout candidates this summer.

Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes tops that list, followed by winger Ondrej Palat of the New York Islanders, forward Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres, and winger Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kotkaniemi and Palat are the more likely buyout candidates.

Kotkaniemi has four years left on his deal with an AAV of $4.82 million. He’s been a healthy scratch throughout this postseason.

Palat has a year left on his deal with a $6 million cap hit. The Islanders acquired him from the Devils at midseason, but the move did little to improve his performance.

Gallagher has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $65 million. He’s been linked to the Vancouver Canucks in the rumor mill, but the Canadiens might have to retain part of his salary. Greenway (one year, $4 million cap hit) could still have value in the trade market.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2026

by | Jun 13, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2026

What could it cost the Penguins or Flyers to acquire Darnell Nurse? Could Brendan Gallagher land with the Canucks? Will the Panthers shop for a new starting goalie? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST DARNELL NURSE SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted that there is an unverified report claiming the Penguins are among Darnell Nurse’s list of preferred trade destinations.

Nurse submitted a trade request earlier this week. The 31-year-old Edmonton Oilers defenseman has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $9.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (NHL Images).

Kingerski noted that Nurse and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas know each other from their days with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Despite Nurse’s struggles in Edmonton, he could bring speed, puck movement, and physicality to the left side of the Penguins blueline.

However, Kingerski believes the Oilers could ask the Penguins for more than the latter would be willing to give. Nurse’s hefty contract would mean the Oilers would have to sweeten the pot, but they have few expendable assets. The Penguins could also want the Oilers to take little-used defenseman Ryan Graves off their hands.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James looked at whether Nurse would be a fit with the Flyers.

James pointed out that the Flyers already have depth on the left side of their blueline. While they would have the cap space ($37 million) to take on Nurse’s full cap hit, they would probably prefer the Oilers retain up to half of his AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers were also suggested as a possible destination for Nurse. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that he’ll land with them or the Penguins. He’s not really a good fit for either club at this stage, and the Oilers could be unwilling to retain half of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

WILL THE CANUCKS ACQUIRE BRENDAN GALLAGHER?

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre recently weighed in on the speculation suggesting the Vancouver Canucks could acquire winger Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens.

Gallagher, 34, recently told the Montreal media that he’s played his final game for the Canadiens. He mentioned that he’d be open to being traded to the Canucks, and Canadiens management has allowed his agent, Gerry Johansson, to speak with other teams about a trade.

Johansson confirmed he’s spoken with the Canucks, and that they’re interested in Gallagher. Nevertheless, MacIntyre believes it’s not guaranteed that a deal will go through.

MacIntyre believes the Canadiens will likely wait and see if they can get a draft pick for Gallagher, rather than including a pick to entice a team to take him. He also doesn’t see the Canucks trading a positive asset for Gallagher. MacIntyre wondered if the Habs would be interested in acquiring winger Jake DeBrusk and his $5.5 million AAV for the next five seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacIntyre pointed out that Canucks GM Ryan Johnson has bigger priorities to deal with than the option of acquiring Gallagher at a discount for his leadership and experience.

Johnson could take care of some of his more pressing issues first before deciding if he’ll take on a veteran player such as Gallagher.

The Canadiens’ pressing need is a reliable second-line center, but the pickings are slim in the trade market and nonexistent in free agency. They could opt to add another scoring winger, but could prefer a more consistent scorer than the streaky DeBrusk.

WILL THE PANTHER SHOP FOR A STARTING GOALTENDER?

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Alan Greenberg recently looked at the starting goalie options for the Panthers if Sergei Bobrovsky departs via free agency on July 1.

Stuart Skinner, Connor Ingram, and Cam Talbot could be the best UFA options, but they’re not what the Panthers will be looking for.

Greenberg claimed that Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck “apparently wants out of Winnipeg”, suggesting the three-time Vezina Trophy winner could be the Panthers’ next starter if GM Bill Zito can swing a blockbuster deal.

Jordan Binnington could be another option. The St. Louis Blues netminder has a year left on his contract, and would be more affordable to obtain than Hellebuyck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck has not stated that he wants a trade. He expressed his unhappiness over the Jets’ direction during his end-of-season press conference, but that seemed to be based on his frustration over his club missing the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

Hellebuyck’s comments had some observers in Winnipeg uneasy, but there’s been nothing more about it for two months now. That doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be traded, but as Greenberg admitted, he would be expensive to acquire in both return and contract, which could put him out of the Panthers’ price range.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 12, 2026

by | Jun 12, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 12, 2026

Potential trade destinations for Darnell Nurse, the latest on the Blues, and an update on Sabres winger Alex Tuch in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CAN THE OILERS FIND A SUITABLE TRADE PARTNER FOR DARNELL NURSE?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins weighed in on Sportsnet reporting that Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has requested a trade.

It’s believed Nurse has submitted a list of three to five teams that he would find acceptable as trade destinations. Leavins noted the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings were rumored to be among them, but he doesn’t know how much truth there is to that speculation.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (NHL Images).

Leavins pointed out that Nurse isn’t as physical as he was earlier in his career. While the 31-year-old blueliner has had stretches of very good play, his postseason performances have been below expectations.

Nurse’s contract is a major obstacle in the path to a trade. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $9.25 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, giving him full control over where he can be sent.

Meanwhile, Jim Matheson looked at which clubs might be interested in Nurse, and what the Oilers could expect to receive in return.

Nurse’s parents live in Hamilton, Ontario, prompting Matheson to speculate that he might be open to teams in the geographical area, such as Toronto, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

Matheson also noted that Nurse has some connections in California, which could make Los Angeles and San Jose potential landing spots.

As for return, Matheson mused about a swap of Nurse for Morgan Rielly with Toronto, or Rasmus Ristolainen or Nick Seeler or Owen Tippett with Philadelphia. He speculated that the Oilers might be reluctant to deal with the Penguins after swapping Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry.

The Sharks desperately need experienced blueline depth, but Matheson believes they’d want the Oilers to retain part of Nurse’s cap hit. They might be willing to move defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, but the Oilers might also want a forward, prompting Matheson to wonder if they’d also part with winger William Eklund.

Matheson speculated the Oilers might be open to taking goalie Darcy Kuemper for one year to play with Tristan Jarry. He doubted that the Kings would part with Alex Laferriere.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby thinks acquiring Darnell Nurse could work for the Maple Leafs. Like Matheson, Hornby suggested swapping Rielly for Nurse. However, he also mentioned pursuing Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers would love to move Nurse and his entire salary from their books and get back a decent NHL player in return. However, it might not be as easy as that.

Nurse’s $9.25 million AAV for the next three seasons is a significant sticking point. For all we know, the teams on his list of preferred destinations might not be interested in him, and if they are, they would probably prefer the Oilers retain a healthy chunk of his cap hit.

Nurse is the second player in a week to request a trade, following Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. It’ll be interesting to see which player gets moved first. Larkin obviously has more value than Nurse. However, the Oilers’ asking price for Nurse is likely more affordable than what the Red Wings seek for Larkin.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Guadio recently listed three players whose tenure with the St. Louis Blues could end this summer.

Center Oskar Sundqvist, right wing Jordan Kyrou, and goaltender Jordan Binnington are the trio who may have played their final games with the Blues.

Sundqvist’s second tenure with the Blues has been disappointing, which is why Guadio believes it’s time for him to move on. The Blues have been waiting for Kyrou to take his game to the next level, but he’s yet to do so. Binnington has lost the starter’s job to Joel Hofer, but his big-game reputation still has value in the trade market.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently answered some readers’ questions about Kyrou’s trade value and potential destinations.

Rutherford suggested the San Jose Sharks and New York Islanders as potential trade destinations for Kyrou, assuming he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause. He believes the Blues would like to get a player “with a proven track record or potential, or a high draft pick”.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols suggested Kyrou as a trade target for the Devils. He suggested offering up center Dawson Mercer or defenseman Simon Nemec, assuming he’d accept a trade to New Jersey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou seems the more likely of the three to be traded this summer. They could opt to stick with Binnington to start the season and see how things go from there. The decline in Sundqvist’s performance hurts his trade value.

Kyrou’s been mentioned as a trade option for the Ottawa Senators, but Rutherford doesn’t see him waiving his clause to join them. He also doesn’t see him going to the Seattle Kraken.

ALEX TUCH REPORTEDLY HEADED TO THE FREE AGENT MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes it’s increasingly likely that Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch will test the UFA market on July 1.

LeBrun isn’t ruling out a possible deal between Tuch and the Sabres before then. However, he’s doubtful that Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen sees the 29-year-old winger in the “double-digit salary world.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, LeBrun doesn’t see the Sabres signing Tuch to a deal worth $10 million annually on a long-term deal.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2026

by | Jun 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2026

Check out the latest on Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk, and Blues center Robert Thomas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun provided an update on the trade request of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and Pat Brisson (Dylan Larkin’s agent) continue to try to work through this in a respectful manner.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).

Yzerman has asked the Larkin camp to expand their original three-team trade list, and Brisson was receptive “to some degree”. The Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers were the three teams on Larkin’s list.

Regardless of that trade list, LeBrun claimed other teams are also interested in Larkin. One of them is the Dallas Stars, prompting LeBrun to consider it “food for thought” if the Stars fail to sign winger Jason Robertson to a contract extension.

LeBrun also believes a third team might need to get involved to make the assets work for the Red Wings.

SPORTSNET: During the June 10 episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he’d heard there could be other clubs that Larkin might be willing to join. He believes the Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning could be two options.

Friedman also thinks that teams have already submitted trade offers to the Red Wings, including the Wild and the Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Larkin really wants out of Detroit, he’ll have to expand his list of preferred destinations. Adding two or three more clubs could help Yzerman find an acceptable return for him.

However, the teams on his trade list could lack sufficient trade assets to make the deal work. That’s why LeBrun suggests it could take bringing in a third team to thread the needle here.

If the Stars can’t get Robertson under contract, they could offer him up to the Red Wings for Larkin. The 27-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who’s a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He also lacks no-trade protection.

In that scenario, the Red Wings would need assurances that Robertson would be open to a long-term contract with them. While that move would address their need for a first-line left winger, it would leave them without a first and second-line center.

ZACH WERENSKI DOESN’T WANT OUT OF COLUMBUS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported there was speculation over what effect Dylan Larkin’s trade request would have on Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Werenski and Larkin are close friends and were teammates on Team USA’s gold-medal Olympic men’s hockey team.

LeBrun indicated that the 28-year-old defenseman isn’t following Larkin’s lead and asking the Blue Jackets for a trade. However, LeBrun isn’t ruling out the possibility, based on the fact that, at some point, Werenski and Jackets management will have to discuss the blueliner’s future in Columbus.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Red Wings, the Blue Jackets came close to making the playoffs over the past two years, only to stumble during the final weeks of the regular season.

Unlike Larkin, who has five years left on his contract, Werenski has two years on his. He could see how next season pans out before making any decision about his future.

Werenski is part of the 2028 UFA class that includes Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators. However, if their teams fail to improve in 2026-27, they could all be on the move in next summer’s trade market.

COULD THE SENATORS PURSUE JAKE DEBRUSK?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports “two league sources” believe the Senators are among a group of teams interested in Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks.

The 29-year-old winger has spent the past two seasons with the Canucks. He has five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.

Garrioch believed DeBrusk could be a good fit among the Senators’ top-six forwards. He’s reportedly not thrilled about being on a team undergoing a roster teardown.

The Senators also reportedly have an interest in forward Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and winger Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. However, it’s believed that Kyrou won’t waive his no-trade clause for Ottawa. The Philadelphia Flyers are also believed to be interested in McTavish.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch believes the rebuilding Canucks won’t be seeking much for DeBrusk because they want to move his contract. They will likely seek a return of futures (draft picks, prospects, young NHL players) in any trades this summer involving their roster players.

The sticking point is DeBrusk’s NMC and whether he’d waive it to join the Senators.

BLUES SOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE RETURN FROM THE FLYERS FOR ROBERT THOMAS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, who claimed the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues discussed a trade earlier this season regarding Blues center Robert Thomas.

According to Kurz, the Blues’ asking price was winger Porter Martone, prospect center Jack Nesbitt, and the Flyers’ first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: And now you know why Robert Thomas remains with the Blues and will continue to remain a Blue for the foreseeable future. That asking price was far too much for the Flyers, who know they’ve got a potential superstar in Martone.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 10, 2026

by | Jun 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – June 10, 2026

More trade speculation about Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, the latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson, a notable Red Wings prospect could be heading to the Mammoth, and an update on the Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CAN THE WILD AFFORD TO ACQUIRE DYLAN LARKIN?

THE ATHLETIC: The Minnesota Wild are among the three teams on Dylan Larkin’s list of preferred trade destinations. However, Joe Smith and Michael Russo believe the Wild’s pursuit of the Detroit Red Wings center could be hampered by their limited trade capital.

The Wild gave up three significant assets (Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and their 2026 first-round pick) to the Vancouver Canucks in December to acquire superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes. They still have some solid prospects left, such as forwards Danila Yurov and Charlie Stramel. However, it’s debatable that they’re enough to land Larkin.

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt could be considered their “top prospect”, but he’s not going anywhere until starter Filip Gustavsson has recovered from offseason hip surgery. Even then, his solid performance during this postseason could make the Wild reluctant to part with him. It’s also questionable that the Red Wings would want Wallstedt because of the young goalies in their system.

The Wild don’t want to move center Joel Eriksson Ek or defenseman Jonas Brodin. Doing so would be a step backward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smith and Russo believe the Wild’s best shot at landing Larkin is if the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights (the other two teams on his trade list) either aren’t interested or cannot match an offer from the Wild. They also suggested the possibility of the Wild getting a third team involved that would part with an asset that would entice the Red Wings.

THE LATEST ON CANUCKS CENTER ELIAS PETTERSSON

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma wondered what the future holds for Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. The Canucks have new management and a new head coach, and they face a daunting challenge as they attempt to rebuild the roster.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Kuzma suggested Pettersson, 27, could be a useful trade chip that could fetch the type of return that helps the Canucks going forward.

The Detroit Red Wings will be in the market for a replacement for Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade last week. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings need a top-six center to replace the retired Anze Kopitar.

Detroit has over $32 million in cap space, and moving out Larkin’s $8.7 million average annual value opens possibilities to take on Pettersson’s $11.6 million AAV. Despite the decline in his production, some believe he can regain his form.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There aren’t many options available for the Red Wings and Kings to fill their needs at center. The Canucks would undoubtedly listen if either club came calling for Pettersson. However, his cap hit and offensive inconsistency could make both teams wait and see if better players become available.

SEBASTIAN COSSA TO THE MAMMOTH?

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff referenced a report by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, who tweeted that he was told that Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa could be on the move, with the Utah Mammoth believed to be among the suitors.

Duff also noted a “false flag” rumor claiming the Edmonton Oilers are also interested in Cossa. However, agent Gerry Johansson, who represents Cossa, recently appeared on “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer”, saying that his client is hungry for more opportunities in the NHL.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Promising goalies Trey Augustine and Michal Postava have raised questions about Cossa’s future, sparking trade speculation in recent weeks. A first-round pick in 2021, the 23-year-old netminder has only seen one game of NHL action, and he’s hungry for more.

Dylan Larkin’s trade request leaves the Red Wings facing the difficult challenge of finding a suitable replacement. Perhaps Cossa could be packaged with Larkin as part of a larger deal to land a significant return.

Another option could be using Cossa as trade bait to bring in a player who can replace Larkin, or to bring in a return that could be flipped to another team to address that issue.

Barrett Hayton of the Mammoth could be someone the Wings could attempt to acquire. Ryan O’Hara of The Hockey News recently suggested the 26-year-old center could be their best trade chip, with promising centers such as Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers in their system.

Hayton wouldn’t replace Larkin’s skill or his role as the Wings’ first-line center, but he could fill the second-line center role while management shops for Larkin’s replacement. He could also be used as trade bait by the Red Wings in a bigger deal.

THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators’ priority positions to be addressed this summer include a top-six forward, a right-shot, top-four defenseman, and a backup goaltender.

According to Garrioch, forward Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks could be a realistic target. He claimed the Senators are interested in pending unrestricted free agent goalies Connor Ingram of the Edmonton Oilers and Stuart Skinner of the Pittsburgh Penguins to fill that backup role.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the limited number of available centers, the Senators could face competition from several other clubs who could be interested in McTavish, assuming he’s available.

Senators general manager Steve Staios knows him from their days with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, and his father, Dale McTavish, is a Senators scout. However, it remains to be seen if those connections would carry any weight in any attempt on the Senators’ part to acquire McTavish.

With the St. Louis Blues in a full rebuild, Garrioch wondered if Colton Parayko would reconsider waiving his no-movement clause. The 33-year-old right-shot defenseman rejected a trade that would’ve sent him to the Buffalo Sabres at the March trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Parayko didn’t want to join a rising club like the Sabres, what’s the selling point that convinces him to accept a trade to the Senators? I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I don’t see what the Senators could do to sell him on joining their roster.