NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2026

by | Oct 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Red Wings center Dylan Larkin remains linked to the Canadiens, plus the latest on Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and Blue Jackets winger Dmitri Voronkov.

DYLAN LARKIN REMAINS LINKED TO THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes there’s still a chance Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin changes his mind and includes the Montreal Canadiens on his list of trade destinations.

Larkin, 30, recently expanded his trade list to 10 teams, but none of them were Canadian clubs. However, LeBrun said the Red Wings are “actively scouting the Canadiens, among other teams of course.” He claimed they’re “doing their due diligence in person” in case Larkin adds them to his list. They’re aware of what the Canadiens were offering for wingers Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko earlier this year.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

LeBrun also said Nick Suzuki’s injury has no bearing on the Canadiens’ rumored interest in Larkin, pointing out that the Habs captain will be sidelined for two weeks.

Chris Johnston added that the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins weren’t on Larkin’s trade list, but he thinks both clubs could use a center like him.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested Suzuki’s injury could put pressure on Canadiens management to acquire a veteran center.

Proteau noted their rumored interest in Larkin, but he’s currently uninterested in a trade to a Canadian team. He wondered if they could interest Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly in coming to Montreal, but acknowledged that was probably a long shot.

Jake Tye recently cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who said trade talks between the Red Wings and Minnesota Wild regarding Larkin stalled largely because the Wings have “balked a little bit” about the quality of young Wild forward Danila Yurov being one of the centerpieces in the deal.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Red Wings seek young centers in return for Larkin and for unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson. That could include top prospects who aren’t in the NHL yet.

Frank Seravalli reports the play of several of the Canadiens’ promising young players and prospects could determine how aggressive they’ll be in the trade market. Their solutions might come from within.

If they do make a significant move, top prospect Michael Hage won’t be available. How young defensemen like David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom and Luke Mittelstadt perform could force the Canadiens to consider moving a veteran, such as Kaiden Guhle or Mike Matheson.

Seravalli believes the last thing the Canadiens want to do is acquire an older veteran who will be on the decline. He speculated their next addition could be similar to their acquisition of Phillip Danault last season “a stabilizing force without a large future acquisition cost or any long-term strings attached.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens management have been searching for a top-six forward (preferably a center) for the past two years. They have the trade capital to make a significant addition, but second-line centers are as scarce as hen’s teeth in the trade market. As we saw in the bidding war for Marchenko, they weren’t willing to part with a young star like Juraj Slafkovsky or Ivan Demidov. Nor should they.

Canadiens hockey ops president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes have been lauded for their patience when making trades. They’ll likely take the same approach in dealing with Suzuki’s absence.

The Canadiens front office has obviously expressed an interest in Larkin. That explains why the Red Wings are scouting them personally despite the fact they don’t face each other again until next February. And yes, it’s worthwhile for both teams to conduct due diligence in case Larkin adds Montreal to his list.

However, Larkin’s current destination choices suggest he believes his best chance of playing for a winner lies with American-based teams. It could be simply because a Canadian team hasn’t won the Cup since 1993. Whatever the rationale, he’s made it clear that Canadian clubs don’t interest him.

At this stage, Larkin accepting a trade to Montreal seems more like wishful thinking.

THE LATEST ON THE HURRICANES

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli claims Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky has been “all over Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets” since word broke that the 33-year-old goaltender requested a trade.

Meanwhile, Elliotte Friedman said he’s heard the Hurricanes could make another attempt to acquire Hellebuyck. However, their offer wouldn’t include unsigned defenseman Alexander Nikishin

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Nikishin still wants to be traded. The Hurricanes continue to explore the trade market for the 25-year-old restricted free agent, but they’re also open to signing him to a one-year contract and trying to move him again next summer.

The Hurricanes have also told Nikishin that he’d be eligible to sign an offer sheet next summer if he accepts a one-year deal for this season. However, the blueliner remains determined to be traded now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman believes if there were a trade package for Hellebuyck that would’ve included Nikishin, that deal would’ve been done by now. The reason is Nikishin doesn’t want to sign with the Jets.

No word on what the Hurricanes could offer the Jets, but it would probably have to include a young forward like Logan Stankoven or Jackson Blake. Manitoba native Seth Jarvis would be a perfect fit in Winnipeg, but I don’t think the Hurricanes would part with him.

BLUE JACKETS WINGER DMITRI VORONKOV BECOMES A TRADE TARGET

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports multiple teams are calling the Columbus Blue Jackets about Dmitri Voronkov. He said there’s no guarantee the Jackets will part with the 6’5”, 230-pound winger, but they are listening to calls.

Voronkov is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.175 million. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July and will be UFA-eligible in 2028 unless he signs a long-term deal.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2026

by | Oct 22, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2026

The latest on Flyers winger Travis Konecny, the Rangers’ goaltending, and Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports Philadelphia Flyers sources recently told him the club’s newfound success could lead to roster changes, like a trade to address their logjam of wingers.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny (NHL Images)

Di Marco reported last week that Flyers management could approach sidelined winger Travis Konecny about waiving his no-movement clause if the season continued to spiral. The club’s recent improvement has led to a belief that they could explore trading Konecny even if things continue to improve.

Owen Tippett has also come up as a trade candidate, and the Flyers have received more interest in him, likely because of Konecny’s NMC. However, Konecny is the better all-around player and would draw more attention from clubs seeking a top-tier forward.

The Flyers need to find a top-six center. It’s rumored they could be interested in Matty Beniers, but there’s no indication the Seattle Kraken want to move him.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz considers the thought of Flyers general manager Daniel Briere shopping Konecny to be “pretty silly”. He considers it “incredibly unlikely” that the Flyers will move the 29-year-old winger, citing his contract and his production as their leading scorer in five of the last six seasons.

Konecny has also expressed his commitment to the Flyers and has tried to help players like Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras get acclimated in Philadelphia.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Interesting takes from two Flyers scribes.

The bottom line is Konecny has that full no-movement clause, giving him total control over this situation. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t waive it if Briere asked him, but it seems unlikely he will. He’s a proud Flyer and wants to be part of this club’s future.

What say you, Flyers fans? Should they consider trading Konecny? Do you think it’s even possible? Let us know in the comments section below.

As for Beniers, the Kraken currently have no interest in moving him, especially when they’re off to a promising 6-3-1 start to this season.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano doesn’t expect the New York Rangers to pursue a trade for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, he cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who suggested Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres and Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth as possible trade targets for the Rangers.

Mercogliano questioned whether either goalie would be a fit with the Rangers. Both are under long-term contracts with an average annual value of $4.75 million, which isn’t ideal with the Blueshirts having sidelined starter Igor Shesterkin carrying an AAV of $11.568 million. He also wondered if either goalie would be enough of an upgrade to warrant a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers seem content to roll with Dylan Garand as Shesterkin’s replacement. Mercogliano also reminded us that sidelined Joonas Korpisalo will be back within a month. He also suggested that Drury could wait until the trade deadline, when better options could be available.

NO TRUTH TO SCOTT MAYFIELD TRADE RUMORS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said Scott Mayfield has not asked to be traded, nor has the club asked the 34-year-old defenseman to waive his no-trade clause.

Mayfield didn’t crack the Islanders’ starting lineup after training camp, and has appeared in only two of their first eight games. For now, he wants to stick with the Isles and see this through. He’s in the fourth year of a seven-year contract with a $3.5 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mayfield might change his mind if he spends more time in the press box than he does on the ice. Nevertheless, neither side is in a hurry to part ways.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2026

by | Oct 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2026

Check out the latest on the Red Wings and Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN AND SIMON EDVINSSON

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Helene St. James reports Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations to 10 teams.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

The list includes Larkin’s original three destinations, which were the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. He recently broadened it to include the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Washington Capitals.

According to St. James, Larkin included the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, and the Utah Mammoth on his updated list.

Montreal Canadiens fans who chanted for Larkin when the Red Wings recently played at the Bell Centre will be disappointed to learn that the Michigan native has not included any Canadian teams on his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The expansion of Larkin’s trade list has raised expectations in the rumor mill that a trade could be coming soon. However, his previous attempts to improve his trade stock by including more potential destinations haven’t done much to move the needle.

As with the other recent additions to Larkin’s list, the Hurricanes, Devils, and Mammoth either can’t afford his $8.7 million average annual value through 2030-31 or don’t have a pressing need to add a center to their top-two lines.

There’s the Hughes connection with the Devils. If Larkin is traded to the Devils, it could further entice Quinn Hughes to join his brothers in New Jersey as a free agent next summer. However, the Devils only have $1.3 million in salary cap space right now, meaning they’ll have to create considerable room for Larkin’s cap hit.

The Red Wings’ asking price remains a significant hurdle. TSN’s Darren Dreger recently reported they sought two Grade-A prospects, a first-round draft pick, and a top-nine forward.

One of those clubs could still make a pitch for Larkin, and it’s no secret the Minnesota Wild tried during the offseason. So far, however, there’s nothing to suggest that anything’s changed.

It could take a three-team trade to get this done, but it’s not easy to see how that might work right now that salary retention is no longer allowed in those types of deals.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Red Wings restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson recently met with his agent and Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff, but there was no breakthrough in their contract negotiations.

Edvinsson, 23, feels this situation has dragged on so long that the only logical option for him is a trade. However, LeBrun claims he’s stopped short of formally requesting one.

Horcoff still hopes to sign Edvinsson, but LeBrun indicated he’s also having trade discussions. The San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins are reportedly among 10 teams that are believed to be interested in the young puck-moving defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have until 5 pm ET on Dec. 1 to get Edvinsson signed, or he’ll be ineligible to play the remainder of this NHL season. The closer this situation gets to that deadline, the more likely the possibility of a trade grows.

As for what the Red Wings might seek in return, LeBrun suggested three trade comparables: The Mikhail Sergachev deal that sent him from the Lightning to the Mammoth; the Noah Dobson trade that sent him from the New York Islanders to the Canadiens; and this summer’s deal that sent Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres to the Chicago Blackhawks.

UPDATE ON THE KINGS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there is no easy fix for the struggling Los Angeles Kings, who finally got their first win of the season on Tuesday.

Goaltending has been singled out as an issue, but LeBrun said the club’s biggest concern is their lack of scoring. They’re 31st in the league in that category.

LeBrun said the Kings would love to get into the bidding for Dylan Larkin, but they’re not on his list of trade destinations. They’ve also kicked around the idea of signing free-agent winger Patrik Laine, but LeBrun isn’t sure if they’re going to go that route.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings currently have just over $1.1 million in cap space. Any trade for a scorer would involve freeing up cap space. They could place sidelined winger Kevin Fiala on long-term injury reserve, but they must be cap-compliant when he returns to action later this season. It would also further deplete a prospect pipeline that was ranked 21st overall by The Athletic.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2026

by | Oct 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2026

Could Red Wings center Dylan Larkin be traded soon? Should the Canadiens pursue a trade for Flyers winger Owen Tippett? Did Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon reject a trade? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD LARKIN BE TRADED SOON?

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan cited a report by ESPN’s John Buccigross, who believes the Detroit Red Wings will soon trade Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade at the end of last season.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

Appearing on the “Frankly Hockey” podcast last Friday, Buccigross told host Frank Seravalli he felt there was going to be a trade “within seven-to-10 days.” However, he didn’t say where Larkin would be traded or what the return would be.

The Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights were on Larkin’s initial three-team trade list. Khan noted that Wild general manager Bill Guerin had been aggressively pursuing the 30-year-old center. He’s also reportedly expanded his list for the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and other clubs.

Khan claims the Montreal Canadiens “has shown interest, but there is no reason to believe Larkin would agree to go to a Canadian-based club.”

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Max Smith reports the asking price for Larkin remains high. He cited TSN’s Darren Dreger, who recently reported that the Red Wings seek a couple of “Grade-A prospects”, a first-round pick, and a top-nine player.

Dreger believes the Canadiens would pay that price, but he doesn’t see Larkin agreeing to add Montreal to his list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll find out soon enough if Buccigross’ prediction holds up. The Wild are where Larkin really wants to go, but they haven’t been able to meet the Red Wings’ price. It could take a three-team trade to make it work, but there’s no indication that another club wants to get involved.

WOULD OWEN TIPPETT BE A SUITABLE TRADE TARGET FOR THE CANADIENS?

THE SICK PODCAST: Nick Lariviere suggested Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett could be a good fit with the Montreal Canadiens.

It’s no secret the Canadiens are actively shopping for a top-six forward. Lariviere believes the 27-year-old Tippett would bring some much-needed grit to the table alongside scoring ability. He’s averaged 25 goals and 50 points per season, and is on a team-friendly contract, earning an average annual value of $6.2 million through 2031-23.

Lariviere cited Marco D’Amico of “The Starr and D’Amico Show”, who also thinks Tippett would be a good trade candidate for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The floundering Flyers have been the subject of recent trade conjecture. However, most pundits believe they’re not rushing to make a trade. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently said there’s no quick fix or blockbuster trade out there to save the Flyers’ season.

Tippett has surfaced in the rumor mill over the past couple of years, but there’s no indication the Flyers are shopping him. He might not be on the Canadiens’ radar, but they could keep their powder dry and wait for better trade options to emerge as the season goes on.

BRENDEN DILLON REPORTEDLY REJECTED A TRADE

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Daniel Amoia cited Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman, who reported on Monday that Brenden Dillon’s no-trade protection may have enabled the defenseman to remain with the Devils last season.

Dillon has been a healthy scratch from the Devils’ last three games, as it appears he’s fallen out of favor since Sunny Mehta took over as general manager this summer. He’s in the final season of a three-year, $12 million contract. His full no-trade clause became a 10-team no-trade list for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dillon could be available for teams seeking a big, physical, experienced shutdown defenseman.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2026

by | Oct 19, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2026

Should the Mammoth attempt to acquire Connor Hellebuyck? Will the Flyers consider trading Travis Konecny? Can the Maple Leafs find an impact defenseman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato believes the Utah Mammoth are a goaltender away from being a Stanley Cup contender.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Amato considers Mammoth starting goalie Karel Vejmelka an inconsistent, “league-average” goalie who can’t lift his team when they’re not at their best, unlike Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Hellebuyck could rejoin the Jets when his team-enforced suspension for skipping training camp ends on Friday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he will. They could pay the 33-year-old goalie to stay home, or perhaps trade him before Friday.

Amato believes the Mammoth need an elite goalie if they keep playing at a high level. He felt they could upgrade at that position if they really wanted to. The Jets want a goalie in return, and Vejmelka only has a 10-team no-trade clause while backup Sebastian Cossa lacks no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several factors could derail a Hellebuyck-to-Utah trade.

First, Hellebuyck must be willing to go here. He reportedly has a broad list of potential destinations. It becomes a pointless exercise to make that suggestion if Utah isn’t on his list.

The Mammoth must be willing to pursue Hellebuyck, who needs time to get back into game shape after missing training camp and the first month of the regular season. Even then, there’s no certainty he’ll be the difference-maker they need, at least for this season.

They could be unwilling to pay Winnipeg’s asking price. The Jets reportedly seek a second-line forward (preferably a center) or a top-four right-shot defenseman as part of the return. They’ll also want one of the Mammoth’s top prospects and a first-round draft pick.

If the Jets want a goalie in return, they could prefer Cossa over Vejmelka, assuming they’re not on the latter’s no-trade list.

The Mammoth might not be interested in an expensive acquisition like Hellebuyck. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to upgrade their goaltending, but they could prefer a younger, more affordable option.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently addressed a report by Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco citing Flyers sources claiming there’s “a growing sense of frustration” with Travis Konecny within the organization, which could lead to them approaching the 28-year-old winger about waiving his no-movement clause.

James doesn’t buy into it, pointing out that Konecny signed an eight-year, $70-million contract with the Flyers two years ago. He’s also been their leading scorer for six of the last seven years and is among the team’s leadership group.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s plenty of frustration to go around among the Flyers, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that extends to Konecny, who is currently on injured reserve. However, asking him to waive his NMC would be an extreme approach right now. Besides, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently observed, there’s no trade out there that can reverse the Flyers’ poor start. Whatever changes they make will likely come from within.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently looked at what trade options could be available for the Toronto Maple Leafs to improve their defense.

Zach Whitecloud of the Calgary Flames, Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, Carson Soucy of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Brenden Dillon of the New Jersey Devils, and Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators are among the serviceable defensemen who might be available. However, Fox believes making a trade for one of them requires real assets.

Real difference-makers, like RFA Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes or RFA Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings, will cost millions of dollars to sign and will be more expensive to acquire.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox noted that the Maple Leafs face some easier opponents on their upcoming schedule. He believes the best strategy could be to “outscore their issues and hang in the standings race until true sellers drop out.”

That might help if they can pull it off. However, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun thinks it’ll take more than adding one defenseman to improve their blueline corps. The Leafs lack sufficient tradeable assets to bring in more than one rearguard who’ll have a positive impact this season.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 18, 2026

by | Oct 18, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 18, 2026

The latest on Connor Hellebuyck and updates on the Maple Leafs, Penguins, and Capitals in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported that Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension from the Winnipeg Jets will end on Friday, Oct. 23.

According to Friedman, Hellebuyck informed the Jets before their first game of the season (Oct. 2) of his intention to return to the team. The club suspended him without pay for not reporting to training camp in September. He had publicly revealed his trade request in August.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

The collective bargaining agreement states that a player who hasn’t received permission to be absent from training camp shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension “of reasonable length.”

Friedman thinks some teams interested in Hellebuyck want to see what would happen if the Jets faced some kind of deadline pressure. They want to see if this situation might make the Jets more eager or determined to make a deal, but Friedman doesn’t think it will. They would rather make no trade than a bad trade.

The Buffalo Sabres could still be interested. Friedman also thinks the New York Rangers might have a lot to say about what could happen here; not for Hellebuyck, but to make potentially another move that could affect the goalie market. He also noted the Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested. The Carolina Hurricanes were also rumored to be interested, but it’s been hard to make a match.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines that Jets captain Adam Lowry believes there must be “conversations” with Hellebuyck about this situation before he’s welcomed back.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski suggested several scenarios that could happen. Hellebuyck could be traded this week, or the Jets could pay him not to return, though Friedman said neither side wants that. He could also return hoping to play and improve his trade value, but the Jets will want him focused on helping them win.

Last month, Kyle Connor said he and his teammates were “heartbroken” over Hellebuyck’s trade request and his decision not to attend training camp. He said the three-time Vezina Trophy winner would be welcomed back with “open arms” if he changed his mind and wanted to return, but emphasized that Hellebuyck would have to recommit to the team.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience when it comes to trading a high-value asset like Hellebuyck. He’s unlikely to be rushed into making a move now. It’ll be interesting to hear from him where things stand with this situation.

Friedman also reported on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ plans for their blueline to address the absence of sidelined defenseman Chris Tanev.

They made it clear to teams that they aren’t interested in band-aid solutions. They’re willing to part with a premium asset if they can get a difference-maker on the blueline. They won’t move any “A-level” assets for a “B-level” replacement. The Leafs would also consider moving an older player for a younger one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether those types of deals are available this early in the season remains to be seen. Since the Maple Leafs made their blockbuster deal with Columbus for Kirill Marchenko on Sept. 28, subsequent activity in the NHL trade market involved depth players.

As for what the Maple Leafs might consider a premium asset they would part with, forget about Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Darren Raddysh, and Sergei Bobrovsky. They all have no-movement clauses.

Defenseman Morgan Rielly also has a full NMC, but he submitted a four-team list of Western Conference trade destinations upon request during the summer. Perhaps a deal might be found with one of those teams. However, moving him out wouldn’t really address their blueline issues.

Friedman also reported the Pittsburgh Penguins are willing to move a veteran forward for draft picks or prospects to give their younger players more opportunities for playing time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now believes Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell could draw the largest returns. Both forwards have regularly surfaced in the rumor mill over the last two years.

Rust is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.125 million and lacks no-trade protection. Rakell is also signed through 2027-28 and carries an AAV of $5 million. He has an eight-team no-trade list.

And no, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren’t getting traded.

During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Friedman said there are teams keeping tabs on Ivan Miroshnichenko of the Washington Capitals.

The 22-year-old winger has struggled to earn a spot among the Capitals’ crowded forward lines. Nevertheless, Friedman said the youngster is making the most of his limited playing time and is getting noticed as a result.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals might have to consider trading Miroshnichenko if there aren’t any full-time roster spots available. He’s no longer waiver-exempt and would be plucked away if they tried to send him to their AHL affiliate.