Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 11, 2026

by | Oct 11, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 11, 2026

Could the Rangers pursue Connor Hellebuyck? What’s going on with Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikishin, and Flames forward Connor Zary? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports there’s been plenty of wild internet speculation that Winnipeg Jets holdout Connor Hellebuyck would be a fit to replace New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterskin, who suffered a season-ending injury on Friday.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Friedman dismissed the idea, pointing out that it would give the Rangers two goaltenders with expensive long-term contracts. He believes the Blueshirts will try to be patient and not make any panic move regarding their goaltending.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was among those wondering if the Rangers might make a play for Hellebuyck for one year.

Shesterkin is in the second year of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $11.567 million. Hellebuyck is in the third year of a seven-year deal with an AAV of $8.5 million.

Hellebuyck is holding out trying to force a trade, but it’s doubtful the Rangers can afford the Jets’ high asking price if they were inclined to pursue him. Some folks on social media have suggested the Rangers acquire Hellebuyck, keep him just for this season, and then flip him to another club next summer.

However, Hellebuyck probably prefers joining a team where he’ll be part of their future beyond this season. The Rangers also wouldn’t want the headache of trying to find a trade partner willing to meet their asking price.

Meanwhile, Weekes wondered if Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild, Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche, former Rangers backup Jonathan Quick, former Anaheim Ducks goalie Petr Mrazek, or former Ottawa Senators backup James Reimer would be targeted by the Rangers.

Gustavsson is on LTIR recovering from offseason hip surgery. Blackwood is seeing the bulk of the starts for the Avalanche, so he’s probably unavailable. Mrazek and Reimer are UFAs, making them more likely options if the Rangers want to go that route.

Weekes’ colleague Emily Kaplan reported Quick is comfortable in retirement as the Rangers director of goaltending development. However, she stated that sources claim he could be a possibility if the club asked him to play.

Turning to Simon Edvinsson, Friedman claimed the situation remains unchanged for the 23-year-old Detroit Red Wings defenseman. He still prefers a trade, but the Red Wings still hope to re-sign him. Friedman indicated that the Red Wings are willing to consider several contract terms for Edvinsson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings must do some serious fence-mending to convince the young blueliner to change his mind.

As for Alexander Nikishin, Friedman doesn’t see any trade possibility on the horizon for the 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman. He thinks the Hurricanes would bring him back, though his contract still has to be determined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that Nikishin seeks a long-term deal with an AAV of $9 million. Combine that with what could be a high asking price from the Hurricanes, and it’s not surprising that a trade cannot be found at this early stage of the season. The longer he sits out, the more it could hurt his trade value.

Friedman reported the Vancouver Canucks could be among the teams interested in Connor Zary. The Calgary Flames demoted the 24-year-old forward after clearing waivers last week. However, he doesn’t think anything’s imminent.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2026

by | Oct 10, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2026

What’s the latest on Simon Edvinsson? Could the Maple Leafs make another big move this season? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman, Shayna Goldman, and Corey Pronman looked at the Detroit Red Wings’ options in Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations and the trade market.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

Edvinsson’s value would be high in the trade market. Some believe he could become a No. 1 defenseman, while others see him as a strong No. 2 or 3 blueliner.

Pronman looked at recent trades involving comparable defensemen. They included one-for-one deals (Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen) or a package deal (Jamie Drysdale as the centerpiece for Cutter Gauthier).

A return for the Red Wings would have to include “a major young player (or more than one)”.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders would have a complicated path to acquiring Edvinsson, but not an impossible one.

With defenseman Alexander Romanov sidelined by a knee injury for the rest of the season, Sears believes the Islanders have the cap space to try and sign Edvinsson to an offer sheet. They would gain $6.25 million in cap space by placing Romanov on long-term injured reserve, provided Romanov is also out for the playoffs. The Islanders would also have to add to their current cap payroll to push them to the cap ceiling to be eligible for full cap relief.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sears raised several scenarios for the Islanders to put themselves in a position to offer-sheet Edvinsson. He’s right that it’s not impossible, but it would be so complicated that they’re unlikely to go that route.

Nevertheless, Sears’ column raises the question of whether other clubs might attempt to sign Edvinsson to an offer sheet. He reportedly rejected several overtures during the summer.

Some observers suggest signing him to a one-year, high-cost offer sheet that would make it difficult for the Red Wings to match, but few teams have the cap space or the necessary compensatory draft picks in 20227 to make that pitch.

Edvinsson reportedly prefers a trade, which suggests he’s still not interested in an offer sheet. It’s doubtful he’ll want a one-year deal. Signing him to a multi-year offer sheet in-season would come with a higher prorated cap hit for this season.

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, James Mirtle was asked if the Toronto Maple Leafs would acquire a top-four defenseman this season.

Mirtle believes they’ll try, indicating that they possess some trade capital. They have the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in each of the next three drafts, and some decent prospects.

However, he doesn’t see them targeting young RFA defensemen like Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes or Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings. He pointed to the high acquisition cost plus the expensive contracts they’re believed to be seeking.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have $5.775 million in cap space with Max Domi and Dakota Joshua on LTIR. If they’re going to shop for a defenseman, they’ll likely try to move a salary or two in the process.

Asked when the Maple Leafs might attempt to trade Morgan Rielly, Mirtle noted that the 32-year-old defenseman is willing to waive his no-movement clause for a handful of teams. He thinks the Maple Leafs could revisit that if this season goes sideways, especially if they’re looking to add a top-four blueliner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Rielly will depend on whether his trade value has improved. He’s signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $7.5 million, which could be difficult to move if his performance isn’t any better.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 9, 2026

by | Oct 9, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 9, 2026

Which clubs could the Red Wings target as potential destinations for defenseman Simon Edvinsson? What’s the latest on Bruins center Pavel Zacha? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at which players the Detroit Red Wings might target in any trade involving restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

Dixon believes the Red Wings would prefer to get an up-and-coming center in return for Edvinsson. He suggested Caleb Desnoyers of the Utah Mammoth, Berkly Catton of the Seattle Kraken, James Hagens of the Boston Bruins, Dalibor Dvorsky of the St. Louis Blues, and Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

The Mammoth already have rising star Logan Cooley, plus Vincent Trocheck and Nick Schmaltz can also play at center. The Kraken already have Matty Beniers, Jake O’Brien, and Shane Wright. Hagens has played mostly on the wing for the Bruins. Robert Thomas and Mason McTavish seem entrenched as the Blues’ top-two centers. Johnson’s been the frequent subject of trade rumors and might benefit from a change of scenery.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Bruins are among at least 10 teams that have inquired about Edvinsson. He said that Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has told those teams he prefers to re-sign the 23-year-old left-shot defenseman. However, the longer this goes on, the more a trade becomes possible.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson believes the Oilers should pursue Edvinsson, but he doubts they have sufficient trade capital to win a bidding war. He thinks it could cost them forward Ike Howard or Matt Savoie as part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Red Wings cannot reach an agreement with Edvinsson, it’s rumored they might be open to a return of futures for the young defenseman, especially if they can get an established forward for Dylan Larkin in a separate deal.

Dixon’s made some interesting suggestions. Apart from the Bruins, we don’t know how much interest those other clubs have in Edvinsson. Nevertheless, those young centers that Dixon mentioned could entice the Red Wings if they are open to a package with a promising prospect (Desnoyers) or an NHL-ready young center as part of the return.

The Oilers could look into Edvinsson’s availability, but they probably can’t afford the Red Wings’ asking price, especially if one of the other clubs mentioned above includes one of those promising centers in the deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that Pavel Zacha “came up in conversations” between the Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets when the latter was shopping winger Kirill Marchenko, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last month.

According to LeBrun, contract negotiations between the Bruins and the 29-year-old UFA-eligible center are continuing, but they’re still not close to a deal. Given his age, the Bruins might be reluctant about signing him to an expensive long-term extension.

LeBrun believes this could go either way. However, if the Bruins are struggling to make the playoffs by the trade deadline and Zacha remains unsigned, he will likely be moved by March 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2026

by | Oct 8, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2026

What’s the latest on Simon Edvinsson, Dylan Larkin, and Alexander Nikishin? Are the Flyers and Panthers looking for help? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST RED WINGS RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli reports sources say the Detroit Red Wings still want NHL-ready talent in return for Simon Edvinsson. However, they’re also open to the right package of draft picks and prospects for the 23-year-old restricted free-agent defenseman.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

Seravalli wondered if the Red Wings are starting to come to grips with the reality of “rebuilding the rebuild” following a decade-long postseason drought. If Edvinsson is traded, center Dylan Larkin (who requested a trade this summer) could be next, with pending unrestricted free agent winger Alex DeBrincat another trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings have reportedly made Edvinsson their priority. It’s believed they’re considering several different contract proposals. However, they cannot let this drag on for long. The deadline for signing restricted free agents is Dec. 1.

CASINO.ORG: Seravalli also claims the Montreal Canadiens would love to acquire Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. However, the 30-year-old center hasn’t included Canadian teams on his eight-team list of preferred trade destinations.

Seravalli cited an NHL front-office executive who believes Larkin could “end this saga tomorrow if he added the Canadiens to his list.” The executive thinks the Habs “are the one team with a chance to contend who can give Detroit what it wants for Larkin.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli pointed out the Canadiens convinced Chris Kreider to sign with them. Given Kreider’s ties to Canadiens hockey ops president Jeff Gorton, head coach Martin St. Louis, and head trainer Jim Ramsay, that wasn’t a difficult sell.

The Canadiens will likely keep tabs on Larkin’s situation, but it’s unlikely he’ll include a Canadian team on his list.

NIKISHIN NOT A TYPICAL RESTRICTED FREE AGENT

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli pointed out that Alexander Nikishin is “not a true restricted free agent by the definition of the CBA.” The 24-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is a “10.2 (c) player without the right of first refusal via an offer sheet”, meaning whatever contract he signs now will have the same effect on the salary cap as a typical contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Detroit’s Simon Edvinsson, on the other hand, is a “true RFA”, meaning his new contract will result in an increased cap hit with an in-season signing. Seravalli points out that, if Edvinsson signed a seven-year deal worth $70 million today, it would be worth $10.4 million annually instead of $10 million in the first year. It increases for each day missed in the season.

It’s the same formula used during William Nylander’s long contract negotiation in 2018, when the first year of his deal was a prorated $10.2 million.

Seravalli also pointed out that Nikishin doesn’t fall under the Dec. 1 deadline for signing RFAs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: He also reports that the Hurricanes continue to work with Nikishin’s agent to find a trade. Whoever acquires him must be prepared for a hefty prorated dent in their salary-cap payroll this season.

FLYERS COULD PURSUE DEFENSIVE HELP

CASINO.ORG: Seravalli reports the Philadelphia Flyers continue to monitor the trade market in search of defensemen with size.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony DiMarco suggested Zach Whitecloud of the Calgary Flames, Justin Faulk of the Detroit Red Wings, and Luke Schenn of the Vancouver Canucks as possible trade targets for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Flames will want a significant return of futures for Whitecloud. He’s under contract through 2026-27, so they’re not in a hurry to move him.

Faulk is UFA-eligible this summer and has a 15-team no-trade list. The Red Wings could prefer waiting until the calendar flips to 2027 before deciding to become sellers, and there’s no certainty the Flyers will be on Faulk’s list of destinations.

Like Faulk, Schenn is also slated for UFA status next summer. However, he has a full NMC and could prefer to play out this season in Vancouver. The Canucks aren’t in a rush to move him given his role as a mentor to young blueliner Zeev Buium.

Seravalli thinks Edvinsson would be a great fit with the Flyers. He certainly would be, provided he’s willing to sign with them.

WHO COULD THE PANTHERS TARGET TO REPLACE BRAD MARCHAND?

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards explored the Panthers’ options to replace Brad Marchand if the veteran winger is sidelined long-term with a lower-body injury. The 38-year-old Marchand suffered the injury earlier this week against the Los Angeles Kings.

Richards considered a trade for Red Wings center Dylan Larkin unlikely, citing his expensive average annual value ($8.7 million) and the cost of acquiring him from the Red Wings.

Free-agent options could include former Panthers winger Vladimir Tarasenko and former 44-goal scorer Patrik Laine. They could also promote Cole Reinhardt from their AHL affiliate in Charlotte.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 7, 2026

by | Oct 7, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 7, 2026

Check out the latest on Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson, Connor Hellebuyck, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PANTHERS NOT PURSUING LARKIN, THE LATEST ON EDVINSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the news that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be sidelined for six to eight weeks should quiet trade speculation linking them to Detroit Red Wings wing Dylan Larkin.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: When Barkov went down with a knee injury last week, some pundits wondered if they might attempt to acquire Larkin as a replacement if Barkov was out for the season.

LeBrun said sources indicated there wasn’t much validity to that conjecture. It’s a moot point now because Barkov remains on their books. They won’t try to replace him when he returns in eight weeks. He also noted that the Panthers must ensure they have sufficient long-term salary cap space to re-sign Brady Tkachuk, whose contract expires in 2028.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers are thin on cap space through next season. Taking on Larkin’s $8.7 million average annual value through 2030-31 would hamper efforts to re-sign Tkachuk.

Speaking of the Red Wings, Darren Dreger reports there’s been no progress in contract talks between the club and restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, but discussions are ongoing.

Dreger also said the Wings are taking calls and listening to whatever trade interest there is in the 23-year-old defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings’ priority remains re-signing Edvinsson. They’ve got until 5 pm ET on Dec. 1 to get him under contract, or he becomes ineligible to play in the NHL this season.

Speculation continues to grow about potential trade suitors for Edvinsson. Daily Faceoff’s Carter Hutton and Tyler Yaremchuk suggested the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks as possible destinations. Yaremchuk thinks the Sharks would be an ideal fit as they could draw on their deep prospects well for trade bait.

NO HELLEBUYCK FOR CANADIAN TEAMS

TSN: Appearing on TSN 1050 on Monday, Pierre LeBrun dismissed rumors linking the Edmonton Oilers to Winnipeg Jets holdout goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

“People have wondered about Edmonton for Connor Hellebuyck; he’s not gonna play in Canada,” LeBrun said. “So please, let’s stop with that. It’s not happening.”

The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres remain the most well-known suitors for Hellebuyck, who remains suspended without pay by the Jets for not reporting to training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck could return to a Canadian team if he ends his holdout and returns to the Jets, who’ve left the door open. However, there’s no indication he’s reaching that point.

COULD THE OILERS TARGET MATTHEW POITRAS?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited TSN’s Darren Dreger, who said on The Dustin Nielson Show that he knows the name of a young center on an Eastern Conference team that the Oilers have been trying to acquire for some time.

Dreger described the young forward as having plenty of upside and room to grow in the NHL, saying that the Oilers are considered the front-runners for this promising player.

Staples speculated that Dreger was referring to Matthew Poitras of the Boston Bruins. He’s a young, right-shot center, which is a positional need for the Oilers. With Jason Dickinson returning from injury, however, Staples wondered if that changes much for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples also noted that Nielson thought Dreger was referring to Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach. Recent rumors claimed the Oilers were very interested in the 25-year-old Dach, given GM Stan Bowman’s ties to him from their days with the Chicago Blackhawks.

However, Poitras might make more sense given his youth (22) and the difficulty he’s had cracking the Bruins’ lineup.

UPDATE ON PATRIK LAINE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports multiple teams have expressed interest at multiple times in Patrik Laine, but none have expressed a willingness to sign the 28-year-old winger.

LeBrun pointed out that he’d be an affordable performance-bonus signing because he was injured for most of last season.

The Calgary Flames have kicked around the idea of signing Laine, but they want to evaluate their younger players first. The Red Wings also discussed it, but Laine continues to train in Florida.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine’s injury history and inconsistent scoring explain why teams are reluctant to sign him to even a bargain-basement contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 6, 2026

by | Oct 6, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 6, 2026

Check out the latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson and Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma pondered whether Elias Pettersson’s strong start to this season might change his value to the Vancouver Canucks.

Pettersson’s struggles over the last two seasons made him the subject of frequent trade speculation, but it has also damaged his value as a trade candidate.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images)

Kuzma indicated that the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings wondered if a change of scenery might help revive Pettersson’s competitiveness.

With the dramatic increases in players’ salaries, Pettersson’s $11.6 million average annual value isn’t the enormous albatross it once was.

Kuzma also suggested that an improving Pettersson could help the Canucks by providing support for promising centers Braeden Cootes and Caleb Malhotra down the road.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato doesn’t consider it an overreaction to suggest Pettersson’s improved play could make it easier for the Canucks to trade the 27-year-old center.

Amato suggested that Pettersson doesn’t have to return to his 102-point form of 2022-23. If he can stay within 60-70 points and be strong defensively, he’ll have value as a two-way center. He also noted that the explosion in players’ salaries no longer makes his contract as difficult to move as it once was.

If the Canucks want to move Pettersson, they’ll be among the few teams willing to accept a package of draft picks and prospects because of their rebuilding status. They could also facilitate a trade by retaining a bit of his salary-cap hit or taking a bad contract in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s cap hit might not be the sticking point it once was, but his full no-movement clause still gives him complete control over this situation. There’s nothing the Canucks can do if he won’t waive it.

It’s also premature to suggest that Pettersson’s value has changed. He’s had a promising start, but his recent inconsistency would still make teams leery about acquiring him. And that cap hit is still expensive, especially for a player whose performance is considered erratic.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Detroit Red Wings originally attempted to sign defenseman Simon Edvinsson to a bridge deal. They’ve now made some longer-term offers to the 23-year-old restricted free agent.

Friedman assumed they’re not offering a five-year deal because that contract would expire at the same time as defense partner Moritz Seider’s deal.

Over the weekend, Friedman reported that Edvinsson would prefer a trade from Detroit. He said the Red Wings still intend to sign him, but he also believes they’ve gauged his value in the trade market.

Friedman also wondered if there might be an opportunity for the Red Wings to move Edvinsson and center Dylan Larkin in the same deal. Larkin made headlines throughout the summer by requesting a trade and submitting a three-team list of destinations, which he has reportedly expanded to eight teams.

FRANKLY HOCKEY: NHL insider Frank Seravalli claimed the Utah Mammoth have emerged as a potential suitor for Edvinsson.

Seravalli also reported that the prevailing opinion around the league is that the cost of acquiring Edvinsson in contract and trade return won’t be cheap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation suggests Edvinsson is seeking an average annual value of $12 million on his next contract. The Red Wings insist they’re not rebuilding, meaning any return must include one good young NHL player.

Moving Larkin and Edvinsson in a package deal would be a blockbuster move, one that could be difficult to swing during the regular season because of their salaries and the Wings’ potential asking price.