NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026
NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2026
A look at how Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet could affect the Ducks’ efforts to re-sign Cutter Gauthier, plus the latest on the Sharks, Red Wings, Hurricanes, Bruins, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE DUCKS
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Anaheim Ducks will have less than $10 million in salary-cap space if they match Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. That will affect their efforts to re-sign restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauther.
The 22-year-old Gauthier tallied 41 goals in the final season of his entry-level contract. Stephens doubts the Ducks will be able to re-sign him to an average annual value of under $10 million.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).
Gauthier lacks arbitration rights and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek could use that leverage to play hardball with the young winger. However, Stephens pointed out that it didn’t work well with now-former Ducks Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish. Gauthier was also the pure finisher that Verbeek wanted to pair with Carlsson when he acquired the winger from the Flyers two years ago.
If the Ducks match Carlsson’s offer sheet and re-sign Gauthier, they’ll have to shed salary to become salary cap-compliant before the start of their regular season in October.
Winger Frank Vatrano seems the obvious choice, but moving his $4.57 million AAV through 2026-27 (and its deferred money) won’t be easy. It seems unlikely they’ll move Chris Kreider or Alex Killorn, both of whom have 15-team no-trade lists.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano would have to be packaged with a draft pick or prospect to facilitate a trade. Even then, clubs might balk at taking on his contract. Kreider or Killorn would draw more interest, possibly from teams not on their no-trade lists.
If the Ducks don’t match Carlsson’s offer sheet, they’ll have to find a suitable replacement. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings could be an option if he agrees to accept a trade to Anaheim, but at 29, he’s already hit his ceiling. Another possibility could be Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barzal has a 22-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. So would the Islanders’ asking price, as they’ll likely want a good young player in return. So would the Red Wings with Larkin.
NOTABLE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” PODCAST
SPORTSNET: In his final “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” for 2025-26, Elliotte Friedman wondered how much it will cost the San Jose Sharks to sign superstar center Macklin Celebrini to a contract extension.
Celebrini, 20, has a year left on his entry-level contract. He’ll be an RFA without arbitration rights next summer and eligible to sign an offer sheet.
The Sharks will want to avoid Celebrini becoming an offer-sheet target. Friedman mused whether they would try to convince him to accept less than the league maximum on his next cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The maximum cap hit is 20 percent of the salary cap for the first season in which the contract is signed. For 2027-28, it’s $22.6 million.
Given that Leo Carlsson’s new contract has set the benchmark with his league-leading $18 million average annual value, the Sharks will likely try to keep their offer to Celebrini to between $18 million and $19 million. However, his representatives could push for over $20 million.
Friedman said the Carolina Hurricanes are hoping to use an offer sheet to make a big splash this summer. He wondered if they could be eyeing Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Hurricanes will need a defenseman because they’re reportedly shopping Alexander Nikishin, who is an RFA this summer. Friedman said they’re also trying to include forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the deal, which would free up $4.25 million in cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now reports the Red Wings have set aside $12 million in cap space in case Edvinsson signs an offer sheet. Even if the Hurricanes can move out Kotkaniemi, they won’t have enough to make an unmatchable offer for the Wings blueliner.
Friedman also said the Hurricanes were considering signing a player to an offer sheet and then trading him if the signing was successful. If a team matches an offer sheet, they cannot trade the player for one year. However, there are no restrictions for a team that successfully signs away a player with an offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In that scenario, the Hurricanes would sign a player they don’t need, and then flip him to another team to address a more pressing roster issue.
Pavel Zacha’s contract extension talks with the Boston Bruins caught Friedman’s attention. He thinks they’ve spoken with other clubs about him. He assumed one of them was the Montreal Canadiens, but two sources denied it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably prefer to retain Zacha, but it doesn’t hurt to gauge the trade market just in case.
Speaking of the Canadiens, Friedman said they’re still searching for a top-six forward. He indicated that they’ve made numerous calls to the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kirill Marchenko, but the Jackets aren’t willing to move him right now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nick Lariviere of The Sick Podcast suggested Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken as a trade option for the Canadiens. The Kraken are reportedly shopping the 22-year-old center.
The Canadiens passed over Wright in the 2022 draft in favor of winger Juraj Slafkovsky. He’s struggled to establish himself as a top-six center with the Kraken. He still has time to achieve that goal and would be an affordable acquisition in terms of salary and return.
However, the Canadiens have been reportedly pursuing more established young talent, such as Marchenko and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. Wright doesn’t fit that profile.



