NHL Rumor Mill – October 12, 2026

by | Oct 12, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 12, 2026

How will the Rangers address the loss of Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending leg injury? Which goalies could they target in the trade and free-agent markets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker examined how the Rangers intend to cope with the absence of starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on Friday against the Washington Capitals.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images)

The next steps will depend on how the Rangers react as a team, and how backup Dylan Garand performs. They’ve placed Shesterkin on long-term injury reserve, freeing up approximately $3.97 million, which is based on last season’s average league salary, instead of his roughly $11.6 million cap hit.

Shesterkin could be placed on season-ending LTIR (SELTIR), but he’d be unable to return to the Rangers lineup later this season or in the playoffs. Keeping him on LTIR leaves the door open for his potential return in the postseason.

Walker believes Rangers general manager Chris Drury will explore alternate goalie options, especially since veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo is expected to be sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury. The Rangers recalled Spencer Martin to back up Garand on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks. Martin hadn’t played yet for their AHL affiliate in Hartford because of a lower-body injury.

ESPN reported former Rangers backup Jonathan Quick was a possibility, but Walker stated that there’s a strong belief they’re not considering it. Quick retired after last season and is now the Rangers director of goaltending development.

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed several possible goalie trade targets for the Rangers.

He noted the recent speculation linking the Rangers to Connor Hellebuyck but dismissed it as unrealistic. He pointed out that the 33-year-old Winnipeg Jets goalie is under contract through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million, while Shesterkin’s is over $11 million. “Having two goalies making a combined $20 million against the cap beyond this season isn’t going to fly,” Wegman wrote.

Wegman also noted that acquiring Hellebuyck for this season and flipping him to another club next summer is also unrealistic. “This isn’t a video game,” he wrote.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Wegman. He could’ve also mentioned the high cost for the Rangers to acquire Hellebuyck, and the headache they would have trying to move him in a trade market that would make low-ball offers. Nevertheless, pointing out the blatantly obvious regarding the cap dollars suffices.

Quick unrestricted free agent fixes include Peter Mrazek, Matt Murray, and James Reimer. Trade targets could include Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues; John Gibson of the Detroit Red Wings; Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg of the Los Angeles Kings; Arturs Silovs of the Pittsburgh Penguins; and Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers could go the UFA route first. They have $4.6 million in cap space with Shesterkin on LTIR, and Drury might prefer an affordable free-agent addition that leaves cap space for later in the season.

Binnington and Montembeault seem more likely to be available in the trade market right now. However, the former carries a cap hit of $6 million and a 10-team no-trade list, which could complicate things. Montembeault has a more affordable $3.15 million salary and lacks no-trade protection. The Canadiens might be willing to retain part of his salary. However, he’s sidelined for the next two weeks and hasn’t had a chance to play this season to improve his trade value.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

by | Oct 10, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 10, 2026

Recapping Friday’s action, the Canadiens and Predators make a trade, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An injury to New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin overshadowed his club’s 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Shesterkin left the game in the second period with the score tied at 1-1 after injuring his right leg. He was helped off the ice and replaced by backup Dylan Garand.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images)

Timothy Liljegren, Boone Jenner, and Tom Wilson scored, and Logan Thompson made 21 saves for the Capitals (3-1-0). Alexis Lafreniere tallied for the 4-2-0 Rangers as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no postgame update on Shesterkin’s condition. The former Vezina Trophy winner played a significant role in the Rangers’ strong start, which could be derailed if he’s out for a lengthy period.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Cam Talbot stopped 20 shots and made three straight saves in the shootout to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Kent Johnson scored the winning goal, Damon Severson had a goal and an assist, and Cole Sillinger collected two assists for the Blue Jackets (2-1-0). Sergei Murashov kicked out 43 shots while Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin replied for the 2-2-1 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talbot became the first goalie in NHL history to win a game with nine teams. Now in his 13th season, the 39-year-old netminder had wins with the Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings.

A four-goal second period lifted the Seattle Kraken to a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Frederick Gaudreau tallied two goals, and Ben Meyers had a goal and two assists for the Kraken, who improved to 3-2-0. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had a goal and an assist as the Red Wings dropped to 1-3-0.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. Mikael Granlund, Tim Washe, and rookie winger Judd Caulfield each had a goal and an assist for the 3-1-0 Ducks. Kyle Connor tallied his sixth goal of the season for the Jets (3-1-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Struble became the odd man out on the Canadiens’ crowded blueline. Kaiden Guhle is slated to return soon from adductor muscle surgery, and promising Adam Engstrom recently took Struble’s spot in the lineup. The Canadiens now have two second-round picks in next year’s draft, which could be bargaining chips by the March 1 trade deadline.

Struble, 25, should get more playing time with the retooling Predators. An injury to promising blueliner William Trudeau (upper body, week to week) was another reason for this move.

This was the 10th trade by Nashville general manager Chris MacFarlane since he took over the role on June 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Brad Marchand will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a lower-body (knee) injury.

TSN: Ottawa Senators winger William Eklund will be sidelined for an “extended period of time” with an ankle injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.

TSN: The Minnesota Wild placed goaltender Filip Gustavsson (offseason hip surgery) on long-term injured reserve.

CBS SPORTS: The New Jersey Devils placed center Nick Bjugstad (torn pectoral muscle) on LTIR.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs center John Tavares is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche after returning to Toronto on Thursday to be with his wife as she gave birth to their fourth child, a son named Tucker.

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Thursday that the NHL has put expansion plans on the back burner for now amid concerns from owners regarding competitive balance. Two Texas cities (Houston and Austin) seemed to be the frontrunners for the NHL’s 33rd franchise if expansion occurs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An interesting development considering recent projections suggesting the league could expand by one or two teams by 2030. It’ll be interesting to see how many owners are concerned and how the league alleviates those worries.

NHL.COM: Defenseman Matt Dumba has announced his retirement after 13 NHL seasons. From 2013-14 to 2025-26, Dumba appeared in 748 regular-season games with the Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 85 goals and 176 assists for 261 points. He also had 15 points in 54 playoff contests.

Dumba spent 10 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Wild, including a career-high 50-point performance in 2017-18.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dumba was a physical puck-moving blueliner, but he was never the same after tearing his right pectoral muscle in December 2018. Up to that point, he had 12 goals and 22 points in 32 games, putting him on pace for another career-high performance.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2026

by | Oct 8, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2026

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Oilers and Penguins make a trade, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl collected four assists as the Edmonton Oilers overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2. Evan Bouchard scored twice and picked up an assist, and Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists for the 3-0-1 Oilers, who sit atop the Pacific Division with seven points. Beckett Sennecke scored both goals for the Ducks (2-1-0).

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After allowing 13 goals in their first two games, the Oilers have tightened up defensively. Goaltender Devon Levi started their last three games, allowing seven goals in his first game against Vancouver, but giving up only three goals in his last two contests.

Oilers center Jason Dickinson made his season debut after missing the start of the season with an injured foot. Teammate Colton Dach (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s final home debut. Pierre-Luc Dubois scored and picked up an assist for the Capitals, who improved to 2-1-0. Brian Rust, Tommy Novak, and Nick Robertson replied for the 2-2-0 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Ovechkin announced this season would be his last in the NHL. He was held scoreless in this contest. Rust was making his season debut after being placed on IR on Sept. 29.

The Winnipeg Jets upset the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. Kyle Connor tallied twice, including the winning goal with one minute remaining in regulation time, as the Jets (3-0-1) hold first place in the Central Division with seven points. Jaden Schwartz and Fedor Svechkov scored for the 2-1-0 Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winnipeg goaltender Stuart Skinner was the game’s first star with a 32-save performance, including 17 stops in the first period. The bad news for the Jets was top defenseman Josh Morrissey leaving the game early in the second period with an injured right hand. He will be reassessed on Thursday.

HEADLINES

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Penguins for forward Filip Hallander.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the “lateral move” that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported the Oilers were considering, moving a blueliner to add depth up front. It also freed up $1.436 million in salary-cap space. The Penguins, meanwhile, temporarily freed up a logjam at forward with Bryan Rust returning to the lineup while bolstering their left-side blueline depth.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will miss the next six to eight months after undergoing surgery on his right knee to repair a torn ACL.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A tough break for the Isles and for Romanov, who had just returned from a shoulder injury suffered last November that required season-ending surgery.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault left practice Wednesday after injuring his right leg. He’s still being evaluated by the Canadiens’ medical staff, but the club recalled goalie Jacob Fowler from their AHL affiliate in Laval.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault tore two groin muscles during the 2025 playoffs and struggled throughout last season, losing his role as starting goaltender to Jakub Dobes and dropping behind Fowler on their goalie depth chart.

A strong training camp and preseason earned Montembeault the backup role to start this season. He was expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Nashville Predators or Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Joel Kiviranta has been sidelined for a week with a lower-body injury.

CBS SPORTS: New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury suffered on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers placed defenseman Mackenzie Entwistle on waivers.

SPORTSNET: The NHL unveiled the Heritage Classic jerseys for the Jets and Canadiens. The two clubs face off in the outdoor game on Oct. 25 at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2026

by | Oct 1, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at some bold trade predictions for 2026-27.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. We know that Werenski would’ve accepted a trade to Toronto this summer. The Maple Leafs could come calling if the Blue Jackets struggle again and he resurfaces in trade rumors.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Maple Leafs traded power forward Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets for scoring winger Kirill Marchenko. The Leafs could be interested if Werenski pops up in the rumor mill before the March 1 trade deadline, but they probably lack sufficient trade assets now to win a bidding war.

Fluto Shinzawa believed the Boston Bruins will trade Pavel Zacha. He’s a very good center, is UFA-eligible next summer, and could seek to double his $4.75 million AAV on the open market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha turns 30 in April, meaning his next contract probably won’t age well in its final years. However, the Bruins could re-sign him if they’re trying to maintain a playoff contender. Much depends on the performance of promising centers Fraser Minten and James Hagens.

Shayna Goldman forecasted the Tampa Bay Lightning would trade for a top-four defenseman. A lack of speed on the blueline contributed to the Lightning’s early playoff exits. They must acquire “a more uptempo option) to play alongside Victor Hedman or John Carlson, depending on where J.J. Moser slots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning will have over $9 million in accrued cap space by the March 1 trade deadline to add that top-four blueliner. The question is whether they have sufficient tradeable assets to pull it off. They traded their 2027 first-round pick, and The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked their prospect pipeline 25th overall.

SPORTSNET: Frank Seravalli made 32 predictions for the coming season.

He forecasted that Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will be traded to the Minnesota Wild before Christmas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli didn’t indicate what type of return the Red Wings would get from the Wild. The Wings were rumored to have sought Matt Boldy, but everyone knows that’s a non-starter. The Wings probably still want a top-six forward in return, so unless they lower their asking price, Larkin won’t be going to Minnesota.

Zach Werenski will dominate the 2027 NHL trade deadline. He has a year remaining on his contract. Seravalli believes it’s a situation the Blue Jackets must address.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski won’t be going anywhere if the Blue Jackets are in the thick of the playoff chase. If they’re out of it, however, they could entertain trade offers if he’s noncommittal about an extension.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault would be the first player traded in 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was published before the Marchenko-for-Knies swap. Technically, however, this happened before opening night of the regular season on Tuesday.

Montembeault could be peddled if he rebounds from last season’s poor performance. He might even get packaged with another player (Kirby Dach?) in a larger deal for a second-line center or winger.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin predicts Auston Matthews will tell Toronto Maple Leafs management he wants to move on after they miss the playoffs again, suggesting he’ll be moved before the 2027 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That scenario could become reality if the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he seeks a trade if they make the postseason but get eliminated in the first round again.

Larkin then predicts that Matthews gets traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster move that includes young winger Matvei Mitchkov being part of the return to Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Now that’s a spicy hot take, but if Matthew did request a trade, and if the Flyers were on his list of preferred destinations, Michkov would have to be part of the asking price.

The Winnipeg Jets will trade goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before November. He pointed out that the Buffalo Sabres have had a double-injury scare with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are trying to resolve their Alexander Nikishin problem.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres could revisit their interest in Hellebuyck if Luukkonen, Lyon, and Colten Ellis struggle between the pipes. As for the Hurricanes, Nikishin reportedly isn’t interested in signing with the Jets, so if he’s going to be part of a trade for Hellebuyck, he’ll have to be going to a different club in a three-team deal.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson will be the biggest names on the move by the March 1 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Wings are out of contention, they could put DeBrincat on the trade block. He reportedly wants to stay, but they could tear things down and rebuild if they’re about to extend their postseason drought to 11 years.

The Penguins could try to move Karlsson if they’re out of contention by the deadline. However, if they surprise us again and are contenders by March 1, he’s not going anywhere.

Larkin also believes the Red Wings will trade Dylan Larkin before Christmas, though he didn’t indicate where he’ll land.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2026

by | Sep 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2026

Check out the latest on Dylan Larkin, Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Kirill Marchenko, Alexander Nikishin, Jason Robertson, and Matthew Knies in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos published his first trade board of this season. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting rumors:

The Montreal Canadiens tried to convince Dylan Larkin to accept a trade “to come and help Nick Suzuki.” However, the 30-year-old Detroit Red Wings center “still has no interest in coming to Canada.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors surfaced earlier this month linking the Canadiens to Larkin, who hasn’t expanded his three-team list of trade destinations, with the Minnesota Wild at the top. He’s made it clear where he wants to go.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images)

Kypreos also claimed the Canadiens are among the teams asking about Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele. He believes it would cost a hefty price that could include top prospect Michael Hage, or center Oliver Kapanen, “among others”, claiming Kirby Dach “is wrapped up in this too.” He also stated that the thought of adding goalie Samuel Montembeault to work in tandem with Stuart Skinner is intriguing to the Jets because they wouldn’t need to get a goalie back in a Connor Hellebuyck trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Kypreos, if Hellebuyck is on his way out of Winnipeg, the Jets are asking themselves if it’s better to keep or trade Scheifele.

Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont pointed out that Scheifele is a villain among Canadiens fans for his illegal hit on Jake Evans during the 2021 playoffs, earning the Jets center a suspension. However, given the Canadiens signed former public enemy No. 1 Chris Kreider, they probably wouldn’t be too troubled about Scheifele’s history.

Acquiring Scheifele would more than address the Canadiens’ need for an experienced second-line center. However, the 33-year-old center is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause this season.

Assuming Scheifele would be open to a trade to Montreal, the Jets will set a high price, as Kypreos suggested. While he’s coming off a career-high 103-point campaign last season, he’s approaching the stage in his career when decline is inevitable, which could make his contract burdensome over its final years despite the anticipated rise in the salary cap during that period.

Speaking of Hellebucyk, Kypreos reports the Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and San Jose Sharks are among the teams monitoring the 33-year-old goalie’s situation. He claimed those clubs are trying to convince the Jets to accept returns of blue-chip prospects over roster players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has stressed he wants a return that’s fair for both sides. He’s indicated he has no intention of rebuilding his roster, and wants players over futures. Given Cheveldayoff’s well-earned reputation for patience in trade talks, he’s unlikely to bend on his asking price.

Kypreos believes the Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers “seem poised to try and make something work” for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ addition of Chris Kreider takes them out of the market for Marchenko, at least for now, but that could change later in the season if he remains available. Like Cheveldayoff in Winnipeg with Hellebucyk, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell isn’t interested in futures for Marchenko.

Kypreos believes the reason why restricted free-agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin hasn’t been signed and/or traded by the Carolina Hurricanes isn’t necessarily because he’s seeking a massive contract. The young blueliner seeks an opportunity where he can become a top-three defenseman.

Jason Robertson has a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars, but Kypreos wonders what happens next. The two sides can start extension talks on Jan. 1, but Kypreos doesn’t think that could happen because the 27-year-old winger lacks no-trade protection. He envisioned a scenario where the Stars sign him and then trade him to the Seattle Kraken, where Robertson already rejected a move to. Kypreos also noted that Robertson is the radar of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who acquired his younger brother Nick this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars GM Jim Nill recently said he met with Robertson and his family to mend their relationship. He insisted that re-signing the high-scoring winger remains his priority.

The Matthew Knies trade rumors won’t go away. Kypreos believes the 24-year-old power forward remains the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best trade chip if they want to land a big fish this season, especially because he lacks no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knies could still be a valuable trade asset for the Maple Leafs, but I think GM John Chayka sees him as a key part of the roster core regardless of whether they’re retooling or rebuilding.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 20, 2026

by | Sep 20, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 20, 2026

Check out the latest on Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Samuel Montembeault, and Shane Wright in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Erik Karlsson have not discussed a new contract. The 36-year-old defenseman’s current deal expires next July.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Both sides appear open to having those talks in the future. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza said the club thinks highly of Karlsson and he’s enjoying his time in Pittsburgh. He anticipates the situation will play itself out as the season progresses.

Spezza was also asked about team captain Sidney Crosby not signing an extension yet. He believes the 39-year-old center wants to see how he feels and whether he can meet his standard of play. He indicated it wasn’t a concern for either side at this point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby will re-sign if he feels he can still perform at the level he’s accustomed to. Karlsson could also return, depending on his career goals and what he’ll seek in his next contract. It wouldn’t be surprising if both players return with the Penguins next season.

THE JASON GREGOR SHOW: NHL insider Frank Seravalli said Thursday that he believes Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will be the first player traded this season.

Seravalli pointed to the 30-year-old Montembeault becoming the Canadiens’ third-string goalie last season and the difficulty he’ll face moving up against Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault frequently appeared in the offseason rumor mill, but his poor performance last season made peddling him difficult.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he’s fine carrying three goalies in the preseason, but he’d rather not do so in the regular season. However, he could avoid that by starting the season with Dobes and Montembeault as his goalie tandem, and sending Fowler (who is waiver-exempt) to their AHL affiliate in Laval.

Hughes could showcase Montembeault in the regular season, hoping an improved effort by him will boost his value. Some Canadiens followers, like Brendan Kelly of The Montreal Gazette, are fearful that giving “Monty” too much time to regain his form could cost them wins this season. However, he’s likely on a shorter leash than he was last season and could end up cooling his heels in the press box if Fowler has to be recalled.

A better effort by Montembeault might not help his trade stock because of the limited value for goalies right now. If the Winnipeg Jets can’t find a suitable deal for three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, the Canadiens won’t have better luck moving Montembeault.

However, Montembeault lacks no-trade protection and carries an affordable $3.15 million cap hit on a contract that expires next July. It could become even more cost-effective if the Canadiens retained part of it to facilitate a trade. If his performance improves, he could be more enticing as a quick fix for teams seeking short-term help.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kate Shefte looked at whether Shane Wright remains part of the Kraken’s long-term future.

She noted that Wright’s agent attempted to stir the pot this summer by pushing for a trade, but it didn’t materialize. The Kraken may have set a high price for the 22-year-old center, but his NHL record is spotty, “thanks in part to bottom-six deployment and limited responsibilities.”

Shefte reports Kraken GM Jason Botterill has kept his conversations with Wright private, but said the club’s goal is to help the young center become a better NHL player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wright seemed poised for a breakout campaign after a promising 44-point performance in 2024-25, but managed just 27 points in 74 games last season. Part of that was because the Kraken replaced Dan Bylsma as head coach with Lane Lambert in 2025.

Wright could improve this season if he’s better-prepared for Lambert’s system. That would bolster his value in the trade market, but it would also make him more beneficial to the Kraken.