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.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2026

by | Sep 16, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2026

The latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Morgan Rielly, Samuel Montembeault, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Roundup.

JETS GOALIE CONNOR HELLEBUYCK COULD REFUSE TO REPORT TO CAMP

TSN: Darren Dreger said he doesn’t expect Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to report to training camp this week. That will force the Jets to respond, likely on Wednesday or Thursday.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

Dreger indicated that there would be no immediate financial punishment because NHL players don’t get paid until the regular season begins.

According to Dreger, the trade interest in Hellebuyck has been minimal. There was activity with the Buffalo Sabres before that draft but very little since. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn’t received any offers that he considers fair value for an elite goalie like Hellebuyck

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck revealed his trade request last month. Refusing to report to training camp will be seen as a tactic to force Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to trade him before the season begins.

Because Hellebuyck is under contract, the Jets can suspend him without pay if his holdout stretches into the regular season. While he’s suspended, his salary doesn’t count against the Jets’ cap payroll.

If Hellebuyck sits out the season, they will toll his contract forward, meaning he’ll still have five years left on his contract instead of four years. That might be fine for Hellebuyck, but it could make interested parties leery of acquiring a 34-year-old goalie with five years left on his deal at $8.5 million annually.

If Hellebuyck goes this route, it could backfire. The longer he’s out, the harder it could be for him to get back into game shape if he’s traded later in the season. Given his age, he can’t afford to blow off a season if he hopes to play for a Stanley Cup contender one day.

Cheveldayoff has a well-earned reputation for patience regarding players who want to be traded. The Jets GM could have the support of Winnipeg fans, many of whom aren’t happy with Hellebuyck’s stance and won’t support moving the three-time Vezina Trophy winner for pennies on the dollar.

Hellebuyck will wear it if the Jets struggle without him. Meanwhile, Cheveldayoff could wait until one of those interested clubs is willing to meet his asking price. Those clubs are unwilling to do so now, but that could change if injuries strike or they have a bad start to the season.

MORGAN RIELLY WILL REMAIN WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston report Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka said there was no point during the offseason when he had a serious opportunity to trade Morgan Rielly.

Earlier this summer, the 32-year-old defenseman was the subject of trade speculation. In June, it was reported that his agent submitted a list of four Western Conference teams that he’d be willing to join, but Rielly never expressed the desire to leave Toronto.

Chayka believes Rielly will continue playing an important role on the Leafs, citing his puck-moving abilities to create offense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks were rumored to be interested in Rielly. However, they opted to acquire Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers instead.

Rielly struggled over the past two seasons under former head coach Craig Berube’s defense-first system. He could regain his offensive form under new coach Jim Hiller.

CANADIENS WON’T KEEP A THREE-GOALIE SYSTEM THIS SEASON

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes doesn’t intend to have a three-goalie system this season. He said he’s comfortable starting training camp with Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, and Samuel Montembeault, but probably not for the upcoming regular season.

Of the three goalies, only Fowler can be sent to their AHL affiliate in Laval without passing through waivers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Brendan Kelly revisited his theme that the Canadiens can’t keep Montembeault on their roster following last season’s sub-par performance.

Kelly acknowledged the difficulty Hughes would’ve faced trying to trade the 30-year-old Montembeault this summer. However, he cited veteran analyst Pierre McGuire’s recent suggestion that the Canadiens should put Montembeault on waivers. McGuire believes Montembeault won’t clear, removing his $3.15 million salary cap hit from their books.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kelly fears the Canadiens will give Montembeault too much playing time, which could cost them games if his struggles continue. That’s what happened during the first two months of last season, but they didn’t have much choice after Dobes cooled off following a hot start. At that time, they didn’t think Fowler was NHL-ready.

That’s not the case this season. Dobes seized the starter’s role with a strong second-half performance, while Fowler acquitted himself well as Dobes’ backup.

Montembeault will have a shorter leash this season. If he struggles again, it’s unlikely any club will claim him if he hits the waiver wire. In that case, the Canadiens would recall Fowler and either demote Montembeault or put him in the press box.

THE FLYERS AREN’T DONE TRYING TO MAKE A BIG MOVE

TSN: Darren Dreger believes the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t done attempting to make a big splash this season. He pointed to their signing Leo Carlsson in July to a lucrative offer sheet, which the Anaheim Ducks matched.

Dreger said they’re still “big-game hunting” as they seek a star forward or a star defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word on which players the Flyers could pursue, but they will be worth watching whenever a notable forward or defenseman becomes available this season.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 30, 2026

by | Aug 30, 2026

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 30, 2026

Could Dylan Larkin accept a trade to the Mammoth or Canadiens? Could the latter attempt to trade Samuel Montembeault to the Oilers? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LARKIN TO THE MAMMOTH OR CANADIENS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan O’Hara believes the Utah Mammoth makes the most sense for Dylan Larkin if the Detroit Red Wings center is serious about chasing the Stanley Cup.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).

The Mammoth are an up-and-coming team who recently added veteran forwards Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck. They have the draft capital to make an enticing offer and have a bit of a trade history with the Red Wings after acquiring goalie Sebastian Cossa earlier this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s trade list includes the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, though it’s rumored the Dallas Stars are also on his list. So far, the 30-year-old center hasn’t indicated that he’s willing to widen that list, though he might have to if he seriously wants to be moved before the start of the regular season in four weeks.

The Mammoth tick the right boxes, but whether they seriously want him or if he’s willing to include them on his list of preferred destinations remains to be seen.

NHL NETWORK: Mike Johnson suggested the Montreal Canadiens as a landing spot for Larkin. The Canadiens are stacked with young talent that Johnson believes makes them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender over the next four or five years.

Johnson noted that the Canadiens can draw on their “boatload” of young prospects to build a trade package for the Red Wings, including University of Michigan winger Michael Hage. He acknowledged the Canadiens weren’t on Larkin’s four-team trade list. However, if it’s about winning for Larkin, the Habs are on the precipice of winning for the next half-decade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin would be a terrific addition to the Canadiens, but he doesn’t seem interested in joining a Canadian club.

MONTEMBEAULT TO THE OILERS?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the goalie market should start heating up with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets requesting a trade and Frederik Andersen of the Edmonton Oilers to miss training camp after suffering an injury during offseason training.

That could make it possible for the Canadiens to trade Samuel Montembeault. Cowan doesn’t expect they’ll start the season carrying Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, and Jacob Fowler. He believes Montembeault can regain his form after struggling through injury and inconsistency last season, but he will have a short leash.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Karine Haines wondered if Andersen’s injury might create an opportunity for the Canadiens to ship Montembeault to the Oilers. She noted Montembeault has a cap hit of $3.15 million and the Oilers have $2 million in cap space, which would mean the Canadiens would have to take back some salary in such a deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said last week that he wasn’t too concerned over the rash of early injuries plaguing his club. He’ll likely look at internal options first (such as offseason acquisition Devon Levi) or a dip into free agency where a few affordable veterans are available, including former Oiler Cam Talbot.

Montembeault could be a trade target for the Oilers, but he’ll probably be further down Bowman’s list.