Check out the latest trade speculation about Zach Werenski, Connor Hellebuyck, and Darnell Nurse in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE STARS OR SHARKS BE TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR ZACH WERENSKI?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Zach Werenski would prefer to be traded to an Eastern Conference team, but the 28-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is open to joining a Western Conference club.
According to Dreger, the Dallas Stars are very interested in Werenski, who won the Norris Trophy as this season’s top NHL defenseman. He believes the Stars could potentially offer Thomas Harley to the Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)
If so, Dreger doubted the Toronto Maple Leafs would be willing or able to match that level of an offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Stars are offering up Harley for Werenski, and if the latter is willing to go to Dallas, the Blue Jackets should jump on that proposal right away. Granted, the 24-year-old Harley isn’t on the same level as Werenski, but he’s still a big, skilled two-way defenseman who could fill the big gap left by Werenski’s departure. His contract is more expensive ($10.587 million), but he’s under contract through 2033-34. The Blue Jackets have the cap space to take on a skilled cost-controlled asset such as Harley.
And no, the Maple Leafs could not beat an offer of Thomas Harley for Werenski.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who dismissed the notion of the Sharks as a trade destination for Werenski.
Friedman believes Werenski wants to go to a club where he can win a Stanley Cup. However, he didn’t rule out the Sharks as a destination for the Norris winner when his contract expires in 2028.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks aren’t Cup contenders yet, but they could be within the next two or three years if all their young talent blossoms as expected.
JETS REPORTEDLY REJECTED SABRES’ OFFER FOR CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jake Tye reports multiple sources claiming the Buffalo Sabres made a significant offer to the Winnipeg Jets for Connor Hellebuyck before the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft last Friday.
The offer was reportedly the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a player believed to be winger Jack Quinn, and at least one additional asset.
However, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff rejected the offer. Tye believes Cheveldayoff wasn’t comfortable replacing the three-time Vezina Trophy-winning Hellebuyck with the volatile Luukkonen, who didn’t earn the bulk of the starts with the Sabres this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Cheveldayoff doesn’t have to rush into moving Hellebucyk, whose contract expires at the end of the 2030-31 season. There’s also no indication that the goaltender has requested a trade.
This report suggests that Cheveldayoff wants a reliable starting goaltender as part of the return for Hellebuyck. If so, it could take a while until someone makes a pitch to Cheveldayoff’s liking.
THE LATEST ON DARNELL NURSE
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Cited NHL insider Frank Seravalli telling Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer that the San Jose Sharks have “made a play” for Darnell Nurse. The 31-year-old Oilers defenseman requested a trade earlier this month.
However, the Sharks aren’t believed to be on Nurse’s list of trade destinations. “And to this point in time, that hasn’t changed”.
THE BOSTON GLOBE’s Kevin Paul Dupont reports there were “murmurings” during the draft weekend that the Oilers would be willing to send Nurse to the Boston Bruins for Mason Lohrei, with the Oilers willing to “share” the difference in average annual values between the two players.
Nurse earns an AAV of $9.5 million, while Lohrei’s is $3.2 million. Dupont could see this move happening if the Oilers retain $3 million of Nurse’s cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers might have to retain some salary or take back additional salary in a deal to move Nurse. Unfortunately for them, the current CBA forbids three-team trades where each team picks up a piece of the playoffs AAV.