What’s next for the Senators and Panthers following the Brady Tkachuk trade? Are the Blues interested in Elias Pettersson? Could Dylan Larkin’s trade request affect Alex DeBrincat’s future with the Red Wings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
FALLOUT FROM THE BRADY TKACHUK TRADE
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch believes the Senators are going “big-game hunting” to find a suitable replacement for Brady Tkachuk, whom they traded to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can read my take on that trade here.
According to Garrioch, a league executive said he expects the Senators will use some of the assets they received in the Tkachuk trade (three first-round picks and a second-rounder) to pursue a top-six forward in the trade market.
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)
It’s believed they will step up their efforts to acquire center Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks. The Senators are seeking a forward to play alongside first-line center Tim Stutzle, and they’re not going to find that forward in this year’s upcoming free-agent market. It’s believed the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers are also interested in McTavish, who has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators could dangle one of those first-rounders to the Ducks for McTavish, but the Ducks could prefer more than that, such as an established young player.
Garrioch believes the Senators might revisit their interest in Pittsburgh Penguins wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. They also had an interest in St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, but he won’t waive his no-trade clause to come to Ottawa.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust lacks no-trade protection, but he’s also Sidney Crosby’s linemate, which could ensure he stays put in Pittsburgh. Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list, and if Ottawa’s on it, they’ll have to look elsewhere.
Garrioch noted that Kyrou’s unwillingness to come to Ottawa will be an issue if they pursue players with some form of no-trade protection.
THE FOURTH PERIOD’s Dave Pagnotta reports sources claim the Senators are “making a big push” for Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. If a trade can’t be worked out and he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, the Senators could present him with a significant offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have over $25 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27 and all their first-round picks to sign Robertson to a lucrative offer sheet with an AAV over $11.6 million.
The only sticking point is whether the 26-year-old Stars winger wants to sign with the Senators.
If the Senators are going to pursue Robertson in a trade, they better make sure he’s willing to sign an extension. He lacks no-trade protection and can be sent anywhere, but he’s also a year away from UFA eligibility.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Panthers acquisition of Tkachuk takes them out of the running for Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. The Panthers were reportedly on Larkin’s three-team list of preferred destinations, which also included the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Wild are Larkin’s true destination. The Panthers’ acquisition of Tkachuk suggests they weren’t seriously entertaining Larkin as a trade option.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Dwork reports the Panthers still have to address their goaltending situation. Starter Sergei Bobrovsky and backup Daniil Tarasov are UFA-eligible on July 1, and Bobrovsky’s contract demands (six-seven years, $42 million) could price him out of Florida.
The Panthers have just over $7 million in cap space to work with. Dwork noted that Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues have surfaced in the rumor mill.
Given what the Panthers parted with to get Tkachuk, it’s unlikely they have sufficient assets to pry Hellebuyck away from the Jets. Binnington could be a more affordable target, but the Panthers would still have to free up salary to take on his $6.1 million cap hit and to have enough space to fill out the remainder of their roster.
Dwork suggested Devin Cooley of the Calgary Flames as a bargain option. They could also take a look at Penguins pending UFA Stuart Skinner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames re-signed Cooley to a two-year contract in December as Dustin Wolf’s backup, so it’s doubtful they’ll part with him unless the Panthers are willing to overpay.
Skinner could be the Panthers’ best option if there’s nothing suitable in the trade market.
ARE THE BLUES INTERESTED IN ELIAS PETTERSSON?
DONNIE & DHALI: Rick Dhaliwal recently reported the Vancouver Canucks could move Elias Pettersson this summer if they can find a club willing to take on his contract.
Dhaliwal indicated that a source told him the St. Louis Blues were “sniffing around” the 27-year-old center, adding that he’s looking into it.
Pettersson has six years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $11.6 million. He’s underachieved since signing that deal two years ago. Nevertheless, Dhaliwal pointed out that teams are desperate for centers, and some of them believe they can turn him back into a point-per-game player.
The Canucks don’t want to retain salary or take on a bad contract for Pettersson because they’re trying to offload.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s hard to envision a trade scenario where the Blues (or anyone else) takes on Pettersson’s full cap hit without the Canucks taking back an expensive contract as part of the return. Teams may be desperate for help at center, but they’re probably not that desperate.
COULD DYLAN LARKIN’S TRADE REQUEST AFFECT ALEX DEBRINCAT’S FUTURE?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently noted that the Washington Capitals need secondary scoring. She wondered if Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings might be available.
Silber noted a report by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, where he suggested that DeBrincat’s future with the Red Wings could be in doubt if they honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request.
DeBrincat, 28, has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $7.875 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to find out how Larkin’s eventual departure could affect the Red Wings’ efforts to sign DeBrincat to an extension. He could end up on the trade block this summer if he decides to test the market next summer.