Check out the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Jason Robertson, Morgan Rielly, Jake DeBrusk, Kirill Marchenko, and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
TSN: Darren Dreger reports there’s some interest in goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, though not as much as Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff would want at this point. Dreger thinks a number of teams have made inquiries, including the Florida Panthers, but the offers simply haven’t been good enough.
Dreger also pointed out that the Jets aren’t in a rush to move Hellebuyck, who is signed through 2030-31. To get him moved, the offers must improve.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers lack sufficient trade assets to land Hellebuyck. The Jets would likely want center Anton Lundell as part of the return, but the Panthers don’t want to part with him. They would also have to free up cap space to absorb his $8.125 million cap hit, and it’s doubtful that the Jets would retain any part of it.
FRANKLY HOCKEY: NHL insider Frank Seravalli suggested the Panthers, Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres as possible landing spots for Hellebuyck.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming any of those clubs would be acceptable destinations for Hellebuyck, who has a full no-movement clause. Some of them probably are, but you can make cases for and against each of them.
WILL THE STARS RE-SIGN OR TRADE JASON ROBERTSON?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Dallas Stars are expected to make their best, perhaps final offer to Jason Robertson. The 26-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and is a year away from UFA eligibility.
Dreger noted there’s been a lot of interest in Robertson, with speculation about a possible sign-and-trade scenario. There’s also the threat of an offer sheet. He could also end up going to arbitration, getting a one-year arbiter-awarded contract, and then departing next summer as a free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since his rookie campaign in 2020-21, Robertson has become one of the highest-scoring players in the league. It’s rumored he’s seeking a deal comparable to the eight-year contract ($12 million AAV) signed by teammate Mikko Rantanen last year. That’s put the cap-strapped Stars into a bind, which is why he’s popped up so much in trade and offer-sheet rumors.
If they re-sign Robertson, they’ll have to move a player or two in cost-cutting deals. It could also make young RFA forward Mavrik Bourque a tempting target for an offer sheet.
UPDATE ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the agent for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly submitted a list of four preferred trade destinations in the Western Conference. “This will be a team-by-team assessment, and depending on the fit, there could be some flexibility to add teams to the list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly, 32, has been the subject of frequent media trade chatter for weeks. He has a full no-movement clause, giving him control over where he can go. As of this writing, there was no indication of what clubs he’s willing to join, but the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Mammoth are teams that could use some experienced blueline depth.
Rielly isn’t the only Leafs defenseman in the rumor mill. Dreger’s colleague, Chris Johnston, mentioned that Brandon Carlo has surfaced in trade speculation.
SHARKS LISTENING ON SECOND OVERALL PICK
TSN: Chris Johnston reports the San Jose Sharks are still entertaining offers for the second-overall pick in this year’s draft. He claimed they’re getting serious interest in that pick, but it would take a substantial offer to pry it away from them.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng believes Sharks general manager Mike Grier isn’t done making moves in the trade market. He speculated that Grier could use the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft as trade bait to acquire an established defenseman, pointing out that the Sharks GM was reportedly interested in Bowen Byram before his trade to Chicago on Tuesday.
Peng suggested Filip Hronek of the Vancouver Canucks as a trade option, suggesting that the No. 9 pick would be a suitable centerpiece for a deal. He also wondered if they might package the No. 2 and 9 picks to Columbus for Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski is scheduled to meet with the Blue Jackets after the draft to discuss his future. That makes it unlikely that the Sharks will make that package offer unless Werenski forces the issue before the first round of the draft on Friday.
MORE TRADES COMING FOR THE DEVILS?
TSN: Chris Johnston noted the New Jersey Devils received two future first-round picks in the Simon Nemec trade with the Calgary Flames. They also hold the No. 35 pick in this year’s draft.
Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if they use those picks as trade bait in a larger deal for an established player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils GM Sunny Mehta wasn’t interested in rebuilding the roster when he recently took over his new job. He’ll likely use those picks to pursue a scoring forward.
UPDATES ON JAKE DEBRUSK AND KIRILL MARCHENKO
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports that a source claims that Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk doesn’t want to return to the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old winger has a full no-movement clause, and while he wouldn’t be opposed to a trade, he’s not willing to go everywhere.
Trade rumors linked DeBrusk to the Ottawa Senators, but it appears that’s unlikely if he wants to remain in the West.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could partly explain why the Senators acquired William Eklund from the Sharks. If they were interested in DeBrusk, they might’ve been told that he wasn’t available.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports teams have been calling the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kirill Marchenko. He stated that the Jackets aren’t shopping the 25-year-old winger and want to retain him, but his name has come up when other general managers make inquiries.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like most general managers, Don Waddell is willing to listen to trade offers for most of his players. That doesn’t mean he’s going to move them. It would take a substantial pitch to tempt him.