On the eve of the first round of the 2026 draft, here’s the latest on Connor Hellebuyck, Mason McTavish, Kirill Marchenko, Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
HELLEBUYCK LINKED TO PANTHERS, SABRES, HURRICANES
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Winnipeg Jets are getting offers for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, they’re willing to remain patient.
The Florida Panthers have expressed an interest in the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, but they aren’t willing to part with the assets necessary to meet the Jets’ asking price.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
Dreger thinks the Buffalo Sabres could be a good destination. They have the assets to make an offer, but general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has a lot going on right now.
Pierre LeBrun reports the Panthers aren’t willing to part with Anton Lundell for Hellebucyk. He indicated the Carolina Hurricanes are another club that’s shown an interest in the Jets netminder.
HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reports the Hurricanes made a pitch this week for Hellebuyck. The offer was believed to have included defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Seravalli listed the Sabres, Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings, and San Jose Sharks among the teams well-positioned to take a run at Hellebuyck.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Nikishin, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports there are six teams in the mix for the 24-year-old Hurricanes defenseman. A contract extension is a major factor in trade talks. Nikishin is a restricted free agent on July 1.
WINNIPEG SUN: Massimo De Luca-Taronno reports there have been no official reports that Hellebuyck has requested a trade. However, some notable insiders, such as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, claim the goaltender would be open to a “change of scenery.”
Hellebuyck has five seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million. His full no-movement clause gives him control over where he could be traded. However, the Jets aren’t facing any pressure to move him, and can afford to remain patient until they get the right offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jacob Trouba both waited two seasons before Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff received suitable offers to move them, and both deals worked out well for the Jets. He’ll take the same approach with Hellebuyck if the latter wants out of Winnipeg.
BLUES AND RANGERS ARE PURSUING MASON MCTAVISH
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports the St. Louis Blues are one of two teams involved in trade talks with the Anaheim Ducks for center Mason McTavish.
The Blues are seeking a second-line center to ease the burden on promising Dalibor Dvorsky, and having McTavish and Dvorsky as their second and third-line centers would strengthen that position.
Acquiring McTavish could come at a steep price. It’s uncertain what the Ducks’ asking price would be, but the Blues have plenty of draft picks, including four first-rounders in this year’s draft.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey noted that NHL insider Frank Seravalli claimed the New York Rangers are also in the bidding for McTavish. It’s unclear what the Blueshirts are offering, but veteran center Vincent Trocheck isn’t involved in their trade offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McTavish’s age, size, and physical scoring style have made him an enticing trade target. However, there are concerns about his speed and his defensive play. His performance dipped this season, partly due to missing training camp because of his contract negotiations. He was a healthy scratch from two regular-season games and two postseason contests.
Those issues could be overlooked if it weren’t for McTavish’s contract. He’s got five years left on his deal with an average annual value of $7 million. Even with a rising salary cap, that’s still a big chunk of change to invest in a player who took a step backward in his development.
CANADIENS SHOPPING AROUND FOR A TOP-SIX FORWARD
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens are aggressively calling around the league in search of a top-six forward. He said they’re monitoring New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck’s situation. They called the New York Islanders about center Bo Horvat, but were told he’s not available. The Habs also looked into winger Kirill Marchenko, but got “a big fat no” from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
LeBrun also suggested Mason Marchment might be a good fit with the Canadiens or Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old winger is UFA-eligible on July 1, but the Blue Jackets haven’t given up on re-signing him.
RATINGS.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Canadiens are among several teams linked to Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. The Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, and Ottawa Senators are among several clubs interested.
The Ducks are maintaining a high asking price for McTavish. An NHL source said the Canadiens don’t want to overpay to get him.
D’Amico noted the Canadiens’ earlier efforts to acquire Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies. However, the Leafs and their new GM, John Chayka, want to avoid the optics of dealing Knies to their long-time rival. The Leafs are also looking for teams willing to overpay to get him.
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports the Canadiens are among several teams looking into Marchenko. The Blue Jackets aren’t shopping him, but he’s got a year left on his contract, and it’s uncertain if they can re-sign him. He’ll be a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights.
Engels also noted the rumors linking the Canadiens to Mason McTavish. However, the 23-year-old isn’t a player they consider an ideal fit with winger Ivan Demidov, or as a player they’d give up premium assets to obtain.
Other players who would be more appealing, such as Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, or Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha, aren’t currently available for the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are making calls, but it doesn’t appear that they’re feeling any pressure to make moves based on the recent trade activity around the league. They’ll remain patient in the trade market as they search for the right deal. They could also look into the free-agent market for depth players this summer.
THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said he’s been receiving offers for Matthew Knies, but hasn’t gotten one yet that would convince him to move the 23-year-old winger.
TSN: Chayka also said that he doesn’t anticipate trading defenseman Morgan Rielly. However, those are discussions that he’s continuing to have.
However, Chris Johnston reports Rielly remains very much in play in the trade market. He claims Chayka continues to listen to trade offers.
SABRES NOT DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Buffalo Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is far from finished in the trade market after shipping out Bowen Byram to Chicago and Alex Tuch to Washington this week.
Kekalainen is in good shape to make a major addition because his club holds the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. Friedman believes the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets are eyeing that pick.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes that the pick is definitely in play. He reported that the Sabres spoke to the Rangers about Vincent Trocheck, the Jets about Connor Hellebuyck, and the Maple Leafs about Matthew Knies.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers have suggested the Sabres offer up that pick plus goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Jets for Hellebuyck. If he’s willing to go to Buffalo, that could be an offer that the Jets find tempting.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE SENATORS?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators hope to use the No. 25 pick in this year’s draft as part of the package for a top-six forward or a right-shot, top-four defenseman.
The Senators were interested in Ducks center Mason McTavish, but were told he’s not interested in coming to Ottawa. They had also “kicked tires” on Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere. They’ve been chasing Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen since last spring’s trade deadline, but haven’t been able to come up with the necessary assets. The Sens have also been linked to Calgary Flames blueliner Zach Whitecloud.