The biggest NHL News and NHL Rumors on Thursday, September 24, are being driven by a trade market that suddenly looks much more active than it normally does this close to opening night.
Connor Hellebuyck remains at the centre of it.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos released his first trade board of the 2026-27 season Thursday and identified Hellebuyck, Kirill Marchenko, Alexander Nikishin, Dylan Larkin and Jason Robertson among his leading trade candidates. Hellebuyck remains away from Winnipeg Jets training camp after requesting a trade, and Sportsnet reports that Buffalo, Utah and San Jose continue to monitor his situation.
Meanwhile, Gavin McKenna took another important step toward becoming a major part of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2026 first-overall pick recorded his first professional point Wednesday night, picking up a secondary assist on a John Tavares goal in Toronto’s 6-1 preseason win over Ottawa.
And those are only two of the stories shaping today’s NHL landscape.
NHL News and NHL Rumors for September 24, 2026
The Hellebuyck situation remains the story I am watching most closely because Winnipeg appears unwilling to turn a franchise goaltender into a discounted asset simply because he wants out.
Kypreos reports that the Jets spoke with teams around the draft and through the summer but have not received the return they are looking for. Hellebuyck has five seasons remaining on a contract carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit. That represents approximately $42.5 million of remaining cap commitment before considering the actual year-by-year salary structure.
That contract can actually be viewed as both a complication and an asset.
Teams are not trading for a rental. They would be acquiring one of the most accomplished goaltenders of his generation with significant contractual control. The problem is finding a club that has the cap structure, assets and Hellebuyck’s approval to make everything work.
My read remains that Winnipeg has very little reason to panic. The closer the regular season gets, the more uncomfortable the situation becomes, but lowering the asking price now would create a second problem after solving the first.
NHL Trade Rumors Expand Beyond Connor Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck isn’t alone.
Kypreos also identifies Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko as a top trade candidate and reports that Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal could be teams attempting to find a deal with Columbus. Marchenko does not have trade protection, which gives the Blue Jackets substantially more control over the process.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin is another fascinating situation. The restricted free agent remains unsigned and away from camp. Sportsnet’s reporting suggests opportunity and role, specifically the chance to establish himself as a top-three defenseman, are important components of the situation rather than simply an enormous contract demand.
Then there is Dylan Larkin.
Larkin’s trade request is public and Detroit removed the captaincy, but Sportsnet reports he returned to practice Wednesday. Because the centre still has five seasons remaining on his $8.7 million AAV contract, Detroit has the luxury of patience. That is roughly $43.5 million of remaining cap commitment, making this much more complicated than moving an expiring contract.
Jason Robertson may eventually become another enormous name to watch. Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract after producing 45 goals and 96 points last season. Sportsnet reports Pittsburgh is one market that interests Robertson, although there is currently no indication a trade is imminent.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index
Editorial model combining production, age, position scarcity, contract control, cap cost and trade flexibility.
NHL Scores: Maple Leafs Sweep Ottawa Split-Squad Games
There were four NHL preseason scores Wednesday night, highlighted by Toronto winning both halves of its split-squad matchup against Ottawa.
The biggest performance came at Scotiabank Arena, where Auston Matthews and John Tavares each recorded a goal and two assists in Toronto’s 6-1 victory. Jack Roslovic also finished with three points, while McKenna picked up his first professional point.
Toronto’s second squad won 4-2 in Ottawa after Ryan Tverberg broke a 2-2 tie late in the third period.
Dallas earned the only shutout of the night. Remi Poirier stopped all 24 Minnesota shots as the Stars beat the Wild 2-0, with Matthew Seminoff and Esa Lindell providing the goals.
Los Angeles finished the night with a 2-1 victory over Anaheim. Anton Forsberg stopped 24 of 25 shots, while Alex Laferriere and Joel Armia scored for the Kings.
NHL Scores – September 23, 2026
Preseason scores, standout performances and quick game notes.
Game note: Auston Matthews and John Tavares each had a goal and two assists. Jack Roslovic also recorded three points, while Gavin McKenna earned his first professional point with an assist.
Game note: Ryan Tverberg broke a 2-2 tie late in the third period. Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves for Toronto, while Dylan Cozens and Hoyt Stanley scored for Ottawa.
Game note: Remi Poirier stopped all 24 shots for the shutout. Matthew Seminoff and Esa Lindell supplied the Dallas goals.
Game note: Anton Forsberg stopped 24 of 25 shots. Alex Laferriere and Joel Armia scored for Los Angeles, while Ethan Procyszyn had Anaheim’s goal.
Gavin McKenna Records His First Professional Point
McKenna’s development may eventually become a bigger Toronto storyline than anything that happened on the scoreboard Wednesday.
The 18-year-old earned a secondary assist on Tavares’ first-period goal and looked noticeably more comfortable than he did earlier in the preseason. NHL.com reports the No. 1 pick has made visible progress adapting to the reduced time and space available at the NHL level.
One assist in a preseason game should not be overanalyzed, but the way McKenna created the play matters.
Young offensive players usually don’t have trouble producing when they have the puck. Learning how quickly they need to move it, and how quickly the next play develops, is often the larger adjustment.
McKenna appears to be figuring that out.
More NHL News: Oliver Moore Extension and Kuzmenko Leave
Another contract story surfaced Thursday morning when Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Chicago Blackhawks are signing Oliver Moore to a five-year, $21.25 million extension carrying a $4.25 million AAV. The extension would begin in 2027-28 after the final season of Moore’s entry-level contract.
Chicago also reduced its training camp roster to 32 players Thursday as final roster decisions approach.
There was also difficult news from Pittsburgh.
The Penguins announced that Andrei Kuzmenko has taken a leave of absence following the death of his father, Alexander. Kuzmenko practiced with Pittsburgh Thursday before travelling to Moscow to be with his family.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Alex Ovechkin remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Jake Oettinger was held out Wednesday because of lower-body tightness, Mattias Samuelsson is week-to-week and Senators defenseman Artem Zub is not expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season.
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