The latest NHL News on September 2 has produced considerably more action than you would normally expect this close to training camp.
The New Jersey Devils made the biggest confirmed move, acquiring 24-year-old winger Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators for a conditional first-round pick and second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers continued reshaping their roster by signing Eeli Tolvanen to a bargain one-year contract.
But those transactions may only be the opening act.
Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin remain attached to three of the most fascinating unresolved situations in hockey. The Minnesota Wild have yet to get Hughes signed beyond this season, Hellebuyck’s public trade request continues hanging over Winnipeg, and Larkin suddenly appears more likely to remain in Detroit than he did when his trade request became public earlier this summer.
There is also encouraging injury news involving Tyler Seguin and a major broadcasting announcement that will affect how fans of six NHL teams watch games.
Here is everything you need to know from today’s NHL news cycle.
Latest NHL News: Devils Add Luke Evangelista and Rangers Sign Eeli Tolvanen
New Jersey clearly believes its Stanley Cup window is open.
The Devils acquired Evangelista after the winger produced career highs of 12 goals, 44 assists and 56 points in 81 games for Nashville last season. Even more intriguing is the contract: Evangelista carries only a $3 million cap hit for 2026-27 and remains under team control as a restricted free agent afterward.
That’s a significant amount of draft capital to surrender, but I can understand why New Jersey did it.
Players who are 24, already producing close to 60 points and carrying a manageable cap hit don’t frequently become available. The Devils aren’t paying solely for Evangelista’s 2025-26 production; they’re betting that his best seasons are still ahead of him.
Nashville general manager Chris MacFarland explained that the trade gives the Predators additional draft capital, roster flexibility and an opportunity for their younger wingers. His assessment that Nashville was simply too “forward heavy” also explains why a productive young player could become available.
NHLTradeRumor.com Evangelista Trade Value Index
My biggest reservation is the price. A first-rounder plus a second is substantial. But New Jersey is purchasing a player entering his prime rather than hoping one of those picks eventually becomes one.
Rangers Find Potential Bargain in Eeli Tolvanen
The Rangers also added another forward Wednesday, signing Eeli Tolvanen to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
Tolvanen recorded 12 goals and 36 points in 78 games for Seattle last season while adding 178 hits and 81 blocked shots. The Rangers noted that over the past three seasons, Tolvanen is the NHL’s only player with at least 100 points, 600 hits and 200 blocked shots.
At $1.5 million, I like this deal considerably.
New York isn’t asking Tolvanen to become a star. They’re buying physicality, secondary offense, special-teams utility and the possibility of a rebound season without taking on meaningful long-term risk.
Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin Keep the NHL Trade Market on Edge
The most consequential NHL rumor may still involve Quinn Hughes.
Minnesota GM Bill Guerin says he remains confident the Wild can sign Hughes, although he acknowledged a basic reality: “we can’t make him sign anything.” Hughes has one year remaining at a $7.85 million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Cale Makar’s new eight-year, $163.2 million contract carrying a $20.4 million AAV has dramatically changed the negotiating environment for elite defensemen.
Sportsnet’s latest reporting adds another layer. Frank Seravalli believes Minnesota may want to “rip the Band-Aid off at some point this month” rather than allow Hughes’ future to dominate the entire season. New Jersey, where brothers Jack and Luke Hughes play, naturally remains the destination everyone will watch if Minnesota ever decides an extension isn’t happening.
From my perspective, this isn’t really about whether Minnesota wants Hughes. Of course it does. The question is whether Hughes is willing to surrender the leverage that comes with getting within months of unrestricted free agency.
NHLTradeRumor.com Quinn Hughes Salary-Cap Pressure Model
The NHL’s upper limit is projected at $113.5 million for 2027-28, when a Hughes extension would begin, while Kirill Kaprizov already carries a $17 million AAV.
The eye-opening number is 33 percent. If Hughes received Makar money, Hughes and Kaprizov alone would consume roughly one-third of Minnesota’s projected cap.
That is doable for two legitimate superstars, but it makes every other contract decision more important.
Jets Don’t Have to Rush a Connor Hellebuyck Trade
Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck situation remains unresolved after his trade request became public in late August.
The important update is that Winnipeg appears willing to be patient. Seravalli’s latest assessment is that the Jets can essentially wait until somebody meets their price for one of the generation’s premier goaltenders — or expect Hellebuyck to honour his contract.
That is exactly how I would approach it if I were Winnipeg.
Once a team behaves as though it must move a star player, leverage disappears. Hellebuyck has immense value, and training camp isn’t an artificial deadline unless the relationship becomes untenable.
Could Dylan Larkin Actually Stay in Detroit?
There has also been a meaningful shift in the Dylan Larkin trade rumors.
Larkin’s trade request became public in June, but no deal followed. Sportsnet’s latest discussion raised the possibility that Larkin could reconsider after Steve Yzerman’s departure from the GM role, particularly given Larkin’s longstanding connection to Michigan and the Red Wings organization.
This is one of the more interesting examples of an earlier report evolving rather than proving false.
The trade request was real. The trade simply never happened.
Circumstances inside the organization have since changed, and that could change Larkin’s calculation as well.
Tyler Seguin Returns to the Ice Ahead of Stars Training Camp
There was encouraging injury news out of Dallas as well.
Tyler Seguin is skating with the Stars after undergoing surgery in December for a torn ACL. The 34-year-old had seven goals and 17 points in 27 games before the injury, and his recovery timeline now puts a potential training-camp return within reach.
For Dallas, getting anything close to a healthy Seguin back would effectively function like another offseason roster addition.
Prime Video Lands Local NHL Rights for Six Teams
One of today’s biggest NHL business stories could have a direct impact on how fans watch games.
The NHL and Prime Video announced a multi-year agreement making Prime Video an exclusive local streaming option for the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues within their respective regional territories.
Each club will provide its own subscription details.
This is worth watching beyond those six franchises. NHL broadcasting continues moving toward streaming, and today’s agreement provides another indication that the traditional regional sports network model is rapidly changing.
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