Eklund's Latest Rumors For All 32 Teams

[TBone]

Today's NHL Rumors: Hellebuyck, Devils Crisis, Celebrini $20M

By Eklund
Jul 12, 2026 • 12:42 pm

Eklund's Rumor Notes

All 32 teams. Main rumor + main fan concern. Rumors discussed within the last 48 hours.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/2026/07/12/n ... l-collapse

[UMR-alum-05]

Thanks for posting. I started reading it. Skipped down to the Blues. Didn't get much out of it.

[sneptsmoustache]

Generally pretty dismissive of Eklund, but I got some value from reading through his little blurbs on each team. However for the Blues I think he slightly of misses the mark, which makes me take his "summary" for every other team with a grain of salt.

Re: his comments on the Blues, I would put "potential Nikishin trade" at the top of the rumor list, not Binner's status. And he says the main fan concern is adding another winger...we have 16 forwards as it stands now, I'm not sure I agree with him that we are all clamoring for another winger at this point haha.

[roessjd]

Generally pretty dismissive of Eklund, but I got some value from reading through his little blurbs on each team. However for the Blues I think he slightly of misses the mark, which makes me take his "summary" for every other team with a grain of salt.

Re: his comments on the Blues, I would put "potential Nikishin trade" at the top of the rumor list, not Binner's status. And he says the main fan concern is adding another winger...we have 16 forwards as it stands now, I'm not sure I agree with him that we are all clamoring for another winger at this point haha.

The first thing that popped in my head when I read that was all the people talking about how we need more RH wingers.

[zoiks]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

[sneptsmoustache]

Generally pretty dismissive of Eklund, but I got some value from reading through his little blurbs on each team. However for the Blues I think he slightly of misses the mark, which makes me take his "summary" for every other team with a grain of salt.

Re: his comments on the Blues, I would put "potential Nikishin trade" at the top of the rumor list, not Binner's status. And he says the main fan concern is adding another winger...we have 16 forwards as it stands now, I'm not sure I agree with him that we are all clamoring for another winger at this point haha.

The first thing that popped in my head when I read that was all the people talking about how we need more RH wingers.

Interesting...I went and looked at the roster/prospects, and I didn't realize the overwhelming number of L handed forwards we have. Snuggie is the only true RH RW that we have, and then Thomas, Finley, and Sunny are the other right-handers on the big club roster. Among prospects (at least with a realistic shot at getting some NHL games this year), it's only Carbo and Dylan Peterson. Might help the latter two's odds a little bit this year?

[Army's Mom]

Generally pretty dismissive of Eklund, but I got some value from reading through his little blurbs on each team. However for the Blues I think he slightly of misses the mark, which makes me take his "summary" for every other team with a grain of salt.

Re: his comments on the Blues, I would put "potential Nikishin trade" at the top of the rumor list, not Binner's status. And he says the main fan concern is adding another winger...we have 16 forwards as it stands now, I'm not sure I agree with him that we are all clamoring for another winger at this point haha.

The first thing that popped in my head when I read that was all the people talking about how we need more RH wingers.

1. I think these charts just reflect the chatter he hears from his "sources" - and I have to think either one of his sources is a message board like this, or one of his sources' sources is, because far too often what happens here gets reflected there.

2. That said, there's something that gets lost along the way, like the telephone game. We discuss needing a RH scoring winger, so Eklund says STL is looking at the winger market. For several weeks, he listed us as interested in Anthony Mantha, a left hander who makes Kyrou look like a diligent back-checker.

3. I don't see Nikishin being worth it. What's he actually done that Broberg hasn't? I think people are infatuated seeing the Blues back in the rumor mill, and/or with this player's draft pedigree and shot. IMO, if CAR is more interested in selling Nikishin than keeping him, that tells me he's probably not worth adding as a core piece. Factor in they are requiring a Nikishin buyer to also take Kolkatniemi - no thanks.

[UMR-alum-05]

The Blues need a right shot wing who can pot 20+ goals more than they need anything else on the roster at the moment.

[StlFanInVA]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

[sneptsmoustache]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

Agree. I think this season depends a little bit on whether 1-2 of our top prospects can have a breakout season..finding that next level and/or demonstrating that they are an everyday top 6 forward or top 4 D. Kind of like Petro in 2010-2011 or Parayko in 2015-16, where you always knew they were a good prospect, but suddenly you were seeing it translate onto the NHL ice.

I would love to see Dvo show a step-function improvement in his game and demonstrate that he can be an elite player in this league, for example. (Maybe "elite" is too strong of a word, but showing that he can be a top player.)

Carbo and Jiricek could do it, as well, but that feels like it's another year or so away. With Stenberg and Lindstein I see more linear progression for whatever reason, but it could be one of them, as well.

Beyond that, I'm not familiar enough with McTavish or McMichael, but it seems like those guys could also potentially have a "breakout" season. Looking forward to seeing how it shakes out.

Edit: And what we do NOT need is for a bunch of players to take a step backwards like they did last year (I'm looking at you, Fowler, Buch, Parakyo, Kyrou, etc...)

[DawgDad]

Are we REALLY "Happy/Optimistic"?

Maybe most are. Short term, I sense a state of resignation to team's bubble status, cautious optimism for marginal improvement. Longer term I'd say hopeful but cautiously optimistic. There are several prospects with long term core upside potential but much ceiling uncertainty remains.

[smilinjoefission]

As long as Binny doesn't play I'm very optimistic.

[zoiks]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

Our only decent chance for a D prospect to be worthy of top player play minutes is Jiricek, and his full development doesn’t fit the timeline of Robert Thomas’ contract. The Blues need to acquire a power play D now and not in 2-3 years. Nikishin could fill that role, and his age fits the Blues core and also means signing him long term won’t saddle the team with an aged, declining player at the end of the contract. Bumping Broberg down to the 2nd PP unit would greatly improve the PP, which was abysmal last season.

The current roster would likely have Broberg and Mailloux on the 2 PP units. I believe they combined had 2 goals and 5 assists on the PP last season.

This is the reason the Blues were rumored to be trying to trade for Byram for years. A PP D has been a roster hole since Petro left.

[StlFanInVA]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

Our only decent chance for a D prospect to be worthy of top player play minutes is Jiricek, and his full development doesn’t fit the timeline of Robert Thomas’ contract. The Blues need to acquire a power play D now and not in 2-3 years. Nikishin could fill that role, and his age fits the Blues core and also means signing him long term won’t saddle the team with an aged, declining player at the end of the contract. Bumping Broberg down to the 2nd PP unit would greatly improve the PP, which was abysmal last season.

The current roster would likely have Broberg and Mailloux on the 2 PP units. I believe they combined had 2 goals and 5 assists on the PP last season.

This is the reason the Blues were rumored to be trying to trade for Byram for years. A PP D has been a roster hole since Petro left.

Good explanation. I can see why you think the Blues should be targeting Nikishin.
On the other hand, the Blues have already made a number of fairly significant moves and have a young team. Most prospects are still over a year away, but one or two could surprise. I would like to see more growth from within. I'd bet the D gets more than 2 PP goals this year sans Nikishin, for example .
I haven't seen Nikishin play enough to know if he is worth the gamble, but I think it would be a huge gamble since he is not yet proven and given the likely price to trade for him and the forthcoming contract / cap cost.

[Harry York 37]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

Our only decent chance for a D prospect to be worthy of top player play minutes is Jiricek, and his full development doesn’t fit the timeline of Robert Thomas’ contract. The Blues need to acquire a power play D now and not in 2-3 years. Nikishin could fill that role, and his age fits the Blues core and also means signing him long term won’t saddle the team with an aged, declining player at the end of the contract. Bumping Broberg down to the 2nd PP unit would greatly improve the PP, which was abysmal last season.

The current roster would likely have Broberg and Mailloux on the 2 PP units. I believe they combined had 2 goals and 5 assists on the PP last season.

This is the reason the Blues were rumored to be trying to trade for Byram for years. A PP D has been a roster hole since Petro left.

Good explanation. I can see why you think the Blues should be targeting Nikishin.
On the other hand, the Blues have already made a number of fairly significant moves and have a young team. Most prospects are still over a year away, but one or two could surprise. I would like to see more growth from within. I'd bet the D gets more than 2 PP goals this year sans Nikishin, for example .
I haven't seen Nikishin play enough to know if he is worth the gamble, but I think it would be a huge gamble since he is not yet proven and given the likely price to trade for him and the forthcoming contract / cap cost.

I believe Broberg and Mailloux both take giant strides this season, barring injury.

Mailloux might make the larger strides as he just might have enough confidence and poise to pick his pinches even more cannily. Even last year, by the midway point of the season, he was starting to make the considered gamble and his instincts-and his athleticism got him out of trouble most every time he bet wrong.

Speaking of Athleticism, is there a more all around gifted specimen on the roster than Broberg?
I can’t wait to see where he picks up this season.

[Old_Goat]

Eklund’s rumor mongering is worthless, but I’ll chime in and say I think the Blues’ top need is a defenseman that can put up points on the top power play unit while still providing decent defense. That’s why I think trading for Nikishin makes sense for the Blues, although taking on the bad contract Carolina is apparently wanting to bundle with Nikishin makes little sense for the Blues.

I'll disagree. The Blues top need is time. They really just need for players to develop and see how it plays out.

Our only decent chance for a D prospect to be worthy of top player play minutes is Jiricek, and his full development doesn’t fit the timeline of Robert Thomas’ contract. The Blues need to acquire a power play D now and not in 2-3 years. Nikishin could fill that role, and his age fits the Blues core and also means signing him long term won’t saddle the team with an aged, declining player at the end of the contract. Bumping Broberg down to the 2nd PP unit would greatly improve the PP, which was abysmal last season.

The current roster would likely have Broberg and Mailloux on the 2 PP units. I believe they combined had 2 goals and 5 assists on the PP last season.

This is the reason the Blues were rumored to be trying to trade for Byram for years. A PP D has been a roster hole since Petro left.

Good explanation. I can see why you think the Blues should be targeting Nikishin.
On the other hand, the Blues have already made a number of fairly significant moves and have a young team. Most prospects are still over a year away, but one or two could surprise. I would like to see more growth from within. I'd bet the D gets more than 2 PP goals this year sans Nikishin, for example .
I haven't seen Nikishin play enough to know if he is worth the gamble, but I think it would be a huge gamble since he is not yet proven and given the likely price to trade for him and the forthcoming contract / cap cost.

I believe Broberg and Mailloux both take giant strides this season, barring injury.

Mailloux might make the larger strides as he just might have enough confidence and poise to pick his pinches even more cannily. Even last year, by the midway point of the season, he was starting to make the considered gamble and his instincts-and his athleticism got him out of trouble most every time he bet wrong.

Speaking of Athleticism, is there a more all around gifted specimen on the roster than Broberg?
I can’t wait to see where he picks up this season.

+1
And also for the earlier StlFanInVA, time and patience applies as well...and the time may not be that long. Looking forward to the competition and hoping for a solid start to season without panic, so there is not a massive hole to dig out of forcing counterproductive moves.