Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 2026: The Vulture Watch Begins
David Pagnotta says vultures circle Hellebuyck after a .902 save percentage and exit-interview frustration. Three destinations make cap sens...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Mike Johnson
Senior NHL Insider & Trade Analyst
Mike Johnson is a Senior NHL Insider with over 15 years covering the league, focusing on salary cap analysis, trade rumors, and offer-sheet markets. He has broken stories on the 2025 Hughes-to-Wild trade narrative, the Kaprizov $17M extension cycle, and the 2026 RFA market reset. Mike fact-checks every article against PuckPedia, CapWages, NHL.com, and named insiders such as Elliotte Friedman, Frank Seravalli, Pierre LeBrun, and Daily Faceoff Rundown. Originally from Toronto, Mike played junior hockey before transitioning to NHL coverage. Follow him on X at @NHLTradeRumors. Editorial inquiries: editorial@nhltraderumorstalk.com.
Articles by Mike Johnson
Quinn Hughes Devils Trade 2026: The Brotherhood Premium
After Nico Hischier's non-committal exit-interview answer, new Devils GM Sunny Mehta has a 12-month window to swing for Quinn Hughes. James...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
Anaheim Ducks Franchise-Altering 2026: The Pronger Echo
After their 2nd-round exit, Pat Verbeek has $41.4M and four targets from Eric Stephens. Ranking the Pronger Echo by acquisition mechanism, c...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
⚡ Breaking
Trade Rumors
Blues Reject Wallstedt-Yurov Offer for Robert Thomas 2026
Russo Hockey reported May 15 that Wild offered Wallstedt + Yurov for Thomas. Blues said no. With 5 years left at $8.125M AAV and a full NTC,...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
⚡ Breaking
Trade Rumors
Calgary Flames Untouchables 2026: Conroy's 4 Off-Limits Names
Anthony Di Marco reported May 14 that Flames GM Craig Conroy will trade anyone except Wolf, Gridin, Coronato, and Parekh. Seven veterans nam...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
⚡ Breaking
Team Analysis
Sedin Twins Pondering Canucks Front Office Offer | The Sundin Blueprint Hits Vancouver
Elliotte Friedman reported May 11 that the Vancouver Canucks have offered Daniel and Henrik Sedin senior front office roles. The twins are p...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
NHL Coaching Carousel 2026: 5 Hot Seats and the Cassidy Watch
Five NHL head coaches sit on hot seats heading into June 2026 with one official vacancy across the league and Bruce Cassidy waiting for the...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
The July 1 Bonus Wall: $63M NHL Bonus Calendar 2026
On July 1, 2026, six NHL teams will wire $63 million in lockout-proof signing bonuses to Draisaitl, McDavid, Matthews, Crosby, MacKinnon, an...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Maple Leafs Win 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at 8.5% Odds
Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on 8.5% odds, holding the 5th-best chance in the field. The pick lands McKenna or Stenber...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Juuse Saros Trade Predators 2026: The $61.92M Saros Tax
The Saros Tax: Nashville owes Juuse Saros $54.18M over 7 more years on his $61.92M extension. Buyout costs $36.12M dead cap across 14 season...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
NHL $20.8M Salary Cap Ceiling 2026-27: The 9-Digit Era
The NHL salary cap rises to $104M in 2026-27, lifting the maximum individual contract to $20.8 million — the first time above $20M in cap er...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Sharks 2026 No 2 Pick Trade Targets: Six Defensemen Ranked
Mike Grier won the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and opened the phones. Six premier defensemen fit the Sharks' need — and every one of th...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Jason Robertson Contract 2026: Stars $1.4M Gap Decoded
Jason Robertson asks $12M, Stars offered $10.587M. Inside the $1.4M Gap, the Harley Anchor, the Skater Tax, and Robertson arbitration levera...
By Mike Johnson · 13 min read
NHL Playoff Salary Cap Tracker 2026: Round 2 Lineup Math
For the first time in 30 years, the NHL enforces a $95.5M salary cap inside the playoffs. Round 2 teams now submit a Daily Cap Roster every...
By Mike Johnson · 13 min read
NHL Cap Floor Teams 2026: 10 Clubs Forced to Spend $80M+
The 2026-27 NHL cap floor jumps to $76.9M. Pittsburgh sits $18.7M short. Ten teams have no choice but to spend on July 1, and that demand pr...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
NHL Offer Sheet Targets 2026: Top 8 RFAs Ranked
The 2026-27 NHL cap jumps to $104M, the biggest single-year leap in league history. Eight RFAs sit in the offer-sheet kill zone. Plus the Pi...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
2026 NHL Playoff Schedule, Bracket & TV Guide
Complete 2026 NHL Playoff Schedule with every Game 1 time, TV channel, streaming guide (ESPN, TNT, HBO Max, Sling, Fubo), full bracket forma...
By Mike Johnson · 14 min read
Maple Leafs Pick McKenna #1 in 2026 NHL Mock Draft
Toronto won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and will pick Gavin McKenna #1 on June 26. The Matthews Echo: 10 years between Toronto's last two fra...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
Sharks #2 Pick Trade 2026: Grier Open Phone Math
Sharks GM Mike Grier opened trade talks on the #2 overall pick after a 7-spot lottery jump. Inside the Stenberg vs defenseman scenarios for...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
Brady Tkachuk Checked Out: The Belief Gap | Senators 2026
Per Frank Seravalli, Brady Tkachuk has been 'checked out in Ottawa.' 3 Olympic goals to 0 playoff points in 60 days. Inside The Belief Gap o...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read