Ryan Lomberg UFA 2026: Panthers, Sharks, Red Wings |
Ryan Lomberg finishes 2025-26 with 9 points and 129 hits in 57 games. His $2.0M expires July 1. Where the 31-year-old energy forward lands n...
By Mike Johnson · 17 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
Kevyn Adams Sabres Dark Cloud 2026: The Dark Cloud Unlock
Buffalo went .500 under Kevyn Adams then .776 after firing him. The Dark Cloud Unlock, Peters's dark cloud quote, and the 14-year drought en...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Vincent Trocheck Rangers Trade 2026: Offseason Market
Five contenders are lining up for Vincent Trocheck this offseason, but his 10-team NTL quietly prices the trade. Why the Rangers' ask won't...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
NHL Salary Cap 2026-27: Winners and Losers of the $104M Jump
On July 1 the NHL salary cap rises from $95.5M to $104M. $272M of fresh money hits the league. Here are the 5 clear winners and 5 clear lose...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Juraj Slafkovsky Canadiens Playoff: 93-Year Hat Trick
Juraj Slafkovsky scored 3 power-play goals in Game 1, the first Canadien to do it since NHL tracking began in 1933-34. Inside the 4th-year b...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
Shane Doan Canucks 2026: The Group-Mind Gambit Explained
Canucks added Shane Doan to their 2026 GM search — but not as the next GM. Per Elliotte Friedman, Doan is being auditioned as part of a grou...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Don Waddell 2026 Trade Deadline: The Miscalculation
Pittsburgh clinched the playoffs April 9 with 36 post-trade points from Yegor Chinakhov. Columbus missed by 6 points with 10 from Danton Hei...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Jordan Binnington Trade Destinations 2026: Flag-Jersey Split
Jordan Binnington posted a .873 for the Blues and a .907 for Canada in the same 12-month window. With his no-trade clause shrinking July 1,...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Charlie Coyle Blue Jackets UFA 2026: Last Center Standing
Charlie Coyle's $5.25M cap hit expires July 1, 2026, and he's the only 50+ point center on the UFA market. Inside The Last Center Standing a...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Trevor Lewis Retirement 2026: The Reach Dividend
Trevor Lewis retired after 17 NHL seasons, 1,034 games, and 2 Stanley Cups. Inside The Reach Dividend: how a panned 2006 draft pick became a...
By Mike Johnson · 13 min read
Zach Werenski Norris Trophy 2026: The Mid-Market Tax
Zach Werenski put up 81 points, led NHL defensemen in even-strength goals, and is the statistical Norris favorite. Why he'll still finish se...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Vincent Trocheck Trade Destinations 2026: 5 Suitors, retention cost
Elliotte Friedman confirms five teams are circling Vincent Trocheck after the March deadline walked away empty. Washington, Toronto, Carolin...
By Mike Johnson · 20 min read
Seattle Kraken Offseason 2026: Top-Six Targets Reality Check
Seattle Kraken offseason 2026 reality check: $29M cap space, three named targets already extended, and why Bobby McMann and Eeli Tolvanen re...
By Mike Johnson · 20 min read
The 58-Point Teardown: Why Kane, Forbort, Blueger Are Done
Vancouver finished dead last with 58 points. After trading Quinn Hughes, three more UFAs (Kane, Forbort, Blueger) are walking. The $8.93M te...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
Jonathan Toews' 1,253-Day Verdict: The Jets Retirement
Jonathan Toews has not made a retirement decision. But every public word he has said since the final horn of game 82 points to the same answ...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Macklin Celebrini Contract Extension 2026: The Bedard Clock
Macklin Celebrini contract extension 2026: Sharks rookie said "I love it here" April 18. Inside The Bedard Clock — the September 15 deadline...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
Ondrej Palat Buyout Islanders 2026: The Stanley Cup Residual
Ondrej Palat buyout Islanders 2026 math: PuckPedia calculator says $3.3M savings with $1.65M cap charge. Inside the Stanley Cup Residual tha...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
⚡ Breaking
Analysis
Porter Martone Scouting Report: Flyers Rookie Playoff Debut 2026
Porter Martone scouting report 2026: 19-year-old Flyers rookie scored playoff GWG 21 days after ELC signing, breaking Simon Gagne 26-year re...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
Connor Hellebuyck Playoff 2026: The April Mask Explained
Connor Hellebuyck playoff 2026 paradox: .916 regular-season SV% drops to .870 in playoffs. The April Mask framework explains the 46-point ga...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
⚡ Breaking
Injury Report
Vincent Trocheck Lung Infection 2026: The Invisible 14
Vincent Trocheck lung infection 2026: 14 games missed, chest tubes, 1-week hospital. Inside The Invisible 14 that cost Rangers their playoff...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read