NHL Rumors June 26 2026: Pettersson, Hellebuyck, Robertson in Play

Montreal is sniffing around Elias Pettersson according to people who spoke with Rick Dhaliwal on the Halford & Brough Show.

Montreal Eyes Pettersson While Calgary and Winnipeg Chase the No. 4 Pick

Rick Dhaliwal reported that multiple people told him Montreal would not be surprised if the Canadiens explored a deal for Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson. The Canadiens finished the 2025-26 season with 89 points and hold the 11th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Elliotte Friedman stated on 32 Thoughts that Calgary and Winnipeg have both contacted Buffalo about moving up to the No. 4 selection. Buffalo has received offers that include the No. 4 pick plus a roster player and a prospect, yet Winnipeg refused to part with its own No. 8 selection.

The Flames sit 14 points out of a playoff spot and own the 12th overall pick. Winnipeg, coming off a first-round exit, holds the eighth selection and has already confirmed it is listening on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Murat Ates reported that Buffalo’s package for Hellebuyck included the fourth overall pick, a roster player, and a prospect, but Winnipeg would not add the eighth overall. Ates added that Carolina’s reported offer of Alexander Nikishin and a late first-round pick falls short of Winnipeg’s asking price.

Seattle’s Robertson Pursuit Collapses While Giroux Heads Toward Free Agency

Darren Dreger reported that Seattle made an aggressive push for Jason Robertson but the winger declined to commit to an eight-year contract on the short timeline required. No alternative suitors had surfaced at the time of the June 26 update.

Robertson recorded 82 points in 82 games during the 2025-26 season. Seattle, which missed the playoffs, now faces a narrowed window to add scoring before the draft opens on June 27.

Pierre LeBrun stated that Ottawa pending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux is weighing his options and is likely to test the open market. Giroux posted 51 points in 76 games and the Senators hold a 2026 third-round pick that could be used as a sweetener in any retention deal.

The Senators finished with 92 points and sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. Giroux’s departure would leave Ottawa with a $5.5 million cap hit to replace on the second line.

Hellebuyck Trade Market Remains Fluid as Draft Day Nears

Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed he continues to field calls on Connor Hellebuyck without confirming any specific request from the goaltender. Hellebuyck posted a .917 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average across 58 appearances.

Winnipeg’s No. 8 pick and Florida’s interest were discussed in separate reports. Ates noted that any Florida package would require Anton Lundell and that no such offer had reached the Jets at the time of writing.

The 2025-26 NHL Trade Tracker lists 47 completed deals through June 25, with an average of 1.8 first-round picks changing hands per transaction. Three of the five teams named in the June 26 reports already own selections inside the top 12.