NHL Arbitration 2026: Eligible List
NHL RFAs must file for salary arbitration by July 5. Jason Robertson headlines the 2026 eligible class, but the Hearing Bluff means almost n...
By Mike Johnson · 9 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
NHL Buyout Candidates 2026
The NHL buyout window opens June 15. Rielly, Gallagher, Kotkaniemi, and Frederic are the names in play, but the Dead-Cap Tail means most buy...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
Darnell Nurse Trade: 4 Suitors
Edmonton wants Darnell Nurse's $9.25M off the books, but a buyout saves barely $1.53M and his no-move clause hands him the pen. The Bonus Sh...
By Mike Johnson · 12 min read
Alex Tuch Destinations: 4 Teams
Buffalo wants Alex Tuch back, but if the extension stalls, Columbus, Washington, Seattle, and Edmonton are circling. The cap math, the Kempe...
By Mike Johnson · 13 min read
Sabres Tuch Squeeze: 3 Players Departing
Buffalo broke a 14-year drought, then lost Game 7 in OT to Montreal. Now the Tuch Squeeze forces out Stanley, Malenstyn, and Levi. Cap math...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
⚡ Breaking
Breaking News
Canucks Fire Foote: Malhotra Leading
Vancouver fired head coach Adam Foote on May 19, 2026 after a 25-49-8 season. Manny Malhotra leads the candidate list. The Voice Mandate exp...
By Mike Johnson · 9 min read
Bill Guerin Wild Window Paradox: $17M Meets $1.18M
Wild GM Bill Guerin said 'we're in a window now' and 'you can't trade your way out of problems' five days after a Game 5 collapse. Then Kapr...
By Mike Johnson · 11 min read
Darren Raddysh Free Agent 2026: 4 Teams
Darren Raddysh's 70-point breakout turned his $975K cap hit into a four-team bidding war. The Athletic linked him to Philadelphia, San Jose,...
By Mike Johnson · 13 min read
Bobby McMann Free Agent 2026 Destinations: 4 Teams Linked
Bobby McMann's career-high 29 goals just turned a $1.35M cap hit into Sharangovich-tier money. The Athletic locked him to 4 teams (Detroit,...
By Mike Johnson · 10 min read
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
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
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
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
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