NHL Rumours: Bolduc’s Term, Hellebuyck Cost & Quinn Hughes to Flyers? – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the Montreal Canadiens, who are looking to get Zachary Bolduc signed, but there may be a big question about the term of the new deal. Next, Connor Hellebuyck remains with the Winnipeg Jets for now, but there is some concern that the trade price has gotten lower.

Finally, the Philadelphia Flyers are in the market for a big swing, and it could end up being Quinn Hughes heading their way.

Bolduc Reportedly Looking for 4-Year Deal

When looking at the Canadiens’ roster and cap situation, they aren’t in a complicated spot. Sure, there are a few loose ends to tie together, but with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov all on favourable deals, their forward group has lots of room to grow.

Bolduc was acquired from the St. Louis Blues last year and posted 30 points in his first season with Montreal. He currently remains a restricted free agent, and typically, a deal for him wouldn’t be complicated and would land on a one- or two-year deal with a low salary.

When speaking on the Bolduc situation on the Starr & D’Amico Show, Marco D’Amico reported that Bolduc and his camp are looking for more term, with a four-year deal being the number.

We are seeing a lot of young players signing deals around that term, and in Bolduc’s case, a four-year deal would lead him right to unrestricted free agency.

Hellebuyck Cost Going Down Whether Jets Like it or Not

When there was a frenzy of trades in the week leading up to the draft, many pointed to the draft picks and noted that there is nothing more valuable than a pick in that week.

Now that we are well beyond the draft and Hellebuyck is still with the Jets, the trade packages are getting more complicated to put together, according to Elliotte Friedman. The Jets aren’t prioritizing picks and prospects, but if they want value, they may need ot take that route.

Unfortunately for them, a lot of those valuable pieces are off the table now. For the picks, teams don’t know what they will have at the next draft. When teams knew exactly what picks they were working with, they were a bit more flexible, but moving picks now is a gamble.

As for the prospects, teams have made it to the end of the offseason, and with training camps opening, there could be a new plan for a high-end prospect, like them playing a big role rather than being a trade chip.

Teams don’t have the assets they did earlier in the summer. The Jets might have missed their window to get the biggest possible return.

Will Quinn Hughes Join Flyers?

With the extension talk between Hughes and the Minnesota Wild becoming a bit more complicated than anyone expected, if the idea of him being traded becomes a reality, the Flyers could be in the mix.

Kevin Kurz of The Athletic answered a question regarding the idea of bringing Hughes in, and made a lot of comments on how it could make sense. (from Could Quinn Hughes end up on Flyers? What is David Jiricek’s future?, The Athletic, Sept. 4, 2026)

Kurz noted the positive relationships Hughes has with head coach Rick Tocchet and top centre Trevor Zegras, while also reminding readers that the Flyers were interested in acquiring Hughes prior to the trade to Minnesota.

In addition to Hughes, the Flyers showed interest in Zach Werenski when his name was in trade rumours, but that didn’t go anywhere. On top of all of that, the Leo Carlsson offer sheet proves that the Flyers are serious about bringing in elite talent and are willing to pay the price.

The Flyers have a lot of assets they could move, including draft picks and young players, but any deal between the Flyers and Wild would have to come with an extension, which is still likely to be for three years regardless of where he lands, so he can align with his brother Jack and his deal.