As the 2026-27 regular season prepares to get underway next week, general managers across the National Hockey League are fine-tuning their rosters, leading to a fresh wave of high-profile trade speculation. In Montreal, the Canadiens are still searching for an established second-line center to anchor their offense, putting them at the center of the rumor mill. Meanwhile, down in Texas, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Jason Robertson’s long-term future with the Dallas Stars has once again thrust the star winger into the national spotlight as contract questions linger.
Montreal’s Continuing Search for a Second-Line Center
For the time being, the Montreal Canadiens appear content to open the upcoming campaign by utilizing sophomore forward Oliver Kapanen in the crucial second-line center position. Tasked with playing between explosive wingers Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky, Kapanen faces a major test early in his young career. Nevertheless, general manager Kent Hughes is well aware that relying entirely on internal growth carries risks, and he continues to monitor the trade market for a more proven, viable option to solidify the team’s top six.
Recent reports suggest that Montreal’s search has already encountered some roadblocks. According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Canadiens previously attempted to convince Detroit Red Wings star Dylan Larkin to accept a trade to Montreal. However, the 30-year-old center was reportedly unwilling to waive his trade protections to join a Canadian-based franchise, forcing the Canadiens to pivot their attention elsewhere on the trade market.
Kypreos also indicated that the Canadiens are among several NHL organizations keeping a close eye on Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele. The 33-year-old center is coming off a stellar, career-high 103-point campaign and remains one of the most reliable offensive forces in the league. Scheifele is signed through the 2030-31 season with a hefty average annual value of $8.5 million. Furthermore, he possesses a full no-movement clause that runs until July 2027, at which point it modifies into an approved 10-team trade list, giving him significant control over his destination if a move is ever tabled.
The Winnipeg Jets’ Internal Turmoil and Potential Fallout
The possibility of Scheifele becoming available is tied closely to ongoing organizational drama in Winnipeg. The Jets are currently embroiled in a tense standoff with starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has officially requested a trade and remains suspended without pay after failing to report to training camp.
If management ultimately decides that Hellebuyck’s time in Winnipeg has reached its end, Kypreos believes the Jets’ front office could be forced to evaluate the entire trajectory of the roster. This could include pondering whether to retain Scheifele as a core pillar or capitalize on his peak value by trading him for a massive, multi-piece return that could accelerate a retool or rebuild.
However, acquiring a player of Scheifele’s caliber would come at an extraordinarily high cost for the Canadiens or any other interested suitor. Kypreos suggested that Winnipeg’s asking price in any potential blockbuster would likely include young center Oliver Kapanen or elite forward prospect Michael Hage. The trade discussions could also involve oft-injured forward Kirby Dach, as well as goaltender Samuel Montembeault, as the Jets would require immediate roster compensation and goaltending depth to offset losing foundational pieces.
While adding a player of Scheifele’s offensive pedigree would undoubtedly transform Montreal’s top six, any potential deal would come with significant logistical hurdles. Beyond convincing Scheifele to waive his no-movement clause to accept a trade to Montreal, the Canadiens’ front office would have to weigh the long-term implications of paying a steep acquisition price for an expensive veteran whose performance will inevitably face the test of age over the remainder of his long-term contract.
Jason Robertson’s Uncertain Future in Dallas
Shifting the focus to the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars enter the new season with high championship expectations, yet they carry a notable cloud of uncertainty regarding star winger Jason Robertson. The 27-year-old enters the upcoming campaign playing on a one-year, $12-million contract, leaving his long-term future in Dallas shrouded in doubt.
Robertson has frequently found himself at the center of trade speculation since last summer. That tension culminated in a tense contract standoff with Stars management that nearly resulted in a blockbuster trade to the Seattle Kraken before the two sides finally compromised on his current one-year deal. With that bridge contract now counting down, Robertson is once again on track to become an unrestricted free agent next July if an extension cannot be reached.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement, formal contract extension talks between Robertson and the Stars can officially begin on January 1. However, Nick Kypreos has floated alternative scenarios that could unfold if negotiations stall. Kypreos envisioned a complex scenario where the Stars could theoretically sign Robertson to a long-term contract extension and subsequently flip him to a team like the Seattle Kraken before his new deal officially kicks in on July 1, ensuring the franchise receives a massive asset return rather than losing an elite player for nothing on the open market.
Adding further intrigue to the situation, Kypreos noted that the Pittsburgh Penguins recently signed Nick Robertson for several strategic reasons, one of which includes the distinct possibility of bolstering their recruitment pitch to lure his brother, Jason, should he test the open market as an unrestricted free agent next July.
Despite the persistent rumors and the looming threat of free agency, Stars general manager Jim Nill remains publicly focused on mending fences and securing his star forward for the long haul. Speaking to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun last week, Nill revealed that he met directly with Robertson and his family over the summer to clear the air and repair their working relationship. Nill emphasized that his primary objective throughout the season remains getting Robertson signed to a long-term extension before he reaches unrestricted free agency next summer.
Executing a high-profile sign-and-trade maneuver involving Seattle, Pittsburgh, or any other interested suitor would represent a dramatic and unexpected pivot for Nill. However, barring an unforeseen breakdown in communication or a completely derailed season, the veteran general manager is exceptionally unlikely to explore that dramatic option before the March 1 trade deadline, particularly with the Stars expected to once again ice a roster capable of contending for the Stanley Cup.