NHL Rumors: Marchenko Buzz, Laine Confusion, Blackhawks Captaincy

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, conflicting reports are swirling around Kirill Marchenko and the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Blackhawks may be preparing a surprising leadership announcement involving Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane, and the New York Islanders’ rumored pursuit of Patrik Laine isn’t quite what it seems.

Canadiens, Blue Jackets Dealing With Marchenko Rumor Confusion

After online traction that a trade was coming, the latest buzz surrounding Kirill Marchenko has changed. A report suggested the Montreal Canadiens had received permission to discuss a contract extension with Marchenko’s camp ahead of a potential trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The implication was that a deal could be close if those talks went well.

However, that narrative has been strongly pushed back on. Agent Dan Milstein wrote, “Incredible reporting. Truly. The confidence here is doing a lot of heavy lifting, shame it’s not attached to anything real. But hey, the “likes” don’t know that.” Clearly, he’s denying any report about extension discussions in Montreal.

Meanwhile, Blue Jackets insider Aaron Portzline writes that there has been no recent movement on Marchenko, noting the team hasn’t received calls about the forward since earlier this summer. While he didn’t completely rule out future discussions, the idea that a trade is imminent appears overstated.

Marco D’Amico also clarified his position, distancing himself from the initial report on RG.org. He confirmed Montreal’s interest in Marchenko is real, but emphasized there’s no indication a deal is close or even actively progressing at this time.

Mark Scheig writes, “If we have anything substantial and new to report on Kirill Marchenko or anyone else, we will say so. As of this moment, there is nothing new to report despite the report and rampant rumors out there.”

Blackhawks’ Captaincy Twist Involving Bedard, Kane

In Chicago, a fascinating leadership development could soon become official. Reports indicate the Blackhawks offered team captaincy to Connor Bedard, the face of the franchise and its young superstar. However, in a surprising twist, Bedard is said to have deferred the honor to Patrick Kane.

If confirmed, the move marks Kane’s return to a leadership role with the club where he built his legacy. It also reflects Bedard’s maturity and respect for the veteran, choosing to pass on the responsibility despite being the obvious long-term choice.

An announcement is expected sometime mid-week, and if it plays out this way, it will be one of the more unique captaincy decisions in recent NHL memory.

Islanders, Laine Rumor Not What It Seems

Over the weekend, reports surfaced suggesting Patrik Laine had either agreed to or been offered a professional tryout (PTO) by the New York Islanders. That speculation, however, appears to be premature.

According to Stefen Rosner, the Islanders did have conversations with Laine’s camp earlier in free agency, but those talks didn’t progress far. More importantly, no PTO offer has been made at this point. The idea of one remains possible, but it hasn’t materialized.

Laine remains an intriguing option for teams in need of scoring, particularly on the power play. After missing more than 100 games last season, he qualifies for a bonus-laden contract with a lower base salary—making him a low-risk, high-reward option financially.

While the financial structure could make Laine appealing, there’s a significant limitation attached. Any deal under this framework would have to be a one-year contract. That creates a unique scenario. A team signing Laine would essentially be betting on a rebound season without any long-term control. If he returns to form as a 30-goal scorer, he could hit free agency again next summer with increased value and full leverage.