NHL Rumor Roundup: Canadiens Still Seek A Top-Six Forward, And Tarasenko To The Oilers?

It's no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are in the market for a top-six forward to play on their second line alongside budding star Ivan Demidov.

Since the trade deadline, the Canadiens have been linked to Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies in the rumor mill. With the Maple Leafs under new management retooling their roster, it's doubtful the 23-year-old power forward is available.

During the NHL draft weekend, there was speculation claiming the Canadiens were interested in Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old right winger is in the final season of his contract and will be an RFA with arbitration rights next July.

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The Montreal Canadiens may not have been as active as their fans would have liked this offseason, but they are still getting praised around the league.

Turning to the Edmonton Oilers, they could use another top-six winger for their second line.

One option could be Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old right winger is still available in the UFA market. He's coming off a solid season with the Minnesota Wild, with 23 goals and 47 points in 75 regular-season games and five points in 11 playoff contests.

Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal believes Tarasenko could be a good fit with the Oilers. However, his colleague Jim Matheson disagreed, citing the winger's lack of footspeed and likely unwillingness to accept a low-cost $2 million offer.

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 8:29 AM.