NHL Rumour Roundup: Latest on Marchenko, Nikishin, Tarasenko

With season openers around the corner, NHL teams are busy evaluating their rosters.

Several significant names remain in play as action on and off the ice heats up.

Here's a look at some players in the headlines:

With Marchenko giving no signs he intends to stay with the Columbus Blue Jackets when his current contract expires, the team has a decision to make on the Russian winger.

Marchenko, 26, will become a restricted free agent after his three-year, $11.5-million contract expires following this season.

After the Blue Jackets locked in Adam Fantilli to a long-term deal this week, they have a better idea of their cap situation going forward.

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"The most fascinating thing that the Blue Jackets have to decide is (do) they say 'hey this is a good player, we keep him, we start the year with him, we go,' or do they say 'we're trying to change our room and our group and if the player doesn't want to be here, we move on,'" Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Friday.

To that end, Friedman said, "teams have been circling around him.

"Montreal, everybody knows about, the Islanders I mentioned a couple pods ago," Fridman said. "Toronto I think has really tried to keep their interest secret, but it's kind of seeped out. I think Winnipeg at one point kind of looked into it.

"I heard Boston made an offer at one point. I had some people say Vegas, I had some other people say they weren't sure it was Vegas. I have to think Seattle is around this. They've really been looking at trying to grab a top-end player and they could make this deal."

Marchenko had 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 76 games last season.

The restricted free agent defenceman is not at camp with the Carolina Hurricanes after notching 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 games in his rookie season last year, helping the team win the Stanley Cup.

"Word came to me late Thursday night that he has permission to talk to some teams," Friedman said.

Friedman wondered aloud if Nikishin could be a part of a multi-team trade.

"Nikishin obviously is their key trade chip. What if they're trying to figure out how to do a direct trade for Nikishin, but that's boring.

"What if it's an attempt to do a three-way or (Connor) Hellebuyck or something else. Because I don't think they've given up their hope to get Hellebuyck."

Hellebuyck, of course, has requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets.

Nikishin is not believed to be interested in signing with the Jets, Friedman reported.

The 23-year-old defenceman is a restricted free agent after playing his second full season with the Detroit Red Wings last year.

"I've heard that Detroit's preference is a bridge (deal), we'll see," Friedman said.

Edvinsson did take part in a skate with the Red Wings on the first day of training camp.

The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent after putting up 23 goals and 24 assists in 75 games with the Minnesota Wild last season.

"I've heard the Panthers and him have been kind of eyeing each other," Friedman said. "Makes sense, he's played there, (and Brad) Marchand is hurt for now."

The Panthers acquired Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators at the 2024 trade deadline, and he went on to win a Stanley Cup with Florida.