Lyle Richardson gathers the latest NHL rumors and speculation on Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine, Flyers center Morgan Frost and the Golden Knights' goaltending tandem.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have attempted to move Patrik Laine since the 26-year-old winger requested a trade in early June.

Those efforts remain complicated with Laine in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. The Jackets can trade him while he's still in the program, but interested clubs wish to speak with him first. 

Laine also carries an $8.7-million annual salary cap hit through 2024-25 and a 10-team no-trade list.

The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported on July 14 that the Jackets are still awaiting word when Laine will be released from the program. Until then, neither they nor any other club can speak directly to him.

Portzline believes the time to move Laine has passed, with teams acquiring other players via trades and free agency.

Nevertheless, Portzline reported GM Don Waddell remains optimistic, claiming some teams remain interested in the former 44-goal scorer. Waddell thinks clubs could circle back to the trade market with the free-agent market now depleted.

Meanwhile, Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon recalled that Morgan Frost frequently surfaced in the rumor mill last season. With the dust settled in the free-agent market, he wondered if a rival club might look into the 25-year-old center's availability. 

Frost occasionally wound up in coach John Tortorella's dog house last season. Still, the Flyers haven't indicated they're in a hurry to move him.

Turning to the Vegas Golden Knights, they recently raised eyebrows by shipping Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals, replacing him with free agent Ilya Samsonov. They're left with the inconsistent Samsonov and the injury-plagued Adin Hill as their goaltending tandem for this season. They're both eligible for UFA status next July.

Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal believes Hill must prove he can stay healthy for an entire season, while Samsonov must bounce back from a poor showing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Webster speculated the Golden Knights could seek a new starter if Hill doesn't play well enough to merit a contract extension. They could attempt to find a replacement in next summer's UFA market or before the March trade deadline.

Linus Ullmark could be a trade target if he and the Ottawa Senators fail to agree to a contract extension. Another could be John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. 

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