NHL Rumor Mill – September 2, 2024
The latest on the remaining notable unrestricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently listed several noteworthy players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.
Fox noted Tyler Johnson signed a professional tryout offer (PTO) with the Boston Bruins. He believes the versatile 32-year-old forward has a legitimate shot of adding to the Bruins’ depth at center this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Much depends on the outcome of Boston’s contract negotiations with restricted free-agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins have just over $8.6 million in cap space but most of that will go to Swayman.

Former Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie (NHL Images)
Three teams are believed to be interested in former San Jose Sharks winger Filip Zadina. The Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs are said to be among them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zadina could make his decision by this week. It’s believed his agent is trying to get him a PTO.
A lack of available young defensemen could make Calen Addison, 24, enticing to teams seeking a right-shot blueliner. Fox noted the Edmonton Oilers could have an opening.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent speculation suggests the Oilers are considering more experienced options. Read on…
Fox speculates John Klingberg could land a PTO or short-term offer once he’s fully healthy. The 32-year-old underwent season-ending hip surgery last December.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been nothing new in the rumor mill about Klingberg. That doesn’t mean he isn’t talking to teams. We’ll find out soon enough if a team will take a chance on him.
Recent speculation suggests the Oilers could consider bringing back Tyson Barrie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ve also been linked to puck-moving blueliner Tony DeAngelo and former Oiler Justin Schultz.
Veteran left winger Max Pacioretty has been tied to the Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers in the rumor mill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Detroit Red Wings have also been mentioned as a possible destination for Pacioretty.
Wingers James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Labanc also remain available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word yet on whether either forward is close to signing a PTO or a contract with an NHL club.
Penguins SHOULD be on list of teams interested in Zadina
Re , “A lack of available young defensemen could make Calen Addison, 24, enticing to teams seeking a right-shot blueliner. ”
Pens only have Letang and Karrlson as righties
Gustav Lidstrom (another young rightie) also available
Shea or Aho to WBS; sign either/or Addison or Lidstrom; zero change in Cap space; big improvement on D
sounds like the Pens need a righty for the Pk… which makes Addison not the fit
Gustav Lidstrom was a +12 with Anaheim and remains unsigned?
Exactly
Lidstrom, at the absolute very least; should have a PTO offer from Pens
Lidstom in and one of Shea or Aho down; no Cap change; finally 3 pairs of D; big improvement
@8787
Jack St. Ivany will be the third pair right handed defenceman next season.
The Penguins farm system has finally moved up all be it only a little from 30th to 26th..wohoo.
If somehow Dubas can land young Nic Robertson from Toronto we will have 7 / 20 something’s players in the line up next year.
Drew Oconnor 26
Anthony Beauvillier 27
Rutger Mc Groarty 20
Blake Lizotte 26
Cody Glass 25
Michael Bunting 28
Nic Robertson 22
Vasily Ponomarev 22
if they get Robertson and Dubas wants him
Vasily Ponomarev my make it out of training camp he is 22 Koivunen is 21. The Penguins will be younger and play a faster game and be more entertaining to watch..fingers crossed
Fox writes that three teams are interested in Zadina. And then lists four teams. And I thought I was bad at math.
Remember that a Czech journalist wrote last week that the Sabres were close to signing Zadina to a PTO. Then Friedman debunked that report and the journalist then backed off his claim. Then it was he who reported that the Habs, Avs and Leafs were the three teams interested. I don’t know why everyone seems to believe that rumor when it’s coming from the very source who admitted to being wrong about his earlier report on Zadina.
I don’t believe the Habs have even the slightest interest in Zadina. They don’t need him. They have a solid group of young forwards as it is.
Howard the hockey writes always dip into the same well of teams when it comes to players signing, getting traded for or whatever. You’ll always find an original six team or two in most rumors…it’s like adding a pinch of salt in any given recipe.
We’ll take Zadina. No questions asked.
Zadina in; waive Accairi; no Cap change; big lift in team
Well so much for those rumors of three teams being interested in Zadina. He’s signed in Switzerland. In the future let’s please stop treating reports from unknown European “journalists” as undisputed facts.
Zadina goes to the Swiss league
https://x.com/SpectorsHockey/status/1830603812270444719
Sh&&$t!!
Swiss League less $’s than NHL League min
Pens then could have had him for League Min
Dubas. Pay your cell bill so that you can make calls again!!!!
Zadina’s situation best summed up in the Detroit Free Press
“With NHL training camps starting up later this month and no tangible offer to play in the NHL – a tryout might not have led to a contract – Zadina has a measure of security in Switzerland.
Zadina never was able to translate the scoring touch that made him such an attractive prospect six years ago to the NHL level. In 262 games, he posted 41 goals and 91 points, along with a minus-95 rating. He played 190 games with the Wings, recording 28 goals and 68 points. He was part of a string of first-round picks by the Wings that did not pan out, joining 2015’s Evgeny Svechnikov (No. 19) and 2016’s Dennis Cholowski (No. 20). Those, at least, were in the late teens. Zadina was a top-10 pick – and what really stings the Wings is that the player drafted at No. 7 by the Vancouver Canucks, Quinn Hughes, is an elite defenseman” who, in June 2024, won the Norris Trophy.”
Nowhere does it say how much he signed for, but this link shows the salaries in Euros for the various leagues, with Switzerland paying anywhere from 40,000 to 90,000 Euros. Clearly, no NHL team was even willing to extend anything but a PTO – especially after looking at his career stats which includes a cumulative minus 95 as noted above.
https://www.playhockeyineurope.com/blog/how-much-do-hockey-players-make-in-europe
What makes you think he’d do any better in Pittsburgh?
Johnson is a good signing by Boston! They have gone the route of getting large bodies! Johnson gives them some speed at the forward position which they desperately need!
Sr, Boston hasn’t signed him yet … he’s there as a PTO … and history has shown that most PTOs do not get contracts. Besides, depending upon what Swayman ultimately gets, as Lyle notes above there may not be enough left in the kitty to give Johnson even a base deal.
Check out this article – the successful ones are far outnumbered by those ultimately not making it
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/the-savviest-nhl-ptos-of-the-last-decade-124701607.html
Sr Boston has very good speed.
GeorgeO Didn’t read the article but Danton Heinen, thurned a pto with Bosto into a contract and got a 2yr deal with Vancouver in the off-season after a good year with the Bruins.
Where is our friend Phil Kessel on this list of free agents. lol.
Chris
I’d take a shot at Kessel on the Leafs well ahead of Pacioretty.
LeBanc at league minimum might be a good idea.
However, I would much rather the Leafs give legitimate opportunities to their young prospects like Cowan, Minten, Steeves, and Robertson (RFA) before going the recycled vet route.
He’s front row at his heroes’ competition today :Chestnut/Kobayashi
Has good shot to make team. Would be good for 15-20 goals. On 3rd line. Time will tell. A good replacement for Dantons point production last yr