NHL Rumor Mill – January 21, 2025

by | Jan 21, 2025 | Rumors | 52 comments

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Canucks centers J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson plus the Penguins could become major sellers by the March 7 trade deadline.

THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance, Rick Dhaliwal, Arthur Staple, and Peter Baugh examined the nixed trade that would’ve sent Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.

The deal was close enough that the Canucks intended to scratch Miller from the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. However, it ultimately fell through and Miller collected two assists in a 3-2 victory over the Oilers.

Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images)

Center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and several futures-related assets, including a first-round pick, could have been involved. The Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford scratched three players from their lineup on Saturday but it’s unclear if they were to be part of the trade.

A league source claims the proposed deal never got close enough for the Canucks to ask Miller to waive his no-movement clause. Canucks management has been considering its options with Miller and fellow center Elias Pettersson for six weeks but they seem more open to moving Miller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Chytil and Lindgren were the centerpieces of that deal it would’ve been a steal for the Rangers had it gone through.

Chytil is an effective two-way center but his concussion history is a legitimate concern. Lindgren is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and his performance has declined in his contract year.

Meanwhile, Dhaliwal cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculating Miller’s preferred trade destinations are Eastern US clubs. The Canucks are still working to move him. Friedman believes the Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes are still in the bidding. He’s less convinced about the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils but wonders about the New York Islanders.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports sources claim the Islanders still have “tremendous interest” in Pettersson. He cited Dhaliwal saying the Isles have “poked around” on Miller but that seems more like they’re doing their due diligence. Rosner said the Canucks are very interested in Isles defenseman Noah Dobson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dobson is the type of player you’d expect the Canucks would set as part of the asking price for Pettersson or Miller. It seems unlikely the Islanders would part with their best puck-moving defenseman but we can’t assume it wouldn’t happen.

The Canucks’ recent struggles amid rumors of a rift between Miller and Pettersson has many observers believing something’s got to give to get this club back on track. A trade of either player seems likely in the coming days. Miller’s no-movement clause gives him full control over this situation.

PENGUINS POISED TO SELL?

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cites a source close to the Pittsburgh Penguins suggesting their recent demotion of goaltender Tristan Jarry was just the beginning of a potential re-tooling of the roster.

Every player except team captain Sidney Crosby, fellow forwards Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Philip Tomasino and defenseman Owen Pickering are considered to be available

The source is unsure about the status of long-time Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. He has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million and a full no-movement clause.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson has two more years left on his contract with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his AAV. However, it’s believed they’re willing to retain some of his salary to facilitate a trade. He also has a full NMC.

D’Amico’s source also indicates the Penguins are willing to move players with term remaining on their contracts provided they get the right ones back. General manager Kyle Dubas still wants to win for Crosby and Malkin but also build for the future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap’s projected rise to $92.4 million (and possibly higher) for next season explains why the Penguins would be willing to retain part of Karlsson’s cap hit in a trade. It could also make rival clubs interested in acquiring players signed beyond this season.







52 Comments

  1. Pens can only hold one more salary. Thus year at least. Not sure when petry smith come off books. If it’s in the offseason then I see pens more likely to deal karlson and termed players then.

    • Petry/Smith end on Pen’s accounts June 30th this year

      Agree, best time to move Karllsson is after signing Bonus paid on July 1st

      At that point; Pens part of his deal; has Pens then just owing a total of $10 over 2 years. Retain 50% and maybe get a middle team to take another 10% of that ($500 K committment) and final team gets Karllson for $2.25 M cas per year and only $4M per year in Cap

      The return would be much bigger

      Don’t count on a successful trade though.

      • I don’t think they hold 50 percent. Erik can choose a team or a couple teams. So…
        Decline in performance
        Cost per year
        Minimal control over destination

        Yeah. Pens won’t be getting a huge return. Maybe a second and a b prospect

        The goal of trading him isn’t to bring back significant assets. It’s to open up cap space and a roster spot for a younger player.

      • Hi Chrisms

        I do think they will hold 50%

        Karllsson (32 points in 49 GO) at only $5 M cap hit is worth much more than 2nd + a B prospect

        Trading him is not for space. They won’t be spending to the Cap this year and don’t need the space this year

        A 50% retained deal brings them some youth for the “re-tool”/“re-build”

        Unfortunately Dubas is almost assuredly trading our best D-man (Pettersson) and I don’t see Dubas winning that trade either

        Here is what I responded (to Williew) the other day as to my thoughts re any expected returns attained by Dubas:

        Pens current UFAs and possible return (WITHOUT retention):

        Pettersson—— 2nd + prospect

        Beauvillier—- 4th to 6th in ‘25, OR 3rd to 4th in ‘26 or ‘27; OR B prospect

        O’Connor—- 7th in ‘25, OR 5th/6th in ‘26 or ‘27

        Nieto-untradeable

        Grzylcyk—-6th/7th in ‘26; OR 5th/6th in ‘27 or ‘28

        Shea-untradeable

        Players with one year remaining after this (WITHOUT RETENTION)

        Bunting ($4.5 M)—- 3rd /maybe 2nd in ‘25 OR prospect

        Hayes ($3.75 M)—- we’d have to pay to get rid of

        Glass ($2.5 M)—- 3rd /maybe 2nd in ‘25. OR prospect

        Accairi ($2M) —- we’d have to pay to get rid of

        Lizotte ($1.85 M) — 4th, maybe 3rd in ‘25

        Nedjelkovic ($2.5 M)—-3rd /maybe 2nd in ‘26

      • He’s only worth what someone will pay. And if he is only willing to waive for 1 or 2 teams there won’t be much of a bidding war. If he does even waive and there are teams even interested I could see pens holding 2.5 mil and getting a couple ok assets back.

      • Well anything is possible with Dubas

        Karllsson still w/o a cup and won’t get one here; I’d think he’d waive for more than one team

        No contending team can take him on at $7.5 M

        Retention of 50% would be appropriate and should get 2 assets back at least

        IF they do move him; it’s mandatory for a younger RD to come over in the deal

        We only have 2 RDs now

      • Karlsson did play his best game in a solid 5-1 win here in Los Angeles last night wow the Penguins looked good…if only ?

        They need to move alot of players.

        I hopa they do keep Anthony Beauvillier he had a goal and an assist last night night. He has 11 goals trending for 15 to 20 goals for a bottom six forward and he is only 27..

        Cap goes over over $ 93 million next season.

      • Good chance brunicke is on team next year.

        And when’s the last time a team paid a player 5 mil to play for another team? I’m legit curious.

        Also interesting. I tried googling retained salary trades to see if I could find examples. I couldn’t specifically. But I did find halfway down a link to Spector hockey with my own post above sited.

  2. Media is saying Karllsson (with big retention by Pens) potentially on move to a contender???

    For fun:

    Oilers (IF somehow they get Skinner To waive):

    Skinner, Emberson, Akey, O’Reilly ,1st (‘26)

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and 3rd ‘25 (later of Wild or Sens picks)

    Stars:

    Dumba, Stankoven, Bichsel,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Vegas:

    Howden, Roy, Korszack,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Lightning

    Geekie, Goncalves, Moser

    For

    Karllson (50% retained) , O’Connor, Accairi, 2nd (‘26, later of Pens/Blues); 3rd ‘25(later of Wild or Sens picks)

    • Perron and Forsberg for Karlsson maybe some retained. Maybe the Pens aren’t on Perron’s list.

      • Why would Sens want Karlsson. That ship has sailed. This is Brady’s team now, and EK does not fit into the stiffling hard checking style the sens are playing. I don’t know. I feel like our RD has been looking good lately. Mantipalo has been playing great with Kleven. Without JBD or Hamonic though, we could use a reinforcement, but with Yakemchuk coming down the line, why would we want Karlsson for two more years? I loved his game when he was a Sen, but his best days are over IMO.

      • Re; Canucks..Centers J.T. Miller & Elias Pettersson

        I would love to see what the canucks this..?
        what do they think TJ.Millar is Worth……

        Sound like they want to move him but for what??

  3. Media is saying Karllsson (with big retention by Pens) potentially on move to a contender???

    For fun:

    Oilers (IF somehow they get Skinner To waive):

    Skinner, Emberson, Akey, O’Reilly ,1st (‘26)

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and 3rd ‘25 (later of Wild or Sens picks)

    Stars:

    Dumba, Stankoven, Bichsel,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Vegas:

    Howden, Roy, Korszack,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Lightning

    Geekie, Goncalves, Moser

    For

    Karllson (50% retained) , O’Connor, Accairi, 2nd (‘26, later of Pens/Blues); 3rd ‘25(later of Wild or Sens picks)

    • Huh?

      Did I stutter?

  4. Media is saying Karllsson (with big retention by Pens) potentially on move to a contender???

    For fun:

    Oilers (IF somehow they get Skinner To waive):

    Skinner, Emberson, Akey, O’Reilly ,1st (‘26)

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and 3rd ‘25 (later of Wild or Sens picks)

    Stars:

    Dumba, Stankoven, Bichsel,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Vegas:

    Howden, Roy, Korszack,

    For Karllsson (50% retained) and Accari

    Lightning

    Geekie, Goncalves, Moser

    For

    Karllson (50% retained) , O’Connor, Accairi, 2nd (‘26, later of Pens/Blues); 3rd ‘25(later of Wild or Sens picks)

    • I stuttered, twice?

      • Ugh, your trades are too confusing and complicated!
        JT Miller and Desharnais for Karlsson (retain $3M) + Cody Glass + 2026 Blue’s 2nd and 2025 Sens 3rd
        on second thought, the 2 picks may have to be exchanged for a ’26 1st, but the rebuilding Pens really need their 1st rounders.

    • Ok. 8787 is definitely Pengy

      • Pengy Stutters?

        I have a twin brother. Do I need to call him Pengy?

      • I’m not at 100% Slick, but over 90 for sure.
        He could be playing the Pengy role for his own amusement, which is kinda hilarious.

        But that would require way too much effort to take Pengy stances and use of language on multiple topics. Also kinda weird?

        So ya, he’s Pengy, but sticking to the not Pengy schtick, which is also funny in a Letterman running gag way and where I would bet my $$.

      • Beats my thoughts on where pengy is. 90% sure he’s riding that big Zamboni in the sky.

      • That’s what I thought he is Pengy…who just disappeared? right?

      • Slick62 I agree. As far as I’m concerned, the old adage “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck” was never more appropriate.

        Lyle could end the speculation – that is, unless 8787/Pengy knows his way around a computer better than most of us and has found a way to change his URL.

      • Don’t drag me into this pointless debate.

      • Pengy aka 8787 = sock puppet.

      • 100% he is little pengy

    • Peng’s, I don’t see the Oil as a fit. They got a puck mover RD on the cheap with Klingberg. Question is how healthy is he, and will he approach where he was prior to the hip problems. If that doesn’t happen then maybe, but they don’t pay the ask you list. Agree with Chrisms, the return will be underwhelming.

      If TB trades Geekie for any one approaching their mid 30’s I will be shocked. He was the key piece in the Sergachev deal. Karlsson isn’t in the value ballpark with Sergachev, or Geekie.

      The 2nd that Chrisms suggests seems reasonable, with an OK prospect thrown in. Meaning the prospects upside is a bottom 6 player at the NHL level.

      • People hear b prospect and think that’s a bad thing. An a prospect should have a top line top pair starter ceiling. So a b prospect should have a top 6 top 4 1a ceiling. I’d expect the pens could get a prospect in the 3-5 range on a teams prospect depth chart.

      • Agree Chrisms, teams need affordable players who can be effective in the NHL. That includes the bottom 6 F and 4-6 D men. If they’re younger and more affordable, even better, or you end up paying older UFA’s whose performance starts to decline and they cost more.

    • Hey 8787,

      I dont think the Oil are making any trades soon apart from Trading Jeff Skinner….

      They also want to See how john Klinberg works out on the top 4 d to see if he can handle it first
      Then if he can’t they go after a top 4 d….

      and your Trade proposal is a No Go ❗️
      the oilers prospect pool is Very Very Weak,

      Oilers (IF somehow they get Skinner To waive):
      -Skinner,
      -Emberson,
      -Akey, O’Reilly ,
      -1st (‘26)

      For Karllsson (50% retained) and 3rd ‘25
      your Not Trading for A Paul Coffey or Bobby Orr..😂

  5. Agree with Lyle that Miller deal definitely would have been a steal. Lindgren won’t be back without a big hometown discount. Chytil without injury concerns isn’t close in value to Miller and the minor leaguers mentioned aren’t exactly top prospects. I still think hold up had something to do with Zibanejad or possibly Schneider.

  6. 8787,
    hockey blog gods are saying you talk too much

    • Well according to Holly Hunter in Oh Brother Wherearthou; it becomes reality after saying it thrice 🤣

  7. @8787

    Leafs are seeking a 3rd line centre

    If u could reach out to Dubas

    Sidney Crosby to Leafs

    Kampf, Reeves, Hildeby or Murray – their choice, a pick, future considerations

    Also retain 50% of Crosbys salary

    This trade would be very helpful , hopefully a win , win for both teams

    • Ken,
      How about Matthews for Karlsspn and Eller.
      TML get a 3c and a RD.

      win/win for both teams

      bonus, no retention of Matthews 🙂

      • Besides, the Leafs win mor w/o Matthews!

    • Love the humour.

      Jokes aside; Crosby under no circumstance, would play for Leafs

      Only teams he’d play for outside of here would be Avs, Oilers or Habs

    • @8787..cmon stop Crosby isn’t going anywhere and he isn’t a third line center.

      You need to retire bro? LOL

    • My trade proposal is totally based on satire to match previous nonsensical one sided proposals pretending to be win/win

    • Ken and HF30, both super solid deals.
      Book those!

      Maybe others would agree if you included pointless dribble that goes on unnecessarily.

  8. @Habsfan

    No deal

    So sad , so sorry

    Not at this time

    Caufield for Robertson maybe
    Leafs can send a sweetener

  9. the only ‘contender’ i could see EK making sense on the ice for is Boston. they need offense.
    Lindholm to Pens would leave B’s so bad down the middle.
    EK+Hayes?

    • ds,Believe it or not that isn t as crazy as it sounds! The Lindholm experiment has been awful! To get out from underneath his contract and just Karlsson for 2 more years at a reasonable contract! Plus Bostons anemic Power play could use a player like Karlsson! You are talking about Elias not Hampus right.

      • yes Elias ;0
        Pens near future down the middle is……maybe even flip Elias Lindholm to another?

  10. I’ve seen so many different trades between NY and Vancouver that fell apart I don’t know what to believe.

    I’ve seen Laffrienere/ Lindgren and a 1st, Lindgren / Chytil and a 1st and a few others . Supposedly it all fell apart on the 1st being conditional..

    NY just needs to step away. Let Vancouver sort out their own mess and move on. They’re playing better of late but still would need a lot of help from other teams.

    I was mad when NY traded Miller away, but that ship has sailed. Bringing him back doesn’t close the gap imo.

    • Call me crazy, but I still believe that both the B’s and Rags will make it to the postseason.
      They’re not as bad as they’ve shown thus far.

      • Hope your right SOP. I actually have more faith in the Rags than the B’s, they seem to have it turned around.

        I think OTT keeps it going, they seem legit even after losing a Ullmark for an extended stretch. I have been saying that to OTT fans for weeks on here so should stay consistent!

        So IMO the final spot is up for grabs between BOS, NYR, CLB and as much as I hate to write this, MTL. BOS happens to be playing the worst of all of them. Maybe getting Lindholm back and McAvoy healthy is enough for them to start defending better, but skeptical.

        I don’t think PHI or PIT can get it done.

        Going to be stressful.

      • I agree Shoreorrpark and Ray. In all my musings and projections based upon stats I have never counted either out.

        There is still time for Boston to cut a deal to shore (no pun intended) up their offense, while Laviolette has to stop giving valuable ice-time to Rempe and either elevate someone who can actually contribute at C in the bottom 6, or get one in a deal.

        But, boy, it’s going to come down to head-to-head 4-point games like tonight for the Rangers at home to Ottawa and Boston at home to Ottawa on Thursday, and others involving Columbus, Tampa (they’re in the mix now), Montreal and Detroit each time these teams meet down the stretch. Probably right up the final nights.

        And as I said a few days ago, while not a reasonable threat to catch fire and go on a long undefeated streak – for various reasons – Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, NYI and Buffalo can be heart-breakers.

      • Shoeorrpark,their next 2 games will tell a lot,especially the Ottawa game Thursday!

  11. The teams in the Atlantic division are all in danger once Demidov arrives.
    He’s special.

    • Hey Shoteorrpark,

      Demidov is going to be Very Good, still young at 19yr old❗️

      I’m not a Hab’s fan
      But I can’t Waite to see him
      Hab’s are going to have a Very Exciting team.

      They just need a good UFA older f:man to play top 4 with Matheson and a older shutdown d for the 3.rd pairing
      They are Loaded up front with lots of prospects And have some nice young d coming in the next 1-3 years..❗️🤙✔️

  12. 2422,
    Reports on Demidov are great, clips all year of him in action certainly make him appear special.

    As a fan I hope he’s the real deal but as a fan, exploits outside the NHL have to be taken with a grain of salt. After all, Josh Leivo, a journeyman here in Canada is the scoring leader in the KHL.