NHL Rumor Mill – January 25, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Canucks centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, a look at potential Blackhawks trade candidates, and updates on the Islanders and Canadiens.
LATEST ON PETTERSSON AND MILLER
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston cited TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reporting the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes were close to a deal. In the end, the Hurricanes opted for Mikko Rantanen, acquiring him on Friday night in a blockbuster three-team trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Based on what the Hurricanes gave up for Rantanen (forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, two draft picks), Johnston believes the rumored deal with the Canucks had to involve Elias Pettersson. He pointed out the Hurricanes inquired into Pettersson’s availability last season before he signed his eight-year contract extension.
Meanwhile, Johnston reports the offers for Canucks center J.T. Miller are currently weak, despite his 103-point performance last season.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal indicating the Canucks called the Hurricanes about Martin Necas.
According to Dhaliwal, the trade would’ve involved J.T. Miller. However, the Hurricanes declined and sent Necas to the Avalanche in the Rantanen deal.
Meanwhile, Remy Mastey reports Miller hasn’t made a formal trade request, but there’s a sense that the 31-year-old center’s time with the Canucks is coming to an end.
Mastey cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting the Canucks and Miller have reached the point where it’s time to move on from each other.
The New York Rangers have been in discussions with the Canucks about Miller. However, the holdup is the Canucks want to get maximum value in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller and Pettersson have dominated the rumor mill for a month after reports of a rumored rift between the two made the rounds. It’s believed the Canucks prefer to move Miller and retain Pettersson, who is five years younger and has more productive years ahead of him.
It’ll be interesting to see what effect the Rantanen trade will have on the Canucks’ efforts to move Miller. The Rangers, Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Dallas Stars have been linked to the Canucks veteran but the Rangers are believed the only team to make an offer. The Hurricanes are out while the Devils, Isles and Stars are rumored to be mildly interested.
POTENTIAL BLACKHAWKS TRADE CANDIDATES
THE ATHLETIC: Before the Chicago Blackhawks traded Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes in the Rantanen deal, Scott Powers examined their potential trade candidates.
Powers indicated the Blackhawks received calls about defenseman Seth Jones but nothing out of the ordinary. They’re unlikely to move anyone who isn’t on an expiring contract.
The Blackhawks are unlikely to re-sign UFA-eligible forward Ryan Donato. They don’t expect defenseman Alec Martinez to request a trade as he remains focused on helping them for now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith are the Blackhawks’ other pending UFAs.
CAPITALS INTERESTED IN BROCK NELSON
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner cites industry sources claiming the Washington Capitals have checked in on Brock Nelson. The 33-year-old New York Islanders center is eligible for UFA status on July 1.
Any potential team acquiring Nelson could prefer signing him to a contract extension. However, Rosner indicates the Capitals are believed to have no issue with him as purely a playoff rental.
Rosner pointed out the Capitals lack the cap space to take on Nelson’s $6 million cap hit. He speculates the Isles might be willing to retain part of his salary if an interested team is willing to pay more in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello insists he’s not focused on the trade deadline, centering instead on his club’s pursuit of a playoff berth. However, Nelson could become available if the Isles fail to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Nelson is a three-time 30-plus goal scorer with postseason experience. The Capitals won’t be the only team pursuing him if Lamoriello makes him available before the March 7 deadline.
SHOULD THE CANADIENS PURSUE SIDNEY CROSBY?
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Jack Todd believes the rebuilding Canadiens should take the advice of Global’s Brian Wilde and look into acquiring Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I defer to TSN’s Chris Johnston: “Unless something changes – and at this point I have ZERO reason to believe it will – Sidney Crosby isn’t being traded out of Pittsburgh. He’s an untouchable as far as the Pens are concerned, plus he’s got a no-movement clause and no desire to be dealt.”
No Jack Todd, Sid goes to a Cup competitor with over $5M cap space and newly acquired picks to deal and 2 newly acquired C’s and another C to pick from and a good friend from his hometown to be his teammate!
do they Avs have anything to offer PGH besides Mittelstadt and their 2026 1st?
That Crosby to Montreal proposal is for Beck, Mailloux and 2 first rounders.
Pens would choke laughing.
And mtl would never give up that much future for a few years of crosby. Gorton said as much in his sick podcast interview last week
HF30. Pens may choke laughing but that trade would go down as one of the worst in Montreal’s history … and we’ve had some real bad lopsided trades in the last couple of decades.
Could Marchand be joining his friend Mackinnon!
Sr
Thought same thing if bruins fall out Sweeney may check in and see if he wanted to pull a Bourque
If, and that is an effing big IF, Crosby decides to leave Pittsburgh it sure wont be for Montreal
Kent
You do know that Sid as a kid slept in his Habs PJs.
Re; Canuck’s
looks like they have missed the boat on a number of trade for both these two Canucks Centers
Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller…
with these 5 teams,
Carolina,
Avs,
NYR
NJ
Boston
They want to trade JT.Millat to the East.. however they are running out of trade partners for JTM….
He need to open up 16 teams he would go to….
EP his No Trade comes in on this July 1st….🤔
with all the in-fighting going on with the Team,
its timer a Re-Tool
1/ Brock Boeser
Sounds like the UFA in 2025 his talk’s are going No Where.. he will end up testing the Market…👍
2/ Thatcher Demko
now sounds like goaltender a UFA in 2026 he is going to try and Test out UFA market out…❓
3/ Canucks are now in Extention Talks with there other goaltender who has but up some good numbers Kevin Lankinen….he is more than likly looking for a longer deal 4yrs….?
Im sure young 23 yr old Arturs Silovs is ready to be a full time back up as he played very well for the Canuck’s in last years playoff’s…..
If the Canucks trade Miller now they’ll get pennies on the dollar. Best to ride out the season and trade him in June,
As for Crosby, he’s going nowhere. Will retire a Pen.
It could be addition by subtraction, if he’s being causing b.s in locker room etc
…if he’s causing b.s in the locker room
Not worth it, a huge rift & a team has to continuously grow & gel together.
Just throwing this out there….Crosby’s old Management team is now in Vancouver…could Rutherford make a pitch for Sid? It’s possible.