NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025
Are the Blue Jackets interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Which teams might pursue free-agent winger Brandon Saad? What next for the Flyers following their multi-player trade with the Flames? All this and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BLUE JACKETS TALKING TO CANUCKS ABOUT PETTERSSON
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are among the clubs talking to the Buffalo Sabres about Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.
The Jackets have the same question as other interested parties like the Buffalo Sabres: “Who is Elias Pettersson right now?” Is the 26-year-old center the one who warranted a massive contract extension last season or the one who’s been struggling this season?
LeBrun believes teams are waiting to see if the Canucks will lower their asking prices for Pettersson (and J.T. Miller) before engaging more fully in contract talks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets were linked to Pettersson earlier this month but Aaron Portzline (The Athletic’s Blue Jackets beat writer) cited a team source claiming no trade discussions had taken place. Maybe the situation has now changed. It’s worth pointing out that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell attempted to acquire Pettersson last season while GM of the Carolina Hurricanes.
THE LATEST ON BRANDON SAAD
TSN: Chris Johnston reported winger Brandon Saad will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday afternoon following the mutual termination of his contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Former St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).
Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the suitors. They’re in the market for a center but are interested in seeing if Saad might be a fit as a potential wing option. The cost of signing him will be a determining factor. He walked away from the $5 million remaining on his contract with the Blues and might not necessarily be a cheap signing.
Darren Dreger believes the Leafs have a moderate interest in Saad, who played for head coach Craig Berube during the latter’s tenure in St. Louis. They’re interested in secondary scoring but the 32-year-old winger had difficulty filling that need for the Blues this season. The Leafs also have other needs to fill at center and on the blueline.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli suggested the Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning as teams to watch regarding Saad.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad won’t be a UFA for long. He could accept a cheap, prorated one-year deal with a playoff club, hoping that a strong performance with them could elevate his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.
FLYERS MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at what could be in store for the Philadelphia Flyers after trading former first-rounders Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames on Thursday for Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier.
Flyers GM Daniel Briere sees value in Pelletier and in the 2025 second-round pick he received from the Flames. That gives them seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, including four in the second round. Kurz speculates Briere could attempt to package some of those picks for a high-end asset. Shedding Farabee’s $5 million annual cap hit creates room to add a player with a significant salary and term.
Kurz also believes this move set the bar high for younger players like Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale or Noah Cates if they wish to remain with the Flyers for the long term.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko is a UFA this summer. Briere could flip him for a draft pick before the March 7 trade deadline, perhaps for another second-rounder if the 28-year-old winger regains his scoring touch with the Flyers.
CAPITALS TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH CHARLIE LINDGREN
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the Washington Capitals are exploring a contract extension for goaltender Charlie Lindgren with an AAV in the range of $3.5 million and $4 million.
Lindgren, 31, is UFA-eligible on July 1. He’s in the final year of a $3.3 million deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals re-signed goalie Logan Thompson earlier this week to a six-year extension with an AAV of $5.85 million.
KINGS NOT PEDDLING BRANDT CLARKE
TSN: Chris Johnston noted an undercurrent of speculation regarding Brandt Clarke when the 21-year-old Los Angeles defenseman was scratched from their lineup to make way for the return of Drew Doughty.
Johnston stated Clarke was “not in play,” adding the scratch was merely a recharge for the promising young blueliner.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens won’t search for a rental defenseman before the March 7 trade deadline to replace Kaiden Guhle. The 23-year-old blueliner is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadricep.
LeBrun indicated the trade discussions the Canadiens have had with other teams involve players who will help them beyond this season. They could retain their pending UFAs as “own rentals” if they remain in the playoff chase leading up to the deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have cooled from the hot streak that had them briefly holding the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, management remains focused on their long-term picture. It’s not about quick fixes. Any additions via trades will be players carrying term on their contracts, like their acquisition of Alexandre Carrier last month from Nashville.
SALARY CAP SPECULATION
TSN: Darren Dreger reports it’s expected the NHL will reveal its updated salary cap projection for 2025-26 during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 10-21). He said he’s been told that it is “very unlikely” to rise beyond $96 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman projected the cap could reach $92.4 million but didn’t rule out a higher number. It could end up between $94.5 and $96 million. Any amount over $92.4 million will be welcomed by most NHL general managers, especially those with expensive players to re-sign or those looking to add to their rosters for next season.
It looks like NHL analysts picked up my comments about what to do with marner so I guess my idea wasn’t so bad after all. The leafs are a demoralized group, line switching can pay off but hasn’t, a new coaching style can pay off but hasn’t, maybe they should get the core players together to see if they have ideas as to playing partners and style of play, they are the ones to turn around their inconsistent play to date. Coaches have to mold their talent, old times of in your face don’t work any more.
Re, Trading Vancouver Canucks Center
Elias Pettersson
Where do You see him being Traded Too….. ❓
What’s your 3 Top team’s
My 3 votes for te Canucks trade are….
1st Trade is Buffalo
2nd Trade is NJ
3/ Trade is CBJ… But not sure they have what the Canucks Need- or- Want in a young top LD-man
4 d/man and young Centre
Canucks have Tyler Myers is there as more of A 2nd pair RD shut down…. then the got Carson Soucy A LD/RD who can also play there 2nd pairing They need a younger offencive LD, they asked for 23 yr old Bowen Byram before it was a sticking point
Buffalo did not want to trade him, he does not get much PP Time…. 24 points in 49 games
I think 23 yr old Centre Dylan Cousins & 23 yr old LD
Bowen Byram are on the table, and maybe a sweetener…..❓ player/Prospect and or a 3rd pick
I think Thats the Best offer on the table for sure🤔
and the money Works…
There’s no way I’d do that for pettersen. He is over payed in my opinion. If I’m canucks, this season is what it is. I would not trade either guy for a low return. I say get over it, be adults and learn to play with each other. I’d look back at trading one of them in the summer when teams have more flexibility.
Yes, this exactly. On draft day maybe or after FA day, but right now it will be at a HUGE loss and will do nothing for them this season.
Hey Owen, St Pats, Saint,
Elias Pettersson is having a Bad year more than likly because he is Very with all the BS going on with the team un-happy, His good Freind
Brock Boeser sounds like he is testing the UFA Market …..🤔
Pettersson 2 previouse years he scored
2024 season G82 Goals 34 Ass 55 total=89
2023 season G80 Goals 39 Ass 63 total =102
you add hhim as your 1st line centre…
They already have 4 LD men the need to add 2 RD men to the team…..❓
Cozens and Byrum are already too much for Petterson.
Until I’m proven incorrect, I’m sticking with the BLACKHAWKS for Saad. I know he could provide playoff experience for a contender, but he may have different priorities now. With new baby/family, a return to Chicago at this stage of his career brings a familiarity. A good professional to work with Chicago youth movement. Maybe a 2-3 year contract for 2.5 million. I don’t think the $$s matter as much as the term and stability. We’ll see.
IP
IP
I think you make a good point for Chicago to sign Saad for that type of contract.
He is still productive but not but his value has dropped.
i
He.d be a good veteran addition ther at the term you are suggesting
I’m from Buffalo. Quite frankly the Canadian rumor mill is out of control. Why would the Sabres make an overpayment for Pettersson and give up Cozens and Byram plus ? Pettersson is overpaid and on a downward trajectory. He only has had a couple of good seasons. Adams is looking for trades but he is not going to giveaway the house for another teams trash.
Gary what has Cozens done lately?I watched the Boston / Buffalo game and he was the 3rd line center,making over 7 million AAV! Be careful or you will have another Elias Lindholm on your hands!
Based on this season. EP40 could be another Lindholm as well.
First of all you are totally wrong about Pettersson, ever since he came to the NHL he has been a PPG player or more until last 12 months. The major problem, in my opinion is the tendinitis he got a year ago and ding ding, that is when his production went down, then there is the Miller thing that is a thing but not the major thing, in my opinion. However there is uncertainty in when, or if, he will recover from that injury, but the same can be said about Cozens who is an overpaid 3rdC and Byram wha has had injury issues including concussions. The reason the trade hasnt happened yet is the reason you are stating, Buffalo wont pay those two++. If a deal is dont I can see those two and a 2nd, with Pettersson and maybe Willander going the other way. If Vancouver want those two they will have to add something and not from their trash+Pettersson
Petey (retain $1.2M) for Cozens and Byram (Retain $1.2M) and a 2nd
The salaries are near for this year, and Buffalo gets a Petey that is not over-paid for the rest of the term (theoretically)
Re: Johnny, I dont retention is on the table for Pettersson or Miller, the contracts are too long. I think its a mistake to trade Pettersson but I also see the risk from a buyer when you consider term and cap. If Vancouver wants those 2, I think they will have to add the 2nd. But we are in the same ballpark
Blue jackets are doing well especially so considering the challenges this year has brought. I personally would not pursue EP or really anyone that is going to take signicant roster pieces as I would not want to disrupt the room.
Cap jumps to $95.5MM upper limit next season.
Good news for Marner, and Miko and their respective teams!
Estimated, not written in stone yet
95.5 million 25-26
104 million 26-27
113.5 million 27-28
Still huge jumps each of the next 3 years, probably means teams really won`t be building their teams using UFA`s.
No, no, a billion times no on Pettersson to the Jackets!! Why do we want somebody else’s problem on a huge contract, giving up a couple young kids that are playing out of their minds!!
I might wanna take a run on Saad. He played his best hockey in Cbus. Iowaprince listed the reasons Chicago would be the place for him, and all those reasons are true in Cbus without all that pesky murder risk.
I agree that Cozens is having a bad year but there’s a reason why there’s still plenty of interest in him – even with his bloated contract. With Buffalo having been burned by giving up players just before they hit their stride you can see why they’re gun-shy about trading Cozens. Byron is a 1st pair defenseman and better defensively than Dahlin. It makes little sense that he keeps coming up in trade rumors. Skinny Pete brings point production, but the Sabres biggest need is grit and leadership and it’s pretty obvious that he won’t bring that. This is already a lost season – no need to make it worse by having a lame-duck GM make a desperation trade to save his job.
Just saw the new increases for the next three seasons for the NHL salary Cap!
2025-2026 $ 95.5 Million
2026-2027 $104 Million
2027-2028 $113.5 Million
Nice to see it helps better build a roster and some teams with some existing contracts have some flexibility
If pens find a good deal for rackel I’d love to see saad home. He’d get top 6 minutes to try to raise his value next year. Raise his family where he grew up.
Yeah me too Chrisms but he just signed with Vegas..uuugghhhh
But maybe next year agreed….
I love Rackell and Rust and Crosby basically the only bright spot for the Penguins this year.
But like you said if they can get a good deal for Rackell…maybe do it
Their best hope sell of what you can, make some good deals unload payroll, cap goes up, retool like the Capitals did.
Malkin has slowed he is at best a third line center maybe a second line winger he does have that shot just needs to be fed, Letang has slowed as well….still decent (Letang) not elite though
Just went to insidepittsburghsports.com
They llisted the Penguins cap space with the new NHL cap raise and agreement
2025-2026 $29 Million
2026-2027 $60 Million
2027-2028 $88.5 Million
This will help for sure wohoo!
Thought we only had $20 million this upcoming of season
Ha ha. Everybody’s wrong. Saad gonna raise the family at the Golden Nugget.
Does Vegas get everyone ? It is only a minimum deal and he will be a UFA
Yep,Vegas wins out again!There is something about Sin City!
Guess it does pay to be bad and naughty?
Helps when you have a legit shot at a cup every year.
Build it and they will come.
There ya go Ray. Hit the nail on the head.
The guy just closed the door on millions with a mutual agreement to become a UFA … so money wasn’t his main motivation. Nor was he interested – obviously – in becoming a “mentor” anywhere. He wanted a legitimate crack at a Cup and now he has one.
Another player whose name has been bandied about in here in recent weeks as a trade “target” is Yanni Gourde of Seattle, You can scratch him – out upwards of 7 weeks following surgery.
Tax free late in your career doesn’t hurt
Skinny Pete is still young and not washed up by any means. I do believe he is overpaid by a lot .