Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 12, 2025
Check out the latest on Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Dylan Cozens, Ryan O’Reilly, Josh Norris and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE LATEST ON ELIAS PETTERSSON AND J.T. MILLER
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks aren’t shutting off Western Conference teams interested in centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Western clubs that have reached out haven’t been told that the Canucks aren’t interested in dealing with them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It makes sense for the Canucks to consider all options when listening to offers for Pettersson and Miller. This could also mean the offers they’re not getting suitable offers from Eastern Conference clubs. It’ll likely take a substantial offer to tempt the Canucks into moving one of those players.
UPDATE ON DYLAN COZENS
SPORTSNET: During Friday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Friedman said the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings were scouting each other heavily before the holidays. It got out that the Red Wings were looking at Dylan Cozens.
Friedman indicated he didn’t know where things stand or where it will go. However, he said a couple of sources told him they thought a deal had been close.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski cited Friedman reporting the Red Wings interest in Cozens. However, he cites a source close to the Sabres saying they’re not shopping the 23-year-old center but his name is circulating because they’re getting so many calls about him from rival clubs.
Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens (NHL Images).
Cozens’ struggles this season prompted Lysowski to suggest it wouldn’t be wise for the Sabres to sell low, pointing out their depth at center suffered a hit when they traded Casey Mittlestadt to Colorado last season. He doubts the Sabres would get equal value for Cozens right now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been said for months that the Sabres want to add to their roster instead of subtracting. They’re also under no pressure to move Cozens because he’s under contract for five more years whereas Mittlestadt was a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights last year.
Cozens could be moved if the Sabres get a good young NHL player in return who can provide immediate help to their roster. Otherwise, he’s probably not going anywhere this season.
COULD THE PREDATORS SHOP RYAN O’REILLY?
Friedman pointed out Ryan O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection in his contract with the Nashville Predators. Teams are calling the Predators about the availability of the 33-year-old two-way center.
According to Friedman, the Predators are treating O’Reilly as if he has a no-movement clause. They want to keep the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, seeing him as a leader on and off the ice.
However, the Predators would consider moving O’Reilly under two conditions: the trade offer has to be something that excites them, and it has to be something O’Reilly would accept. The veteran center has not indicated he wants to move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out the possibility of O’Reilly getting traded by the March 7 deadline or during the offseason. However, the conditions mentioned by Friedman suggest it’s a remote possibility.
SENATORS SHOPPING NORRIS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports league executives say the Senators want to get center Josh Norris and his $7.95 million cap hit through 2029-30 off their books. However, not many teams can afford his contract without giving something back to the Senators in return.
Garrioch also indicated general manager Steve Staios has been working the phones trying to find help for his struggling club, especially on defense. He hasn’t been able to find a suitable deal thus far.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap for next season is expected to rise by at least $4.5 million to $92.5 million, though some have estimated it could reach $95 million. That would make it easier for interested clubs to take on Norris’ contract but it would likely be an offseason trade instead of a trade-deadline deal.
SOMETHING BREWING WITH THE KRAKEN?
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke traveled to Buffalo to watch his team defeat the Sabres 6-2 yesterday. It was an unusual move by Leiweke and came after his club lost nine of its last 11 games. His presence at that game raises questions over the reason for his attendance.
problem with Norris is he has been very injury prone, especially for a player of his age.Can’t see the Sens getting rid of him unless they take back a similar player with issues
Norris for Zegras?
J.Z……
Re; Ryan O’Reilly & Trevor Zegras
I dont think Sen’s are intrested in that deal for Zegras his value has gone down due to his inconcistant play over the past 1.5 season 30 points and 10 points in 24 games this Season 👎
I think of 3 teams Right Away that would be Very Very Intrested in 33 yr old C Ryan O’Reilly
for his leadership and drive ECT…
-Buffalo Sabres
-Ottawa Senators
-Habs
What would teams want a 2nd round pick??
Or
Thoughts…………❓
Norris has been one of Ottawa better players this year. I will push back on the injury process, yet again. He had a serious Shoulder injury. It took two seasons to fully recover from. Norris has the second most hits on the team behind Tkachuk. I think he has 111 hits or something this year. The injury is behind him. Psychologically, he appears recovered.
I would rather we didn’t trade him. In my view Ottawa is short a top 6 forward and Giroux isnt getting younger. If Giroux does stay with the club expect him to have a bottom 6 role going forward.
Unless Ottawa can turn Norris into two top 6 forwards I think it be best to keep him.
If there’s to be deal involving Norris any time soon it would most likely include one of Chicago, San Jose (who drafted him in Rd 1 19th overall in 2017 before dealing him in the Karlsson trade), Nashville, Seattle, Anaheim and maybe Calgary.
Having played in all 41 games to date this season it would appear – as happened with Terasenko early in his career – that his shoulder woes are finally behind him. As a 6′ 2″ 200lb left-shot C who’s good in the face-off circle and whose career 82-game averages over 224gp are a decent 31g 23a 54 pts.
If any of those teams mentioned above feel they have a need to shore up the C position, there might be a deal involving a D coming back as close as possible to his $7.950,000 cap hit (which runs to 2031). Either that or a depth D in the $2 to $2.5 mil range and a 1st.
Curious George, Flames need centres period. Im wondering if a Miromanov & one of our later 1sts (Florida’s or Jersey’s as I imagine Montreal are getting our own 1st) would be enough to get Norris?
He would seem to fit Conroys retool, fits the teams needs (prefer right shot but we’ll have to draft that one) & we have cap space coming out our ying yangs.
Potlicker, I rarely get into specific players on other teams when looking at trade possibilities – more of a this player for this or that position.
The only thing I know about Miromanov is that he is a big RD – a coveted position by a LOT of teams – but in his case he can’t seem to stay in the line-up thanks to being a frequent healthy scratch.
I doubt Staios gives up a top C for that and a 1st round pick that figures to be well down the order.
Fair enough George! He does have a lot of upside but just needs to figure it out. Figured the biggest selling piece would be Miromanov is signed to a pretty affordable $1.25 mill this year & next, so it would be a huge cap space gain for the Sens.
Norris health history for a fairly large cap commitment is risky as well.
He is risky for that very reason, potlicker, but that sort of surgery itself can be tricky, as Tarasenko discovered before getting it right early in his St. Louis days. And he’s been fine since – at least in that respect.
Unless he gets an offer he can’t refuse, I think Staios will stick with Norris and if he does reach his full potential he could be one of those players some GMs will reflect back on and think, damn, I could have had him for X and Y. Then again, lol, they could be saying “boy, I dodged that bullet.” It’s a crap-shoot.
What about Power for Norris
Jeff,
Re A Trade, Flames & Sen’s
I think they would look at Josh Norris a 25 yr old centre & A 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2025 NHL Draft, For A sign & Trade with Calgary for RD man 29 yr old Rasmus Andersson
He is a UFA in 2025-2026 season, This is an Area of Weakness for Both Teams the Sen’s & Flames
Norris is locked up for 4.5 more seasons
Money is going to be similar at the end of the day,
Norris @ $7.950 M and
Anderson $8.M to $8.5M.
Flames have Lots of Picks to re-build with
2 or 3 1st picks in 2025 and
2 more 1st picks in 2026
And
thats befor they trade out player this season
and $38.M to $40.M in Cap space….❗️
Josh Norris earns his keep a a top end centre.
While he had injury issues, he’s played every game this year, trading him would be foolish.
Carolina needs a centre, Seth Jarvis would be a fair trade, but I don’t see Carolina doing it,
He and Brady Tkachuk have also been close friends for over a decade, so it also would not be wise to piss of Tkachuk.
GeorgeO to bad Lindholm has a NTC .I would like to see a deal with either Ottawa or Carolina! I still think he can be an effective second line center! He s misplaced in Boston!
Problem is Sr, I really don’t think we’ll see Norris going anywhere anytime soon, which is why I began my post above with “If there’s to be a deal involving Norris ….”
As things now stand after 45gp, Lindholm has 7g 14a 21 pts and costs $7,750,000 off the cap to 2031 and, at 30 y/o, hasn’t come anywhere near his high-water mark of 42g 40a 82 pts in going on 4 seasons while suffering his own spate of injuries.
Norris, meanwhile, has 14g 9a 23 pts in 41gp, is just 25 y/o, and costs virtually the same so what would be the point in dealing one for the other?
And at C Ottawa has Stutzle on the 1st line (13g 29a 42 pts), Norris on the 2nd, and Pinto on the 3rd.
Ottawa’s recent struggles can be pinned down to two main factors – that marathon road trip involving 3 back-to-backs and not having Ullmark for the bulk of the games. He’s now back skating (as are Amadio and Perron) so the wounded are slowly returning, and it appears they might have a decent back up to Ullmark in house with Merilainen.
If they stay in the mix until those 3 get back and Hamonic and Bernard-Docker are closer to healing, I think Staios will concentrate on acquiring a decent 5/6 D.
Hey, that Friedman blurb regarding the Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke thing to Buffalo…isn’t this a classic case of old school gossip? Reporting would be Leiweke – the who, Buffalo – the where, Saturday- the when and the why (the story), well Friedman would rather leave that open rather than do his job. Without the why, it isn’t a (newsworthy or good) story, or am I wrong?
Could be simply a case of nothing else to do at home so why not accompany the team on a road trip? Not like that’s not happened before.
Didn t Pergula do that with his Sabre team?
It would mean something if scouts and/or GM were in Buffalo, Tod Leiweke is the CEO with a background in all pro sports, NOT a hockey mind.
How reliable is that Rich Keefe`s reporting on Bruins, just read one of his articles about the off ice fighting between Pasternak and Marchand. Has Keefe got much credibility
Yogi, He has zero credibility. The boys are best friends.
Keefe achieved what he set out to do. We’re saying his name.
Kinda thought so thanks
To Van
Cozens
Samuelsson
Peterka
Lafferty
1st (top 5 protected)
To Buffalo
Pettersson
Desharnais
2nd
OR
To Vancouver
Cozens
Power
2nd
To Buffalo
Pettersson
Desharnais
How about:
Petterson for Power?
It’s believed the Canucks would want a center in return for Pettersson, not a defenseman.
Cozens to Jets for Cole Perfetti , Chaz Lucious +