Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 26, 2025
The ongoing fallout from Friday’s blockbuster trade involving Mikko Rantanen, plus the latest on Mitch Marner, Elias Pettersson and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
FALLOUT FROM THE RANTANEN TRADE CONTINUES
THE DENVER POST: Sam Keeler wonders if the Colorado Avalanche have other moves in store after trading away Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday for Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two draft picks. Otherwise, the move was a salary dump that waves the white flag on this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking to reporters following the Rantanen trade, Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland didn’t sound like he’s planning a major acquisition before the March 7 trade deadline.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
MacFarland acknowledged trading Rantanen was a tough decision but felt it was important to get “two cost-controlled assets” like Necas and Drury, who are signed beyond this season. He also spoke of trying to replace Rantanen’s offense “in the aggregate,” pointing out that 50-goal scorers “don’t grow on trees, you have to usually draft and develop them”.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky is hopeful of signing Rantanen to a contract extension before his UFA eligibility on July 1. “As things stand right now, we have about $35 million or $40 million of space next year, depending on where the cap goes,” he said.
LeBrun noted that the Hurricanes are the only team that can offer Rantanen an eight-year contract, as he’ll only get a seven-year deal on the open market. Tulsky indicated he’d love to work out a long-term deal with the 28-year-old winger. A potential ace in the hole is Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, who is good friends with Rantanen and could convince him to stay in Carolina.
Tulsky also didn’t rule out adding to his roster before the March 7 trade deadline. “There’s always room to keep improving,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen’s current cap hit is $9.25 million. His camp reportedly sought a contract extension comparable to Leon Draisaitl’s, with the Edmonton Oilers paying him $14 million annually starting in July. The Hurricanes will have the cap space to meet that asking price if that’s what Rantanen wants.
The Hurricanes are currently pressed against this season’s $88 million cap. Similar to the Rantanen deal, Tulsky will need to be more creative to make another significant addition by March 7.
LATEST TRADE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM SATURDAY’S “32 THOUGHTS”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman dismissed speculation suggesting the Avalanche have room now to acquire Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins and unite him with fellow Cole Harbour, NS native Nathan MacKinnon. “I don’t think so,” he said. “I know everybody would love that, but I don’t think that’s in the cards.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins fans probably wouldn’t love that. Pundits seem to want to see that more than anyone else. Sure, it’s a dream pairing of “The Cole Harbour Boys”, but we’ll see it in next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off when they skate for Team Canada.
Asked if the Rantanen trade might affect Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friedman said their situations aren’t comparable. He pointed out that Marner has a full no-movement clause whereas Rantanen’s was a partial no-trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is finishing this season with the Leafs. Whether he’s still with them on July 1 is another matter.
Friedman noted the Chicago Blackhawks have a ton of cap room for next season and he expects they’ll be aggressive. As for why they accepted a low return of a third-round pick in the Rantanen trade, they got a higher pick for Taylor Hall than they would’ve received had it been straight up (“about 25 to 30 picks higher”). Meanwhile, they saved around a half-million dollars when one looks at what they would’ve had to pay Hall for the remainder of the season compared to what they’re paying to take on half of Rantanen’s remaining cap hit.
Turning elsewhere, Friedman reports the Buffalo Sabres are interested in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Other teams are also involved but Friedman said the Sabres are “definitely in there”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman didn’t resurrect his pitch of Pettersson to Buffalo for Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram from earlier this season. Meanwhile, recent reports suggest the Canucks intend to retain Pettersson and trade J.T. Miller.
Friedman believes the salary cap will reach $100 million in two years. Some teams aren’t comfortable with that. He indicated some observers believe there will be clubs with no problem spending to the cap ceiling but others could stick with a lower internal cap.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s the same thing we’ve seen around the league since the imposition of the cap 20 years ago. However, fewer teams could be willing to spend to the cap over time while more clubs crouch closer to the cap floor. It could create a two-tier league where the big-market clubs spend much more than their smaller-market peers like they did in the pre-cap era.
Re; Friedman Coments,
Sounds like The Buffalo Sabres are interested in Vancouver Canucks center Again. Elias Pettersson. Other teams are also looking but Friedman said the Sabres are “definitely there”.
this looks like one of the Best offers So far
Canucks Pettersson for Centre $7.1M Dylan Cozens the 24 year old.
And Local Boy fron Cranbrook, B.C. D/man 23 yr old Bowen Byram @ $3.85M RFA who could look for a bridge deal @ $5.M mark…🤔.
This could be the Best Deal out there addressing what the Canucks Need…..The money would work
A young Centre and A good young top 4 man
To make it all work do Buffalo have to through in a good young prospect 20 to 23 year’s old to Sweeten the pot…….
Has Enyone got a Better deal proposal out there for
Canucks Center Elias Pettersson❓
Thoughts….🤔❓
How about Matthias Samuelson OR Jokiharju for Connor Garland? Forget about
Pettersson – Sabres already have the market cornered on “soft” players.
The Canucks wanted Bryant in the trade, along with cousins
For Canucks Centre EP
Maybe Buffalo need to through in a top prospect to make it work….❓
Buffalo will also have a Top 1st pick 3–6 in this years draft
Maybe a Scoring Winger like
Michael Misa or a Porter Malone…❓
Or they Could trade the Pick for a Top 4 RD man,
Chicago got their 3rd rd pick back which they would need if they decide on an offer sheet for an rfa in off season.
Bryum and Cozens is already too much for Petterson.
#Boston would have to counter with Carlo,Frederick and Lindholm with Boston picking up some of his salary!
“It could create a two-tier league where the big-market clubs spend much more than their smaller-market peers like they did in the pre-cap era.”
so, basically the same economics that was in place for the NHL before the salary cap was added (to supposedly “fix” the big owner vs small owner issues)
sadly, good bye to Winnipeg and a lot of the smaller cities hosting teams
As well as the cap the teams still engage in revenue sharing, right? Where the big bad rich teams subsidize the struggling small market teams for the overall benefit of the league.
One alternative, of course, to relieve the “big bad rich teams” from that “unfair burden” is to form a league consisting only of them.
I think Buffalo would want Willander as well and send a pick or two the other way. That way they get. RD back, something they need. Maybe if the send Power instead of Byram?
Really hope Buffalo is not stupid enough to give up Cozens and Byram for a soft player like Pettersson because they will be working on 20 years without making the playoffs…the only toughness they have in Vancouver in Miller…they have Desharnais and Myers with size but they play like cream puffs
I totally agree either way you Don ..
Bad deal
I’m sure nuks toss in Desharnais for bag of sabres hats
Agreed – this is already a bad potential deal for the Sabres, They need a good, right-handed defenseman.
re: Friedman and Chicago savings;
“Meanwhile, they saved around a half-million dollars when one looks at what they would’ve had to pay Hall for the remainder of the season compared to what they’re paying to take on half of Rantanen’s remaining cap hit.”
That figure is actually over $900 K. Hall’s annual salary this year ($5.25 M) exited; 1/2 of Rantenan’s $6 M Sal ( so $3M) came in. $2.25 M (annual difference) pro-rated for the balance of the season is over $900 K.
A roster replacement (for Hall) from AHL will cost around $300 K for the balance of year
Even taking Friedman’s $500 M; Chicago gained pick number 63 or 64 in June for NEGATIVE $500 K cash
Hell of a retention return
They still have a retention spot
That positive $500 K at TDL (about 25% of season remaining) buys 50% retention on approximately an annual Salary of $4 M
If other teams had to “eat” $500 K cash in retention; they’d get at least a 3rd rounder (or equivalent valued prospect) back
Nelson (Ilse) would cost Chicago around $500 K cash for 50% retention at TDL. final team gets Nelson for a pro-rated CAP hit of $750 K (cap hit much higher than Sal in 24/25)
Gourde (Krakken) would cost Chicago around $640 K cash in 50% retention at TDL; final team gets Gourde for a pro-rated CAP hit of $645 K (Cap hit 24/25 slightly higher than Sal)
Properov (Jackets) already 30% retained ; 50% of that at TDL is $580 K cash outlay by Chicago; final team gets Properov for a pro-rated CAP hit of $590 K (Cap hit 24/25 slightly higher than Sal)
Pettersson (Pens)—$500 K cash outlay by Chicago; final team nets Granland for a pro-rated CAP hit of $500 K
Granland (Sharks)—-$625 K cash by Chicago; final team nets Granland for a pro-rated CAP hit of $625 K
So if Davidson chooses to, and they get the opportunity; Chicago has a chance to net the 63rd or 64th overall pick plus a pick in the high 80’s (or equivalent prospect) for between $0 and at most $140K cash
You lost me halfway through your explanation so if Chicago gets your perspective picks we will know about those players in probably 3-5 years! By then Bedard will be in NY!
Your missing the point
The big trade Friday in no way helps Bedard directly; and marginally (if at all) negatively affects Bedar this year; that being (if it was a positive) loss of Hall’s “mentorship” for 33 remaining games this year. Hall was not coming back next year
Chicago gained the 63rd or 64th overall pick; solidified their lottery draft odds (and maybe increased them); will get a chance to see one of their AHLers for 2 1/2 months; AND net at least $500 K in cash
That $500 K in cash can net another 3rd
Those 2 3ds can be used in any package trade for a player to help Bedard next year
Literally the only negative to Bedard at all; and again it’s minimal at best; is the loss of Hall’s “mentorship” for 33 games THIS year.
Bedard still has Foligno, Bertuzzi, Terevainen, Maroon, Dickenson, Jones, Martinez, Brodie, Mikeyev etc mentoring him for those final 33 games
This was a great move by Davidson
Isn’t a 63rd or 64th overall a 2nd round pick? Or are we talking “it’s like a 2nd round pick in the 3rd round” again ?
Round 1- #1-32
Round 2 – #33-64.
What’s being missed by 8787 is that picks in that range are just that – picks – with a far greater chance of being duds than even reasonably effective choices.
Study after study has borne that out.
https://thehockeywriters.com/success-rates-of-nhl-draft-picks/
Calling the trade a salary dump by the Avs is ridiculous whether or not they make another move. Rightly or wrongly they decided that they weren’t going to pony up what it would take to sign him and they didn’t want to lose him for nothing. They got two very useful players in return.
Agree Howard
Ratinen on Avs for 25/26 onward was not happening
So for their remaining 33 games of Ratinen; they got in return
-a younger forward who is 12th in points right now (was top 10 at one point) who is under contract for much less and through 25/26
-a mid 20’s checking forward for the balance of ‘24/25
-gained cap space this year
– got 2 futures
Pure and simple the Rantanen trade was a business transaction . I bet he takes less than the reported $14m and stays in Carolina.
Apparently he was not resigning with the Avs. So Why wait ? Not a terrible return all things considered .
I am not convinced Cozens moves. If they want Skinny Pete the ask is 4 good -not great assets
One of the reasons Carolina needed to make the trade for Rantanen is that Svechnikov has yet to become the consistent dominant power forward Carolina expected when they drafted him. Having Rantanen on the team will take some of the pressure off Svech and hopefully allow him to take his game to another level.
Carolinas first line has not matched up well physically with the better teams in the playoffs. A possible Rantanen, Aho, & Jarvis line should give Brind’Amour the best first line option he has ever had.
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