NHL Rumor Mill – February 18, 2025
Check out the latest on the Sabres, Ducks and Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TRADE DEADLINE AMONG SABRES STORYLINES WORTH WATCHING
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski reports the upcoming March 7 trade deadline is one of the storylines worth watching for the Sabres.
Center Dylan Cozens, winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram were frequently the subject of trade speculation this season. It’s unclear if either player fits into the Sabres’ long-term plans.
Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens (NHL Images).
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is trying to make a trade similar to the one that brought Byram to Buffalo last season. That was a one-for-one swap with Casey Mittelstadt going to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Sabres aren’t interested in more draft picks or prospects. However, they might have to accept such offers for Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker if the pending unrestricted free agents aren’t re-signed by March 7. Right-shot defenseman Henri Jokiharju could also draw interest in the trade market.
Lysowski and Mike Harrington believe the Sabres should re-sign Byram. He’s a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights. Harrington thinks the 25-year-old defenseman’s next contract could carry an average annual value in the $9 million range.
As for Cozens, Lysowski felt he should be moved only if the return was significant given their lack of depth at center. Harrington thinks he should be retained, pointing out that the high number of calls they’re getting from rival teams speaks to Cozens’ value.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams has been trying to add to his roster since last summer. He claims part of the difficulty in doing so is that teams with no-trade protection aren’t interested in coming to Buffalo. Finding a suitable return of a talented player lacking no-trade protection also isn’t easy.
Some pundits linked Cozens and Byram to Elias Pettersson. The Vancouver Canucks center lacks no-trade protection until July 1 but he carries an expensive long-term contract. His production has significantly declined this season, making him a risky acquisition.
WILL THE DUCKS BUY OR SELL?
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Andrew Knoll reports the Anaheim Ducks’ recent surge in the standings might move them from being abject sellers to a club that could look at adding to their roster to accelerate their rebuild.
Pending UFAs like defenseman Brian Dumoulin could be shopped by the trade deadline. Mason McTavish, Drew Helleson, Isac Lundstrom and Brett Leason are restricted free agents but it seems likely they’ll stay put.
Knoll noted the recent trade buzz around forward Trevor Zegras and goaltender John Gibson. The Ducks have no urgency to move Zegras and would set a high asking price. However, his struggles since last season mean the odds are low of someone meeting that price. Recent rumors claim Gibson would be open to getting traded to a contender like Edmonton or Carolina.
Knoll doesn’t see the Ducks pursuing rental players at the trade deadline. They have salary-cap flexibility and some attractive futures to use as trade bait if longer-term opportunities present themselves.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Kelsey Surmacz observed the Ducks had several scouts at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate) during the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has indicated an openness to moving the conditional 2025 first-rounder received from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade. Surmacz noted the Ducks have several young NHLers (Zegras, McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov) who could fit within Dubas’ plan of adding young talent to his aging roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be surprising if the Ducks parted with McTavish or Mintyukov. They aren’t under pressure to move Zegras but they could listen if Dubas dangled a first-round pick, though it would likely have to be bundled with a good young player who fits into their long-term plans.
WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS SPEND BIG AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel believes the Toronto Maple Leafs must throw caution to the wind as the March 7 trade deadline approaches. They need a third-line center, depth scoring (which could be addressed by filling that third-line center role) and another right-shot defenseman.
Siegel points out the Eastern Conference is wide open and the Leafs stars (including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander) aren’t getting any younger. He pointed out that the boldest teams in the trade market in recent years (Tampa Bay, Vegas, Colorado and Florida) were all rewarded for their efforts. Siegel wondered how willing the Leafs are to part with their top prospects and their 2026 first-round pick to acquire impactful help.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether Leafs general manager Brad Treliving shares Siegel’s viewpoint remains to be seen. If he does, it’ll depend on whether the Leafs’ future assets are good enough to outbid other teams for the best available talent.
Cowan style of play reminds me of Drouin at that age.It does not translate into a NHL star. I would definitely move Cowan and Minton preferably players with term. I don’t think they have enough depth in terms of prospects to solve all their issues. If they could get a top 4 right D that would be my preference as that is the most difficult asset to obtain. In the off season I go after my 3rd line centre position and upgrade over all depth.
I stick to my guns with Marner max signing $12.5M. Let Marner choose the term. If not let him walk. He can get his $14M on the open market but it will be with a team that is not relevant. I find in the 4 nations tournament he is a step behind and looks out of place. Still awesome player but maybe just not at that level.
Marner should be well rested for the Final after taking the last two games off.
lol
@jeff
Marner situation interesting for a few reasons of course but he is coming off a well paid 2nd contract where usually at this point in a players career THIS is the first massive payday….. he made almost 70million already.
will he take the hometown deal or is it time to leave the nest?
Hi Jeff
We accept your offer of Cowan and Minton:
Karllson (@$5 M cap hit) ;and
Nieto (to balance bodies only; automatic send to Marlies);
and 3rd (latest of our 3 in ‘25)
For Cowan and Minton
The salary of these all stars should relate to the 4 nations cup. Marner is a 4th liner out there. Does that translate to $12.5 – $14 million. I don’t think so.
For $ Mariner
$12.M to $12.5M Max.
Nylander is way way better
They need to Re-sign him before the Trade deadline
Or
the need to trade him out if not they get Zero for him…..❗️❓❓❓
No he Byram not worth $9.M
Maybe 6.5.M to $7.M Tops
For a RD man from Calgary
Rasmus Andersson a UFA
Or a
MacKenzie Weegar 6 years left at 6.25M
They should Trade LD-man
The 22 year Owen Power $8.35.M
For Calgary’s RD as it’s there biggest Hole…❗️❓❓
Seigel thinks the Leafs should move picks and prospects to “go for it”.
Nothing wrong with his thoughts except he failed to explain where all the required cap space to add a difference maker is going to come from.
Ron you only need to look at Vegas to answer your question. They have proved if a GM wants to add even if it seems impossible, they will and can, cap be damned.
The issue is as it always be, will the move be a positive one or a failure. So far all deadline deals the Leafs had made were either unsuccessful or massively disappointing. This is also the reason to hold onto your very best players as long as you can.
Buffalo should hold onto their younger stars and complement them with players that will make those young stars better. Personally if Tuch was available he’ll be the player a lot of teams would want. He could be a decent add to the TML….well there’s a bunch of guys that I’d like to see on the Leafs, most of which are not ones normally referenced in the dumb rumor mill.
Leafs need a 3rd line centre
Like A
Scott Laughton 30 yr old from Philly,
Or
A Habs local boy from Toronto
28 yr old UFA Jake Evans
And
A good d/man
I they are looking for a 3rd line centre why don’t they look at Suzuki
Williew
Laughton is a good player but if the cost is a 1st round pick, I say pass.
All Leafs centremen are left handed. They need a right handed centre.
Bjugstad, Kunin, of Evans would likely be cheaper to acquire.
They cannot go into the playoffs with Benoit, Myers, and Timmins as regulars.
Could they get Dobson and Pageau (both 50% retained) out of NY for Minten, Cowan, and a 1st? A RH 3C and a #2-4 RHD
Trade Kampf to whoever will take him for a late round pick and promote Steeves or Lorentz as full time 4th line C
Cap space would be a big issue, but if Pridham can wave his magic wand, then BT should try everything he can to bring in Brayden Schenn and Colton Parayko! That would definitely put us in the conversation for a legit contender.
Byram worth $9M? That’s a bit out there and highly unlikely. I guess we’ll see soon enough.
One thing to consider is exactly the reason Buffalo is having problems upgrading, no trade clauses. A team with a lesser package will get a player who has better offers from other teams because of player preference utilized via their NTC. If your team is a better team in the league players are more likely to waive their NTC over a team going no where. Also I mention NTC players because more than likely, vet or experienced players usually come with one and are the types of players usually available.
I think MacKinnon and Makar need to up.their game even more if they are going to win this tournament. The US isn’t going to give them time to stick handle and mess around with the puck? It was good to see MacKinnon shoot immediately when Crosby fed him that puck! Other guys too on Canada need to let er rip in scoring areas. These players in the game today seem to all develop these bad habits of making one more pass? When you only have a split second in a great scoring area, you have to put it on net. At least force the goalie to make a save, if your lucky, might be some juicy rebounds for other guys going to the net!!! Just saying, lol!!!
The United States may have reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes available for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship against Canada, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Tuesday (including Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic). He’s traveling to meet the team in Boston in the wake of an upper-body injury to Charlie McAvoy, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic that Hughes won’t be able to practice or play unless the Americans sustain another injury on defense ahead of the championship.
So is the US going to come up with an injury so Hughes can play? He didn t come all theway from Vancouver to be a spectator!
McAvoy is out now and Hughes is in,
Hughes can only play if ANOTHER of our D go down. Just McAvoy out won’t do it.
I’m setting up a Go-Fund-me account to hire Tanya Harding ….. Sanderson perhaps???
The Sabres will need to make a bold acquisition for a 1C or 2C. They have what other teams need, but cannot find anyone in return.