NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2025
Check out the latest on Seth Jones plus updates on the Bruins and Sharks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON SETH JONES
THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus believed Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson must do right by his club if he trades Seth Jones. The 30-year-old defenseman said last week that he’d spoken with Davidson about the possibility of a trade to a contender.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones (NHL Images).
Jones’ contract will be a significant obstacle. Few contenders can absorb his $9.5 million annual average value for the next five seasons while his full no-movement clause further limits Davidson’s trade option.
Lazerus claims Davidson has “absolutely no interest” in retaining up to half of Jones’ AAV. He also pointed out the Blackhawks need the blueliner’s cap hit on their books for at least the next couple of seasons to help them reach the cap minimum.
Meanwhile, Aaron Portzline mused about a possible reunion between Jones and the Blue Jackets, who trade the blueliner to the Blackhawks in the summer of 2021. Jones and Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski remain close, with Werenski saying he’d be open to his friend’s return to Columbus.
Portzline pointed out the Blue Jackets have plenty of salary cap room. He thinks the move could make sense if the Blackhawks were willing to retain a portion of Jones’ cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Lazerus, salary cap retention could be out of the question, especially if interested teams want Chicago to eat half ($4.75 million) of Jones’ AAV.
With the salary cap projected to rise significantly over the next three seasons, Davidson will likely give preference to contenders with the cap room to take on Jones’ full salary. However, the blueliner’s NMC is an additional complication.
A three-team swap is out if the Blackhawks don’t want to retain salary unless it involves moving Jones to another club that retains half his cap hit after flipping him to a third club. That leaves the possibility of the Blackhawks taking back salary in a Jones trade.
UPDATES ON THE BRUINS
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss reports Bruins GM Don Sweeney intends to take “a more cautious approach” as the March 7 trade deadline approaches.
Sweeney was a consistent buyer in previous trade deadlines. However, the Bruins are sitting one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot but they’ve already played more games than the teams they’re chasing.
Goss believes it makes no sense for the Bruins to acquire rental players. If Sweeney decides to buy, it should be for those with term remaining on their contracts. It would also make sense to entertain trade offers for UFA-eligible players like Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau and pending restricted free agent Morgan Geekie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frederic and Brazeau could be goners by March 7. There’s no rush to move Geekie because the Bruins still control his rights beyond this season.
Geekie has played well on the top line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha and recently indicated he wants to remain a Bruin. That’ll depend on what he’s seeking in his next contract and if the Bruins are willing to pay it.
STURM EXPECTS A TRADE
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Felicia Keller reports Sharks forward Nico Sturm doesn’t expect to be with the club after March 7. “You’re a 29-year-old UFA with no extension in place,” he said. “You got to be realistic about it.”
Sturm said he’s spoken with Sharks GM Mike Grier, who said the team might be able to pick up a solid return for him. However, the possibility exists that Sturm could return to the Sharks this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
Bruins also have almost 6 million in cap space. They could use to help someone facilitate a trade by holding cap space for picks. I would keep Geekie if $$ make sense but if was offered a 1st I would trade him. The new 20 goal guy. Him playing with Pasta really gave him shot of confidence
For a team dying for offense,why wouldn t you keep Geekie!? Probably about an AAV of 3-3.5 should get it done!Reminds me of Nathan Horton! Would honestly look at trading Carlo,Coyle,Zacha,Korpisalo,Frederic,Brazeau for starters! Trade Lysell and Merkulov if you are not going to give them a chance to play!
Sr. At the price I would. But would he sign 3-5 year deal at that?
Seth to CBJ????? How ironic!
What would it take from CBJ to acquire Seth?
Jordan Harris and Corson Ceulemans or Daemon Hunt and the Wild’s 1st for Seth at $7M AAV???
Seem’s close, not a haul nor should it be.
No interest in Jones. CBJ has a lot of D talent in the pipeline. Why would we want to pay that kind of price plus his ridiculous contract for a guy that wanted out of here for greener pastures only to find out his new pasture was turning brown.
Why would any team pay a 1st round pick for Morgan Geekie? He showed flashes with Carolina but not enough for Carolina to protect him in expansion draft. Seattle snagged him in expansion draft to build around and Morgan did not show enough for them to lock him up long term and let him go. Then The Bruins signed him as an FA. The Bruins will either sign him or cut him for another team to take a shot with him without having to sacrifice a 1st rounder to get him. See Brad Marchant
We gladly accept your 1st round offer for Geekie
We’ll up it in fact
Hayes, Gryzylcyck, 1st
For Geekie and a black & white photo of Orr flying through the air after SC goal
Photo need not be signed
8787. I have the framesd signed photo. Lol Don’t think Geekie gets a 1st. But not sure what young 20 goal scores with size will get As for BR. Post you make it sound like big bet front forwards with 20+ goal potential are a dime a dozen. They are not he has definitely outplayed his Bruin contract value of that there is. I doubt
I think Geekie gets the B’s a first or a prospect of equal value to a first. Maybe a bit more, I dunno, no good a guessing value?
Remember it will later in the first round if it is this June’s draft, so we’re not talking a sure fire NHL’er here.
He should easily get 20 goals this year, got 17 last year, is in his prime at 26, and an RFA next season not a UFA, so more than a rental. Also a plus 3 on a team that is a combined minus 52, so not a defensive liability. 6’3″, 202.
From a goal scoring production he is a top 6 FWD. Even combining this year and last year. Starting to become a large enough sample size where you can’t really argue it is just luck.
I kinda had the same thoughts of him because of how he ended up in BOS and he bounced around a little bit early, but the guy can finish, can’t really dispute that. And he is a bigger guy who skates well.
Saying that, B’s need guys who can score, so unless he is demanding way too much $/term, keep him.
87, I do have a signed black and white Bobby Orr photo of that goal. It is personalized to me, using my nick name so of no interest to you. A buddy got him to sign it at memorial cup when in Regina and was a total surprise and a solid move by my bud. It showed up via courier one day at my house as I lived in Calgary then.
Geekie is statistically worse than Pierre Luc Dubois at that same stage. I wouldn’t trade a first for either.
Mr Bruin4 & Ray
Nice! (Re having photo)
Re : Geekie and 1st
Have a look at our roster. Geekie would fit in great; and be a big boost over what we have now
A 26 year old, 6’3”, 210 right shot C that can also play wing; and whose 82 Gm pace this year is: 28-19-47 ; tied for 3rd on Bruins in +/-
Let’s just have a quick look at two Pen’s that have been used at 3C this year
Hayes (7 years older, waaaay waaaaaay waaaaay slower, only plays 100’ of rink): 82 game pace of 17-14-31 and projected full year of -22. Only thing Hayes has over Geekie: 2” and 5 lbs.
Glass (1 year younger than Geekie, 10 lbs lighter than Geekie);
82 game pace: 5-20-25; and -16
Geekie for a 1st and a prospect is fair
Hayes + Grzylcyk + 1st (Rangers) + EITHER Gruden or Broz
For Geekie and signed Orr pic (upped it to signed Orr pic over unsigned as we’re giving a prospect as well)
Deal??
I think if GM’s see how PLD is playing in Washington a lot of them wish they would have made a deal for him.
Playing against elite opposition more than any other line, starting most of his shifts in the D zone, and is putting up points, hitting guys, blocking shots and dominating possession.
That line is killing it as are the Caps.
Their off season moves have worked out as good as anybody could have hoped. GM of the year so far. He has had the benefit of some LTIR $$, but have to admit he has made the most of it.
IMO PLD would cost you a hell of a lot more than a 1st RD pick today, they would hang up the phone.
87, is Gruden even still a prospect? The guy is 24. Broz appears not to be too far behind in being a guy who didn’t pan out, not that one should expect a late 2nd rounder to be a full time NHL’er.
Grz, sure, he’s a useful player (UFA) and if the B’s are in sell mode flip him to a contender that needs LD help.
Hayes require a sweetener for the reasons you state. He’s always had slow feet, and now he is 32.
Grz, Rangers 1st and Tanner Howe, at least he is young enough to still improve enough to become a legit NHL’er.
My Orr photo is personalized it says Go ______, Go Bruins.
@8787..You need to trade your boy POJ he is just awful…coughing up pucks in the ranger game all day.
Grzelcyk has been terrific the last 2 months after a horrific start and is running the power play (not Letang / Karlsson) Grzelcyk and the Penguins power play is 6th best in the NHL this year….
The Penguins have some major work to do at the trade deadline, the draft and over the summer…
All the other stuff aside. Broz is having a decent season in his first professional year. He could pan out as decent third liner.
Black N Gold
I have no ifea why you are against P-O J
They have him playing with Letang and that pairing is gelling.
Under no circumstances should we trade a player who has a very good Cap hit; is young; and is still an RFA
We’re in rebuild
Older players (not named Crosby, Malkin, Letang) are the ones that need to go; replaced by youth
Dubas MUST retain 50% on Karllsson and get s 2st and young player back
Hayes must go
Accari must go
Grzylcyck is injured , pre-injury, might have got a 3rd rounder as other GMs will focus on his offense and ignore his poor D play
Nieto shouldn’t ever play another game for Pens
Trade Beuvillier in next 2 weeks but re-sign him in July
I love Rackell and Rusty; but if Rusty agrees and/or Rackell agrees (if team is in his no go list); and if there is a big return (must have young current NHL and/of NHL ready coming back)- take it
Our goaltending is immovable; so we’re stuck this year.
Buyout Graves in June
With all that space; sign only UFAs 27 and under
Try a St Louis type move: do offer sheets on one or more vulnerable teams’ players (Blues used a 2nd and a 3rd to get two RFAs to sign offer sheets)
Donato and Jones ( 50% retained ) to the Sens
Sure. But for what? Sens don’t have much in the way of capital to give back. I would argue that we don’t need a defensemen as the top 4 are pretty Solid and Zub/Jensen do a better job at a cheaper rate. Problem is that the Sens have no cap space this season. So Chicago would have to take Perron and Forsberg back. And even then, I don’t think the money works. And Chicago has said no retention.
Sens better served in making changes via UFA this summer.
You got that right John. Donato and 50% of Jones would have $6,675,000 coming this way.
Right now the Senators have just over $1,650,000 in cap space but, with Bernard-Docker and Cousins coming off LTIR at some point, the puts th em around $250,000 over the cap.
So, they’d be required to move something like $7,000,000 out. Not even Perron and Forsberg would cover that. Besides, Chicago would have no need for Perron or Forsberg – and they don’t need the cap space. Add to that Smith’s indication his preference would be a contender.
Ottawa isn’t at that stage yet … and might not be for some time.
John – Either way Ottawa needs help and like you say we dont have much cap space.
Forsberg, Perron, Cousins, Zub, Norris would be peices I would offer up depending on the return
Zub is good but too often injured and not a top liner
Jensen is solid but not a top liner either. I would even wage Norris, Zub for Donato, Jones and a 2nd
That would be palatable Scott – except for two fundamental facts –
1) Norris has “buyer beware” written all over him thanks to his injury history, with the latest that has had him out for well over 3 weeks having nothing to do with his wonky shoulder. That, and the frequently-injured Zub would have Chicago likely saying “no thanks.”
2) Jones has a full NMC which means he can veto any deal not to his liking … and he’s on record as saying that, IF a deal were to come down he’d prefer to go to a contender. And that isn’t Ottawa.
Pen’s Rust to the Oiler’s
for 2nd pick and Skinner & Viktor Arvidsson and one or a 2nd pc then they can trade them both for pics….🤙
So. Both the Oilers and the Canucks need goaltending. Binnington could be moved. Pareyko’s stock has also risen considerably. Looked great at that cup thingy, having his best offensive season (goal wise anyhow).
now…the Sens probably don’t want to trade Leevi Merilainen…..they’d probably rather trade Forsberg. But Levi is way more attractive a prospect.
Depends on who the assets coming to Ottawa would be. Ottawa has a history of trading away goalies who then turn into solid number 1s.
Ottawa truly needs a #1 right winger and #1 right shot defender
Merilainen will be the full-time # 2 next season
b/o Ullmark. Forsberg will be wherever he can get the best UFA deal. Sogaard likely dealt in the of-season – probably as part of some sort of package deal.
Canucks don’t need goaltending. They just signed Lankinen to give them flexibility with Demko’s injuries. They might look for a third goaltender in the off-season for call-ups, but that’s not the priority.
Love for Jones to agree to terminate his deal and then can become a UFA and sign a deal at 6.5M at 7 years.
Those Tkachuck boys need a little bit of rest for their injured bodies.
Brady will have an early summer to rest … again.