NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2025
The latest on Mikko Rantanen, Jordan Binnington, Brock Boeser, Erik Karlsson, Matias Maccelli and Jake Evans in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON MIKKO RANTANEN
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun isn’t buying into the recent speculation suggesting the Carolina Hurricanes could trade Mikko Rantanen if he hasn’t re-signed by the March 7 trade deadline.
He acknowledged that the Hurricanes still hope to re-sign Rantanen and didn’t rule out the possibility of him getting shopped if he doesn’t sign. However, he believes they could keep him as a rental player to take their shot this season in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
LeBrun doesn’t believe the Hurricanes are telling teams that Rantanen could become available by the deadline. He thinks some teams are calling to inquire what they might do if he doesn’t sign.
YARDBARKER: cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting the Hurricanes made an offer north of $13 million annually to the Rantanen camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen is reportedly taking time to think things over following a hectic several weeks settling in and adjusting to his new teammates and surroundings. Money isn’t the issue. Instead, he’s trying to determine if a long-term commitment with the Hurricanes is the best thing for his future.
WILL THE BLUES SHOP JORDAN BINNINGTON?
THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman and Jeremy Rutherford examined whether the St. Louis Blues should try to capitalize on goaltender Jordan Binnington’s success at the 4 Nations Face-Off by trading him.
The Blues are retooling their roster and could consider shopping Binnington if his trade value improved because of his 4 Nations performance. He has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million and an 18-team no-trade list.
St. Louis Blue goaltender Jordan Binnington (NHL Images)
Binnington’s inconsistent play with the Blues and his contract could make it difficult to move him. Goldman and Rutherford suggest that long-shot playoff teams like the Utah Hockey Club and Philadelphia Flyers could consider a change in net.
They also mentioned contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers. There are concerns over the durability of Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen and backup Pyotr Kochetkov’s playoff experience and the reliability of the Oilers’ tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited TSN’s Darren Dreger musing over whether Binnington might be a fit with the Oilers. However, he also cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming they’re not planning to change their goaltending amid uncertainty over whether Evander Kane will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is reportedly open to exploring the trade value of some of his core players. Binnington’s 4 Nations play may have improved his trade value but he’s unlikely to draw as much interest as two-way center Brayden Schenn and scoring forwards Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich.
TRADE RUMORS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” PODCAST
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said contract term remains a big issue between the Vancouver Canucks and Brock Boeser. However, he pointed out how their contracts for J.T. Miller and Kevin Lankinen came out of nowhere, so he doesn’t rule out a new deal for Boeser.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman’s colleague Courtney Jacobsen listed the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and the Utah Hockey Club as potential trade destinations for Boeser. With the trade deadline fast approaching, we won’t have to wait long to find out the Canucks’ intentions.
Friedman cited Erik Karlsson’s strong performance for Sweden during the 4 Nations Face-Off. He thinks the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman would be a great fit with the Dallas Stars but stressed that was just a theory, adding he wasn’t sure if it could happen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson turns 35 on May 31 and is signed through 2026-27, with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV. He also still has a full no-movement clause.
Karlsson might be receptive to a trade to the Stars if they were interested. However, a lot will depend on whether top blueliner Miro Heiskanen goes on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the regular season.
Taking on Karlsson’s cap hit would bite deeply into their cap space over the next two years. It could complicate their efforts to re-sign Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston this summer and Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley and Logan Stankoven in 2026.
Friedman also noted that Utah HC forward Matias Maccelli has been a frequent healthy scratch lately. He suggested the 24-year-old winger could be worth watching.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli enjoyed a career-high performance last season, tallying 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points for third in team scoring. He’s struggling this season, with 18 points in 52 games. Maccelli is in the second year of a three-year contract with an affordable AAV of $3.425 million. He could be a cost-effective gamble for clubs seeking a playmaking forward.
UPDATE ON JAKE EVANS
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports that Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans continues to draw interest in the trade market. One source claims multiple teams are calling about the 28-year-old center.
D’Amico listed the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators as possible suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Evans is a solid checking-line forward with a decent scoring touch slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit this season. Evans would be an attractive rental option to cap-strapped playoff contenders and a potential long-term addition to rebuilding clubs with the cap space to re-sign him.
TVA SPORTS: cited a report in The Athletic suggesting the Canadiens could consider bundling Evans with linemate Joel Armia to garner a more attractive return. Meanwhile, Renaud Lavoie speculates the Evans camp wants a deal between three and five years from the Canadiens. Lavoie still believes there’s a pathway to a deal between the two sides.
Jake Evans value in Montreal is as a 4C, he could do a 3yr deal with a bump from his present $1.7.
He will be redundant shortly as the young centres push their way into the lineup.
After Suzuki, there is any combination of Dach, Newhook, Beck, Kapanen, Demidov, Davidson, aside from the guys already there, Evans and Dvorak.
It’s a good sign that the Habs don’t have much room for him at the cost being tossed about.
i can see him staying at 3yrx 2.5
Evans will get better offers than that, HF30. And while I too think Beck and Kapanen should fill the role Evansnow has, reflect on your own view that young prospects are just that until they prove otherwise.
And the Habs surely see value in retaining Evans or they wouldn’t be exploring contract talks with him. They have some idea of what his market value is or they wouldn’t bother.
LJ,
I like Evans as a 4th line centre but you’re right somebody might value him higher.
If he won’t sign for 3x$2.5 then I’m fine with letting him go for whatever comes back.
You’re correct that I believe prospects have to push their way into the lineup and it remains to be seen if they will.
Habs have plenty of cap space, plenty of draft picks, overpaying a 4th liner isn’t necessary
Reminds me a little of the Danault situation!He signed a significant deal with LA!
HF30and LJ. Both of you make valid points. The way I see it is if the organization deems that Beck/Kapanen are ready, then the only real option is to trade him and get whatever you can. Even if they think they are not ready then I still think you trade him because you will likely be able to find a 4 th line centre for less term then Evans is asking for which would give another year or two to allow Beck/Kapenen to develop more. Likely, given Evans age, he is looking for a 5 year deal which is too long for where they are in the rebuild. I would like to see the conversation switch to acquiring top 6 forwards because that’s what they need to be competitive. Both Armia and Evans are valuable 4 th liners to a team who has a solid top 6. Montreal only has 3, maybe 4 legitimate top 6 forwards the way I see it.
Ottawa needs to make a big splash for a legit top 6 forward. Problem with Ottawa is they are tight against the cap so any move would be money in money out.
Appears at this point the Perron signing was a terrible waste of cap space
in 19 games – 1 Goal 3 Assists for 4 Points at a cost of 4 Mill a season for this year and next? Ouch
Scott, there’s media speculation now that 6′ 1″ 100lb RD Jacob Bernard-Docker, a 2018 1st round pick 26th overall, and coming off an ELC of $805,000 and a pending RFA, could be dealt now that’s he’s on the verge of returning following a lengthy spell on LTIR as a result of a high-ankle sprain.
Nashville is supposedly interested and what Staios would likely be seeking is a prospect, with the main goal freeing up that $805,000 cap hit from going back on the books.
Being a RD might generate some interest with that sort of return, and is made easier in Ottawa with the emergence from their system of Finnish RD Nikolas Matinpalo, who also played well for Finland in the 4 Nations.
That, of course, does nothing towards bringing in experienced help up front, but any move in the direction will have to happen without the involvement of Perron. As you point out, 4 points in 19gp at a cost of $4 mil – with another year to go – makes that virtually impossible without also relinquishing a significant sweetener that they just can’t afford to do.
The only hope with him is that the personal issues, and then injury when he did come back, are in the past and that he can contribute in the way they envisaged over the final 25 games. He did have a decent season last year in Detroit.
Docker has been waived a few times with no takers despite being cheap,
i don’t see much trade value there.
Sens fans need to relax, it’s a good team when at full strength and the goaltending is there.
i think Brady Tkachuk has to mature and learn to control himself as he carries the team on his back.
David Perron, you got him for the playoffs not the regular season, he’s a clutch player.
Sens will be in the playoffs and they’ll make trouble in the first round.
Actually, habfan30, Bernard-Docker has been placed on waivers just the one time – on October 2, 2023 with Sokolov when both failed to make the roster out of camp. Both required waivers to be sent down by this time in their careers and both cleared.
To that point Bernard-Docker had just 32 spot-duty NHL games to his credit with 0g 2a.
Since then he has played 97 NHL games with 5g 15a 20 pts and, being a RD, there is a feeling he would be claimed this time, especially with his cap hit being virtually rock-bottom at $805,000.
Sokolov also went unclaimed, and despite having only 13 nhl games under his belt, they were eventually able to trade him, in his case to Utah for minor league C Jan Jenik. Not a whole lot, but at least some minor league depth.
I suppose, with the main goal of not having Bernard-Docker’s $805,000 cap hit going back on the books after coming off LTIR, exposing him to claims would offer the same result in that regard … but why not see if you can get something useful before taking that rout.
I feel the Sens move Forsberg or Merilainen for help. I pitched this to the guys on the Team and they scoffed. The Oilers and Canucks are desperate for any kind of goaltending. I know the Nucks just signed a guy but…..
Also.
Pittsburgh retained $$ to make it work sends Karlsson to Tampa for Moser and a second (via the Leafs) and maybe some other crap to help with the money.
200 lb – he ain’t that skinny 🙂
I was gonna say, pay that boy in cheeseburgers and shakes!
Carolina with Binnington would be a very different beast
I think Oilers with Billington would be a very good fit and make them even more cup favourites
can see it 1000%
For who and/or what?
It appears Armstrong from St.Louis is turning over the reins to Alex Steen to become the new St. Louis GM and has him under his wing in the meantime .
I thought it would be impossible to deal with Armstrong
Maybe , it’s legit and he wants to either retool or rebuild the St. Louis lineup before relinquishing full control .
Away too many rumours this year to figure out what is accurate and what is not .
Tampa Bay is coming on very strong …
For Leafs to finish 1st and avoid playing either 1 of the Florida teams in the first round is important IMO
Moving Domi , creating cap space , as Yzerman recently accomplished with Husso, might be ideal to accommodate a significant move that is necessary to make the ideal deal
I was unsure if Toronto could move Domi without a sweetener, but then again I thought the same thing about Husso, so who knows ?
Husso being a goalie is the difference
Boston,St.Louis,Utah are 3 teams that should be very active this deadline! Boston,St.Louis need a culture change and Utah looking to make a big splash!
$13M+ for Rantanen, even though it’s unclear he’s a 100 point player without MacK… seems dicey.
@Iago
Leafs will 4 sure need to add a sweetener to move Domi , or make him part of the deal that may be going down
I am hearing Yzerman and Toronto are “hot” on Cozens ???
EK65 to Dallas….a rumor????… just do it Dubas
For the money I would not touch E Karlsson with a 10 foot Pole, Czech Swede or Finn for that matter .
One dimensional player with that dimension diminishing
Detroit should be active with all the new found cap space and a playoff spot up for grabs
An interesting read yesterday suggested the Leafs offer Knies for Dobson.
The article said Knies’ underlying numbers weren’t sustainable.
It was an interesting proposal and does address a big need on the Leafs back end.
Going into the playoffs with Myers, Benoit, and Timmins as regulars is not good enough.
You aren’t getting Dobson for Knies
Kent Nilsson
Maybe not straight up but I bet it starts the conversation.
Knies is a young power forward with 21 G this year. NYI has trouble scoring goals.
If Dobson is available they should at least call. Dobson us young enough that sacrificing a prospect and picks wouldn’t hurt as much as getting a 30+ year old
You know what. It’s refreshing seeing people share opinions and talk as opposed to hating and disagreeing with everything. The best hockey comment section I’ve read yet!