NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2025
Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson, Dylan Cozens, Jake Evans and many more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL THE HURRICANES TRADE OR RETAIN MIKKO RANTANEN?
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli cited sources saying the Carolina Hurricanes remain in active conversation with the representatives for Mikko Rantanen. The 28-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Seravalli said the Hurricanes put a “franchise-record” deal on the table for Rantanen. He indicated they had permission from the Colorado Avalanche to speak with the winger before acquiring him and knew what he was seeking in his next contract.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
The Hurricanes haven’t gotten an answer from Rantanen yet. If the answer is a hard no, they will very much consider keeping him for the remainder of the season. To deal him, they’d have to get a return that improves their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Rantanen camp is expected to let Hurricanes management know where they stand within the next several days, possibly by the end of this weekend. The Canes have also spoken with several teams, telling them they don’t intend to trade Rantanen but will circle back if that changes.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that if Rantanen remains on the Hurricanes roster after the trade deadline, they’re the only team that can offer him an eight-year contract. He doesn’t believe they’ve offered the winger $14 million annually or close to it. He thinks the total amount is slightly over $100 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slightly over $100 million could put the average annual value between $12.5 million and $13 million.
Friedman wouldn’t say the Rantanen situation is holding up the trade market, but he thinks some teams would regret missing the opportunity to acquire him because they’d already traded away their best assets. He also wondered if a non-contender, like the Anaheim Ducks, might try to acquire him if they could speak to him beforehand to find out if they could sign him.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos points out that Carolina’s offer falls far short of the deal Leon Draisaitl signed last year with the Edmonton Oilers ($14 million AAV over eight years) that reset the market. He also speculates the offer was heavily back-loaded with deferred payments, something most players and agents aren’t comfortable with.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky gave up a scoring forward (Martin Necas), a checking-line forward (Jack Drury) and two draft picks for Rantanen, confident that he could re-sign him. Instead, he’s facing the possibility of Rantanen becoming another costly rental player who departs on July 1.
Tulsky could listen to offers before the March 7 trade deadline if Rantanen doesn’t want to re-sign. However, it’s doubtful he’ll get a return that improves the Hurricanes’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup. He’ll probably keep him and hope for the best in the postseason.
If the Hurricanes win the Cup, it’ll be a worthwhile move by Tulsky. If they don’t, it will be poor asset management on his part, which might not sit well with team owner Tom Dundon.
Kypreos believes the Maple Leafs could be among the suitors if Rantanen becomes available in the trade market. He noted that the Hurricanes only carry half of the winger’s $9.25 million AAV ($4.625 million), making it possible for the Hurricanes or another team to do the same again if he hits the trade block before the March 7 deadline.
Rantanen could become the perfect rental player for the Leafs if they can meet the Hurricanes’ asking price. Kypreos suggested a package of a top prospect like Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan, winger Bobby McMann, and a draft pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Rantanen won’t address the Leafs’ pressing need for a third-line center. That’s why Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues is reportedly their primary trade target. If Rantanen did become available, Kypreos’ trade proposal wouldn’t be enough to land him.
LATEST ON THE BRUINS
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple NHL sources claim Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney isn’t shopping captain Brad Marchand, but he’s keeping his options open. He’s telling interested teams that his first choice is to re-sign the 36-year-old winger, but he’s not ruling anything out.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos dismissed the notion of the Bruins trading Marchand. He’s indicated that his focus is to stay in Boston and believes everything will work itself out.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides stated they intend to get a deal done. Even if it’s not completed by March 7, they’ll likely keeping negotiating for something that ensures Marchand finishes his career as a Bruin.
TSN: Chris Johnston noted Bruins forward Trent Frederic is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The 26-year-old is UFA-eligible and garnered interest in the trade market before his injury. Some teams want to know how many weeks Frederic could be out. It’s not believed to be a season-ending injury and the Bruins believe he’s a player they could still move if it comes to that by next Friday.
ISLANDERS STILL HOPE TO RE-SIGN BROCK NELSON
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there’s still no indication that the New York Islanders will make Brock Nelson available in the trade market. He believes they’re still hoping to re-sign the 33-year-old center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s clear to everyone except Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello that it’s time to rebuild. If Nelson remain uncertain about staying, then it’s time to open the phone lines and entertain serious offers.
UPDATES ON THE SABRES
TSN: Chris Johnston reports there remains interest in Buffalo Sabres forwards Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams hasn’t received any suitable offers for them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those offers are likely lowballs hoping to steal one of them away for pennies on the dollar. Adams is interested in a hockey trade, similar to the one he made last year when he sent Casey Mittelstadt to the Avalanche for Byram. If you’re not offering something comparable to that, he won’t take your calls.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Sabres are trying to re-sign Jordan Greenway.
CANADIENS SEEK MORE THAN DRAFT PICKS FOR THEIR TRADE BAIT
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that a sizeable gap remains in contract talks between Montreal Canadiens management and center Jake Evans. He and linemate Joel Armia are the two Canadiens gaining the most traction in the trade market.
LeBrun believes Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, New Jersey and Minnesota are among the clubs calling about Evans and/or Armia. However, the Canadiens are telling teams that they’re prepared to keep both players if they don’t receive serious offers, saying they’ve got plenty of draft picks already.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Canadiens are holding out for at least a second-rounder for Evans.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like Canadiens GM Kent Hughes would like a good young prospect or an NHL player who fits within their rebuilding plans. There’s speculation that Hughes could bundle Evans and Armia with a draft pick if it would fetch a return that helps them now and in the future.
RUMORS OF NOTE FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman cited FanDuel Sports Network’s Andy Strickland reporting the Hurricanes will work to retain pending UFA winger Taylor Hall.
St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich’s full no-trade clause, which was negotiated into his extension that begins on July 1, is already in effect. As per the CBA (Section 11.8b), a player eligible for this clause can have it added to a current contract.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov recently changed agents. However, the Kings remain optimistic they can re-sign him and aren’t setting March 7 as the deadline to get a contract done.
The New Jersey Devils’ priority is to acquire a center.
Canucks need to move on from Pettersson.
could a complicated deal occur by the deadline where Rantanen goes to VAN, Pettersson/Boeser go to CAR, and VAN also acquires Brock Nelson? maybe CAR moves a 1st or 2nd that moves to NYI in the Nelson deal?
that would be a better postseason roster for Tocchet to work with
Canucks really need to fully clear out the clubhouse cancer permeating, even after the Miller trade. If Boeser doesn’t want to commit then take their chances with Rantanen
Canes have no cap space. It would be monumental task to work that trade out.
Agree. Trade Peterson ands Soucy. To bruins for Lindholm and Zadorov with Merculov
I ll drive them to Vancouver!
In the headlines I have proposed trades in the last two days for Evans and Armia as a duo.
most Hab Fans here tend to disagree and want to keep them given to their playoff experience and pk performance.
Individually I don’t see Evans having high value and the same goes for Armia, though he picks it up in the playoffs.
If other GMs see them as “just 4th liners” Habs will resign them cheap.
Together it’s a different story, they pair well, and are in the upper echelons as pk duo and shorthand goals. As a pair they fill a real need on some playoff contenders wo are in win now mode.
There’s a price to get over that hump, it’s a 1st rounder for the pair.
Veleno and a 3rd for the “pair”.
Johnny, I suspect that Detroit wants scoring.
As for the Habs: Veleno has 5 goals this year. Why would the Habs be interested in a player close to being a bust?
even packaged together don’t see teams trading a 1st for two Penalty killers
Mike, don’t underestimate the value of penalty killers even as a rental. Especially during the playoffs.
Lj, they are all 4th liners, not worth a 1st. Veleno is a 4th line C and PK guy with term that replaces Evans. He is also from Montreal and will most likely be a better player there. Evans will cost more than what the Habs wish to spend on him.
Don’t count on the Habs resigning Evans or Armia “cheap.” It’s a given that teams tend to overpay during free agency, when every team is a possible bidder and when the cap has risen to give teams more $.
They are on their last contract possibly so they will be looking for market value which makes sense..ironically the Habs fans especially on RDS have been bitching about these two players for years saying they are 5th liners….so now they are like gods worth 1st round picks or be signed as you say on the cheap…I guess had to be there
Veleno for both in a heartbeat
habfan30
I like Evans for the Leafs.
How about Benoit and a 2nd for both Evans and Armia 50% retained?
You know the Habs would love to add another French Canadian to their roster
probably have to send Domi over too to make the money work.
Nah, too much term for Domi and Benoit who’s a LD, something that Habs don’t need.
I’d like UFAs coming back
TML does have a 1st next year though.
The Habs have enough second round and later picks and mid level prospects that were chosen after the first round. They don’t need any more. If they can get a first or a top level prospect for Armia and Evans as a package, great. If not might be better off holding onto them and trying to re-sign them.
Howard,
I’m with you on this, better to play it out and deal with in the off-season than settle for later picks and mid level prospects.
Veleno and a 1st do it for me though
One section says the Canes wont deal Rantanen unless they get players that will help win the Cup in return.
Then you have LeafsNet Kypreos saying a draft pick and a couple of OHL players or Bobby McMann and a draft pick.
Just another example of LeafsNets everybody to the Leafs syndrome.
Following up on Ron – the Leafs offer is:
The Hurricanes best offensive player (at least on paper), for 3 magic beans. Seriously, not even a roster player.
This passes for ‘news’?
2 things, first the offer came from Kypreos not the Leafs and Kypreos is 2 or 3 steps below the insiders to whom nobody takes seriously. 2nd Necas playing next to McKinnon isn`t blowing anybody away and Drury is a 4th liner on a contender. So Carolina didn`t sell the farm to acquire Rantanen. The question was how good would Rantanen be away from McKinnon. Against Toronto Rantanen was barely noticeable and the 1 goal 2 assists in 8 games kinda tells the story doesn`t it. It won`t help that Rantanen has turned down a couple of great offers from Carolina either. Sakic knew what he was doing when he shipped Ratanen to Carolina for a so so return. If I`m Carolina I`d hang onto Ratanen and hope for the best because they probably won`t recoup what they gave up to get him. And that non roster player has out scored Ratanen 3 goal to 1 in those 8 games playing 10 minutes a game less
To answer Friedman’s wondering, Rantanen will not sign an extension now to a non contender who may want to trade for him. On July 1 maybe depending on the team, the term and the money, but not now.
Only in sports can someone be grossly underperforming while in negotiations to get a hefty raise and job security.
I think Rantanen is showing how his play was very dependent on MacKinnon…
It’s definitely a lie that Tulsky had conversations about an extension prior to the trade. Everyone was blindsided by the trade including the player. If another team’s GM is contacting you regarding a contract, you would know something was up.
Whatever happens, I applaud Tulsky for moving to get Rantanen. When a top player is available a contender has to try to get him. Playing it safe is not a winning strategy. Of course Tom Dundon may not see it that way if they bow out early.
Prior to the trade, the rumor was out there that Rantanen was looking for ~$14m. Chris MacFarland deserves some credit here, recognizing that Mikko was looking to get paid, and moving swiftly to get a nice return. The Avs might have been able to squeeze him under the cap, but not without other cap casualties. MacFarland was right to prioritize depth over high-end talent.
I wonder if Rantanen’s math changed after the cap went up more than expected. I won’t be surprised if he stays in Raleigh, but he’s not going to give them a hometown discount. It’ll be because it’s the best offer on the table come July 1st.
I think the Schenn to Toronto deal a done deal and they were waiting for Schenn to get to 1000 games while still the teams captain. Schenn is being asked about it every day, his social media posts, his dad giving out the lineup in the room last nite, all seem like a subtle goodbye. We’ll see.
Regardless Armstrong is in quite a pickle right now. Does he stand pat with the team being hot right now 3 pts out of the playoffs and Binnington on tear along with Hofer.
Does he make a bold move to get a offensive stud to bolster the postseason chances.
Does he take 1 or more of his most valuable and tradeable assets, Schenn, Binnington, Parayko, Kyrou, Buchnevich and try to get a big influx of NHL ready players and prospects. He told everyone at the press conference when they announced Steen as his successor that he was going to leave a solid foundation before he moves up. Should be a very interesting few days for Blues fans as well as others because if he starts selling it could be 2 or 3 of the above names.
What is it with Carolina ? They lose Guentzel last year and it looks like Rantanen this year? Is it something to do with Brinda mour?Their GM left last year and he has done a great job in Columbus!
Dundon, the owner, has a reputation for meddling and being too hands on. WhalerCaner or other Canes fans might have some thoughts.
Sorry, I can’t offer any insight on this one. Especially regarding Rantanen.
There were some reports that TB already had an inside track to get Guentzel before he even got here and that he was strictly a rental. I have no idea as to the truth of that.
Yes, Dundon is known as a meddling owner. However, I don’t see why that would affect the on-ice team. I’m sure, though, that it definitely affects the front office and was likely the primary (if perhaps ONLY) reason Waddell left.
But yes, losing both top-end FA signings in back-to-back years would be concerning; but whatever the reason is, I’m at a loss.
Tulsky stated that Carolina’s future cap space is in a better situation than it was when they were negotiating with Guentzel. Tulsky also stated that Rantanen was the kind of elite player you’re willing to stretch for. I don’t believe Carolina has any intention of trading Rantanen at the trade deadline.
Brock Nelson’s game has declined this year. He’s over 30. It’s time to move on. Isles must trade him for futures. Of course an octogenarian GM isn’t interested in futures. That’s why a younger man must take over.
Howard: Snap!
With injuries to Carrier, Fast and Jost and with assets to be had from trading Burns, Orlov, Roslovic, Hall and Robinson. Hurricanes MIGHT thus be sellers at TDL.
Plus, it’s more attractive to teams to trade for Rantanen now when his cap hit is lower. Genius move!
Avs might try to pick him up again!
Mikko Rantanen (if he agrees to 12.5) plus Sean Walker for Nabokov, Mittelstadt, Colton, Ritchie, Kylington, Malinski and Hurricanes earlier picks (a 2025:2 and a 2026:4th rounder).
Probably takes Logan O’Connor as well or a 2027 firstrounder. Above gives Canes players under contract for a while.