NHL Rumor Mill – February 4, 2025
Will trades be allowed during the 4 Nations Face-Off? What’s the latest on the Stars, Panthers, Flyers, Penguins, Blue Jackets and Canadiens? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NO ROSTER RESTRICTIONS DURING 4 NATIONS FACE-OFF
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports there won’t be a roster freeze on the NHL’s 32 teams during the upcoming break (Feb. 10-21) for the league’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Technically, that means the teams can still make trades. However, Johnston spoke with “multiple team executives” who expect any deals discussed during that period won’t occur until after the tournament.
This is the first international tournament involving active NHL players in eight years. No one wants to take the spotlight away from that.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade activity heated up recently with several trades involving notable stars like Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Miller. Similar moves could be made leading up to the 4 Nations break. Johnston believes there could be a flurry of moves in the two weeks between the end of the tournament and the March 7 trade deadline.
THE LATEST ON THE STARS, PANTHERS, FLYERS AND PENGUINS
SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Dallas Stars could look to add to their defense corps. It’ll depend on how long it takes top defenseman Miro Heiskanen to recover from his knee injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars made a significant move over the weekend, acquiring center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks.
Friedman also reported that teams are wary of the Florida Panthers. They don’t have much salary-cap room or trade capital but they could find a way to add a right-shot defenseman.
Turning to the Flyers, Friedman thinks they’re clearing cap room to go “big-game hunting” in the offseason after shipping out forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to Calgary last week. He suggested the significant rise in next season’s salary cap could have the Flyers angling for an offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The St. Louis Blues’ bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer could motivate teams with a lot of cap room to target restricted free agents on cap-strapped clubs.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic believes the Pittsburgh Penguins might not be finished making moves after shipping Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Yohe listed Anthony Beauvillier, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari as depth forwards they could be willing to move by March 7.
There could also be interest in winger Rickard Rakell. However, Yohe writes the Penguins aren’t eager to move him.
UPDATES ON THE BLUE JACKETS AND CANADIENS
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline recently noted the Columbus Blue Jackets were linked to Elias Pettersson before the Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers on Friday. However, they were never seriously involved in trade discussions for the 26-year-old Pettersson, who is likely staying put now that Miller has been traded. They don’t want to impede young centers like Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Spencer Lazary speculates the Blue Jackets might hit the trade market for someone to replace Kirill Marchenko. The 24-year-old winger is sidelined indefinitely with a broken jaw.
Lazary suggested Scott Laughton of the Flyers and Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks as trade targets. He also acknowledged they might have to look within their organization for help.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing Marchenko was a big blow to the Blue Jackets’ offense. He won’t be easy to replace.
The Flyers are reluctant to move Laughton, but if they peddle him, the Jackets will be bidding with several contenders for his services.
Strome is third among Ducks scorers with 30 points and has two years remaining on his contract. They’re rebuilding but they don’t seem in a rush to trade him.
TVA SPORTS: The Montreal Canadiens’ five-game losing skid (0-4-1) prompted Jean-Charlies Lajoie to call for management to become sellers in the trade market. He believes their playoff hopes are dashed and should start shopping pending UFAs like Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and David Savard for the best possible returns.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will likely evaluate his club’s performance leading up to the 4 Nations break. If the Habs haven’t pulled out of their current tailspin by then, Lajoie could get his wish following the tournament.
Hey 8787,
I have a trade for you, Oilers and Pen’s
Dont know if you seen this yesterday…
8787,
>To the Oilers
Kris Letang $6.1M for 2.3 more years
Bryan Rust $5.125. for 2.3 more years
Total $$11.25 M
>>To the Pens,
-Viktor Arvidsson $4.M 1.3 years
-Paul Fischer, the young Team USA LD man 19yr old
-A 2nd & 3rd round pick over the next 3 Drafts
-John Klingberg $1.75M 3 months
-Maybe one of these 2
A Jeff Skinner or a Adam Henrique $3.M
Total $8.75M
Pen’s would need to hold back $2.5 M for 1.3 years….❓
P.S.
Both of these players are Tradeable,
To make the Moneys work
Total $11.25 M
87 will not be traded !!!
Sid may be moving before the 2026 trade deadline
Nah. We’ve been assured that all those stunning prospects in their system, combined with the genius of Dubas, will turn them around as quickly as did the Washington GM after last season.
Of course, not mentioned is that Washington did so after BEING a playoff team while this version of the Penguins is now closer to last place Buffalo than they are a playoff spot.
This trade proposal was bad enough yesterday you didn’t need to post it again today
Thank you!
Good God 8787
Why would you make that trade Brian Rust is staying in Pittsburgh.
Kris Letang IF he goes anywhere it is Montreal
Ardvisson Klingberg Skinner wtf ?
awful LOL
I didn’t propose that trade, see below
Hi Williew
Didn’t see that trade proposal
Zero chance of that happening. Literally zero
Letang and Rust are fully secured with NMCs
If a miracle happens and somehow Dubas gets them both to waive; the proposed return is not even close; not by any stretch
Dubas just traded 2 UFAs for two players with term; a 1st; and a prospect
Trading two vets (both with term) with 5 cups between them including a top line winger (who has 6 consecutive 20 goal seasons and has an 82 game pace this year of 36-36-72) ; and with having to retain; gets waaaay more than:
A diminutive underperforming forward (Arvidson);
a seriously underperforming UFA (Skinner: note who also has a full NMC)
A UFA aging RD they don’t need
A measly 2nd and 3rd spread over 2 maybe 3 drafts
A mediocre prospect
Even Dubas wouldn’t make that deal
Rust alone (if he miraculously waives) gets a first and a good young NHL player
You guys do know that Letang will turn 38 in April and makes $6.1M for 2 more years after this season?
The Oil don’t need what he brings.
Rust is a good player on a reasonable contract, but again, will be 33 when next season starts. Not finished by any means, and he has real value, but getting the age where decline starts.
Arvidsson is a good player, Henrique is a good player, Skinner hasn’t worked at all. And Skinner is the only one that was expected to play a key offensive role, the other 2 are middle 6 guys who really can move around wherever the coach wants.
If Kane hits another set back and isn’t expected back, then ya, you look at a guy like Rust, but leave Letang out of the convo.
My bad 8787 why would Willie make that trade proposal..: LOL
Dubas solid return in this trade of Peterson and O’Connor
Agree Ray re Letang
As I said, regardless of perceived vales; that trade proposal ain’t happenin’
Now,
Can’t really see Rusty waiving; but outside chance for maybe Stars or Knights or Oilers
Stars have space (Oilers need to really shuffle to make s deal work; nigh impossible re Knights)
So,
Proposal:
To Stars:
Rust,
Grzylcyk,
McGroarty,
To Pens:
Johnston,
Bischel,
Bertucci,
1st (‘26, top 10 protected);
3rd (‘25)
That then has Pens with (over next 2 drafts):
-Four 1sts
-Two 2nds
-Six 3rds
For balance of season move Malkin up with Crosby and Rackell
Johnson to center Bunting Tomassino
Glass centering Heinen and Beauvillier
then Hayes/Pulljarvi/Lizotte for the 4th line
Interesting indeed, but PIT would need more of a return to be so generous to the Oilers.
Horrible trade why would Pittsburgh do this?
I would still try to sign Evans. He’s still young enough to contribute for several years to come. And if Armia would accept a two year deal for less money than he’s getting now, I’d do it. He’s been important to their penalty kill. Savard and Dvorak are as good as gone.
Howard. You nailed it. Evans will come down to the dough, though. He’s earned a raise for sure, but what’s the threshold? More that 3 million? He’d probably get that on the open market, but, assuming the Habs are still 2-3 years away from contending, and he’ll be in his early thirties by then, I dunno. Curious who in the pipeline fits the profile Evans fills now. Emotionally I say pay him, keep him. Intellectually I say if you can get a 2nd (or with good fortune and a desperate GM on the other end, maybe a 1st).
First off, no GM is giving up a high pick for Evans.
Having said that, I’m not quite ready to toss in the towel on the Habs’ hope of making the playoffs … yet.
The currently sit 6 points back of the 2 WC holders Columbus and Detroit and have a game in hand on each.
But the loss to Anaheim on this road trip can’t be repeated by losses in San Jose tonight and L.A. tomorrow. If that happens they can effectively write this season off in terms of the playoffs.
They’d be further back and with 5 teams to climb over, and could even be passed by both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia who each sit just 1 pt back of Montreal.
Further re Evans – in 52gp he has 11g 15a 26 pts and is a +4, costing $1,700,000 off the cap and is a pending UFA..
Adam Gaudette in Ottawa, also in 52gp, has 16g 6a 22 pts and is a +12, costing $775,000 off the cap and is a pending UFA.
If Staois were to offer him in a deal, the best offer he’d likely get is a 4th or 5th – and that’s being optimistic.
GeorgeO,Evans is the second coming of Phillip Danault! Signed with LA Kings 5/25! Nice ring to it he has 25 pts this year 5 g 20 asst. 25 pts!
The Habs are done, George. Whatever pixie dust they stumbled onto is gone. In golfing terms they have thrown up on themselves. I can take a few bad games but no playoff contender loses 5 in a row whilst in a fight to the finish. They look exhausted and befuddled. Dach has regressed and now that teams have adjusted to Laine on the PP he looks like a heron amidst hawks.
Howard, as for Savard being gone, not so sure. The Habs have found that having traded Harris and Kovacevic in the off season, their young D aren’t NHL ready. Their current D is relying on Struble to fill in, meaning any other injury will see them icing a not NHL ready D. And what would they get for Savard, given that they have 7 picks in the first three rounds in 2025?
Savard may get a better offer than the Habs can give in the off season; trade him now and watch the Habs leave an oil slick on the tide.
As for Evans, perhaps it is trite to say it depends on money and term. The Habs have Beck and Kapanen (who nearly made the team this year) who can offer the same thing with a season under their belts.
None of the ^layers mentionned are worth too much…Evans a 4 line centre having the year of his playing life, Savard a slow moving pilon now and Dvorak..i really don’t know….from a 3rd to a 7th return. They don’t want Evans because he will be too expensive to sign for the 1 year he really came out and so on so on and so on
Howard….agreed Jake Evans only 28 can grow with this group.
would love him in Pittsburgh as our 3rd line center.
maybe even second since Malkin is slowing rapidly..
Re Rakell
The Pens are NOT eager to move him
IP
Whoops! Sorry about that, I meant to type “aren’t eager to move him”. Need another coffee. Cheers!
This four nations thing…..it’s either gonna be a bust or a bigger bust. They were having a tough time selling tickets (at wildly inflated prices) I haven’t seen an update on ticket sales since. And will the players play hard especially with playoff drives right around the corner? Is this just going to be All Star Game level of competition?
The point about the playoffs is valid Dark G, but have to think when they pull that jersey on and Canada and USA line up against each other, both teams will really want to win that game. Have to think that game or any game involving the home country will sell out.
Canadian or US fans may not fork over the big $$ for Sweden vs Finland, even though it would be a great game. Swedes will be a handful against anyone.
I can’t speak for the USA, but folks will definitely be watching up here, at least anyone I have spoken to about it.
For what it’s worth, Ray, I’m one who could not possibly care less – other than worrying that one of the Senators participating gets injured in a nothing tournament.
The 4 nations…who decided on these 4 nations…it’s really a nothing tournament replacing an all star game that I haven’t watches in 10 years. It will be nice to have a break from hockey and yes teams should be active on the trade market…why not. Thanks Lyle for your professional analysis and comments
Always my first read every morning
DarkG
and the rest of you guys,you are underestimating how at least the US team feels about the 4 Nations tourney! Canada has Marchand and Bennett,the US has the Tkaczuk brothers! These guys are assassins! The final in Boston with the history the Tkaczuk brothers and their father Keith has with Boston could be epic!
You better believe it will be a virtual waltz, especially with teammates going head to head and then needing to go back to the schedule and resume the various playoff races.
Where Ottawa is concerned, I was happy to see this in a recent article by Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun
“Ullmark still is listed as one of the goaltenders for Team Sweden in the coming 4 Nations Face-Off. But he says he’s not thinking ahead. “I don’t care about the 4 Nations at the moment,” he said. “For now, it’s just Ottawa Senators.”
Really guys, wow, I have a totally different expectation for the Tourney. When they talk to McDavid etc, they sure sound like they are pumped about. Hyman was really disappointed when he didn’t make the cut.
These top guys haven’t played in a best on best for a long time, McDavid has never represented Canada in one of these as the NHL pulled out of Olympics in 2014. He was in Jr the last time.
I suppose they are back in the Olympics next year, but I can’t fathom guys like McDavid, Crosby, Matthews, Hedman not wanting to win this thing for their country. And beat the other guys they are competing against. I just don’t think it’s who they are, especially playing in front of a home crowd, or against it.
Maybe I’m overly optimistic, but sure hope I’m right, as that would be a disappointment.
We’ll see I guess.
I’m not sure why all the hate regarding this tournament. Is it any different than the Canada Cup years ago? That was a blast to watch…remembering 99 drop passing to 66 for the blast that won them the tournament. Only slight was not having Russia in, but understandable.
I don’t know, all these guys are competitors and are all showing their stuff for the upcoming Olympics. I expect to see a very competitive tournament. Excited to se Mcdavid, Mackinnon and Crosby all playing together….
Why were the Czecks omitted? Some pretty decent players there as well
https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality/active-czech-nhl-players-career-stats.html
Outside of the Olympics, these “who’s the best” tournaments are long since passé.
That’s fair on Czechs…but I think if the russians were in, they’d round out number 6. But with only 4, I think it’s fair to say outside of the top 6, they’d be hard pressed to compete with the other 4 teams, especially with Hronek sidelined.
Dark G, I agree with you.
Curiously, the players don’t. The Athletic polled 110 NHL players, and 82% said they do care about 4 Nations.
Pretty sure all the players are from the NHL and, except for Russia, the four countries in the tournament have the most available to play.
Finland could be on the bubble though as they named a defence man from Toronto who’s been on LTIR from the get-go.
I bet Briere is targeting to sign Rantanen, but they REALLY need a #1 center. John Tavares is not a solution for that (he’s more of a #2 these days). Maybe Flyers sign both
Re : “Yohe listed Anthony Beauvillier, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari as depth forwards they could be willing to move by March 7.”
“Could be willing to move” Hayes or Accari????
That needs to read; “are begging to move Hayes and Accari” even for a late rounder in ‘26 (Accairi) and “future considerations (meaning ZIP) for Hayes
Re Beauvillier ; he’s UFA. It’s not “could be willing”; it’s “need to move UFAs “ for something. We’re retooling/rebuilding; UFAs don’t help that plan
The only true “could be willing to move” of those 4 is Lizotte. He has one more year; not too old; great P&V attitude; not outlandish cap hit ($1.85 M for 1 more year)
8787.. I hope they keep Blake Lizotte love his energy, speed, and forecheck….he has more to give inly 26/27.
Hopefully Dubas does another strong deal like the Peterson O’Connor deal..
Interesting indeed, but PIT would need more of a return to be so generous to the Oilers.
Was wondering about trades during break for awhile. While you don’t want to take attention away during tournament, it is ideal for players not in tournament to get settled in new cities. Especially players with families. When season resumes there will be less than 2 weeks till deadline. Currently, only team that seems to be out in the east is Buffalo. Hopefully there will be a clearer picture come March. After acquiring JTM, Drury said he would let dust settle and go into break and reevaluate. 3 big games vs Boston, Pitt, and CBJ. Zibanejad was moved to RW on JT’s line and now biggest need imo is 3C. Brodzinski not the answer.
I have tried to get excited about this 4 Nations thing but failed so many times I stopped bothering.
Now I look at it like a nice break for some injured Sens to heal up. Nothing more. Will I watch the games? Maybe. Not overly likely.
As far as trades go…I could see them happening, but not involving anyone that is playing in the tourney. Even then, most teams will likely sit pat until after…also gauging their injured players progression.
I am happy for those excited for this tournament and I truly hope they enjoy it! It’s just literally nothing to me.
Hearing the Jets are looking to add muscle to their lineup to allow them to play their speed game. Trent Frederic and Brandon Carlo would fit the bill. Frederic at 3C pushing Lowry to 2C and Namestikov to 4C. Carlo can push Demelo down and everything gets stronger. Jets have assets in prospects and no. 1 draft choice to give.
Interesting idea Tripper, and ya WPG has the assets and their 1st, so will be able to go for it.
They kinda have too don’t they? They have to be considered as the best team so far during reg season.
Not sure what the B’s long term plans are after this season, but agree they need to get it going fast or sell. Not optimistic.
If they can’t get Frederic signed to a reasonable deal they have to move him. Carlo will have real value out their as a proven RD with a long playoff record, still youngish at 28, on a fair contract.
What that deal would look like? Wow, tough one. That Yager kid would be one ask, after that I dunno? Their first or another prospect?
1st round pick, Chaz Lucious and Logan Stanley.
Re the Habs comments above.
Savard has value to a playoff team for his shut down ability in a series, he’d be a rental.
In Montreal he’d continue to have value as a mentor and would draw that type of pay.
Evans is a solid bottom 5 player and along with Armia are one of the hottest pk guys this year, Goals have never been his strength and still aren’t despite a few months of outlier pay. I think he wants to stay in Montreal and it will be at an agreeable level.
Armia is an enigma, good playoff guy, has been good since being waived last year, but doesn’t cover his contract. Like Savard he has value as a rental for a playoff team, followed by a pay cut.
It isn’t by coincidence that two players that missed all of last year, Dach and Laine are going through a tough patch and the depth to fill in isn’t here yet.
That depth in hand is Beck, Kapanen, Roy, Demidov and my dark horse, Davidson.
There are many more prospects and 12 picks in this draft year, including 2 in rd1 and 2 in rd2
I don’t think the Hab fans here are looking through rose coloured glasses but are openly pointing out shortcomings while being at peace with the process.
The playoff run that the team had since December is solid experience and foundation to build on.
NHPA has over 700 members. Polling 110 is not a good sample size.
What I am already beyond tired of is the 4 nations advertising . I get it, the tournament start’s Feb 12th.they have spent a small fortune
Maybe it is my demographic no Russia No Czechs and no Germany equals less interest
I, myself, could give no craps about 4 nations or Olympics. I do care about the NHL and the Stanley Cup. This nonsense (my opinion) will end when someone like Connor McDavid or Austin Matthews blows out a knee or takes a major head hit while under contract to an NHL team. Then you’ll see all kinds of people saying “gee, maybe we shouldn’t do that”.
On a strictly research methods basis, Silverseven, that is a massive valid sample size.
If 15% of all Canadians were polled it would total over 6 million, and as you may recall polls during elections are often several hundred people.