NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2025
Will the Islanders trade Brock Nelson or Noah Dobson? Could the Blues trade captain Brayden Schenn? Will the Blue Jackets become buyers at the trade deadline? Should the Rangers trade Brennan Othmann? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports some teams would love to get into discussions with the New York Islanders about pending free-agent center Brock Nelson. However, there’s no certainty whether he’ll be available at the March 7 trade deadline.
LeBrun cites several factors for this uncertainty. The Islanders have played themselves back into wild-card contention. General manager Lou Lamoriello doesn’t always trade his pending UFA players. The Isles GM could also try and sign Nelson to a contract extension, though LeBrun believes the 33-year-old center will test the free-agent market on July 1.
The Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs could be among Nelson’s suitors if the Islanders shop him by March 7.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cited a source suggesting Nelson could remain with the Islanders on a three-year contract with a raise over his current average annual value of $6 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello has consistently said his team’s performance by the trade deadline will determine if he’ll be a buyer or a seller. He could become a buyer if they’re still in the race a month from now. That could also mean Nelson finishes this season with the Isles. Stay tuned.
New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (NHL Images).
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reported a source claiming Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is available for trade. The 25-year-old defenseman is the piece they’re supposedly willing to part with to bring in the scoring presence they’ve been lacking the last three seasons.
D’Amico cited a rumor from The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner suggesting the Islanders could be interested in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Dobson could be part of the package to get Pettersson, though the Canucks might have to retain part of the center’s $11.6 million AAV.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams could be reluctant to trade for Dobson this season. He’s listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury and on long-term injury reserve. The Isles’ recent additions of blueliners Scott Perunovich, Adam Boqvist and Tony DeAngelo suggest he could be out for the remainder of the regular season.
Moving Dobson in a package deal for Pettersson could address the Isles’ need for a scoring presence up front. However, it leaves them searching for a puck-moving defenseman to fill that void on their blueline.
Pettersson might not be the ideal trade target. His offensive struggles continue despite the trading away of J.T. Miller a week ago. It’s been reported the Canucks have taken Pettersson off the trade block as they’re hoping to let the dust settle and give him time to regain his form.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias suggested Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras as a more affordable trade option for the Islanders than Elias Pettersson. He cited a rumor suggesting the Ducks would want a defenseman in exchange for the 23-year-old Zegras.
Macias wondered if the Isles could convince one of Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock or Adam Pelech to waive their no-trade clause. Failing that, he proposed a package of a rejuvenated Scott Perunovich and a second-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s unlikely Mayfield, Pulock or Pelech will waive their clauses to go to a rebuilding club. The Ducks probably won’t be tempted by an offer of Perunovich and a second-rounder. It’s believed they’ve set a high asking price for Zegras despite the decline in his production since last season due to injuries.
COULD THE BLUES PEDDLE BRAYDEN SCHENN?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports “there’s potential” for center Brayden Schenn to be traded by the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old Blues captain has a full no-trade clause this season. However, Dreger noted that Blues GM Doug Armstrong can be very aggressive in the trade market.
Dreger believes teams in the market for a center, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, could be interested in Schenn. However, the return would have to be mammoth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schenn wouldn’t be a rental player. He’s signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $6.5 million. Not many teams will be comfortable taking on that contract during this season. If the Blues are gauging Schenn’s trade value, they might find it easier to move him after July 1, when his NTC becomes a 15-team no-trade list. The projected rise in the salary cap to $95.5 million for next season could also make a summer trade more likely.
BLUE JACKETS COULD BE BUYERS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets could be moderate buyers at the March 7 trade deadline. Despite being walloped by injuries, they’re still battling for a wild-card spot. GM Don Waddell believes he owes it to his team to try and add a top-nine forward as a rental player. He won’t sacrifice the Jackets’ long-term plans and won’t be pursuing the big-name players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jackets captain Boone Jenner is expected to make his season debut following the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s been sidelined since preseason by a shoulder injury. His return to action could be as good as acquiring a comparable player via the trade market.
WILL THE RANGERS TRADE OTHMANN?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks recently expressed concern that the Rangers will trade promising winger Brennan Othmann for a rental player to help them reach the postseason. He believes it would be a mistake to do so, preferring they attempt to move pending free agents Reilly Smith and Ryan Lindgren for draft picks.
On a daily basis, the Ducks are scratching a defenseman (Mintyuk, Zellweger, or LaCombe) who are all better and younger than Perunovich. Not sure why the Ducks would want a D back in a package for Zegras. Their biggest problem has been scoring from the forward positions.
What is a moderate buyer???…who comes up with these hallucinating terms.
Moderate buyer:
A window shopper that may or may not get lured into the store.
For that matter what is an hallucinating term?
Moderate buyer = no big names, no huge/long term contracts, but helpful. Per se, a secondary scorer on a reasonable contract.
Which is exactly what Ottawa wants to be and is seeking.
Dobson is an interesting guy, NYI have him week to week but on LTIR.
He’s played a ton of minutes and his game has begun to slip, like Chabot in Ottawa last year.
He’s RFA at the end of the season coming off $4 million.
He’s a RHD who has shown well but apparently NYI fans have soured on him and management has hired by committee to replace him.
What is his real worth? I’d like him on the Habs, young RHD who wouldn’t be overworked in Montreal yet could spell Hutson and Matheson toi.
A pick and a prospect in my estimation. If he’s the player he was a year ago Habs couldn’t afford him.
Re; Oilers main need is A Trade for 2nd pairing RD-man
Oilers need a 2nd paring RD
d man….don’t think John Klinburgh is the Answer…❓
Top Candidates could be
1/
NYI Big stay at home Physical RD/man 6.ft 5 and 220.lb
Scott Mayfield 5.3 more years at $3.5M, then he is very old at 37 yrs at the end of his contract…..🤔
3RD choice….
Or
2/
2nd choice…
Hawks 31 yr old Connor Murphy similar & Smaller, But more Careful $4.4M for 1.3 years
Or
3/
1st choice would be
NYR William Borgen 28 yr old 6.ft3 205lb RD
He just Resigned with NYR
3 yrs at $4.1 M
Sounds like they could trade him as he would be the #3 pairing RD…..🤔
They have K A Millar to sign could be about
$6.M to $7.M+
And UFA 26yr old Ryan Lindgren also to Re-sign could be $7M to $8.M..
Your
Thoughts or Suggestions
For RD for the Oilers ……🤔❓
Williew, Brandon Carlo 28 yrs old 4.1 for 2 years after this one! Better than and younger than all,but Bergen,he s your man,especially if Boston slips out of the playoff race!
Re; Boston @ Edmonton Oilers Trade
For RD man Brandon Carlo the RD/man would be good
Don’t know if the want to Trade him
What would it take for a trade…… to get him❓❓
Brandon Carlo and Trent Frederic to the Jets. Would solve their two needs and much needed muscle so they don’t get pushed around at playoff time.
Williew and Tripper a combination of picks and prospects that are NHL ready! From the Jets,Ehlers
For Carlo and Frederic, I would offer 1st round pick, Logan Stanley and Chaz Lucious and Rashevsky. I wouldn’t be against letting Perfetti go but I doubt the Jets would do so .
Tripper,not even close! One NHL player,Stanley and he is a third pair guy! Your first round pick upper 20-30,way too late! Sorry,no Ehlers,no deal!
My read is that NYR wont resign Lindgren
hey Tripper how about carlo and Marchand for Bouchard and nugent Hopkins
Bluejacket acquisitions will be Boone Jenner, yegor Chinakov, Eric Gudbranson, Kirill Marchenko, and Sean Monahan in exchange for nothing. That will be a pretty good haul.
No kidding. No team is going to get anything better than that via trade.
Ottawa in a similar situation once Norris, Pinto, Gregor, Bernard-Docker get back after the 4 Nations break.
And Weresnski is back after a brief absence — guy has to be THE leading candidate for both the Norris AND the Hart.
You forgot Fabbro. Werenski’s run of home games with at least one point started when Waddell grabbed Fabbro off waivers and he was paired with Werenski.
There are so many I knew I was forgetting one.
You have to question Barry Trotz as a GM! Free Agent signings bombed ,trading Askarov and letting go of Fabbro on the waiver wire! Trading Carrier to Montreal ?What has he done right!?I know they have a bunch of draft picks but that’s 3-5 years away!By then he will be in Tahiti!
He’s following in the footsteps of Doug McLean as to how NOT to run a hockey franchise. When he gets canned – not if – when – he’ll also just fade off into the sunset.
Miller and Lindgren will not be getting anywhere near that kind of $$. Both have been horrible this year and Miller has been on the decline for the last 2. Ryan is a heart and soul guy, but he is too injury prone to command $7-$8 million per. He should be done as a Ranger after this season. I am not sure they should re-sign Miller either, if he would actually play as a physical defenseman, especially given his size then he would be worth a 3-5 yr deal for $5-5.5 million per.
Hey Robert,
Re; NYR
Both are very young, d-men
Lindgren Is 26 & UFA @ $4.5
Trade him or loose him…?
He is not Signing for $5.M😫
It will. Be way more❓
Millar is a RFA, @ $3.87.M
He maybe a bridge deal @
$5. To $5.6.M for 2 years Then he is a UFA….unless the Lock him up long term…….🤔❓
As the cap go’s up in next season to $95.M and in 2026 Season to be $100.M…in 2027
Players will Expect to be payed well…$$$
Way more? You may want to look at Lingrens advanced stats before making that call. He leads the league I. High scoring chances against , and other areas of concern!
He will not be getting “way more than 5” in NY or anywhere else.
Miller also hasn’t exactly looked like a 5 per guy either. Zero chance he’s getting 5 or north of 5.
Agree : Lindgren will not be with the team after March 7 and Miller will be traded in the off season for assets his play over the last 2 seasons does not warrant that kind of money
CO,
if not they will both be gone if you look at the markets…..❓