NHL Rumor Mill – February 8, 2025
Could Mikko Rantanen hit the trade block again? Will the Blues consider moving Pavel Buchenvich, Jordan Kyrou or Brayden Schenn? What’s the latest on the Islanders and Sharks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD RANTANEN HIT THE TRADE BLOCK AGAIN?
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos updated his trade board on Friday, featuring many of the names that frequently surfaced in the rumor mill and on other trade boards this season.
However, one interesting name is Mikko Rantanen, traded two weeks ago by the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster move to the Carolina Hurricanes.
According to Kypreos, Rantanen could hit the trade block again before the March 7 deadline if he and the Hurricanes haven’t agreed to a new contract. The 28-year-old winger slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and carries an annual average value of $9.25 million on his current contract.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
Kypreos believes the Hurricanes will make offers to entice Rantanen to stay but claims some observers think they’ll fall short. They gave up a lot to get him (Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and two draft picks) and they don’t want to risk his departure via free agency on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It doesn’t help that Rantanen has only two points in six games with the Hurricanes while Necas is tearing it up in Colorado with nine points in eight games. That could be attributed to Rantanen adjusting to the shock of getting traded while Necas thrives in a new environment.
Rantanen getting shopped again seems unlikely. However, we didn’t expect the Avalanche to trade him so we shouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility. It’ll be interesting to see what unfolds in Carolina over the next four weeks.
WILL THE BLUES PEDDLE BUCHNEVICH, KYROU OR SCHENN?
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos claims St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong isn’t a happy camper given his club’s lack of improvement this season. He’s looking to change things up which could include Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, or team captain Brayden Schenn.
Kypreos writes that Armstrong wants to shed an $8 million salary and that could include Buchnevich or Kyrou. Buchenvich’s new six-year contract (with an $8 million AAV) begins on July 1, when he’ll be 30 years old. Kyrou, 26, is in the second season of an eight-year deal with an AAV of $8.125 million.
Armstrong isn’t ready yet to shock the Blues fans by trading Schenn but teams are calling about him. He’s 33, carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2027-28 and a full no-trade clause this season.
Kypreos also wonders whether Armstrong will move out one of his defensemen. He mentioned Justin Faulk or Colton Parayko but they and the sidelined Torey Krug all have full no-trade protection.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bunchnevich, Kyrou, and Schenn will draw more interest than Faulk and Parayko in the trade market. However, their expensive contracts could be deal breakers unless the Blues retain some salary or take back a hefty salary. Peddling any of them might have to wait for the offseason when teams have more cap space to work with because of the projected $7.5 million increase for 2025-26.
LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias dismissed a recent rumor claiming the Islanders are willing to entertain trade offers for defenseman Noah Dobson.
He pointed out that the 25-year-old Dobson is entering his playing prime and his departure would create a major hole on the Isles blueline. He also cited the risk of getting a poor return akin to what happened five years ago in the Devon Toews trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Macias’ take. It doesn’t mean the Islanders aren’t getting calls about Dobson but it would take a significant offer to tempt GM Lou Lamoriello to part with him. Dobson should be part of whatever the Islanders’ plans will be beyond this season.
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders face a tough decision with their impending logjam on defense heading toward the March trade deadline.
They recently added Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist to offset the absence of sidelined blueliners like Dobson, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield. However, someone will have to move once those three return to action.
Sears believes moving Pulock or Mayfield “would drop a bomb into the dressing room”. Moving Dobson would be admitting they don’t consider him worthy of a long-term commitment.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of the new guys seems more likely to leave via trade or demotion to the minors.
FERRARO RETURNS TO THE RUMOR MILL
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is resurfacing in the rumor mill ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. It’s believed teams are calling the Sharks about the hardworking 26-year-old blueliner.
Ferraro considers it a sign that he’s playing well but isn’t paying attention to the speculation. Pashelka pointed out that he’s UFA-eligible in July 2026, meaning the Sharks must decide whether to re-sign or trade him over the next 12-13 months.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro’s situation will be worth watching. He could be moved by March 7 if the Sharks get a fantastic offer for him. However, they could wait and see what they might get for him in the offseason, or they could try and re-sign him to a long-term deal to maintain blueline stability for their rebuilding plans.
Re; NYI GM,
A Report: About Lou Lamoriello in Today
Canucks Daily, News, it Said today that RD-man 25 yr old Noah Dobson is avalable via Trade…🤔
Sounds like they are talking to Vancouver Canucks about a Big Trade,
However sounds like it fell through Friday afternoon….
I’m sure the Edmonton Oilers would be Very intrested in him, had a bit of a down year in 2024/2025…
What would it cost to land the 25 yr old Noah Dobson…..❓
A Trade,
Dobson to the Oilers for a Package and picks,
1/ A 1st Round pick,
2/ A 3rd or A 2nd round Pick,
3/ A LD Prospect
To Make the Moneys Work add in
3/John Klinberg, $1.5M
4/ Jeff Skinner or an other $3.M player, both are 1.yr deals =Total $4.5M.
Both of these could be traded for picks bye NYI…❓…. I know Jeff Skinner has a NTC….
however they have to persuade Skinner to wave nis NTC first
What are Your thought’s on the
Cost it woukd be for the Edmonton Oilers to get Noah Dobson…❓❓…..🤔
A lot of no for Islanders…nothing coming from Edmonton is worth talking about except maybe their 1st round pick and Bouchard and Kane
Re; NYI Trade
The Oilers need to Add a 2nd pairing RD
And Not Loose a RD in the Process❓
Hopefully they can make a
Good Trade in the next
3.5 Weeks before the Trade deadline…🤔
Hey don.
Noah dobson is not worth Bouchard…‼️
never mind the rest you mentioned,
The NYI are goining into a Re-tool/ Re-build they will start to unload player over the next 3.5 weeks now and all of next year…👍
Lu Lamarello will Retire as the GM at or before the the UFA period maybe sooner
The New GM will take ober the opperation,
I’m surprized the Old guy is still there… what is he 80 or 81 yrs old…❓
now its the 3rd year mising the playoffs with a Very Very Old Team,
Lookfor them to go after young prospects and draft picks when they start trading there players they only have $2.M in cap space….
A list of UFA players,
-33 yr old Brock Nelson
-34 yr old Kyle Palmieri
hoping to trade,
-34 yr old Jean-Gabriel Pageau
-31 yr old LD man Mike Reilly
and
-is name is out there for a trade Noah Dobson the NYI have 5 RD-men on there roster and need to move 2 as they have a couple of young guys they want to ring up….🤔
they also have a bunch off old players that are old & on cantracts for 3-4 more years like goaltender 36 yr old Semyon Varlamov who will be 39 yrs old at the end of his contract🙈
Miko and Orlov for Lafreniere and K. Miller
NYR would have to have a sign and trade or big assurances that Miko would sign. It would be hard to trade Miko now unless the other team is a contender and have cap space. The Canes have no wiggle room unless they can jettison Hall and ALL his salary.
Johnny Z sounds like something the Rangers in desperation would try to salvage their season!The Ranger team that lost to Pittsburgh the other night that was withoutCrosby and Malkin was awful!
as a ranger fan that game was a statement. and a bad one
There’s no way Rangers can sign Rantanen. Igor contract kicks in and adding JT pretty much leaves no room for anything until following season if they decide to move on from Panarin. Besides, Carolina not dealing with division rival. Pitt loss was just last night and will be forgotten if NY can beat CBJ tonight.
Given Mitch marner agent will drag out negotiations to the last minute to secure maximum money and the leafs not wanting to exceed the Mathews contract, I can see marner getting an offer sheet that the leafs won’t match thereby allowing them to offer sheet to rantinen or some other star player.
Marner is a UFA; so not entitled to an offer sheet
I think what crazy Canuck was alluding to is a UFA offer that the Leafs won’t try to match or exceed and the word “sheet” just inadvertently crept in
Hey 8787, Re; MM,
If they cant agree to a contract and sign Marner
i know he has a NTC, but they will try to move him….
if not they are left with nothing….⁉️
Well, not exactly nothing. They’ll have and additional $11 mil they didn’t have before with which to spend on other UFAs.
Avalanche fans must be happy with the immediate returns on their big trade.
Necas and Drury are both playing very well, Necas in particular.
Said it before you guys made off like bandits.
Regarding Blues:
Kyrou has shown progress and growth this year in two-way hockey. More responsible.
Buchy would generate alot of interest and bring value in a return.
Schenn would be a major asset for a contender to add for a playoff run (but expensive)
I figure Faulk or Suter would add some veteran playoff experience (but you can’t have Parayko)
ALSO, what about Binnington in a shocker??!!
Blues add Picks and Top prospects
NOTHING will surprise me.
IP
Who’s Buchy??
Probably Buchnevik … I don’t know why some insist on using cutesy nicknames most of which are totally unknown outside of the local areas.
Don,
Thanks for your follow-up
Pavel Buchnevich is a forward the Blues obtained from the Rangers in the past. He recently signed a lengthy contract extension.
Also, apologies to George. My Blues loyalty for almost 60 years came to the surface. I apologize that my cutsie nickname was offensive. I will handle my responses with proper decorum in the future. ps. you misspelled Buchnevich.
IP
IP
Hey, Iowa Prince … I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic with that comment … I just don’t know how else to refer to refer to their use.
Trying to follow a thread can be difficult when players are referred to by names likely reserved for use by their close friends and teammates. I have a reasonably good memory … but I sure can’t rattle off the names of every player on every team, never mind their nicknames, and quite frankly I had forgotten that Buchnevich was on the Blues.
But that’s all good … I just won’t bother when I see one I don’t recognize.
When I see one of those and I’m not sure who they’re referring to I usually have to go to Puckpedia or team stats at NHL.com to try and figure it out.
Iowa prince, Schenn and Parayko are just what the Jets need heading into the playoffs but I think it’s a pipe dream that won’t happen. The cost would be insane but I’d pick up the phone to Army to inquire just the same. Parayko won’t wear down like many of the Jets smaller defencemen. Still not sure why the Blues aren’t performing better, is it all Binnington?
Why are you trading a player you just awarded a big contract that hasn’t even started yet.
Changing a captain is fairly significant . Schenn just got that role two seasons ago ? Again why would you give a player ……
Kyrou will look cheap in a couple years
Silver S
We are in agreement regarding Kyrou and his future/value. I included him in my assessments only because Kypreos had him in his column. I don’t think he should be traded either. I think his contract will “age well” . I’m not quite as certain about the Buchnevich extension. I think I would consider an offer before his new contract kicks in–he’ll be over 35 at its conclusion.
IP