Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 23, 2025
Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Schenn, Seth Jones, Brock Boeser and Karel Vejmelka in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
WHAT WILL THE HURRICANES DO WITH MIKKO RANTANEN?
SPORTSNET: Elliott Friedman reports Mikko Rantanen could potentially become the biggest name leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Rantanen last month from the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster three-team trade. The 28-year-old winger is in the final season of his contract with a $9.25 million cap hit, of which the Hurricanes hold half ($4.625 million) and the Chicago Blackhawks the other half as part of the terms of the three-team deal. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Hurricanes management met with Rantanen’s representatives. Friedman believes the Canes made an offer “into the nine digits” (over $10 million annually). Rantanen has yet to decide as he’s still processing the trade from the Avalanche and everything else since then. It shouldn’t be taken one way or the other.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
If Rantanen becomes available, interested teams want to ensure they have their best trade assets ready. Friedman also wondered if the Hurricanes are confident they can get Rantanen under contract after March 7 if they’ll keep him and attempt a Stanley Cup run.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wonder if Rantanen is a good fit with the Hurricanes, citing his lack of production since joining the club.
Mark Lazerus of The Athletic disputes this, as does Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky. They point to his solid overall analytic numbers, and while his shooting percentage is down, it’s only a matter of time until that improves. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is also pleased with Rantanen’s performance.
The Hurricanes obviously want to retain Rantanen, hence the rumored offer of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $14 million. However, he’s still trying to adjust to a significant change in his life that he wasn’t expecting, or at least, wasn’t expecting so soon.
TEAMS COULD TRY TO UNITE THE SCHENN BROTHERS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman observed there’s been much recent trade talk about Brayden Schenn. Last week, the St. Louis Blues captain said he hasn’t been approached by management about waiving his no-trade clause and is trying not to think about it.
Friedman thinks there are teams talking about uniting Brayden with his brother Luke Schenn (who plays for the Nashville Predators) in separate trades. They previously played together with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2016.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be an expensive acquisition. Brayden has three more seasons after this one with an AAV of $6.5 million while Luke has a year left on his deal with an AAV of $2.75 million.
The rising cap for next season would make it easier to take on over $9 million in combined salary. However, it won’t be easy to do leading up to this year’s trade deadline when only nine teams currently have over $10 million in cap space.
LATEST ON SETH JONES, BROCK BOESER AND KAREL VEJMELKA
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman followed up on Seth Jones’ recent comments about his openness toward the possibility of a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. He doesn’t believe the 30-year-old defenseman has given them a list of destinations but if he does go, he wants it to be to a contender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap space would be an issue. Jones carries an AAV of $9.5 million for the next five seasons. A deadline deal is possible if the Blackhawks retain up to half of his annual cap hit. Otherwise, it might be an offseason trade when teams have more cap room.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports contract talks remain at an impasse between the Vancouver Canucks and winger Brock Boeser. He considers it hard to imagine the Canucks not moving him before the March trade deadline since teams are willing to pay for a proven playoff performer.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance believes the Canucks could retain Boeser as an “own rental” for the playoffs unless they stumble in the standings leading up to March 7.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks will seek a solid return for Boeser. Their preference could be for a good young NHL forward plus a draft pick and/or a prospect.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports there are ongoing contract talks between the Utah Hockey Club and goaltender Karel Vejmelka. He suggested recent contract extensions for goaltenders could be used as comparables. “Depending on the progress of negotiations, Vejmelka is potentially an interesting trade target.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those comparables include Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen (five years, $4.5 million AAV) and Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood (five years, $5.25 million AAV).
Could Miko be Johnathon Huberdeau 2.0!?!?! Canes have lost 4 of their last 5 games and not much offence from the potential $14M AAV super star!! Yikes! Canes need to move on him soon if that is their intention, many teams will have made their TDL moves before 3-7-25!
Wonder what the market would be like for players Ehlers, Buchnevich,Boeser, Geekie,Frederic!
Another Skinny Pete and Brock Brittle complete No-Show for the Canucks last night.
11.6 x 8 for the Home Alone Kid and the Brittle One wants 9 x 8?
Hughes should be the only untouchable come deadline day.
How long until the Lets Go Petey chants morph into good old fashioned booing?
Good luck Vancouver.
Lindholm. Zadorov and Merculov for Peterson and Soucy😁
Interesting proposition! One guy I hope they hold on to is Geekie! He reminds me an awful lot of Nathan Horton!
I think Pettersson will rebound but he needs a healthy summer of hard training. But is Vancouver willing to take that gamble? I don’t know but I doubt it and there is a good to even chance they will come to regret it
Zibanejad to Vancouver for Boeser. Zib talked about how much he enjoyed being with fellow Swedes at 4 Nations. Vancouver would be a nice stop for him and maybe Petey benefits. Boeser would solve Rangers long search for a scoring RW.
I think Zibanejad says no, he really likes NY, however Boeser to Nyr is possible if they get into a playoff spot before trade deadline
I’ve not read much discussion about the uncertainty Landescog has on the Avs. I wonder if there is a scenario where the Avs realize he isn’t coming back and then try and figure out how to resign Rantanen, at the same time Rantanen decides he likes the Avs enough to sign for less than market value.
I remember during Covid Skinny Pete was having stick troubles He was awful then and very similar this year. A none factor for $11.5 m . I predict they do make the playoffs . Another surprise is Boston not making the playoffs .?
Boston not making the playoffs is not a surprise. Especially with McAvoy out for a while.
The writing on the wall in the form of playoff losses has been there for a few years now.
LJ
Yeah I believe good question? We really don’t know what the scoop is with Landeskog. Too bad, it’s all a ? I don’t know about Rantanen coming back? I would be surprised.
@Tommy boy just to put that thought to bed, 0% Rantanen returns to Colorado. Salary retained on him which means he can`t return for this season. He can resign on July 1st but he can`t be traded back
Don’t forget Lindholm has been out since November and likely not coming back this season
Kent Nilsson,NoMcavoy,no Lindholm,NoPlayoffs! Sweeney Don t wait for the deadline,start moving people now!
Seth Jones says “Pay me my $9.5mil and trade me to a contender for the Stanley Cup.” WHO wants that $9.5mil POS in their lineup and WHO wants to ante up for his salary??? Bad contract, bad player and bad team. Don’t thety deserve each other?
Since 21/22 Jones and Petrangelo’s scoring stats are nearly identical. Jones has averaged 2 more minutes of Ice Time per game. Petro is a +25, Jones is a -110.
That’s surprising because of all the phenomenal talent they have surrounded Jones with in Chicago……Plus he gets to watch Bedard play Pond Hockey every game…….