NHL Rumor Mill – March 25, 2025
What position is a priority offseason for the Flyers? What players should the Senators pursue this summer via free agency? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Jordan Hall reports Flyers head coach John Tortorella isn’t sugarcoating his club’s goaltending situation. He said the departure of Carter Hart last season left the position in turmoil and must be fixed.
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella (NHL.com).
Tortorella acknowledged the Flyers’ inexperience between the pipes. They are using Samuel Ersson, Ivan Fedotov, and Aleksei Kolosov this season, with Ersson tasked as a starter for the first time in his young NHL career. They have a league-low .873 save percentage this season.
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz believes Fedotov’s future with the Flyers is in doubt despite being signed through next season with an annual cap hit of $3.275 million. In 24 games, Fedotov had a 5-13-3 record with a save percentage of .877 and a goals-against average of 3.20.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers will be hard-pressed to find a suitable solution in the offseason.
The pickings are slim for goaltenders in this summer’s free-agent market. The notables include New Jersey’s Jake Allen, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, Florida’s Vitek Vanecek, Calgary’s Dan Vladar and Los Angeles’ David Rittich.
Anaheim’s John Gibson was the notable goaltender in this season’s trade rumors. However, he has a 10-team no-trade list which could put the Flyers out of the running.
THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie believes the Ottawa Senators’ biggest offseason need is finding a top-scoring right wing.
Given the Senators’ cap situation, he considers Toronto’s Mitch Marner too expensive.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: But what a delicious heel turn that would be. It would take The Battle of Ontario to heights not seen in two decades.
McKenzie believes Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers and Dallas’ Mikael Granlund would be better options.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Go with the 29-year-old Ehlers if you want decent long-term value. Granlund has played well the past two years but the 33-year-old is getting uncomfortably close to his “best before” date.
McKenzie doesn’t see the Senators (or anyone else) successfully signing away Toronto’s Matthew Knies with an offer sheet. He pointed to the Leafs $27 million in cap space this summer, especially if Marner signs elsewhere on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It won’t happen but Knies signing with the Senators would be another fun heel turn. McKenzie cites AFP Analytics projecting a cap hit for Knies’ next contract as high as $6.625 million annually. The Leafs can afford that.
The flyers should look into Jake Allen? At least you have someone you can depend on! Ersson seems better than the Russian guy as far as I can tell. Or why don’t they put one of their young forwards or defenseman in a package for a trade? ……
Avalanche have Detroit tonight. Should be interesting. Avalanche better be on their toes because they will probably be ready to go with the altitude and playing last night. I would think you would want to be ready if you’re the Avalanche!!
Edmonton could offer Stuart Skinner to the flyers.
According to the Edmonton media( not the fans)
he is wonderful and the best goalie on earth.
That’s pretty much what I have been posting over the past month when it comes to the Knies and the Leafs, especially if they just walk away from Marner and use his expiring $10,903,000 cap hit elsewhere.
And, in actual fact, Treleving will have $30,685,231 in cap space with which to sign 7 should the cap limit rise to $95,500,000 as is currently projected.
That’s based upon commitments totaling $64,814,769 to 16 players:
7F (Matthews, Nylander, Domi, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Laughton and McMann)
7D (Rielly, Tanev, Ekman-Larsson, Carlo, McCabe, Benoit and Myers
2G (Stolarz and Woll)
The biggest cost among his 3 RFAs will be Knies, and if the settlement is $6.625 mil, that still leaves just over $24 mil with which to sign 6. His other 2 RFAs (Robertson – expiring $875,000 and Holmberg – expiring $800,000 – will be minimal costs, likely on short-term bridge deals totaling no more than $3 mil combined.
So now he has just over $21 mil to sign 4. In addition to walking away from Marner, he likely won’t be offering contracts to UFAs Pacioretty, Lorentz and Hakanpaa, while Tavares – if he is to remain a Leaf – should cost no more than $5.5 per on a short-term deal, leaving $15.5 mil to sign 3.
And that will be focused squarely on UFAs choosing to test those waters.
Of course, if they also decide to walk away from Tavares he has the full $21 mil with which to go shopping. Stay tuned!
Why do people forget RFAs have no leverage? They sign whatever the team offer them no matter the team or player and if not they can sit out.
That’s not the ideal situation but a real one that could happen. Most likely outcome with the Leafs and Knies is they sign him close to what other 40-50pt players that competed their ELC.
Gotta remember that Bunting was quite productive and wasn’t resigned so might the Leafs get cocky and be like anyone can put up points and do well with those two line mates…everyone but one guy.
They certainly have leverage, Ron, if they are offer-sheeted at a deal higher than is being offered by the team.
Cap Wages has Tavares at 3 years and $7.9M per. I think that’s a bit high.
Not sure they are predicting that, but based on his history and production, that is what he is worth on the open market.
So $5.5 is a lot less compared to that. Which he might accept, I sure as heck don’t know, but it would be a significant discount.
The guy still produces. He is #22 for C’s in scoring, and it is all UFA years. Plus he is an experienced and responsible player.
Leaf fans should be thrilled if they get him for that #.
I think the Knies contract to be the most important one, more so than Tavares or Marner. An offer sheet is a definite threat, luckily Knies seems determined to stay in Toronto, going by his comments. Sign Knies and Tavares, Marner well, don`t let the door hit on your way out
If I was Philly I would ask about Swayman! Seems like he has divided the locker room!Can t hurt to inquire!
Well Sr, if they are planning to go full rebuild, than you could trade Swayman, not sure that is possible considering his play this season and his big ticket.
Would have to take some $$ back like Fedotov, not sure that would be enough for Briere.
I think Swayman needs to turn it around for the better part of a year before you can move him.
Can’t hurt to dream!
Senators will be getting rid of Nick Cousins, Anton Forsberg, David Perron, Hamonic, Giroux.
net savings…. 12-13m.
Bringing back Giroux at like 5 ish. Resigning Matinpalo, Klevin, Zetterlund…. another 6-8m total there. Suddenly your 12-13m is gone. Big new goalie contract kicking in too.
Someone else of contract value and size might have to depart for them to bring anyone in.
Perron and Giroux are not going anywhere.
And besides, Perron – another close friend of Tkachuk’s – has another year to go and in recent games – thankfully over what ailed him earlier – he’s been showing his value in these “must” games.
Right now Staios is committed to these 13 at a total cap hit of $75,180,714
8F (Stutzle, Tkachuk, Cozens, Batherson, Perron, Pinto, Amadia, Greig)
4D (Chabot, Sanderson, Zub, Jensen)
1G (Ullmark)
Add in the $1,625,000 in dead cap (buyout/withheld for White and Korpisalo), and going on the basis of a projected cap of $95,500,000, he will have $18,694,286 with which to sign 10. Among the UFAs I agree with Dark G that none among UFAs Cousins, Hamonic and Forsberg will be back, but I think Giroux will sign for a couple of more years at something like $4.6 per. Among the RFAs, Zetterlund (expiring $1,450,000) will be carefully assessed on his performance over the remaining 13 games and the playoffs – IF they get there. If he performs to their satisfaction in those clutch games he could be signed to a 2-year bridge at $3 mil per.
The other 3 RFAs – Kleven (exp. $916,667), Matinpalo (exp. $775,000) and Merilainen (exp. $775,000) – will also probably sign bridge deals at a combined $4.9 mil, leaving just over $6 mil with which to sign 5. This is where, again after careful assessment on their play over the remaining games/playoffs, it will be decided whether to re-sign UFAs Highmore (exp. $775,000), Gaudette ($775,000), and Gilbert (exp. $825,000) – easily done within the $6 mil available.
A collapse down the stretch – starting with a loss in Buffalo tonight and to Detroit the following game – and an 8th straight playoff miss, and all bets are off on trades/roster changes.
Agreed. Perron and Giroux are the guys you need when you get to the playoffs. The skilled “kids” are supposed to get you there.
Ray i think that either Swayman or Sweeney have to go.in my opinion i think its time sweeney goes .if not then trade Swayman to flyers for a late first rounder and maybe one of flyers second rounder. bruins eat 2 million
You got it Wingnut. Also why would we part with the veterans when everyone is always bellyaching about needing veterans…?
Reminds me of WW constantly suggesting Leevi be traded and I just could not wrap my head around that. We have been DYING to finally have a solid goalie tandem in net and we are going to trade the possible future star away? AGAIN?
No I see great possibility in what George just laid out. I can definitely see Giroux signing for a lower amount and staying in Ottawa until retirement.
Ray i think that either Swayman or Sweeney have to go.in my opinion i think its time sweeney goes .if not then trade Swayman to flyers for a late first rounder and maybe one of flyers second rounder. bruins eat 2 million
Marner has scored at every level in every arena. Those types do not grow on trees. Careful what you wish for
Bruins need to get lucky at the lottery (May 5 or 6) and at the draft in general
I agree; I see Marner flourishing if he leaves and leaf fans will be crying.
I hope it happens!