NHL Rumor Mill – March 29, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look ahead at the potential offseason plans for the Red Wings and Predators and what Matthew Knies’ next contract with the Maple Leafs might look like.
MORE SPECULATION OVER THE RED WINGS’ OFFSEASON PLANS
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman looked at general manager Steve Yzerman’s possible offseason plans as the Detroit Red Wings stumble down the stretch.
Bultman believes Yzerman must improve the Red Wings depth, but not by adding a third-line forward or third-pairing defenseman. He felt there must be more help for top forwards Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, more puck-movers among their defense, and more players who have a more consistent impact on the game.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman (NHL.com).
The Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues were fringe clubs in 2023-24 that made bold offseason moves that have improved their performance this season. The Capitals are jockeying with the Winnipeg Jets for first overall while the Blues have surged into a wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I’ve said before, this summer could be the most consequential of Yzerman’s tenure as general manager of the Red Wings. Another inconsistent season that extends their franchise-record postseason drought could cost him his job by this time next year.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff believes this season will be Alex Lyon’s last with the Red Wings. The 32-year-old is an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and has dropped to No. 3 on their goaltending depth chart.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wings goalies Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot each have a year left on their contracts with promising Sebastian Cossa waiting in the wings. Lyon will be hitting the open market on July 1.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PREDATORS?
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun recently interviewed Barry Trotz about his first season as Nashville Predators general manager and what comes next following his club’s disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
Trotz made a series of trades this season partly to ensure his cap situation is as tidy as possible entering the offseason. However, he also wants to leave enough space for some of the organization’s top prospects if they’re ready to make the jump next season.
The Predators’ recent moves left holes on the blueline. They also need depth at center, which was partly why Trotz didn’t move Ryan O’Reilly despite interest from other clubs.
LeBrun believes the Predators are trying to remain competitive while bridging the gap to their next wave of talent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have over $18 million in projected salary cap space for 2025-26 with 20 active roster players under contract. Restricted free agent Luke Evangelista is their only notable player to be re-signed and he’ll likely receive an affordable bridge contract.
Trotz will have the cap room to address his roster issues this summer. However, it doesn’t sound like he’ll make big splashes like he did last summer when he signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.
The Predators have three first-round picks and two second-rounders in this year’s draft. He could use one or two picks as trade bait to add a young NHL-ready player to the roster.
HOW MUCH COULD MATTHEW KNIES GET ON HIS NEXT CONTRACT WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS?
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos recently looked at how much Matthew Knies could make on his next contract with the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old left wing is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. He’s having a solid sophomore season with a career-high 25 goals and 49 points in 68 games.
Kypreos noted that Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy is earning $7 million annually while Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes makes $7.42 million per season. Given the rising salary cap and Knies’ role as a power forward, he would see something north of $8 million per season.
It’s also unlikely that Knies will receive an offer sheet from another club. If it’s between $6 million and $9 million, the Leafs have the cap space to match. If someone wants to offer more than that, Kypreos recommends taking the four compensatory first-round draft picks and moving on.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nobody will offer Knies over $9 million annually. Given the Leafs’ cap space, it’s a waste of time trying to sign him to an offer sheet.
Lyle, you’ve summed up Yzerman’s situation – and that of his team – quite succinctly.
Although, technically – and mathematically – they are still in the battle for that 2nd WC spot, they only have 20 potential points left to them with 4 home games and 6 on the road, and would need to have all 4 teams they’d need to climb over in order to get there – NYI, NYR, Montreal and Columbus – and maybe even 5 with Ottawa – all go into the tank.
So, this will mark 9 years out and should they not make the obvious necessary improvements you mention this off-season, they’ll be headed to Buffalo territory with double-digit absences.
Looking more and more like Julien BriseBois may have been the real brains behind the Tampa surge to prominence in the 8 years he served as Assistant to Yzerman.
It also looks like the off season will be very interesting this year, as the Wings, Habs, Preds and Bruins are just a few of the teams who need top 6 forwards and have cap space.
Of that group the Preds and then the Habs have lots of draft capital, so the advantage may be in the form of prospect pool depth. So maybe, just maybe, the Habs have a bit of a leg (skate) up.
Lj, Boston needs at least 2 if not more. They are loaded with bottom 6 forwards all over their lineup!
LJ, while Yzerman is committed to 8F (Larkin, Raymond, DeBrincat, Copp, Compher, Tarasenko, Rasmussen and Kasper), 5D (Seider, Chiarot, Holl, Gustafsson, Edvinsson and 2G Mrazek and Talbot) – and has $1,055,556 in dead cap, giving him $23,888,611 with which to sign 10, given his recent history of acquisitions/transactions I wouldn’t bet the farm on him hitting home runs.
Two of his 3 RFAs are negligible (Soderblom and Johansson) – their combined expiring ELCs of $1,653,333 should come in at no more than $2.2 mil – IF he intends to re-up them – while RW Jonatan Berggren (exp. cap of $825,000) 10g 9a 19 pts in 65gp – might get that himself on a bridge deal.
I doubt he re-signs 5 of his 6 UFAs (C Craig Smith 35 y/o, C Tyler Motte 30 y/o, RD Jeff Petry 37 y/o, LD William Lagesson and G Alex Lyon. The 6th – Patrick Kane – has put up 19g 32a 51 pts in 62gp, but he also turns 37 in November and has an expiring cap of $4 mil. Do they re-up him and, if so, at what cost?
Sr:
That’s kind of my point, lots of needs = lots of competition.
George: trust you to grind your way through that. Thanks. Puckpedia would be a good site to bull through for the complete list of teams’ commitments and resources but I am overcome by ennui given last night.
I have been thinking the same for some time now. Stevie’s time in Detroit may be running out. They need real top 6 centers.
Toronto St Pats, if they lose tonight to the Bruins they may as well turn out the lights.
Wings had 0 luck in the draft but still got Raymond and Seider. There is some good talent that should be arriving the next 1-2 years. Most of Yzerman’ FA signings have been bad. They should target Samoskevich in FL, they won’t have cap space to match.
Wings need to solidify that crease. Is Cossa ready next year ? If not, find anything other than what you currently have. Been an issue for a number of years now.
What’s Talbot 40?
Don’t take on anymore “veterans” unless it is a goaltender . They need a much younger P. Kane and a prospect or two to step up. I don’t think too far off .