Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 16, 2025
Recent updates regarding this summer’s top unrestricted free agents in this Sunday’s NHL Rumor Roundup.
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently examined the status of this summer’s top unrestricted free agents
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner tops the list. If he goes to market, he could become the highest-paid player in the league. The 28-year-old winger has previously expressed a desire to re-sign with the Leafs but has rebuffed the club’s attempts to negotiate during the season.
Fox noted that the Carolina Hurricanes offered Mikko Rantanen for Marner before the trade deadline. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving took the idea to Marner, who declined to waive his no-movement clause.
“So, here we are: A team unsure if its star wants to stay, and an in-demand talent who holds all the power over his future.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The longer Marner remains unsigned, the more his future will be the subject of growing media speculation leading up to July 1.
All is quiet regarding contract talks between the Winnipeg Jets and Nikolaj Ehlers. The 29-year-old winger was the subject of trade speculation last summer, with one report suggesting he’d welcome a change of scenery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers popped up a few times in the rumor mill this season as some pundits speculated whether the Jets would move him before the trade deadline. Don’t expect to hear anything more about his contract situation until after the Jets’ playoff run is over.
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun has been a good fit with the Washington Capitals since his acquisition last summer from the Ottawa Senators. Both sides are reportedly willing to keep the relationship going.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be surprising if the 27-year-old Chychrun doesn’t re-sign with the Capitals. He’s recently bounced around a bit and is keen to settle down with a winning club.
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (NHL Images).
The Maple Leafs have had preliminary contract discussions with John Tavares. The 34-year-old center wants to stay in Toronto, but the Leafs are letting things play out for now because they’re focused on other priorities.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tavares knows he must accept a pay cut, but there might not be enough cap space left after they’ve addressed their “other priorities” (Marner). The cost of keeping him will be determined by the cost of re-signing Marner or replacing him.
Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito has been working hard to get Sam Bennett signed to a contract extension. Fox believes it’ll come down to whether the 29-year-old center prefers life in South Florida over earning top dollar.
Fox’s colleague Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Zito has re-opened contract extension talks with the Bennett camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have $19 million in projected cap space for 2025-26. They must re-sign or replace Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek. They have enough to re-sign Bennett, but how much of a raise he seeks will determine whether he has a future in Florida beyond this season.
The Vancouver Canucks tried and failed to trade Brock Boeser for a decent return. The Carolina Hurricanes were one club with a measure of interest in the 28-year-old winger. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin claimed the offers he received were underwhelming.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks could bend and re-sign Boeser, but he seems destined to depart as a UFA on July 1.
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is the second-longest-serving Florida Panther player. However, the recent addition of right-shot blueliner Seth Jones raises an eyebrow. Fox also wondered if the recent 20-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy could affect the 29-year-old Ekblad’s efforts to remain with the Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Jones provides more right-side depth on the Panthers’ blueline. He’s also an insurance policy if Ekblad heads to market on July 1.
Brad Marchand’s future with the Panthers appears to be in wait-and-see mode. They acquired the 36-year-old winger from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline. “How does Marchand fit? And how far can Florida’s repeat bid go?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This seems like a rental situation. The Panthers had the opportunity to bolster their roster with Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the regular season. Marchand will likely end up as a UFA on July 1, even if he helps the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
The Colorado Avalanche acquired Brock Nelson at the trade deadline. The 33-year-old’s future with the club could depend on how well he fits as their second-line center over the remainder of this season and into the playoffs. The Avs have the cap space to extend him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Nelson’s age, he’ll have to accept a short-term deal for around his current AAV ($6 million) to stay with the Avalanche.
There is no indication of contract extension talks between the Jets and defenseman Neal Pionk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latter expressed little concern about that situation, recently telling Daily Faceoff he was comfortable with how things were going. The Jets could end up re-signing the 29-year-old blueliner.
Matt Duchene is completing his second straight one-year, $3 million contract with the Dallas Stars. Given how well he fits with them, the 34-year-old center could accept another one-year deal to stay in Dallas.
I can t imagine that people in Vancouver aren t upset at the Boeser situation! If he leaves yes you get his salary slot to fill! But you are letting a top 6 RW go for nothing!Boston did this with Debrusk last year and it proved to be a big mistake that people have held against Sweeney! Then to add insult you tell the player that the trade options for him were awful!Vancouver is in a tough position with Demko s injury history, Hughes being non committed on staying and Tocchet ready to potentially take off!
Brock Boeser is a slow, non-physical winger who has the worst +/- on the team (and it’s not even close) and is making $6.75 million per year to score goals. In his last 10 games he has 3 assists. Reports are that he was offered an $8 million/5 year contract and he turned them down. It would be nice to keep him but if that contract isn’t good enough, sometimes you just have to say “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”.
I havent heard Hughes being noncommital in staying, where did you hear that? The Allvin comment was bad, agree, however were you surprised by the offers? I wasnt. He has a good shot, works well along the boards and is defensively responsible. However he doesnt drive play, is a 25-30 goalscorer, minus 25 this year, is slow and injury prone and wants more than 8m over 5 years. Sorry, not buying that
People in Boston were saying the same thing about Debrusk last year!
Re: SR. DeBrusk makes 5,5, he isnt slow and not injury prone. He is streaky and Boeser is a better goal scorer. DeBrusk is worth 5,5, Boeser is worth 6-6,5 not 8
What about Mcdavid in Edmonton? I don’t want him to leave. It is crazy he has to leave. The management blunders with trying to give him and Drai a supporting cast have failed greatly. He is our greatest trading asset. We have nothing in the minors and 3 draft picks in the next draft. He is our only source of a quick rebound with Drai as our new captain.
An interesting paragraph from Simmons column this morning in the Sun:
“If Marner wants to stay with the Leafs, why then isn’t he open to negotiating with them? The notion — he won’t negotiate while the season is going on — is pretty much modern-day drivel. Players don’t tend to be involved much in contract negotiations until they get close to the deal being signed or one walked away from. The agent does the work. The player provides his parameters to the agent — or in many cases, the agent provides those figures to the player prior to the commencement of any negotiations.”
I have thought that the Leafs would re-sign Marner, and that he wanted to re-sign with them.
However, we have seen the Bolts let Stamkos go (although as much for declinging performance as cap reasons), and the Avs traded Rantanen. Maybe the Leafs do the same thing with Marner?
I echo the thought of those who say much will ride on the Leafs overall performance and that of Marner in the playoffs.
Re your last para, I agree LJ. Said much the same thing to Yogi yesterday.
The only problem with actually finding a trading partner for Marner – IF the decision is to part ways – is the fact he has a full NM clause, and if it comes to that, his realization that his days are over anyway in Toronto will more than likely result in his simply testing the full UFA waters to get the best offer combined with a place to which he’s prepared to go for the nect phase of his career.
I am working on my first coffee, George, and don’t understand your reply.
Isn’t Marner an UFA at the end of the season?
Trading him would mean signing him in the off season and then trading him, which doesn’t compute with me.
LOL. Same boat here with the coffee LJ. I read your line “and the Avs traded Rantanen. Maybe the Leafs do the same thing with Marner?” and thought you meant trade his negotiating rights as a UFA before that kicks in.
Re-reading it I now see you mean let him go the same way Tampa did with Stamkos.
So, we are in agreement there. The BIG bonus in that scenario is the $11 mil, added to whatever they shave off the cap hits in the Tavares contract (they HAVE to keep him – likely at around $6.6 mil for 2 years)
George as I`ve said many times before Marner isn`t worth the price he gets now. If you go back and watch Marner`s play when Matthews was injured and watch him now, you wouldn`t believe it`s the same guy. Since the 4 nations he`s been on cruise. His production is down, defensively he stinks. Yes, he was nominated for the selke, the optimum word here is “was”. Matthews even called him out on it earlier this year. If you remember the negotiations from this contract, it was a gong show, with Marner and his dad in the centre of it. His claims of not wanting his contract negotiations to be a distraction for the team is a joke, he had all of last summer to work it out. You can`t say Toronto`s not willing to spend the money. You might of noticed that in a matter of a few days they put together a contract that seemed doable to Rantanen if he was to be traded to Toronto. The Marner soap opera needs to go, either sign or get out of town. I see Berube is getting pissed at the, we played good but just need to correct a few things attitude in the dressing room. Nylander said post game “we didn`t show up til the 3rd, we need to get back to the grinding and the in front of the net presence again”. Almost the exact opposite of Matthews comments. I can see Marner getting traded around the draft to a team of his liking
Re Marner and “ If he goes to market, he could become the highest-paid player in the league.”
It is possible with a huge SB that he get’s the highest gross pay in 25/26 (Rantenen I believe will get $16.5 M next year).
BUT, I can’t see Marner’s AAV (Cap hit) being greater than Draisitl’s
He’s $10.9 M cap hit now (don’t forget the massive taxes for Leafs, [also Sens, Habs])
Can’t see Leafs giving him North of Mathews
Comparable will be Rantenen (got AAV of $12 M in a no state tax franchise).
If Marner signs with one of the no state tax franchises (Stars, Knights; Kraken; Preds; Lightning; Panthers) then $84 M ($12 M * 7). $88 M tops
Only 2 that of those that could fit that in; Krakken and Preds. Does he want to go to a team several years from a cup shot?
If he signs with Leafs before July 1st, maybe (MAYBE) he gets 8 * $13 M ($104 M)
Other Franchises (that are in Canada or in States WITH taxes); maybe he gets $91 M (7 @ $13 M)
If Leafs offer him $100 M (8 @ $12.5 M) with $35 M coming in first two years; he should take it.
Rantanen signed for 12 per already. Players in Canada sign with huge bonuses which isn`t taxed as heavily (15%). Rumour has it, he signs with the Penguins to be with his first love Dubas
Your hurting me
I can, unfortunately, see Dubas doing just that.
Dubas SHOULD (read that as what he NEEDS to do and not as the likelihood that he will):
-Re-up all 5 RFAs
-Sign Katchouk to an NHL contract , and make sure he plays up with the big club
-Under no circumstance re-up Grzylcyck or Nieto
-Use some later round draft picks to Jettison Accairi
-Sweeten a trade with Lizotte and a mid rounder to move Hayes
– Trade Nedjelkovic; with a 2nd and McGroarty for a better back up
– after July 1st (after SB paid); retain 50% (on top of current) on Karllsson; trade for young (early20’s ) NHLer (on the rise; and Prospect who is NHL ready for this fall
-Same as above for Rust (@ 50%)
-Trade Rackell as is for same return as above
-make an offer sheet or 2 (akin to what Blues did this year). Pens have their own picks in ‘26
-no drafting any player less than 5’11”, and less than 185 (that’s now at 18; NOT what they expect to top out as)
-Sign no UFA that will be 29 or older as at December 31st, 2025
-bring up and play: Pickering; Brunicke; Koivenan;
If he does the above; Pens make playoffs next year
Both Marner and Tavares signing team friendly contracts with the bruins. Or so I heard according to all my sources 🙄
Wouldn’t that fill the columns and provide fodder for the blogs for the whole summer? LOL
You can have Marner …
Wait till Cam Neely has to deal with his dad
Marner also opened up a restaurant with Mr Wonderful from the Dragons Den
Another bad influence !
See Ya !
Ken.
Neely will offer his pop. Practice goalie job So player not playing can rip shots at his melon As for Mr wonderful. He can work between benches for nesn
That should just about do it
The only way Marner gets traded in the off season would be to get him an 8 year contract. The Leafs would ask him where he wants to go and the Leafs can get some assets back for him. For example, he decides to go to Ottawa. The Leafs might get a pick and mid level player back. Something that opens up a bit of cap space for the new team. Don’t expect a big haul for him in the off season at all. But, it might allow Treliving to save some face by getting a usable asset in return.
As for negotiating right now…. if they did announce a deal right now, it would overshadow their playoff push. Most of LeafNation would be in an uproar in any way you shape it. The whipping boy will be called out because it would be for too much, not enough of a hometown discount, not long enough, not playoff proven…..did I capture LeafNation in all of that?!?
At this point, you let the season play out and go from there. He could prove himself in the playoffs and it costs the Leafs even more. Or, there might be a way to trade his negotiating rights for a pick? Or, find out who wants to sign him for an extra year and get a player or two (salary dump) that may fit with the team going forward.