Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 30, 2025
Check out the latest on the Rangers and the Blackhawks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Rangers general manager Chris Drury made a mistake by letting last summer’s drama regarding his efforts to trade Jacob Trouba carry over into the regular season.
Brooks believes Trouba’s resentment over that situation adversely affected his performance and ability to lead as team captain. He thinks Drury should’ve known having a lame-duck captain would become toxic. The Rangers GM eventually traded Trouba to Anaheim in December.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
According to Brooks, there “certainly is the chance Drury will ask Mika Zibanejad to waive his no-movement clause that extends through the 2029-30 duration of his contract.” If that request is made, the Rangers cannot have a senior player on the team who knows he’s no longer wanted. The situation must be resolved in the offseason and not be allowed to bleed into the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Trouba was easier last year after July 1 because he only had two years left on his contract and his full no-movement clause was reduced to a 15-team no-trade list. Zibanejad has five more seasons left with full no-move protection and an average annual value of $8.5 million.
Zibanejad was rumored to have declined to waive his NMC to be part of the return to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade. He could be more open to a trade this summer, especially if he feels he’s no longer wanted in New York. Zibanejad could also dig in his heels, creating a distracting standoff between himself and Drury.
Chris Kreider could become the more likely offseason trade candidate. He’s got two years left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. His production declined this season partly due to injuries but a playoff contender seeking a scoring left wing might take the chance on a bounce-back performance.
Artemi Panarin could be another option given he only has a year left on his deal. He might be willing to waive his NMC if Drury asks him but his $11.6 million AAV would be a sticking point. The Rangers would have to retain a healthy chunk of his cap hit.
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers thinks some teams might be kicking themselves for not offering the Chicago Blackhawks a first-round pick for Ryan Donato. The 28-year-old center continued to take his career-best season to another level by netting his first NHL hat trick in a 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights last week.
Donato has 28 goals this season, 12 more than his previous best. Time will tell if this is a one-off performance or the start of a new trend for him.
Powers report Donato is sitting on a three-year contract extension offer worth $4 million annually from the Blackhawks. They’re hoping he recognizes that the top-six minutes and power-play time he’s getting wouldn’t be available to him on most teams, especially Stanley Cup contenders.
It’s believed Donato could be intrigued by the Boston Bruins if he goes to free agency on July 1. The Bruins have fallen off this season but still have some pieces.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Donato is a Boston native and began his NHL career with the Bruins. They’re retooling and could seek out younger veterans who can help them stage a quick turnaround.
Powers is right about how Donato’s usage with the Blackhawks has led to his improved stats. He’s said that he’d like to stay in Chicago. It’s believed he’s seeking stability after bouncing from the Bruins to the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken before coming to Chicago two years ago.
There was considerable speculation some weeks prior to the trade deadline that Staios was attempting to deal for Donato, but what he was offering (which did not include Norris) clearly did not interest Chicago.
Maybe he and Davidson re-hash those talks this summer.
Donato`s a UFA this summer George, if he makes it to July 1st
Should have checked that first … thanks Yogi.
Zibinijad is underperforming but would be a good fit on the Habs a la Sean Monahan.
About the same age, experience, he’d slot in 2-3 , face off guy that’s needed.
He’d be a nice placeholder if NYR would retain some.
HabFan the crucial difference is that Monahan had only one year left on his contract when the Habs picked him up. And they got a first round pick for taking him. Zibanijad has five years left and while the Rangers May retain salary, they certainly won’t add a sweetener and may want something of value in return.
Given Zibs age now and later, he’s on the downside of his career. He has negative value. If he had 2 or so years left after this year he’d be easier to handle and be a bridge vet to youth.
Dan.
I know its a young man’s game but Claude Giroux is still producing and he’s looking for a new contract, Zibinijad will be his age at completion.
Sure he’s on the downside but when you know how to play, where to be, where the ice is, smart veterans can play a big role.
Regarding his NMC, he just might like going to a team on the upswing, young and dynamic with solid administration than in the trainwreck he’s in.
HF30: remember Hughes recent comment about not wanting to overpay in terms of a contract that ages badly at the back end. His estimate of the Habs window with their top line is 7 years and to my ears he was saying the Z contract is an example of what he doesn’t want.
But it might be possible in a deal which is packaged with something else: roster players, hot prospects …
Howard,
I should have been more clear when I said a la Monahan, I meant experience, strength on the FO, mentorship for the up and comers, Beck, Kapanen.
Monahan helped Suzuki and Dach for example.
Zibinijad isn’t injured, recovering from major surgery so obviously not the same type of trade package, but it is a big contract that they want to move on from so there is room to maneuver I imagine.
What would it take for the Habs to acquire Strome from the Capitals? A 1st, 2nd, 3rd (or two 2nds), and a top prospect (Beck, Kappanen, Hage, Roy, Engström, Reinbacher, or Mailloux?!?), and a roster player (Dach, Anderson, someone else?). Is that overpaying, underpaying?!? Thoughts?!?
YC, a better question would be, why the heck would Washington even consider dealing him in the first place?
A 1st rd pick – 3rd overall – he just turned 28, has 23g 45a 68 pts in 72gp and costs just $5 mil off the cap for 3 more years!
Sorry, but nothing you mentioned would even give the GM pause for thought. He’s not going anywhere.
YC:
That’s a huge overpay for a guy who has 10 goals this year, had 11 last year and has had a steady 5 year decline since his best season of 59 points. They’d be better off sticking with Newhook at those prices.
The Habs will need to overpay to get a legit 2C, but it has to be that and no less.
YC: OOOPPPS! you said Capitals, so Dylan and not Ryan.
That being the case, Dylan would be worth an overpay. If, as George muses, the Caps would let him go.
HF30…
It’s about ROI. Zibs contract is bad
You are doing what is called survivor bias. For rver 35+ player who you cite…
1. There are 100+ who played st 25 who are gone
And
2. He’s not on the books for $8M. I would have no problem signing a mid 30s player if it’s on a short 1-2 yr contract.
Boston is in dyer need of top 6 forwards.They have Zacha and Middlestadt as centers,but they could play wing also.Either way they need a big upgrade in their forward group including signing Geekie this summer.
Given Zibanejad has 5 years left there is no way he moves now. However if Drury retains on Kreider or Panarin, that’s doable even if I don’t see the value in trading Panarin and retaining 4m because you have to replace him
Kent, never say never. SJ moved/retained older guys like Burns and Karlson but, I just don’t see Zib waiving. Again, I’m not sure Drury job that secure. For a presidents trophy winning team that was in conference finals, he went a little overboard with changes. And Laviolette isn’t helping by juggling lines and D pairings every game. If becoming a grittier north south team was objective, then Panarin should be considered trade bait. I don’t see retaining more than 2-3 million for a player who has 33g 46a currently. I don’t see Rangers keeping him past next season anyways. Will have to see how season ends.
If Rangers miss playoffs, or most likely get knocked out in 1st rd, chances are Drury could be let go. Unless they miraculously come together and Igor stands on his head, I could see Dolan cleaning house. Not sure what happens with Zib. I think he has 2-3 more good years in him. As much as I like Kreider, he’d seem to be easiest to move. With 1 year left on his deal, Panarin with some retention would get best return. Not too sure he’d waive his nmc.
Kreider to Boston would make sense with their need for top 6 forwards! He a Boston kid in phenomenal shape!I wonder what the cost would be? Second round pick?
Sr, that would seem logical since I’m sure Boston wouldn’t be on Kreider nt list. But, is that direction Boston goes after trading Marchand?
Slick62,Kreider has a 15 No Trade List!I wonder which Canadian team if not all of them is on that list?
Sr. I’d guess at this point Kreider would go to any contender. Only so many years left to maybe get a cup. He dealt with back issues this year that attributed to a down year. Could make it harder to move him. As I said, I think if they can get Panarin to waive I’d move him. Might be better off bringing Kreider back and see if he bounces back. If necessary, move him at deadline
Sr, I think it would take a lot more than a 2nd to get Kreider, who only turns 34 in April and has career 82-game averages of 30g 24a 54 pts, in addition to being a proven playoff performer.
On top of that, his cap hit is an affordable $6.5 mil with 2 years to go.
Yeah, like many on the Rangers, this has been a downer of a year, but he still has put up 19m goals and has 8 left to get into the 20s. And just last season he posted 39g 36a 75 pts in 82gp.
AND he’s a durable player who has a bit of an edge, If he goes anywhere it will be to a top contender and the return much more than a 2nd.
In fact, I would LOVE to see him added to the Ottawa roster for next season if he’d agree to come here. But the cost would amount to include at least a top prospect along with a high pick.
No problem George! He’s all yours. Just send Brady to NY! I’ll throw in Laf and K’Andre Miller
Heh. No doubt.
Disagree, Kreider is a clear case of father time, 24 points in 60 games at 6,5 and two years left, yikes. I wouldnt pay a 2nd, that is unless he produces in this years playoffs. And I know its not a great measure but last 3 years he was +20, this year minus 6 and by the looks of it doesnt drive play
How many tip ins and how many PP goals has Kreider logged over the last 3-4 years. His stats were always a little miss leading .
Donato is an aberration this year. If he produces the same over the term if his next deal I would be shocked. If a first was the ask no wonder still a Hawk