Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 9, 2025
The Leafs and Hurricanes discussed a Mitch Marner-for-Mikko Rantanen swap, the Oilers were interested in Rantanen, the reason why Brad Marchand was traded to the Panthers is revealed, and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LEAFS, HURRICANES DISCUSSED MARNER-FOR-RANTANEN SWAP
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reported Friday that the Toronto Maple Leafs offered up prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten and two first-round picks to the Carolina Hurricanes for winger Mikko Rantanen before the latter was traded to the Dallas Stars.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Multiple sources indicate the Hurricanes instead asked for Mitch Marner in return. Leafs management spoke with Marner, telling the 27-year-old winger that their priority was to re-sign him, but a trade to the Hurricanes was possible if he was more interested in that.
Marner has a full no-movement clause this season. He declined to move, reiterating his intent to stay in Toronto.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would’ve been a major deal for both clubs. The Leafs probably would have signed Rantanen long-term, though that contract likely would’ve been more expensive than the eight-year deal (at $12 million annually) he signed with the Stars. The Hurricanes would’ve received a return that, if they re-signed Marner, would’ve had a more positive, immediate impact than the one they got from Dallas.
OILERS HAD INTEREST IN RANTANEN
TSN: Ryan Rishaug reports the Edmonton Oilers spoke with the Hurricanes about Rantanen before he was traded to Dallas.
Rantanen, 28, was interested in going to the Oilers. There were talks about a contract extension that would’ve been worth more than the deal he signed with the Stars. The deal fell through because the Oilers lacked the trade assets to get it done.
Rishaug indicated they were also interested in Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato and Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ratanen on the same team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would’ve been something to see. It wouldn’t have addressed the Oilers’ roster weaknesses, but watching those three play together would’ve been very entertaining.
MONEY GAP LED TO MARCHAND TRADE
ESPN.COM: Emily Kaplan reports the Boston Bruins offered winger Brad Marchand a three-year contract extension. However, the two sides couldn’t agree on the money, prompting the Bruins to trade him to the Florida Panthers on Friday.
The Bruins initially offered the 36-year-old Marchand a two-year deal. They got approval from ownership to make it three years, but he didn’t believe the money was equal to his value.
When the Bruins decided to trade Marchand, they worked on getting him to a location of his choice. Marchand had family considerations and wanted to stay on the East Coast if he couldn’t stay in Boston.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaplan didn’t indicate how much Marchand sought from the Bruins. He’s completing an eight-year contract with an AAV of $6.13 million.
CANUCKS SOUGHT A FIRST-ROUND PICK FOR BOESER
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Vancouver Canucks sought a first-round pick in exchange for Brock Boeser. However, no clubs were willing to meet their asking price.
CANUCKS, PREDATORS AND CANADIENS WERE INTERESTED IN NORRIS
YARDBARKER: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch told TSN that the Canucks were interested in center Josh Norris before the Senators traded him to the Buffalo Sabres.
He also claimed the Nashville Predators had spoken to the Senators about swapping Ryan O’Reilly for Norris.
CANADIENS KICKED TIRES ON COZENS.
TVA SPORTS: The Montreal Canadiens kicked tires on Dylan Cozens, but they lacked the available roster players necessary to make the deal worthwhile for the Sabres.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PENGUINS AFTER THE TRADE DEADLINE?
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Jason Mackey believes trading Erik Karlsson in the offseason becomes more plausible for the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the salary cap rising significantly next season, opposing teams can more easily manipulate their cap payrolls to absorb his $10 million cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mackey acknowledged Karlsson must be involved in that process because of his full no-movement clause. The Penguins will likely still be asked by interested clubs to retain part of his cap hit.
Mackey also believes some of the draft picks acquired by the Penguins could be used as trade assets in the offseason to bring in more immediate help.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have 11 picks in this year’s draft, including two first-rounders, three third-rounders, and two fifth-rounders.
They also have three second-round picks and two third-rounders in 2026 and two second-rounders, three third-rounders, and two fourth-round picks in 2027.
That’s plenty of draft capital to draw on for trade chips.
If .Marchand plays again in the NHL it will be in Boston! He has to much invested in the city regarding family! They did send him to a team of his choice! At 37 years old what is really his shelf life! Thre surgeries last summer and his impending injury now! Fla will have trouble signing Bennet let alone Marchand to,even letting Ekblad walk!
If the Bruins had offered sufficient money to Marchand, he would have re-signed already. He obviously wasn’t thrilled with the money and I don’t see that changing. Especially with the Bruins needing to get younger. If he plays next year it won’t be in Boston.
Cue the Brad to Pittsburgh rumors to okay with pal Sid. God. I would hate that.
He wanted more than he was making now on a 3 year term. Bruins were correct in saying no
With Seth Jones on the books as well , hopefully Bennett is available , and Leafs can pursue him ..
I guess Leafs would
Of actually traded Marner for Rantanen , if Marner accepted ..
Rantanen did accept 12 mil per year , hopefully Marner doesn’t think he is worth more than?
Listening to Tavares interviews , he is definitely a Leaf going forward
Treliving seems to do one contract at a time. Matthews then Nylander and now he wants to settle Marner first. Once they make the final decision on Marner, Tavares won`t take long. Makes you wonder how much Marner`s demanding, if Toronto was willing to throw almost 14 million per at Rantanen and Marner hasn`t been signed yet. Don`t or at least I hope they don`t make that offer to Marner. Maybe take a shot at Bennett and Ehlers if they hit the market on July 1st
The question will always be, are the Leafs better with or without Marner. By now you know what exactly he is and capable of. He definitely affects the team and can play many roles being an every-situation player.
Looking at the future cap situation for the Leafs if he bolts for FA, it’s scary, even after signing their only power forward winger who’s 22 and RFA. The team would definitely be different but will different be better? That’s the $13M+ question.
Ron, the question as to whether they will be better will depend heavily on how Treleving decides to spend the cap windfall that will result.
Suddenly having Marner’s $10,903,000 (that alone would remove the sting of seeing him bolt for no return), the additional $4.5 mil (and maybe a bit more) from the cap increase, whatever the difference will be between what Tavares re-ups for and the $11 mil he’s costing now off the cap, as well as the $3,118,000 from the expiring cap hits of Pacioretty, Lorentz and Hakanpass (none of whom figure to be back) can open the way to some selective, judicial UFA signings to shore up different areas of the roster.
If, say, Tavares re-ups for something closer to $5 mil per, you’re looking at just over $20,000,000 in shopping money, leading to perhaps the most exciting summer in recent Leafs memory.
Rantanen’s 12 million/year hasn’t necessarily set the market for a top flight forward, Ken.
Marner sounds like he wants to be a Leaf so maybe he takes a home town discount.
But let’s be clear: the $12 million for Rantanen is in a tax free state – meaning any player who focuses on take home pay will need more gross pay in a non tax state. That being anywhere in Canada.
I admit that I don’t watch a lot of Marner or the Leafs play. As an Avs fan watching him last night, I liked his game better than Mikko’s, so it surprised me to read that Toronto was open to swapping them. What’s the knock against Marner in Toronto?
Well, Marner has been viewed as not being very physical is one knock and even though he’s been used to stifle top line players he’s put up just under a point per game in the playoffs and thus incorrectly seen as “not doing enough or show up” when it matters most….and his price tag. Somehow people think he ought to be making less for some reason so he is disliked.
The persona he projects is too aloof and rubs many the wrong way…like if asked a specific question with a simple answer, he’ll do it in a way where he comes off sounding bad or making the issue nonexistent or something not what you want to hear from a star player. Unfortunately, like many stars before him, he has surrounded himself with people offering the wrong advice (aka what stance he should take and what words to use type of things) plus his agent is gwad awful.
Thanks, Ron!
Rantanen on the Oilers would have been exciting to watch but it would have left the Oilers in the position that the Leafs put themselves in when they signed Tavares, spending too much on star forwards, bringing in a player they really didn’t need and leaving themselves thin on depth and in net and in D. The Oilers money is better spent elsewhere.
I think Marchand was really good value during that contract . In fact underpaid. Can’t repay me a little on a short career ending deal ? Boston has done this before . I am sure there was a couple of F sharps thrown around and now the end of an era.
Why did his agent have him sign that contract then?SilverScreen
Still waiting to see how Ratanen plays long term without MacKinnon
He will be great just not as great. Dallas has hell of a team
Salary cap question: Brock Boeser currently @ 6.5 mil & set to become UFA> If he goes that route (not resigning w/ Van)? Any other team can offer whatever they feel is fair? Is there a minimum?
Pen’s Next steps:
A)Nedjelkovic to play every game for rest of year; max lottery chances
B) June Draft:
fingers crossed for lottery win (but if we’re to win a lottery, better to do so in ‘26 (McKenna and/or ‘27 (Dupont)
We have : 11 picks (6 in first 3 rounds)…. No more pip squeaks!
C) Buyout Graves
D) Move Accari, even it costs a sweetener
E) Retain 50% on Karllsson (after Signing bonus paid) trade for young NHLer and prospect
F) Trade Rusty for a 2nd and prospect
G) Retain 50% on Rackell; add 2nd above AND Mcgroarty) ; get an excellent young (<23) (player on the rise) top 6 RW back
H) use some of ‘27 and ‘26 (not own 1st , 2nd, 3rds) picks and trade for NHL ready youth
I) seriously consider an offer sheet (or sheets) target(s) (cite what St Louis did). We finally have our own 1st, 2nd 3rd (in ‘26)
J) Under no circumstances re-up any of : Gryzlcyck or Nieto
K) Do qualify and/or re-up all current Pen’s RFAs
L) Under no circumstance sign any UFAs over 28 years old
The above won’t make playoffs in ‘26 but might have a shot in Crosby’s last year (spring ‘27)
#63 should’ve taken the #37 route
I have come to the reluctant conclusion that with the business structure of the NHL, teams have to be willing to move on from quality but aging players to maintain a long, high quality run. It looks really hard to rebuild if the wheels come of the wagon.
But there are anomolies, like Washington and Columbus this year, who exceed expectations, sometimes massively. And those who fail despite buckets of high draft choices.
When thinks that really good teams usually have good third and fourth lines, it would seem the draft is over-rated and professional scouting underrated. I think If I has a bucket of choices like Pittsburgh I’d invest a lot in professional scouting and trade most of my picks out for a team to get Sid to the playoffs a couple of more times. Drafting, no matter how well, is likely to burn the balance of his career on incapable teams….I’d like him to get another bite at the apple outside of international play.