NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2025
The latest Predators speculation, a Sabres forward is suggested as an offer-sheet target, and Cam York’s future with the Flyers in today’s (no foolin’) edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.
WHO SHOULD THE PREDATORS MOVE THIS SUMMER?
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli asked Carter Hutton which veteran player he would pick to trade this summer.
Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).
Hutton thinks it should be Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault. Both players were signed to four-year contracts last summer. He doesn’t think they can move away from long-time Predators like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Hutton also sees them sticking with goaltender Juuse Saros now that Yaroslav Askarov is gone.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutton acknowledged moving either player would be tricky.
Stamkos, 35, has a full no-movement clause and an average annual value of $8.5 million on his contract. The 34-year-old Marchessault has a more affordable AAV ($5.5 million) and a 15-team no-trade list. He also carries a no-movement clause that prevents him from being sent to the minors.
The Predators will likely hang onto both players and hope for a bounce-back performance next season. If they attempt to trade one of them, interested clubs could squeeze them to retain some salary in the deal.
COULD SABRES FORWARD JJ PETERKA BECOME AN OFFER-SHEET TARGET?
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton discussed which player they would target with an offer sheet this summer.
Seravalli believes JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres would be a prime candidate. The 23-year-old forward is completing a three-year entry-level contract.
Hutton believes Peterka is someone the Sabres will have to pay a significant raise to prevent him from becoming an offer-sheet target.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peterka has steadily improved since his 2022-23 rookie campaign. He had 32 points in 77 games that season, 28 goals and 50 points in 82 games in 2023-24, and 23 goals and 59 points in 68 games this season.
The Sabres have a projected cap space for next season of over $22 million with 17 active roster players under contract. Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker are also restricted free agents.
They should have enough space to sign everyone if they spend to the cap ceiling. Otherwise, things could get interesting if a rival club makes Peterka a tempting offer.
DOES CAM YORK STILL HAVE A FUTURE WITH THE FLYERS?
SPORTSNET: Last week, Elliotte Friedman talked about Cam York’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers following the firing of head coach John Tortorella.
Friedman said Flyers management and York’s representatives discussed a contract extension earlier this season but it didn’t happen. There were times this season when the 24-year-old defenseman came up in trade talks, but Friedman doesn’t believe the Flyers made him available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: York was benched for part of last Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was Tortorella’s final game with the Flyers. He was also benched for Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Interim coach Brad Shaw said the benching for the Canadiens game was for “disciplinary reasons”. It was subsequently reported that there was a heated exchange between York and Tortorella during the Leafs game. The blueliner declined to discuss it, saying he took full responsibility for his actions.
York is part of a young core of players who were supposed to play significant roles for the rebuilding Flyers. However, two of them (Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee) were traded to the Calgary Flames in January, raising questions about his place with the club.
A restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, York has struggled this season with 15 points in 60 games, down significantly from last season’s career-high of 30 points. His situation could be worth monitoring during the offseason.
If Peterka is frustrated with the pace of Kevyn’s rebuilding progress and wants out, he’s better off signing a bridge deal to UFA status rather than risk taking an offer sheet proposal and seeing the Sabres match.
The team would rather match or use a sign/trade to another team for an established top-6 W or top-2 RD than settle for a 1st/2nd/3rd comp pick at this stage of the rebuild.
Re “… in today’s (no foolin’) edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.”
Yeah …. well … ever since you nailed me a number of years ago, I approach this day’s threads with extreme caution.
LOL, you have the advantage of me with that one, George. Which one are you referring to?
I can’t recall the details … but I do remember it was some hairy trade involving the Senators … almost choked on my coffee, but instead of checking the local news, I bit on your site
Nashville in a similar situation like Boston with Lindholm and Zadorov.Boston thought Lindholm would be closer to Bergeron/ Krecji,than Coyle! Two top 6 centers were traded this year. JTMiller and Cozens!See what the off-season brings.
I sure hope Leafs maintain their lead in their conference
A 4 game sweep over Ottawa or whomever in the first round will help prepare , rest – Focus on Round 2
Heh, Ken. I’m just glad there’s no way the Senators an meet the Sabres in the playoffs! So far this season, in 3 game Buffalo is up 3 – 0, outscoring Ottawas 12-3.
Tonight, therefore, it would not surprise me at all to see the Sabres win 4-1 here in Ottawa, and take the season 4-0.
A phrase comes to mind: oh ye of little faith …
And if the Sens do lose, they are still all but assured a WC position.
Heh – oh, I know LJ. I should practice what I preach.
It doesn’t help with the frustration, however, when you see your team rise to the occasion with a total two-way effort when playing the top echelon … but half-assedly against the teams below them.
In Ottawa’s case, while sporting a losing record as noted against Buffalo, they have a 3 – 0 record against Toronto, outscoring them 9-3. Go figure.
As I say – frustrating.
Well, the Flyers just passed the Bruins in the standings with BUF and SEA just a point back.
We could pick 4th!
Happy days.
That’s the spirit Ray!!
Ray, the bottom 10 in the league as of this morning are as follows (in reverse order – worst first) showing games left, current pts, past 10 and current “streak”
32. San Jose 9g 49 pts 3-7-0 L2
31. Chicago 8g 51 pts 1-9-0 L3
———————————————
30. Nashville 8g 62 pts 2-7-1 L3
29. Seattle 7g 68 pts 4-4-2 L2
28. Buffalo 9g 68 pts 6-4-0 W1
27. Boston 8g 69 pts 2-7-1 L5
26. Philadelphia 6g 71 pts 4-5-1 W3
25. Pittsburgh 7g 71 pts 6-3-1 W1
24. Anaheim 9g 72 pts 4-5-1 L1
23. NY Islanders 9g 74 pts 3-4-3 L3
No one is going to “catch” Chicago or San Jose. It seems, too, that Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh don’t know how to tank.
Now watch, tonight the Bruins will knock off Washington.
Yes George and Habsman, find something your good at…..
Not sure how serious it is with McAvoy Sr, but obviously not worth the risk with a bad shoulder to play this season, or the World’s for that matter. Those injuries can haunt you if not dealt with properly.
Insane that with 9 games left (over 10% of the season), only Nashville could “catch” CHI & SJ, as you put it, George. Even if the Hawks & SJ won all their games, best they could get to is 30th. Two truly awful teams.
Frustrating indeed, George. Which is why I passed along the tip that fans are not required to pass a urine test ….
I see Brady is out tonight. Were I the Sens I would park him for a few games and see how things go in the standings. No point getting to the playoffs at long last and have him either no go or at 1/2 speed.
Yeah, absolutely no sense in pushing him to the limit, given where they stand. Crookshank has played well when called up before, and he’ll add a bit of testiness to that 4th line.
Perron will probably take Tkachuk’s spot at LW on the 1st line.
Ray Bark make sure Mcavoy doesn t play the rest of the season! Can test his injury at the World tourney going on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston could win the lottery in theory
Helped Oilers get Mcdavid as Toronto was in the pole position that draft year
Chytil done for the year. With his history no surprise . I guess Alvin didn’t appreciate the prophecy . Bad trade for J.T. Miller.
Skinny Pete also out. Lightweight
Ullmark can’t let 2 in over the first 5 shots and expect to be long in the playoffs. He has been doing that pretty consistently. I think he needs a lot of action because he has been on occasion lights out as well ( just not nearly as often)