NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2025
Could the Penguins attempt to accelerate their rebuild? Will Dmitry Orlov head to the KHL next summer? Are the Lightning having trouble signing top prospect Isaac Howard? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe wonders if Sidney Crosby’s ongoing excellence at age 37 could alter general manager Kyle Dubas’ rebuilding plans for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Since last season, Dubas has shipped out veterans like Jake Guentzel for promising young players and other untapped assets. However, Crosby’s performance remains unaffected.
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas (NHL.com).
Yohe wonders if Dubas will continue his methodical rebuilding knowing that Crosby will be gone once the process is completed, or if he’ll attempt to accelerate things while his captain remains among the league’s elite stars.
The Penguins have $25 million in cap space for next season and double that amount in 2026-27. Dubas could create more space this summer by moving out some bad contracts. Yohe believes being aggressive and spending money is a smart move as long as they also have a system that consistently generates young players like they currently have.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been ongoing speculation that Dubas could attempt to move out Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and perhaps even Kris Letang this summer to free up cap room and create roster space for younger talent. The intent would be to build a playoff contender around Crosby before his new contract expires two years from now.
Dubas has shown a willingness to make bold moves though sometimes they didn’t pan out as expected, like the acquisition of Karlsson two years ago. Nevertheless, he could search for a deal that speeds up his rebuilding plans.
ORLOV NOT GOING TO THE KHL NEXT SEASON
SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reported a rumor making the rounds had Dmitry Orlov heading to the KHL next season. The 33-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenseman is UFA-eligible on July 1.
Friedman said he was told that there was no truth to that rumor. Orlov intends to stay in the NHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whether Orlov returns with Carolina or signs with another NHL team remains to be seen. The Hurricanes have the cap room to re-sign him but he might have to accept a lesser annual average value than his current $7.75 million.
COULD OTHER TEAMS HAVE INTEREST IN THE LIGHTNING’S TOP PROSPECT?
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina cited multiple reports indicating Isaac Howard, the Lightning’s top prospect, is returning to Michigan State for his junior year. The decision comes after two weeks of contract talks between the Lightning and Howard’s representatives.
Howard led the NCAA Division 1 with a 1.41 points per game average and is a finalist for the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. If he goes unsigned and returns to Michigan State, he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Encina suggests this could be posturing by Howard’s camp. If he plays a single NHL game this season, it would burn off the first year of his entry-level contract, enabling him to garner a more lucrative second contract much sooner as a restricted free agent.
The Lightning can continue negotiating with Howard until he becomes a UFA on Aug, 15, 2026. They could also trade his rights if they don’t expect to sign him before then.
Encina noted that the Lightning lacks the cap space to add Howard to their roster for the remainder of the regular season. He cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman cited sources “in NCAA circles” saying the Bolts and the Howard camp “weren’t sympatico on where everything stood at this time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman is interested in how things proceed from here, “especially if other teams are interested” in Howard.
We saw a similar situation last summer with Rutger McGroarty and the Winnipeg Jets resulting in him getting traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. McGroarty wanted to join the Jets right away but they preferred he start the season with their AHL affiliate.
The hope in Montreal is that Crosby watches Demidov attentively, in the coming playoffs !
The Penguins lack everything and have a very poor prospect pool.
Our two firsts, Mailloux, Farrell and Roy ?
In return for Sid, Patrick?
Sid is an ageless wonder, still more than a point per game player at 37. But he is surely going to slow down, is signed for two more seasons only and then will likely retire.
As good as he is, he isn’t the missing piece for a Cup win by the Habs. Were he to want to win one more he would surely want to go to a real contender.
I crosby wanted to play for Habs he would t have signed his extension. And im sure Habs fans would say thats an overpayment but I wouldn’t take it for Sid. Hes a career pen. Now if you were interested in tanger…
Dubas should try to trade a pick or 2 for Isaac. They can bring him in for 2 games and burn the first year.
Karlsson as good as gone. Rakell I doubt is traded. Letang wouldn’t garner much of a return at this stage.
If a team were to take him in exchange for a water bottle and a box of donuts, that’s more cap room…and a box of donuts.
Nah. Look at what jones got. Pens hold a couple mil they could get a b prospect and maybe a second in the off season.
Yes 65 is as good gone in Pittsburgh, never saw a defenseman with all his talent play so bad ….
should be a winger… Ottawa was stupid to give him that outrageous contract…
Steve Malik, on his ELC Ottawa paid him $875,000 per which lasted from 2009-10 to 2011-12. When he came up for re-negotiation as an RFA, after potting 35g 112a 147 pts in 216gp, he was rewarded with a $6.5 mil deal from 2012-13 to 2017-18 and it was still in effect when he was dealt to San Jose and carried over into the 2018-19 season.
As a pending UFA it was San Jose that gave him the $11.5 mil multi-year deal, so I guess you meant to say “San Jose was stupid to give him that outrageous deal.”
What do you think about Kris Letang for Brendan Gallagher?
I think Letang 37, gets rejuvenated playing for Montreal where he is hometown boy.@ $ 6.1
I think Gallagher 32, fills a 3rd line spot for the Penguins. He is having a bounce back season @ $6.5 million.
As a life long Bruin fan. Habs won’t win another cup in my life time🤙🏻
So, what’re ya? 99?
LOL. Sorry Mrbruin4, couldn’t resist.
George
18??? lol. I wouldn’t want to be 18 again. 65 is my age but I can act 18 so I’m told
Penguins? Rebuild? What rebuild? They’re old and slow and haven’t done much to change anything. They traded their top prospect for an allegedly slightly further ahead prospect, who ended up playing most of the season in the AHL. Not seeing any signs of a rebuild.
Penguins off-season wait and see how effective Penguins could spend 25 million in cap space? Next off-season potentially over double cap space? Could they trade or buy-out: Jarry or Graves or Karlsson for additional cap space? See all the Penguins additional draft picks for the next three seasons. Also, hockey writers rank Penguins prospects system #22 which used to be #31. Are the Penguins Rebuilding or Retooling?
Those 26 draft picks over the next three years and 25 million in cap space are worthless in trying to accomplish the aforementioned rebuilt, I guess?
The cap space will be useful no doubt but those draft picks, while valuable, represent a future likely well past Crosby’s best before date. My point ultimately is as long as the Pens roster has Malkin, Letang, Karlsson, etc., they’re simply not in a rebuild.
Brock beg to disagree with you. The Penguins one problem is their whole defensive corps sucks.
This they need to fix asap and it can be done…look Washington was old slow and washed up last year. -37 goal differential…way slower than the Penguins.
Kings have also retooled quickly.
They need two strong defenseman like a Gavrikov and maybe trade for a Mario Ferraro to pair with Letangand company. Karlsson will get moved.
Penguins are a good transitional team with decent speed. The just beat Dallas, had St.Louis beat lost in OT have beaten LA Kings, Dallas Edmonton, Washington, Florida and they have $26 million in cap space.
Top 6 not the problem need a couple ufa forwards, two d-men and goalie. Murashev in the minors is lighting it up in goal and is a year or two away…dominant training camp this year for the Penguins.
The prospect and Farm system was rated 32 nd a couple years ago is upto 20th now…. granted not top 10 but much improved.