NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2025
Check out the latest on the Canucks, Leafs, and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANUCKS
SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre reports Brock Boeser considers it unlikely that he’ll be signing a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.
The 28-year-old right winger is UFA-eligible on July 1. There’s been little traction in negotiations between Canucks management and Boeser’s agent.
“It sucks, it’s unfortunate,” said Boeser. “I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”
Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
Boeser indicated he’s not talking to his agent about his contract until after the season has ended.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston also weighed in on Boeser’s comments, pointing out that the winger loves Vancouver and prefers to stay.
Johnston suggests one of the “different things” Boeser referred to was management’s lack of endorsement of him during the season, culminating in the post-trade deadline comments by Canucks GM Patrik Allvin regarding the underwhelming offers he supposedly received for the winger.
Boeser’s claim that a new deal seems “unlikely” could leave the door open for a new contract. Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks made another push to re-sign him before July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ management had seemingly difficult contract extension talks with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson before re-signing them. Still, those players weren’t less than three months away from UFA eligibility.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance looked at the Canucks offseason “to-do” list. Among them was what to do with Elias Pettersson.
The 27-year-old center is coming off a disappointing performance in the first season of his eight-year contract with an AAV of $11.6 million. His no-movement clause goes into effect on July 1.
Pettersson was taken off the trade block after J.T. Miller was traded in January. However, Drance indicates there’s plenty of skepticism in the market toward the Canucks center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks know what Pettersson is capable of when he’s on top of his game. They reportedly weren’t happy with his conditioning and preparation for this season.
They could make inquiries to gauge Pettersson’s trade value. However, his poor play and hefty contract will make it tough to move him before his NMC kicks in this summer.
A trade is possible but the Canucks are more likely to retain Pettersson in the hope that he’ll be better-prepared and determined to prove himself next season.
LEAFS
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes Mitch Marner faces a basic choice this offseason: spend the rest of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, or depart as a free agent on July 1 and take his chances elsewhere.
Marner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 while Knies becomes a restricted free agent. Simmons believes the latter will be re-signed first to avoid the threat of an offer sheet. He also thinks the better Knies plays, the easier for the Leafs to bid farewell to Marner if he intends to go to market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston considers a new contract for Knies to be a priority for the Leafs. However, he doesn’t think there’s much chance the young winger will sign an offer sheet, citing the Leafs’ plentiful cap space and Knies’ disinterest in signing an offer from a rival club.
As for Marner, it could also come down to how the Leafs fare in the playoffs. Another early exit could lead to changes in the front office (no new contract for team president Brendan Shanahan) and on the roster, especially if the 27-year-old winger doesn’t perform well in this postseason. They could decide the $13 or $14 million per season investment in Marner could be better spent elsewhere.
BRUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked at what changes might be in store for the Boston Bruins roster this summer.
Shinzawa doesn’t see the Bruins including their draft picks in any trade proposals because of their shallow prospect pool. He believes free agency is the route to restock their roster although he acknowledged it didn’t work out well last summer when they invested in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Shinzawa also suggested targeting a cap-strapped team with an offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a projected cap space of $26.2 million with 14 active roster players under contract.
They should have enough to sign a notable player or two in the unrestricted free-agent market. If they won’t include draft picks in trade offers, they’re unlikely to go the offer-sheet route as a successful signing costs them draft picks as compensation.
Some thoughts….
Boston could trade their 1st for Eichel. He’s a UFA next summer so they could just target him if he does not an extension in the summer.
I’m very concerned on Marner— how much of his numbers are away from AM/JT. See Rossi with and without Kaprisov.
I think Marner will not get what he thinks he’s worth if he hits the market. Toronto offer is gone on July 1 which means he could lose $5M+. On the markets he’s more of a $7M-$8M cap
Dan, you could also ask “how much of AM/JT’s numbers are because of Marner’s feeds.”
Dan all youll need to is go back when AM was out and how much Marner carried the team. I think some folks here 🤣 posted how the Leafs are more successful without AM. Mitch Marner doesn’t need anyone to help him succeed, he’s a complete all situations player and quite an elite one. Players like him that can do it all, will be fine with whomever they play with.
I think him not signing until after the season is more likely because if he had signed a big contract before and the team gets eliminated, the knives will be out for him, because we all know it’s 100% his fault and not signing allows the team more flexibility is that does happen. For those people who think they see Mitch as not a playoff producer need only to look at his playoff stats which he started producing since his rookie year. People here like to ignore that.
Marner played his best hockey when Matthews was out. The 64 dollar question is why he plays so much differently when Matthews is in the lineup
Jack Eichel, Dan? Why would Vegas trade Eichel for just a first, or any reason?
And why would Eichel go from a consistent legit Cup contender to a team that is on a re-build?
I suppose the thinking might be that, because Eichel played for the Boston Jr. Bruins and later Boston U, in addition to being born in North Chelmsford, MA, he’d push for such a deal or perhaps sign there as a UFA.
Like you, I doubt that very much, nor would Vegas see any great advantage in giving up a big, right-shot, point-a-game C for a 1st round pick – UNLESS such a trade happened after the draft selection and the Bruins got the 1st overall. BUT, while that might give Vegas pause for thought, the Bruins would be stupid to give up that pick.
I’m not a big Toronto fan but to suggest Marner won’t get at least 11 million as the top available free agent is laughable. Top guys most often get overpaid on July 1.
Ya…the Canucks are in for an interesting off season. What a soft bunch. A broken goalie. A guy who’s nickname was actually Broke Boesser and a soft swede who is now over paid. Really looking at Boeser’s numbers he’s a 5 mill guy. Petterson is probably a 6.5-7m guy and their goalie…..is just hurt too much.
They have lots of picks. And their defense is pretty good but up front needs some work.
Wouldn’t Canucks management come under scrutiny after this season?
And shouldn’t the coaching staff be grilled about how they handled player conflicts within the team?
Pettersson hasn’t been the same player since the mid point of last season (23-24), Canucks should have reviewed that further before giving him such a big deal, that they are already regretting
Wy won’t you let me publish comments? I have tried at least 3 times over the past 5 years and I am a religious reader.
That comment made it.
“That comment made it.” This is why we like you so much George.
Devine intervention on behalf of the religious reader?
Where they religious comments?
LOL
LOL here too, very funny
Houston… we have a problem
😬
Chrisms, despite your complete lack of reverence for history, you make me laugh.
Meh. I love the debate lj. It’s fun. I know I’m not always carting a lot of good will with my venerated older generation with my opinions sometimes… just presenting a different perspective generationally than many who post. I’ll be that generation all too soon. Let’s have fun on the ride.
Chrisms, playing Devil’s Advocate on any issue under discussion is what makes things interesting. Otherwise we’d spend most of the day with out thumb up …. well, anyway, carry on.
I read sacreligiously and my comments make it through. But some say the sinners are much more fun…
Always liked idea of Boeser to Rangers. With his buddy JT here, doesn’t seem far fetched. A right shot RW who can finish has been a need for awhile. Have to see what kind of subtractions they make. Biggest need imo would be a top pair LD.
Sabres have 3 legit LHD in Dahlen Powers and Byram….I would take any of them opposite of Fox.
Our buddy Kreider playing his final games as a Ranger? not sure why with his back he is being dressed… getting 4th line minutes
Ds. Dahlin would be an incredible pick up. I’ve posted before how I would give up what it takes to make happen. As far as Kreider. I’m more confused why he’s not on PP1 when he has chance to break all time Rangers record for PP goals. No respect for career guy.
I would love to see one of those next to Seider as well.
Hell no. Especially not at the price he’s going to want. He supposedly declined a 5x$8M offer, for a guy who has only exceeded 56 points once in his career.
And Rangers don’t have cap space to add after they resign their own RFAs, unless they can unload an equivalent contract (Kreider, Zibanejad, but who is taking them on after this season).
Foleyd7. I did say have to wait and see what kind of subtractions. And I’d be shocked if he gets 8mil. Can’t deny the boy can shoot te puck. This was a bad year in Van.
First off, MM is a good player, or rather a really good player. Is he worth 14m? No, is he worth his current salary of around 11 yes, more doubtful.
Second, according to Pettersson he was injured, was he to sensitive, maybe, but he had something. Obviously mangement and coach disagree both last year and now, they think what he has was/is nothing. If I as a player got that message I would probably loose faith in management, especially if they called me out in the media. No matter what he has or not, it impacted his play last season and preparation last summer resulting in average play, not worth 11,6m. I think they will move him if they at least get something close to what they want/need. I say its a bad decision, time will tell.
Thirdly, Tocchet is not going to Philly, he either stays or go to the NYR
Petersson for Karlsson, straight up? Swap of overpaid D for overpaid Forward
Can’t see either Marner, nor Leafs moving on. There are no comparables that you could get in free agency or realistically through trade. And any team with enough cap space to givge Marner more than the Leafs would spend, is not likely offering up much support for scoring.