NHL Rumor Mill – April 16, 2025
Could the Flyers go the offer-sheet route or attempt to acquire Lightning prospect Isaac Howard this summer? What’s the latest on the Canadiens? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST FLYERS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz pointed out that Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere isn’t shy about attempting to make bold moves. He wondered if Briere might go the offer-sheet route this summer to bring in a good young player.
Kurz included Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs among his list of suggested offer-sheet targets.
Could the Flyers target Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)
The Ducks have plenty of salary-cap space, but rarely spend to the cap ceiling. They must also consider long-term contracts for forwards Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. Kurz also wonders if the threat of an offer sheet might entice the Ducks to consider trading McTavish.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out the possibility of Briere attempting to sign away a good young NHL forward with an offer sheet. However, it takes two to tango, and McTavish, Rossi and Knies might not be interested in offers from rival clubs. Recent reports out of Toronto suggest that’s the case regarding Knies.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey believes it would make perfect sense for the Flyers to acquire prospect forward Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bailey pointed out the difficulties the Lightning are facing getting Howard under contract. The 21-year-old Hobey Baker Award winner can become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2026, if he and the Lightning fail to agree to an entry-level deal.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently speculated the Lightning could trade Howard’s rights if they feel they cannot sign him before next August. Bailey observed the Flyers are well-situated to make a competitive offer, carrying three first-round picks and four second-rounders in this year’s draft to draw on for trade bait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers could be among the suitors for Howard if the Lightning decide to peddle him leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft in June. They stand better odds of landing him than they would of signing away a talented restricted free agent from another team with an offer sheet.
CANADIENS’ YOUNG TALENT COULD HELP THEM BECOME A PREFERRED DESTINATION
TSN: Darren Dreger took note of the impressive debut of Montreal Canadiens rookie winger Ivan Demidov on Monday. He also observed that the rebuilding Canadiens’ improved play this season could be a selling point for management to entice UFA talent or players with no-trade protection on other teams who might become available in this summer’s trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ significant improvement this season can be tied to established young stars Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and promising youngsters like Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky. Demidov’s debut and his immense potential suggest they have a future superstar in their midst.
The Canadiens’ odds of landing NHL talent through trades and free agency will only get better as their on-ice performance improves.
I think Tocchet is waiting on the NYR fallout and if Laviolette is dismissed he would be a candidate for a team with a better roster than Vancouver, if not GM, and the money and original 6 might be enticing
Just out of idle curiosity, Kent, why would “original 6” be a factor in Tocchet’s aspirations as a coach? He was born in April 1964, and by the time hockey, in general, would have begun to really interest him, the 6 team league would have been ancient history? By that time, wouldn’t what was left of the Original 6 Expansion Teams be just as enticing?
For example, the year he turned 10 the Flyers were about to win back-to-back cups, and the Rangers hadn’t won one since 1940! And when he turned 16, the Islanders were about to embark upon their 4-year dynasty.
As a Ranger fan, I hope it isn’t Tocchet.
It seems he originally started strong in Phx and then after a few years the wheels fell off.
Ditto in Vancouver (and boy did they fall off this year, on and off the ice).
I def want Lavi gone; he’s not the coach to integrate youth properly. Not sure who the replacement it. Maybe it needs to be a new, young guy coming up from AHL or College. A total new voice.
If the Rangers have a better roster than the Canucks and the wheels really fell off the Canucks season, how is it that the Canucks currently have 90 points to the Rangers 83?
Did something go wrong with Phoenix?
The Flyers are the last team that would give up assets for Howard after what they went through with Cutter Gauthier.
I think it’ll be VAN or PHI for Tocchet, no where else. VAN needs to trade Pettersson (move on from him, he has struggled since jan 2023, even before he got his big contract). Maybe make it a more rugged team for Tocchet to want to coach
I still don’t understand how Tocchet and his staff seemed to have gotten off Scot-free over the Pettersson – Miller thing.
To me dealing with player conflicts is a major part of an NHL coach’s job description.
And, if this year’s any example, going from Vancouver to New York is like from fat to fire.
You have a really good comment and in my view it is exactly the problem. Tocchet first of all then the illustrious useless captain, and then management are all responsible for this.
This has to be the most mismanaged team in the NHL even Buffalo has better management team. I think at the bottom of this mess is ownership
As long as those players are not low balled they will remain with their current rosters.
Edm only offered something like $1m to Holloway . Broberg got his $4m and would have accepted less as all agree a little bit of an overpay . Or is it
It takes two to tango
I would be shocked if Anaheim didn’t match any offer for McTavish. He’s getting better year by year and is a very young, strong center. He and Leo Carlsson should be the top 2 centers in Anaheim for the next decade. Teams don’t let that walk away for a couple of picks.
Penguins have many 2026 draft picks, and could make an offer for young player during this off-season?
Offer sheets : There has been renewed interest in offer sheets since the Oilers FAILURE in resigning Holloway and Broberg. At the time it was called a rare event. Does anybody have another example of this rare event involving two players?
It would not look good on JJ if he set a precedent.