NHL Rumor Mill – April 5, 2025
The latest on the Canucks and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANUCKS
THE PROVINCE: Earlier this week, Patrick Johnston mused on what he called “the most disappointing Vancouver Canuck season in recent memory” as the club’s playoff hopes were all but dashed following their 5-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Johnston wondered what head coach Rick Tocchet’s path forward would be following this trying season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet is in the final season of his contract with the Canucks, but they hold a one-year option on that deal. He’s open to discussing an extension following this season but the club’s difficulties raised speculation that he might move on.
Tocchet’s been linked to the Philadelphia Flyers, who replaced John Tortorella as head coach last week with Brad Shaw on an interim basis. Tocchet spent 11 of his 18-season NHL playing career with the Flyers and remains well-respected and popular among their fan base.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Johnston also wondered how management would address their depth at center. “If they do keep Elias Pettersson, who are they going to find to be the other top-line center?” “Is Pius Suter really the second-line center behind Pettersson?”
If the Canucks trade Pettersson this summer, they’ll likely have to retain part of his $11.6 million average annual value. Finding a suitable replacement will be difficult.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading J.T. Miller in January did little to improve Pettersson’s production. With 45 points in 64 games, he’s having the worst performance of his seven-season NHL career. Since the Miller trade, he has 17 points in 30 games.
Nevertheless, Pettersson had 89 points in 82 games last season and 102 points in 2022-23. The Canucks know what he’s capable of and that there is no one available to replace his production when he’s on top of his game. Unless they intend to tear down the roster and rebuild, trading Pettersson makes no sense.
Even if they trade Pettersson, they won’t get fair value in return. His expensive contract and poor performance this season hurt his value in the trade market. Their best option is retaining Pettersson and hope he has a bounce-back performance.
BRUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Washington Capitals offer a template for the Boston Bruins to quickly retool their roster.
He suggests the Bruins bring in a younger, less experienced coach who can grow with the team, suggesting former Providence Bruins coach Jay Leach, who is now part of the Seattle Kraken’s coaching staff.
Shinzawa also recommends building around David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy through the trade and free-agent markets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston won’t tear things down to the studs with Pastrnak, Swayman and McAvoy in their prime and under long-term contracts. They must build up around those three as quickly as possible while they remain at their peak.
Bruins management has $28.8 million available next season with 11 active roster players under contract. They have the cap space to make additions this summer. The aim could be landing younger, affordable NHL-ready players from cap-strapped clubs or those looking to shake up their rosters.
I think the Bruins should start with asking someone nicely to take Zadorov. His talk doesn’t match his play. Can’t win a race back to his own end. Doesn’t use his reach to his advantage. The list goes on with him. Hard to watch.
Lindholm was a waste as well. B’s would have been better off with Coyle. Sweeney/Neely need to be replaced (but I doubt the B’s ownership will do that). David Carle should be hired as coach. Stop signing overrated vets and go with younger players, even if they have to offer sheet some young players
Boston is last in the Eastern conference in goals scored and third in the NHL.They need 4 forwards to play in their top 9 with 88,28,18,11,39. Most of the rest of their players are small,quick or big slow forwards. They lead the NHL in 4th line role players.They have their work cut out for them finding players that can score.Someone like Jake Debrusk , oh yea,they let him walk for nothing with his24 goals this year.
Flute,Jay Leach is on the Bruins coaching staff now,not the Kraken staff.
While it’s fine to suggest that Boston should use the Capitals as a template for a quick turn-around re-tooling (it’s also been suggested Pittsburgh follow the same process), the big difference is, Washington has been a consistent playoff presence, including last season, thanks to a basically younger (and more talented?) core to re-tool around.
The thing devoted fans of the Bruins (and Penguins) need to ask themselves is, why they believe their team of choice has any better basic management structure and core to avoid going into the same sort of playoff drought currently being experienced by these 12 teams?
If they miss this season
Buffalo 14; Detroit 9; Ottawa 8; Anaheim 7; San Jose 6; Arizona/Utah 5; Chicago 5; Columbus 5; Philadelphia 5; Montreal 4; Calgary 3; Pittsburgh 3.
That’s over a third of the league.
Yes, George, at least 1/3 of the league is in competition for more than a single piece in the offseason.
I read above the Canucks are looking for a legit 2C, more competition for the Habs as they need one.
Bruins fans, not trolling you, but one of the few calls I got right was calling the Bruins in decline at least a season ago. Ken and HF30 have it right IMO. Several sites rate the Bruins prospect pool at the bottom of the league, lots of competition for assets, so best to get used to several years in the wilderness.
Even the Habs, who are showing improvement, will need a few more years of experience and acquisitions to be a legit Cup contender, so what 7 years in total?
Look at it this way: what if you were a Sabres fan?
Cause George… in my lifetime the pens never had had an extended playoff drought. Until it happens it feels like it can’t happen if that makes sense? Not logical… but fandom is fun in part cause it ain’t always logical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbgmuq0kVUM
Sorry George. I wasn’t yet alive when that song came out so it doesn’t count😂
Holy crap! And I was already going on 44.
That’s coming soon for me… any advice?
I have always been an adherent to the philosophy of Leroy Satchel Paige …. “never look back … something might be gaining on you ….:
🙇♂️
Swayman , Macavoy , Pastranak is not enough of a foundation to build around
Washington had a volume of players to build around ..
Boston , IMO has to tear it down and build a team that is hard to play against , it would be ideal to draft a Bobby Orr to start with . Maybe a stud defenseman is available …
Kashawn Aitcheson is that exact player . I think he is ranked 17 th and will be a steal at that .. Bruins can easily make this happen
Porter Martone is highly ranked , maybe 5th , a highly skilled , punishing forward with Barrie – A true Bruin type player .
Bruins maybe drafting 8 th and can easily trade up ..
These are just 2 examples , but very doable and an incredible player profile moving forward
Bruins have 1st round picks upcoming in following years .. Just keep doing the same thing .
If I can figure this out , surely they can … I would love to meet Bob Neely and discuss my thoughts , but highly unlikely that will will ever happen
I am passionate with the NHL draft , always have been and very frustrated with moves made by the Leafs trading away their future
Matthew’s , Marner , Nylander, Knies are prime reason’s for my thoughts , all through the draft
Than the Leafs – Dubas- worse GM in Leafs history – squanders Nazim Kadri , Marchment , Verhaege , Moore for absolutely no return
Martine and Aitheson are “2” MAJOR building blocks for the Bruins
If Bruins can get a major haul for MacAvoy , Pastranak , Swayman , this would be the route to go and in 5-6 years , they will have a contending team once again !!
Ken you’re putting a lot of trust in that Bruin management and their ability to make good picks… maybe you haven’t heard the fan base say so and it’s partly why George has alluded to them not having the same prospect pool as the Caps had…or in my opinion, not a very deep pool than most teams…and that’s just a normal condition due to being in a cup winning window for so long. You can’t have it all, you know?
Draft picks don’t work out most of the time, I’m sure as a draft guy you know this. You also know you’re looking at at least 5 years before that pick materializes into that player you’re hoping he becomes (if that)…to me Boston needs more than that. Plus they can’t drive a tank with those three players still onboard.
Ken, what you lay out is, basically, the history of the league – i.e., at some point all teams will go through periods of varying length wandering in the wilderness – and for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are disappointing draft picks.
Not counting the teams I list above, these 11 franchises also spent significant time out of the playoffs – despite having won multiple cups in their history or being one of the “original six” – as if that alone would guarantee ongoing success:
Edmonton 10; Florida 10; Colorado/NJ 9; Carolina 9; Boston 8 (1959/60 – 1967/68); California/Cleveland 8; Washington 8; NYI 7; NYR 7; Toronto 7; Atlanta/Winnipeg 7 – and Calgary – mentioned above – an earlier 7 as well.
The worst thing a fan can do – for his/her own sanity – is to EXPECT a quick turn-around. That only makes things worse. Believe me.
above should read “some despite having won multiple cups in their history or being one of the “original six”
Ken you need to meet Cam Neeley,he s the Bruins President. I m to old to wait for the haul that you think the Bruins can get for Mcavoy,Swayman and Pasternak.
Fans are fickle B’s fans here were running Jake DeBrusk out of town and now want him back.
Changing the team isn’t the coach at this point it’s changing the decision makers, Neely and Sweeney and set a direction, culture including the draft.
Bruins need a rebuild not a retool and to be honest it was visible from the off season moves to all but fanboys.
Earlier in the season some B fan was trolling me and calling the Habs irrelevant and my honest reply was I don’t see the Bruins a rival.
The only thing (important) was a goalie tandem that platooned , winning games while covering up the weaknesses.
Once that was gone all the warts were exposed.
I am on record as saying I didn t want JDB back,but I at least did not want him to walk out the door as a UFA and get nothing in return for him. My point was aimed at Boston management.I was surprised that none of the Bruins encounter Armia the other night. It was Armia that hit Mcavoy from behind ending his season during the 4 nations tournament.
OR Dangle Insane money to Doug Armstrong
He seems to hold a MAGIC Wand
Steen is taking over GM duties soon anyways ..
@Sr
U know when I was very young , less than 10 years old , I used to write various GM’s and coaches in the NHL
My most pleasant responses came from Harry Sinden and Scotty Bowman . I still have these letters . Paul Henderson was very kind as well , as I used to attend his summer hockey camps in Sundridge , Ont
I have obtained astonishing memorabilia throughout the years as well, 1 being Hendersons game stick, as per 72 Canada Russia series ..
I won’t even get into Orr items that are precious !!!
If I could search , find Cam Neely’s email , U know I would put together a well thought out letter , and hopefully hook him into listening , or better still meeting with me ?????? or if ANYONE on here can help me , in regards to this topic , most helpful
What’s he got to lose ?!?!
Buffalo or Nashville are cooperative trading partners , I don’t think Philadelphia is?
Porter Mortone is a young Cam Neely , but won’t be available when it comes to Bostons pick
This trade is doable
Kashawn Aitcheson is a mid round pick – Easily do able
Vancouver is desperate , they will definitely be open for business !
Utah is Hungry and wants to fast track
Montreal – U could dangle Pasternak as their Guy Lafleur – , as they have back to back picks in the mid first round , but it would take more than that to obtain Pasternak – Montreal’s GM , I don’t think would over spend, as in selling the farm
It doesn’t have to be strictly through the draft , depends on a teams , prospect pool – how eager they are to part with and get their superstar in Pasternak , Swayman or MacAvoy
Maybe , I sound like a kook lol, but I am not ..:
Ken you sound like a passionate hockey fan,and a person that I admire for your thoughts!
Ken, I like Porter Mortone`s style of play and I think he will be a good Player down the road. With the 25 draft not being that deep and I`m in a position to draft Mortone, I`m not trading him to nobody. So your doable trade really isn`t that doable, unless it`s Dubas who holds that pick, then anythings possible. Dubas worst drafting GM in the NHL, he might as well trade the picks
@ Yogi
Buffalo is seeking talent that can play now !
He could very well be available with their pick
Boston certainly has the talent to go the other way and there is probably pressure from Pegula to get something done !
Trotz is Mr congeniality , he might be open to wheel and deal
Brière will keep their pick
Chicago – A confused hockey club , who knows what they are thinking ?!?!?
@Ken you`re right Buffalo is seeking NHL ready players which pretty much takes Boston out of the picture won`t it. The players Buffalo would like, Boston won`t give and the players Boston`s willing to give, Buffalo won`t want. I don`t see a match between them unless Boston`s willing to move McAvoy, Pasternak or Swayman and I don`t see that happening
@yogi
This is what this debate is all about
Those exact 3 players
A retool in Boston is not going to cut it
Boston does not have enough of a foundation to retool , all of a sudden with a couple of tweaks here and there to be contenders
Bostons present talent pool is weak as well .
Whether Bostons powers to be choose to retool or rebuild in a major haul fashion is yet to be determined !
Looks like St. Louis was able to pull it off , time will tell..
Ken, the Blues – much like Washington – did it because they too had a solid core from the team that just missed catching Vegas for the last WC slot by 6 points last season. Adding those two from Edmonton, along with a couple of other internal tweaks, has made the difference there. I agree, Boston is not even close to a starting point like that.
Yes George
Much Appreciated !