NHL Rumor Mill – May 12, 2025
Check out the most recent Canadiens and Oilers speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Pat Hickey looked at ways the Canadiens can address their need for a second-line center during the offseason.
He suggested finding a 30-something center who can hold the fort for a few years until promising players like Owen, Beck, Michael Hage or Jared Davidson are ready for prime time. That list included pending unrestricted free agents like Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche, Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, or John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All three would be ideal, and all three aren’t likely to suit up for the Canadiens next summer. They’ll be expensive and likely prefer signing with Cup contenders at this stage of their long careers.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (NHL Images).
Hickey suggested Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers as an ideal option if Canadiens management isn’t sold on those young centers as long-term solutions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers will probably re-sign Bennett, who’ll be more affordable to retain than Sam Reinhart was last summer. He would be the perfect choice to center the Canadiens’ second line, but they’ll face stiff competition from other clubs for his services.
If the Canadiens wish to go the offer-sheet route, Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks would be a suitable target. The 22-year-old center has good size, wins faceoffs, and might relish an opportunity to escape a losing team in Anaheim.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hickey’s not the only pundit or blogger to muse about McTavish’s availability. I recall one speculating that he could become expendable if the Ducks decide to move Cutter Gauthier to center their second line. That’s probably wishful thinking, but he would be worth pursuing if available.
Like Bennett, McTavish would draw interest from a lot of teams. The Ducks also have the cap space to match any offer, so a trade might be the only way to get him.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins generally agrees with the criticism of the defensive play of Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard. The 25-year-old reargaurd will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.
However, Leavins also pointed out that Bouchard has proven he’s a big enough player with a long enough reach to defend capably in the playoffs. He’s also an elite point getter and they don’t grow on trees.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks scoff when I’ve suggested Bouchard could get over $10 million annually on a long-term deal from the Oilers. His timely offense, especially in the playoffs, ensures he’ll get a substantial raise on his next contract.
Bouchard’s an invaluable part of the Oilers’ core. They’ll be fortunate if his camp accepts less than $10 million annually.
Leavins also weighed in on Oilers fans who howled for the club to acquire a true starting goaltender at the trade deadline. He believes the offseason was always going to be the better time to find one of those.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The pickings were slim for goalies before the trade deadline and they’re not much better this summer. Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils is the best of the bunch in the UFA market, followed by Anton Forsberg of the Ottawa Senators, Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames and David Rittich of the Los Angeles Kings. They’re solid backups, but none of them are reliable starters.
I don’t see the Ducks trading McTavish. But if they do put him on the block, the Habs should definitely pursue him.
We can add Granlund to possible UFA candidates. Maybe Giroux as well. I don’t see Tavares leaving Toronto but the others mentioned are reasonable possibilities and it’s far from impossible that one of them signs with the Habs. The fact that the Habs made the playoffs and are seen as an up and coming team and people have confidence in their current management team, unlike the previous one, works in the Habs favor
Obviously every UFA wants to sign with a Cup contender. But contenders are normally contenders because they have a strong lineup and don’t necessarily need to go UFA shopping. And the Habs are in a position where they may just be contenders by the end of one of the UFA contracts.
Granlund won’t be back with Dallas, they can’t afford to resign him. Not with Benn and Duchesne being UFA’s and Johnston being a RFA….Neither will Cece, or Dadinov… plus Harley and Marchmant are UFA’s next year and will expect more money. I’d be shocked if they don’t buy Dumba out to save some money next year.
Why would McTavish want to leave LA… great place to live, new coach that has won 3 stanley Cups, and The Ducks are poised to be where Montreal was this year.
Stars fan it’s not completely up to him. He’s an RFA without arbitration rights. He does not have no trade protection. In short, he has very little leverage.
If the Ducks want to keep him, as they likely will, they’ll reach a deal to keep him in Anaheim. If they decide it’s better to trade him, he can do nothing about it. Except maybe sign an offer sheet with a third team which the acquiring team would match in a minute.
The Avs were a contender this year. What did that get them ?
With Rantanen and some others locked up Duchene will have to move on. Habs as original 6 is as good a spot as any .
Not sure if Duchene will move on S7. What do you think Stars fan?
He can still produce, he has 82 pts this year which is great and he could always wheel, so likely still skates good enough for C.
Dallas seems like a great place to play, and players want to stay. Duchene has made over $100M in his career, so the money is probably secondary. But everything is relative, how secondary is it?
Both Duchene and Benn have said they like it in Dallas, so it’s doable, but both would need to take big discounts, especially Duchene. Would he take what he made this year and last $3M? He is still getting $6M from Nashville next year.
Edmonton may be a goaltender away from a championship and that’s a shame.
I think Stu steps up tonight Jeff, he’s done it in the past. He wasn’t great last game, but neither were the Oil.
The Oil aren’t built to rely on tending or they would have spent their money there. So, time for the skaters to step up, and along with OK tending, they should be fine.
IMO no team has a higher ceiling than the Oil when they are firing on all cylinders. They are dominant. And when they get out of their defensive structure none of the remaining playoff teams has a lower floor. Plenty of WTF just happened moments. It’s strange.
Last game the puck was in Vegas end with 12 seconds left, that look for the goal never should have been that good. Get it to OT boys.
Stuuuuuuu!
I’ll give the Oilers one thing they are able to outlast opponents. Vs LA they tired the Kings out and dominated late in games allowing for the comebacks to occur.
Any news on Stone. I think the Oilers should beat Vegas but goaltending be an issue if they meet up against Florida or Dallas.
Last I heard Stone was a game time decision Jeff.
I haven’t given up on the Jets vs Stars, but the Stars are playing great, and Helley just doesn’t seem like regular season Helley, again. So not looking great.
Skinner’s best playoff moment was his 2-1 victory to punt Dallas from the playoffs last year in the WCF. Dallas outshot Edmonton 34-10 and Stu stood on his head to steal the game. He had to take a break after struggling last year too, and game back strong.
I wouldn’t bet my house he does it again this year, but he has shown that he can.
That’s why they play the games I guess.
And a lot of teams are a Mcdavid or a Draistalfrom a championship and that s a shame!
With all due respect to Hickey, only Hage has the potential to slot in 2C for the Habs and they are several years away from that. That is why this is such a hot topic for Canadiens fans and pundits. Do they go with a temporary plug and hope Hage steps in or do they seek a younger player who can hold the fort for longer. Hugo has assets for trade or offer sheet. I think he will be aggressive – and he’s shown to take risks – but I think the Habs are trying to temper expectations. If the Stars win the cup then I wouldn’t rule-out Duchene, but otherwise I agree that is unlikely. Most of the UFAs have been seen as too expensive or not interested. Hugo will keep us guessing and will likely surprise us.
If the Islanders decide to go in the direction of a rebuild when new management comes in, why not make a trade for Horvat? Would a first, a second, and a prospect (Kappanen or Beck or Davidson or Engstrom or other?!?) do the trick? I like the idea that the Habs have the assests to send an offer sheet for a player like McTavish.
I agree that Hage is the only player in the system now who projects as a possible #2 center. And he’s at least two years away from his NHL debut.
Is prefer a trade but going the UFA route may work as well. Once again Rossi might be an option. I also think that the Isles should do a more extensive retool and trade some veterans like Horvat. I’d offer Dach, a first and a prospect other than Demidov, Fowler or Hage. Maybe Mailloux or even Reinbacher.
Would love to get either McTavish or Gauthier to NYR. Lafreniere needs a fresh start somewhere, why not Anaheim.
I don’t think Skinner is going anywhere. People bemoan that he isn’t a top 5 goalie, but at 2.6m he is a very good 1a/1b, which is what the Oilers are structured around. The question for next year is that both he and Pickard are in the final year of their contracts. Do they keep both, as Pickard is excellent value at 1M per, or do they look for a more promising tender who is youngewr to spit time with Skinner until one or the other seizes the starter’s minutes? It will depend on what Pickard’s and Skinner’s camps are seeking for a new contract, and what is available in FA or trade if that becomes an issue…
They could probably trade either guy Tim and find takers for a OK return. Not much available in the UFA market. So they have options.
I like Vladar as a guy worth a flyer to have 1A/1B upside. The right age, and athletic. Stu is 26 and Vladar is 27, both relatively young for tenders and just entering their primes.
But Pickard has been steady and done his job. 22-10 in regular season and 6-0 in the playoffs. Although in the regular season he got the weaker competition.
HF30, Eric Engels has on Sportsnet given high praise to your guy Davidson as a dark horse to make the team next year.
I’ve seen that kid a few times on RDS when they cover Laval games – at least one against Belleville – and let’s just say … he stands out from the crowd.
He’s a prototypical Western kid, leads by example, punches above his weight class, has skill but it’s his motor and grit that separates him.
If Joshua Roy had Davidson’s drive he’d be in the NHL.
Mactavish is going no where. He will resign with Dux with 8 year for about 7 mil.