NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2025
How likely is it that Evan Bouchard and Matthew Knies get offer sheets? Who are three possible offer-sheet targets for the Devils? What’s the latest Flyers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DON’T EXPECT OFFER SHEETS FOR BOUCHARD AND KNIES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau explains why few high-end restricted free agents, like Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard and Toronto’s Matthew Knies, receive offer sheets.
Those players are crucial to their team’s future, and opposing teams don’t often have the combinations of salary-cap space and compensatory draft picks.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).
Proteau points out that a team would have to surrender two first-round picks, a second-rounder, and a third-rounder if they successfully sign Bouchard or Knies to an offer sheet with an average annual value between $9.36 million and $11.7 million.
Teams offering either player a deal between $7 million and $9.36 million annually would have to pony up a first-round pick, a second-rounder, and a third-rounder.
Proteau contrasted those with what it cost the St. Louis Blues to sign away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Oilers last August. The Blues gave up a second-rounder as compensation for Broberg and a third-rounder for Holloway.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues wouldn’t have gotten Broberg or Holloway if they’d offered a second or a third-rounder in a trade pitch. It was an affordable move by St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong to sign up two promising young players with bright futures with their new club.
Those are the type of offer-sheet signings we’re more likely to see. Teams will zero in on cap-strapped clubs with promising talent that they can sign to cost-effective contracts without giving up much in compensation.
We can’t fully dismiss the possibility of Bouchard or Knies signing an offer sheet. It’s just hard to see which team would have the necessary cap space and the appropriate number of their own draft picks to make it happen.
THREE PROPOSED OFFER-SHEET TARGETS FOR THE DEVILS
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols proposed three bold offer-sheet targets for the Devils if they want to build up their roster aggressively this summer.
Nichols suggests forward JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres, Wild and Ducks all possess sufficient cap space to match any offer sheet for those players.
Doing so could still create a salary-cap headache for the Sabres and Wild, but they could work around it with a cost-cutting trade.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have over $38 million in projected cap space. Even if they don’t spend to the cap, they have plenty to match an offer for McTavish and still have enough to re-sign or add key players.
LATEST ON THE FLYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Earlier this week, Kevin Kurz was asked which player he thinks the Flyers might pursue if they were offered up their first-round pick (sixth overall) in this year’s draft. He rules out Anaheim’s Mason McTavish as he’s crucial for the Ducks’ playoff hopes next season. Kurz suggested Seattle’s Matty Beniers, Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston, or San Jose’s Will Smith.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They would all be worthwhile targets if the Flyers were willing to dangle their first-rounder. However, it’s unlikely any of them would be available.
Kurz was also asked which Flyers winger might become trade bait if management goes shopping for a center this summer. He suggested Bobby Brink, whose stock should be rising after his 41-point performance this season.
i would say to watch the Ducks this offseason, starting at the draft. They stated their intention to make the playoffs next season after hiring Quenneville. Don’t see MacTavish leaving but Zegras will probably be traded, and they can have an impact July 1st. Wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of them acquiring Marner, Bouchard or Kneis
Edm messed up by signing Arvidsson and Skinner FIRST and then low balling Broberg and Holloway . By the way both those signings are eating popcorn in the stands during the playoffs .
S7, yep.
Arvidsson has played in the playoffs and contributed though.
What would you offer a RFA d-man who in three seasons only had 81 regular season games played with 13 points and 20 playoff games played with 3 points? Surely you wouldn’t offer $3 million, let alone $4.5 million?
In the end it worked out for St. Louis but it could have very easily been a huge mistake.
I still blame Jeff Jackson for that because he wanted his 15 minutes of glory so people can say that he won the free agency signing. I’m also guessing that he knew he screwed up and that’s why he didn’t want the GM job after.
If it wasn’t for Stan Bowman and his waiver wire pickup of Kaspanen, great trade for Podkolzin & Walman, and free agent signing of Klingberg, I don’t think Edmonton would have made the playoffs this year.
A Bouchard for Parayko ++ would sure help toward the new McDavid deal…….
It was reported that Colton would only waive to go to Edmonton.
Z
I’m not sure what the ++ you’re thinking that the Blues would add to add with Parayko, but I think we could make a deal—Alexandrov, Kessel, Texier, Peterson ???
IP
If Florida re-signs Bennet, someone is going to swipe Samoskevich with an offer sheet. He’s do a nice bump and Florida will be hard pressed to match.
Same for Cuylle on the Rangers. If they resign all their free agents for modest increases, they would be way over the cap. They have to cut cost somewhere. As a Ranger fan, I’m hoping the trade/buy-out Kreider and use that savings to keep all their key RFAs (Cuylle, Rempe, K.Miller)
I’ve wondered if MTL is in the trade market to lure away Alexis Lafreniere from NYR. Maybe 16th ova and Struble for the former 2020 1st ova.
I think Drury might consider moving him if the offer is right. But I wonder if Sullivan might want a chance to coach him up.
Can’t wait for the draft and free agency to begin!
I don’t see NYR going for it but Habs should grab it,
HabFan I see it the other way. The Rangers are tired of waiting for him to break out and would like to move his contract. The Habs would prefer to use their assets on a center.
My Ranger fan friends call him LaFailure!
Boston would probably be interested in Kreider,home town kid on a buyout or the Rangers eating some of his contract.
Penguins possess sufficient cap space over 20 million and draft capital for 2026 with Rangers pick seven picks in top three rounds make offer for restricted free agents.
That $20M number is a bit misleading as that excludes 9 RFAs/UFAs not yet factored into the 2025/26 estimate. They would need to resign or replace each of them. Even if they were all replaced with similar $1M players, that would eat up $10M of the available cap space they have left to play with.
Thats why estimates for next year are tricky. CapFriendly shows the Rangers being under the cap, but once they sign/replace all their FAs/UFAs they will likely be OVER by $6M+.
Penguins only have one notable UFA or RA, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk not sure Penguins want to resign him? Essentially every other player is signed next season, and their cap space closer to 25 million. Also, rumor Penguins may trade Erik Karlsson free up portion of his salary for additional cap space? Other moves possible too?
I’m not implying that they would specifically re-sign all 9 of those UFAs/RFAs, but they still need to fill those 9 roster spots with 9 replacements of some kind. Those 9 rosters spots will at minimum be $9M (and a lot more if anyone they sign is actually good).
Cap websites vary with roosters, on average 2025/2026 season Penguins rooster consists around 20 signed players already close to full rooster. Their 9 UFAs or RAs aren’t necessary fill rooster.
LA has a new GMS and VP. What are some of the moves/signings he is going to prioritize? Any talk of re-upping Gavrikov, Jeannot, Rittich, Lewis?
He should re-sign Gavrikov, let the others walk
Surprise no mention of nylander or Matthews being on the move. Leafs are so close to a rebuild and combined with not being a Stanley cup contender I would maximize their values and move one of them. Matthews to LA for byfield and Clarke. I would actually keep nylander as he can drive a line. Add Ecblad, Bennett and bring back taveres on a friendly team deal.
why would L,A, do that? If Matthews is a constant no-show in the playoffs for Toronto – at a huge cap hit – why would going to L.A. necessarily turns things around? And to give up Byfield and Clarke for a “hope” is not something I can see Holland doing.
I think it’s not about individual talent. I think the issue with the leafs are all 4 are the same. I think they will thrive with a different group around them. Doughty and Kopitar will set the tone.
OK, but you have to agree … right now that’s pure theory based on a feeling … and any GM who allows himself to be guided by that will be looking for a new job fast if the theory falls flat. The fact is, Matthews does not produce in playoff hockey. The numbers bear that out vividly. No theory there. And if the Leafs did decide to try and move him out, that would be the basic reason for doing so. And that would temper the return considerably.
Jeff, Bennett has already said the 7 Canadian teams are not on his radar.
It will come down to money. I think for the right price he would come to Toronto.
I think Vancouver should offer sheet Zetterlund in Ottawa, +20 goals +40 points, is worth +4m in todays world and he plays hard and is only 25 and getting better. A 2nd rounder is worth the gamble. Ottawa has 17m but only 14 signed players and Giroux to sign.
I feel Utah is going to be a big player in the market both UFA and RFA this off-season.