NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2025
Check out the latest on the Leafs and the Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE LEAFS?
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin believes the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot return with the same core next season following another disappointing playoff meltdown.
Larkin doesn’t think Auston Matthews and William Nylander are going anywhere because they’ve just commenced their long-term extension. However, forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and face uncertain futures.
TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby expects changes among the “Core Four” forwards. He doubts the Leafs will break the bank to keep Marner in Toronto. Meanwhile, Tavares will be 35 when next season starts, and his idea of a hometown discount could differ from management’s.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Hornby pointed out that winger Matthew Knies is coming off his entry-level contract, becoming a restricted free agent unless he signs an extension before July 1. The 22-year-old power forward could also receive a lucrative offer sheet from a rival club.
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle doesn’t see the Leafs retaining team president Brendan Shanahan. After 11 years at the helm, his contract is up at the end of this season.
Mirtle doesn’t expect Marner will be back, pointing out his unwillingness to negotiate a contract during this season and the club’s attempt to move him at the trade deadline. They could retain Tavares at a deep discount, but that might not make sense given he had only three even-strength points in this postseason.
Chris Johnston believes the clock is ticking on Marner’s days with the Leafs. He could become the highest-profile player in this summer’s UFA market. Shouldering a disproportionate share of the blame for the Leafs’ playoff failures could make free agency more alluring to him.
Jonas Siegel sees this as the end of the “Shanaplan” and the “Core Four” era in Toronto.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve expected changes from Toronto since they blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to the underdog Montreal Canadiens in 2021. This time, however, it feels like significant change is finally coming. They have to. The patience of Leafs Nation is finally tapped out.
Shanahan, Marner and Tavares are on expiring contracts. It’s time for a change in oversight, and it’s time for a shakeup among their core players.
Letting Marner and Tavares walk enables the Leafs to put the dollars they would’ve invested in those two into players who might better suit their needs.
They have a projected cap space of $26.8 million with 16 active roster players (including Matthews, Nylander, and Morgan Rielly) under contract for next season.
That’s enough to make a significant addition or two via trade or free agency and have enough to re-sign Knies to a long-term deal.
THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS
SPORTSNET: Alex Adams was asked about possible offseason targets for the Ottawa Senators.
He thinks pending UFA winger Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets would be a perfect fit alongside Tim Stutzle. Adding a right-shot defenseman like Florida’s Aaron Ekblad or Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames would be nice, but Adams wondered if they could make a move for a Nick Jensen-type player like Michael Kesselring of the Utah Mammoth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have $17.5 million available with 14 active roster players under contract, with UFA-eligible forward Claude Giroux and pending RFAs Fabian Zetterlund and Tyler Kleven to re-sign. They’ll also need a backup for Linus Ullmark if Anton Forsberg departs via free agency.
Assuming those players are affordable re-signings, the Senators won’t have much wiggle room to pursue guys like Ehlers and Ekblad. Andersson has a year left on his contract but could sign an extension with the Flames this summer. If he becomes available, the Flames will set a high asking price. Kesselring is also under contract for another year. Utah has no reason to move him.
THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie was asked if the Senators might go the offer-sheet route this summer.
McKenzie is keeping his expectations low, pointing out the Senators are keeping their 2025 first-round pick, meaning they’ll forfeit their 2026 pick because of the Evgenii Dadonov trade debacle three years ago. He also pointed out they don’t have their 2026 second-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators only have the necessary offer-sheet compensations for deals worth an average annual value of between $1.544 million and $2.34 million. That will cost a 2026 third-rounder. Anything under $1.544 million has no compensation penalty.
Lyle, re your (The Senators) also need a backup for Linus Ullmark if Anton Forsberg departs via free agency.”
Forsberg and his $2,750,000 cap hit are as good as gone. A good chunk of that cap hit will now go to the new back-up Leevi Merilainen, an RFA coming off an expiring $820,000 ELC.
Just maybe the Senators would like Korpisalo back …a draft pick would be fine
Why? Merilainen has earned the promotion.
I’d take a game worn Colin Greening sweater for Korpi right now.
Heck, throw in a Cunnyworth Sweater and we’ll send Over Ian Mitchell as well.
why not ?
Korpisalo Would be the 2nd or 3rd best goalie on the Senators
Merilainen will be 10 times more consistent than Korpisalo.
Bruins sign Simon Zajicik a good young goalie already have couple of good prospects in net something is up for sure.
Obe, what happens with Bussi and Dipietro. Both AHL all stars in separate years.
Both played in Providence but this young goalie looks better than both.
Maple Leafs – sounds like Mitch Marner wants more than William Nylander’s 11.5 million per season? Does this make sense pay Marner more money per season who doesn’t score nearly as many goals as Nylander’s goal totals, and in the playoffs Marner’s lack of scoring compared to Nylander’s playoff production?
Mitch Marners price will be around $14 million per and at 28 years old it probably be for at least 6 years ….
Wonder if the Leafs would do a sign and trade with Marner, which would give the Leafs an asset and Mitch an 8 yr contract rather than a 7 yr contract.
Example: from Montreal, Calgary’s 1st for Mitch to be signed to a $13M x 8 contract. Marner agrees to $13M instead of $14M because of the extra year!
A lot of people wondered which version of the Leafs would show up for game 7, game 5 Leafs or game 6 Leafs. It didn`t take long to find out, Matthews lost the opening faceoff and it was all downhill from there. First bad give away took 9 seconds, Marner tries kicking the puck to Matthews, OOOPS, bad play Mitchie. Now you have 18 other players watching what`s supposed to be your 2 best players fold on their first shift and if you don`t think that had an effect on them, you don`t know hockey. The Leafs were lucky Woll kept them in the game for as long as he could. To make matters worse, Matthews and Marner`s post game comments, where the so called captain threw his team mates under the bus, trying to cover up for his no show. Then Marner repeats Matthews comments. Marner`s a goner, but after Matthews throwing team mates under the bus to cover for his piss poor showing, leads me to believe his days are numbered too. Says they`re a tight knit group, then a few seconds later stabs them in the back, Some captain, eh. He did defend his co no show Marner of course. I feel bad for any teams fans that signs Marner and it probably won`t take much to get Matthews to waive his NMC. Oh where, Oh where is Arizona when you need them. Marner and Matthews 2 talented players with absolutely no heart
Yogi, your observation on Matthews and Marner tossing their teammates under the bus is underscored in Dave Feschuk’s Toronto Star columns where he writes
“On Sunday the Leafs captain blamed Toronto’s loss on “too many passengers.” Linemate Mitch Marner concurred.
Neither player pointed a finger where they ought to have: At themselves. Matthews scored the winning goal in an impressive Game 6, sure. For all that, that’s his only goal in 12 career second-round playoff games and Matthews has never scored a goal in a winner-take-all contest. Neither has Marner. Neither came close to tilting Sunday’s one-sided tide.”
There must be no mirrors where they live.
The sad part is George, there`s still a ton of people who`ll give both Matthews and Marner the benefit of the doubt. Matthews and Marner while sitting at the back of the bus, with their feet up, complaining there`s too many passengers, priceless. Giving Matthews the “C” was a desperate attempt by management to get Matthews more involved/motivated. Not only was it a mistake, but now Matthews has shown he`s not only a bad captain, he`s not even a team player. By now he`s lost every other players respect, except maybe his brother Marner, To throw your team mates under the bus like that, usually gets you a oneway ticket out of town. Whether Tavares returns or not it would be almost impossible to give him back the “C”. I can`t see Matthews keeping the “C”, he doesn`t deserve it, never did. Maybe give it to Tanev and hope Matthews keeps his mouth shut until he`s gone
Mathews is the best player to play for the maple leafs in my lifetime. You are harshin hard on the guy.
Gotta love the Leafs nation… If/ when Marner signs with ANY other team (other than Edmonton or Colorado) he instantly becomes that teams best player.
That said, now that the season is over for TML, can they trade Marner’s rights? Or does that get covered in his No Movement clause until July 1st. I’m guessing he would still have to give permission for that.
A perpetual no show maybe the teams highest scorer, but that doesn`t make him the teams best player. Usually the teams best player, plays with heart and passion, something Marner knows or wants nothing to do with
Disagree I definitely don’t take Marner over Pasta not close
Mikko over Marner no brainer
Barkov and Tkatchuk over Marner for sure
Kaprizov over Marner all day everyday
Kucherov and Point over Marner
Eichel over Marner Kyle Connor over Marner and many more got tired of one finger typing
Have to agree
Not sure about that. I would put Pasta and krill and kucherov
above him and that is without even doing any type of run down Add the tachuk brothers to the list as well
As if it wasn’t already obvious, another blown playoff proves that spending roughly half of your cap space on four forwards is not a good idea. Shanahan should pay the price for sticking to such a stupid idea. With just a slightly better blueline and defense from their forwards, Toronto could have been a threat to go all the way.
Maybe Edmonton will finally break the Canadian hoodoo.
You`re wrong Paul, paying players who deserve it and earn it, isn`t the problem. Over paying players was Toronto`s problem. Dubas handed out huge contracts to players who didn`t earn them and then handed an over payment to Tavares, who, at the time didn`t fill any of Toronto`s needs. If you could sign McKinnon McDavid and Draisaitl for the same money, would you. There isn`t a GM in the NHL who wouldn`t.
Tavares has proved he was a great signing. What the failure was was not trading Marner the next day for defensive help and or goalie help.
Well if Ottawa brought Ekblad in. I’d think that would mean moving Chabot out. Too much money tied up a few D Men. Then they can find cheaper button four to improve. If Chabot stays insee no reason to bring in another high priced D.
As far as forwards go. Zetterlund is pretty cheap and should stay that way. Giroux should come in making less or I’d hesitate ob bringing him back. Guy isn’t getting younger.
Forsberg money should be moved out and replaced with a cheaper Merrelainen. Not much cheaper though.
Ehlers be great to add as I have thought for awhile Ottawa is open forward short of a solid top 6. Zetterlund hasn’t done the Job and Giroux should be lowered in the lien up and. Used as a specialist on the special teams.
Doesn’t seem like Ottawa has much wiggle room under the COA to add big names. Though perhaps it isn’t big names needed.
Brad Marchand from Florida perhaps. To play with Brady that be hilarious. Is he under contract past this year.
I am soooo happy the laffs lost again last night. Paul missed the net can please shut up now and get a new tie. Pj boy should have worn different pj’s as a kid.1967 forever. At least they have the Blue Jays. Oh, wait sorry they are not going anywhere with a 300 pound first baseman.Sorry leaf nation your team is the most overrated team in sports.
Geeze, Pete. Get off of them. All the damage is already done.
Yeah, that sort of crap is unwarranted.
Every year dozens of players leave their teams via free agency. Most are just average players, but a few stars do it. Fans get pissed when the stars do it and you really can`t blame them for it. Almost all the fans will boo the play the next time they come to town then move on from it. But it seems Islander fans are determined to show the rest of the world how classless they are. 7 years and they still act like spoil little brats that think and want everything to be their way. Like they own the players and they have no rights. To Pete and a couple of other Islander fans grow up, get a life. If anything you can have Marner
I think the best bet for the Sens is to stand pat and let the year end roster and continue before shuffling anything.
The culture seems good with a nice mix of young guys who are growing and veterans who contribute.
Second half transactions were positive and need a full season to evaluate.
Cozens is the question mark in my eyes as his play could define the success of the team.
The Dhas 2 studs and decent fillers with a stud joining the team next year Yakemchuk.
Ekblad is a definite pass, a big guy with a big contract, a big temper and 0 foot speed, exposed as a pylon when playing teams with pace, constantly being bailed out by Forsling.
Next year the team will establish itself as a contender and see if tweaks are needed within a firm culture.
I agree with you habs fan. I was saying the same thing the other day. However, gaudette will be an interesting decision. He played very well on a cheap contract. Not sure after kleven, Zetterlund, and Giroux if there will be much money left, but I’d like to see him and Cousins back if the money allows. I’m hoping G would take a bit of a discount to help retain Gaudette. I think too, Hamonic will not be retained, so there will be some depth issues on D, but Yakemchuck might be up and down to potentially fill that injury void.
Marner could be Phil Kessel 2.0
If he signs with a contender in a city where hockey is not the number 1 sport –> us team 😉
And to blame him alone is a bit too much.
Nylander, Matthews and Tavares also didn’t score a lot against the Panthers.
No Marner to Buffalo. Sabres already have a top 10 offense. They need at least two defenseman to keep the puck out of the net.
Are you kidding, Marner`s a perfect fit for Buffalo. A high scoring team that Marner can pad his stats with and never having to worry about having to show up for a playoff game and it`s soooooo close to home. Match made in heaven
He could, but they need defense before more offense. Sabres can score goals they can’t keep them out of their net. Byram’s status uncertain.
Matthews, 104 Goals in his last 148 Regular Season Games……..4 Goals in his last 18 Playoff Games…..Toronto Fans point the finger at Marner…..oh Boy….
Exactly! Thinking that AM going would be the best result for the Leafs as I postulated in the previous Morning Coffee thread. He would get 4-5 assets back!!
When the going gets tough …
Marner is not and nor can he be physical . Mathews is more capable when he chooses. Seen some battling from him but he is paid to score which he has done on a limited basis post season
Maybe a Tkachuk situation on the horizon in Toronto . A lot of teams would love to fall short in the playoffs~16
I feel bad for leafs fans at this point. Growing up watching Shanahan, Fedorov, Yzerman, Lidstrom, etc in Detroit…this Leafs team should be a dynasty. They have all the pieces except their captain is a tin-man (no heart), Marner is a Lion with no courage, Morgan is a scarecrow who goes brain dead defensively in the playoffs & Tavares is an aging wizard and we all see the smoke and mirrors at this point. Nylander is the only one willing to follow the yellow brick road.
This season they actually had the role players, the goaltending, and the depth at D to make a deep run…but the main cast have deeply rooted bad habits dating back to O’Keefe’s tenure. No backbone. Brittle when it matters. If there’s any optimism, it’s that maybe another season under Berube to break those habits may be the solution because they definitely improved this year. The core 4 have been entrenched in those bad habits for too long to break them in a single season.
If some version of this team doesn’t win a cup & they have to go back into rebuild mode, this team may go down as a Buffalo Bills level failure in NHL history.
Matthew’s is a good friend of Clayton Keller. The Leafs should trade Matthew’s for Barret Hayton. Lawson Crouse and Michael Kesselring. Add some first round picks a couple second round picks back. Throw in Morgan Rielly for a bag full of puck and leafs will be better
So, because Keller and Matthews are good friends, the Utah GM should trade away three of his best young players whose combined cap hits totals a cap-friendly $8,350,000 for a player the Leafs ostensibly want to peddle because he fails when it really counts and who costs $13,250,000 off the cap for several more seasons, an exchange of picks, and Morgan Rielly, who costs $7,500,000 off the cap.
Why in all logic, would Utah do that?
If AM wants to go to Utah, that is the question. If he will waive to Utah, Hayden and #4 OA in the draft, and one of their 2nds in 2026 might be about all that is required. AM has 3 years left on his contract. And who knows, maybe Mitchey goes there in FA and Austin follows him!!
So. When are leafs fans gonna actually stand up and do something about this streak? I mean literally stand up. Lots of vitriol on boards today but look in the mirror. There is no motivation for ownership to build a winner until the fans show them empty seats. A truly passionate fan base would have sent a message by now by staying home. That’s what true fans do. Give us a product worth cheering for at least once or twice in a decade and we will pay up. The leafs continued failures are in large part due to the fans.
As a Leaf hater, I’m envious of the team they’ve had. Marner and Mathews are world class top ten in the NHL talents. Saying different just shows you don’t know the game. I think the issue is that there are two seasons in hockey. And they’re played vastly different. Regular season—“drive for show”…….post season….”put for dough”.
Watching the Sens play the Leafs live..it was Tavares, Patches, Domi…Knies that were the hungry driving forces pushing play. Like that Domi line would come on the ice and all the Leaf fans would lean forward in their chairs knowing something would happen. That’s a human instinctual reaction. When the Mathews line was on…I wasn’t even worried. Again. World class goal scorer – Ovechkin level…or more. But… Like the one Cup Ovechkin earned, he completely changed his style of play that year in the playoffs. Backchecked, forechecked, didn’t take silly risks to create low level percentage plays. And BAM…the stars aligned and he got his ring. in what…8 years?…the dynamic duo of Marner and Mathews have not figured that out. Heck Toronto even brought in a coach who could show it to them. And you’d see glimpses but teams that know (Florida) are relentless.
Nobody will be silly enough for a sign and trade. Marner will be a Hawk. And I think he’s the only one that goes.
Not a rumor, just want to say that Macklin Celebrini is a heck of a hockey player.
Plenty of noise in Buffalo that the Sabres should sign Marner. Gotta get rid of someone first.