NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2025
Mitch Marner to the Golden Knights? Jonathan Marchessault to the Canadiens or Golden Knights? Rangers shopping K’Andre Miller? Find the answers to these questions, plus the latest on Marco Rossi and Brock Nelson, in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TORONTO STAR: Gord Stellick believes the Vegas Golden Knights will aggressively pursue Mitch Marner if the Maple Leafs’ winger becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Stellick believes the Golden Knights weren’t pleased with their second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers. They could shed some of their aging players and add some younger talent. They have a history of acquiring big-name talent via trades and free agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have a projected salary-cap space of $9.6 million with 18 active roster players under contract next season. It could cost an average annual value between $13 million and $14 million to sign Marner. They’ll have to make a couple of significant cost-cutting trades to free up enough cap room for Marner and to fill out the rest of the roster.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli saying Jonathan Marchessault is open to a trade. The 34-year-old former Golden Knights winger signed a five-year contract ($5 million AAV) last summer with the Nashville Predators, but his production slipped as the Predators finished 28th overall this season.
Kirkell didn’t rule out a reunion, but she noted that Marchessault’s contract was a point of contention before he left Vegas. The Predators could retain part of his cap hit, but the rebuilding club wants to get younger and the Golden Knights lack suitable trade assets to help them.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited Seravalli claiming the Quebec-born Marchessault might welcome a trade to the Canadiens. The Habs were among the finalists to sign Marchessault last season, but they offered a three-year deal while the Predators offered five.
Dumont doubts the Canadiens will be willing to acquire the remaining four years of the aging Marchessault’s contract. They’re seeking elite talent with size, which Marchessault cannot help them with this year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault’s age, the remaining years on his contract, and his 15-team no-trade list are stumbling blocks in the path to a trade. The Predators could retain up to half of his salary and perhaps include a draft pick to sweeten the deal if they just want to get most of his cap hit off their books.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the New York Rangers are testing the trade market on K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.
Friedman said it’s no guarantee that Miller will be traded, but the Rangers want to see what his value will be. Mastey observed that this comes after a season in which the blueliner’s performance declined, sparking doubts about his ultimate potential.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no surprise that the Rangers are looking into Miller’s trade value. They were among the busiest teams in this season’s trade market as general manager Chris Drury attempts to retool the roster on the fly. This news confirms that Drury will continue to tinker during the offseason.
Miller could become an offer-sheet target. However, the drop in his play this season makes that an unlikely possibility. Rangers forward Will Cuylle is the more likely target, partly because of the Blueshirts’ limited cap space.
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited an NHL executive speculating that Marco Rossi might not be back with the Minnesota Wild next season. The 23-year-old center is due to become an RFA without arbitration rights on July 1.
Rossi has been the topic of trade speculation throughout this season. Murphy cited sources claiming the Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken have expressed interest in the young center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy suggests Rossi could be shopped heading into the 2025 NHL Draft weekend (June 27-28). One of his sources believes the Wild won’t want this situation to carry over into the free-agency period (beginning July 1) when they can’t dictate terms as much.
Meanwhile, Marco D’Amico cited a source claiming the New York Islanders had a deal in place that would’ve sent Brock Nelson to the Winnipeg Jets before the March trade deadline. However, the 33-year-old center declined to waive his no-trade clause.
It’s believed one of the Jets’ top prospects (Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow, or Brayden Yager) would’ve been part of the deal, along with draft picks.
The Islanders instead shipped Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche.
I think moving in from Miller would be a mistake for the Rangers. Most of their D played poorly last year. Miller is a top 4 defenseman if properly handled. Just my opinion.
I agree, the Rangers don’t have any other young talented dmen with size in their system, that matches Miller, but Drury seems to just like making moves for the sake of it (as it goes for this past year)
Especially the size factor.
As a Ranger fan, I completely disagree. Miller has size, but doesn’t use it. He may as well be 5’7”
They may as well just let Zac Jones (who has shown to be very capable) play FT. Or even Mathew Robertson who does play with physicality.
Miller is an offensive defenseman who has regressed over the last 2 years. Which makes him more of a liability than anything.
His defensive breakdowns are terribly timed and costly.
Most importantly, his QO would be 4.65 per. With their limited cap space, I’m not wasting it on a 25 yo guy that has regressed over the last 2 years and seems to have hit a wall as far as potential goes.
His trajectory is just in the wrong direction.
Vaakanainen
Soucy
Jones on the left side looks a lot better than Miller.
Miller wasn’t the only player to regress on the Rangers. Panarin had a huge drop off from last years 120 point season to just 89 this season. Plus other key players had down a down season from last year. I would even say that the whole team regressed this year from last year. It would be hard from a young player to show progress from the previous year when the whole team regress.
I agree, however Miller started dropping the prior year when NY won the presidents trophy and made the ECF’s.
Guys like Panarin, Kreider are at the age where you should expect drop off. Although, Panarin trying to follow up a career year was not likely, and Kreider was playing injured most of last year.
He just isn’t worth the QO. I truly believe he’d be a better RW than defenseman. But I wouldn’t make that gamble at 4.65 or more either way.
Today, Miller really isn’t a 5 million dollar or top 4 guy.
Regression at a young age, is usually a product of the situation the player is in. The player may be better off if moved.
I don’t completely agree with that assessment. I’d say Miller just probably need a good defensive partner to make him look good. As an Oilers fan, I’ve seen Bouchard in similar fashion. Terrible defense. Great offense. People wanted to trade him for his defensive liabilities. He looked terrible when partnered with Nurse and didn’t look like he was going to stick around much longer. Then he got partnered with Duncan Keith and Ekholm after whose defensively sound, and he looked like a great player that everyone wanted scoring a lot of points.
I’m not saying Miller will be the same mold as Bouchard because I don’t watch the Rangers as much. But, chances are, I think a good defensive partners will do wonders in what people see in him.
MikeP. LD younger than Miller.
Fortescue: 6’2 age 20. Plays at Boston College
Dorrington: 6’2 age 21. Played at Northeastern U, signed to Hartford late last season
Larsson: 6’3 age 21 plays at No Michigan.
And finally Matt Robertson age 24. 6’4 Got in a couple nhl games at end of season
Trade Miller
I think Brian is correct in Miller needing a better partner. Owen Power needs the same thing. Miller and Power are similar in that regard.
i don’t understand why the Wild want to get rid of Rossi. They don’t have any other talented playmakers in their system (Eriksson-Ek is more of a power forward 2-way center not a playmaker). Rossi had a breakout year. if the Wild are worried about cap space for Kaprizov, there are surely other players who should be let go without impacting their offense. I get it that Rossi is on the smaller side but he still is very talented
mikep, the buzz is that Guerin wants his team to become “big, heavy and difficult to play against” which, I suppose, is a valid goal when you consider the team make-up of those still in the Cup hunt. However, one can only conclude that that philosophy wasn’t yet in vogue when Guerin took the 5′ 9″ 180lb C 9th overall in 2020.
Not helping matters is the Rossi camp allegedly looking at Matt Boldy’s contract as a starting point in discussions ($7 mil per to 2030). The only problem is, Boldy is 6′ 2″ 200lbs and, in 285gp, has 102g 142a 244pts, for 82-game averages of 29g 41a 70pts, and in 18 playoff games, has added 6g 5a 11 pts. Rossi, in 185gp, has 45g 56a 101 pts, for 82-game averages of 20g 25a 45 pts, and in 6 playoff games, has 2g 1a 3pts. Guerin looks at that as worth $5 mil per and not a nickel more.
He’s also 4th in the C pecking order after Eriksson-Ek (6’3″ 210lbs), Hartman (6′ 200lbs) and Gaudreau (6 185 lbs). With that, I’m surprised he’s being offered $5 mil! That’s a big chunk for a 4th line C.
It would appear that, if some GM were to submit an offer sheet on Rossi, Guerin would take the resulting offer compensation rather than match.
Because of Gavin McKenna I don’t see any GM submitting an offer sheet above $4,680,077 which is the starting point for a 1st round draft pick in compensation.
Just as I remain unconvinced that the reported $5 mil offer for a 4th-line C is accurate, I also seriously doubt anyone else would go that high in an offer sheet.
He could still get one … but if so, likely something closer to $3.5 mil. And I’d bet Guerin would STILL take the compensation, which would be a 2nd.
Guerin does seem to want that for the Wild. Rossi would be a good fit in several places and I would love him in Pittsburgh.
Not sure what it would take our number # 11 overall first round pick and defenseman Owen Pickering who was up brielty this year and did well.. big young going to be good???
Thoughts on what it would take to get Rossi to Pittsburgh?
If, as Stellick suggests, Vegas wants to move out older players and get younger, reacquiring Marchessault would make no sense.
As for the Habs, I was quite clear last year in my belief that he was the last guy they needed. The teams situation has certainly changed since then but he’s not the guy they need even if the Preds retain salary and add a sweetener.
Dumont has it right, Howard. The Habs aren’t now going to eat a long term contract for an aging player when they weren’t willing to do so last year.
And HF30, re our ongoing chat re Rossi, note the speculation – to be fair, it seems just that – that Guerin is willing to let Rossi go because he wants a bigger team …
Note also that the Canadiens aren’t listed amongst rumoured suitors.
That said, there are many buyers and few options for legit 2Cs so who knows what the Habs might have to settle for.
If Vegas are in on MM I think Karlsson could be dealt since there are so few C available and he is either a great 3C or a good 2C if you give him some good wingers. Vancouver comes to mind unless they are on his no trade list. The contract also matches Hughes
— Oh yeah. Mitch Marner? Mitchy, Mitchy, Mitchy, Mitchy.
— We’re looking for you, pal. Your a@@ will be purple before the day is over.
— Have a nice afternoon.
So many great lines with that movie!
Rumor – Marner wants play for either Panthers or Golden Knights. Could this be because of location: State Income Tax Free? Vegas or Miami party scene? Don’t believe Panthers want Marner considering Marner is no Tkachuk – meaning soft player. Golden Knights who’s leaving sign Marner? Believe team signs Marner at 13 to 14 million per season will regret signing him.
IMO if Marner signs with a Team with no state tax, its going to be far less then the 13.5 million that it would have taken in Toronto. As a Blues fan, I remember when Vegas signed Petro for 8.8 per year. With the tax difference, St. Louis would have had to come in at over 9.3 per year to match the take home pay.
I agree I could see Mitch signing for $11.5-$12.5 to a no state tax team in a nice warm weather state, don’t blame him nice weather year round and no pressure like a Canadian market,
Stellick quotes that the Knights be pleased with their second-round elimination by the Oilers? That can’t be correct they were not pleased living here in Vegas they were livid. I said Marner as soon as they were eliminated.I suspect Theodore will be traded he was terrible on the defensive side. Karlson could also be gone.He lost a step this year.management here are heartless they will ship you out in the blink of an eye.Ask Fleury.
Pete – Theodore costs $7,425,000 off the cap for 4 more years and has a full no trade clause. If the reason for dealing him is because he has been “terrible on the defensive side” how many teams do you see lining up to relinquish assets to get him – assuming he’d even waive to go elsewhere?
Karlson, who has a modified no trade clause, costs $5.9 mil off the cap for 2 more years Again, if he’s “lost a step” do you think other teams are not aware of this?
With so many teams already near the cap limit, most with key RFAs to re-up. never mind their own UFAs they’d like to keep, the limitations imposed by their no trade clauses and, as you state, declining performances, I think Vegas can forget about Marner and his likely $13-14 mil cost.
There is zero interest in Marchessault in Montreal, that ship sailed years ago.
Quebecers who chose not to play for the Habs when they were in their prime can play elsewhere.
LJ will be happy that latest rumor on Rossi is that Hughes hasn’t shown interest in the player.
Ryan McLeod over in Buffalo is RFA , 6’3 190 just might be an outside the box pick-up as a 2C. He’s turning 26 and appears to be hitting his prime.
Edmonton fans would know
McLeod is a 3C who may be able to move in to a 2C temporarily when injuries happen, but not permanently. The guy does have speed that kills.
I wasn’t happy when he traded.
I take back my interest in Ryan McLeod as a 2c for the Habs.
His numbers are good, but he has a 20% shooting this year and that isn’t sustainable.
Thanks Kevjam
I am taking your counsel HF30, and remain happy that the rumours did not include the Habs.
🙂
McLeod isn’t leaving Buffalo. They gave up Savoie to get him so he won’t be going anywhere.
I love the fact that the Golden Knights are interested in signing Marner. In order to do it they will have to not only trade a couple of their aging top 6 forwards and/or top 3 d-men, but to fill out the rest of their lineup they will need to gut their depth. They will be next seasons Predators. LOL
I’m a Marner fan, and I believe that the Leafs focus on Marner being the weak link in their top 6 is a huge mistake. Yeah, his yelling at the team in game 7 may have been a mistake, but doing nothing like Matthews was was even a bigger mistake.
I think the team that Marner should sign with is the Kings. They have everything in place right now to be a contending team, plus the cap space to sign him.
Philly signed Foerster to 2 years. 3.75 M per
Good comp for a Cuylle deal.
I agree, Marner would fit well with the Kings. He could be the big gun there but have plenty of support both at the top and in terms of depth.
Out of left field with todays rumors…
but is there a move where the Islanders could acquire another top 4 pick to grab local kid Hagens after taking Schaefer 1st?
I would say an unprotected 1st round pick in the 2026 draft may do it. But then the Islanders are out on the change to get Gavin McKenna.
You cant win lottery two years in a row now yeah?
Yes you can. A team just can’t win the lottery more than twice in a 5 year span.
I still think Islanders are going to grab a center with the first pick and leave Schaefer for the Sharks.
Wish Ottawa would try and acquire someone like Marchessault
That sound you heard was George coughing up his lunch.
Marco Rossi … RFA Center
Listed at 5’9”.. 192lbs hockey player .. something seems off here
Could the Bruins trade 1st rd pick #7 for a ready or almost ready prospect center or a young center that’s playing now in the NHL
Yup! Joe Veleno, now with Chicago! 😁
Joe what are they going to do with Lindholm,Zacha,Poitras,Minten,Middlestadt,Beecher.Kastellac,just to name a few?
Beecher probably isn’t coming back.there are rumors they might trade Zacha & Middlestadt.. don’t believe Beecher is going to be asked back .. Lindholm & Minten aren’t going anywhere… Kastellac is hurt often
Lots of bodies- only fair talent
Where are these rumors Beecher isn’t gonna be around next year from? Never seen one and no way Zacha is moved at all
As a Blues fan, I always look forward to off seasons or when Toronto makes a deal!
Steen, Gunner, and Bozak, all cast offs from TML’s won a Cup in St. Louis. 4 of the Blues top 15 prospects, Stenburg, Pekarcik, Fischer, and Kaskimaki where selected with picks/assets acquired from the TML’s.
Always look forward to summers when the Leafs start making changes…….
You can have Tank back for nothing!
According to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli, Vladimir Tarasenko is looking for a way out of Hockeytown.
“There was word that Tarasenko wasn’t thrilled with his arrangement in Detroit, leaving open the possibility that he’s on the move this summer for a better fit.”
It is even better when all their moves prove futile.