NHL Rumor Mill – May 3, 2025
The Sabres could shop for a defense partner for Owen Power, plus the latest on the Kings and Lightning in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SABRES TO SHOP FOR A DEFENSE PARTNER FOR OWEN POWER
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski believes the Sabres must find a steady, veteran right-hand defenseman to partner with Owen Power. The 22-year-old blueliner was the first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had 242 NHL games under his belt, but his defensive play remains inconsistent.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
Lysowski listed several potential options in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market, including Brent Burns, Aaron Ekblad, Cody Ceci and Dante Fabbro. However, he also suggested using left-shot defenseman Bowen Byram as a trade chip to acquire a right-shot rearguard to mentor Power.
Byram, 23, is a restricted free agent on July 1 with arbitration rights. He’ll be expensive to re-sign, and the Sabres would prefer using their salary-cap space elsewhere, with forwards Alex Tuch, JJ Peterka and Ryan McLeod being candidates for contract extensions.
Trade targets could including Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders, Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights, Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets, Erik Gudbranson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Sam Malinski of the Colorado Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres would have to part with Byram to acquire Dobson or Andersson, provided those two are available. They wouldn’t have to part with him to land Whitecloud, Schenn, Gudbranson or Malinski.
Byram could also be used as trade bait to add scoring forward like a second-line center.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KINGS AND LIGHTNING?
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered where the Los Angeles Kings go from here following an inexcusable early playoff exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Kings entered that series as the favorites, finishing this season ahead of the Oilers in the regular-season standings. However, blown leads and bad coaching decisions proved to be their undoing.
Stephens wondered if there could be a front-office shakeup. General manager Rob Blake’s contract is up and he has no playoff series wins to show for it. Team president Luc Robitaille also deserves his share of the blame.
The Kings responded well to head coach Jim Hiller this season, tying franchise bests with 48 wins and 105 points. However, he made questionable decisions during the playoffs, including stubbornly leaning on nine forwards and four defensemen that ultimately took their toll as the series went on.
Tearing down the core and rebuilding isn’t an option with veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty signed for next season and are uninterested in being part of a rebuild. They also have several other key players under long-term commitments.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes in the front office and perhaps behind the bench appear more likely than any significant roster changes.
Stephens also observed that more roster tinkering around their core doesn’t feel like the answer. If they’re unwilling to tear things down and rebuild, tinkering could be the only option.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina listed the three biggest topics facing the Lightning that came out of GM Julien BriseBois’ end-of-season press conference.
The first was BriseBois squashing a rumor claiming head coach Jon Cooper was heading to the Utah Hockey Club, which is owned by Cooper’s good friend Ryan Smyth. He confirmed the long-time Lightning bench boss will return next season.
BriseBois admitted the odds are small that all his pending unrestricted free agents will return next season. They include centers Yanni Gourde and Luke Glendening, defenseman Nick Perbix, winger Cam Atkinson and goaltender Jonas Johansson.
Promising prospect Isaac Howard’s NHL future might not be with the Lightning. BriseBois said he appreciated the young forward’s honesty. He pointed out that the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner values the opportunity to choose where he wants to sign.
BriseBois said he won’t speak for Howard, but feels that it’s unlikely they’ll sign him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have until next August to sign Howard. That gives them time to try to convince the promising youngster to sign with them. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if BriseBois uses Howard as a trade chip this summer to acquire another high-quality prospect or to add a good young NHL player to his roster.
If he wants to pick where he signs then he basically gets to choose where he’s traded limiting his trade value. No team gives up a lot of value for a guy they can’t guarantee signing… well… maybe Tampa try’s Carolina.
But of course any such club trading for him would talk to him first, no?
With the Kings I think they would be foolish to do anything radical with the roster. The team had a rookie coached that got out coached .
The decision is whether they trust Hiller to grow and adjust or if they should go another direction. They have a good mix of veteran stars and budding young players. The idea of striping down a 100 pt club that took steps forward because they got beat by the Oilers….well the last 3 seasons…only the eventual cup winner beat the Oilers in the playoffs. They not losing to fringe team.
It’s frustrating for sure though.
Sure lj. But that club if he wants to choose, could wait one more year and sign him as a ufa.
That sounds like another team 1oilerfan; however the other team took their series to 7 and lost to eventual cup winners or cup finalists.
In the case with most good young teams is a lack of depth in combination with experience is their downfall.
Re “BriseBois admitted the odds are small that all his pending unrestricted free agents will return next season. They include centers Yanni Gourde and Luke Glendening, defenseman Nick Perbix, winger Cam Atkinson and goaltender Jonas Johansson.”
“ALL”??
it more appropriately might have the sentiment of
“BriseBois admitted the odds are small that ANY OF his pending …….. will return next season. “
Maybe Perbix if Lightning want him.
Why would Lightning even consider persuing the re-upping of Johannsson OR Glendenning, OR Gourde, OR Atkinson???
Let them move on and be “overpaid” elsewhere
The real Buffalo question is – will Adams be the one to make the trades? It is clear that Power needs a stay at home righty, but is the current GM the guy who can make this deal?
The Howard issue is a reminder that it is high time the NHL start treating treat draftees from US colleges just as any other prospects.
They do tend to have a high opinion of themselves outside of all realty. Not all, mind you, but enough.
Maybe raise the draft age? Can’t blame kids for playing cards they’re dealt. Not doing anything wrong. They didn’t create this system. With Nil $ there’s more incentive to stay in school
The system is rigged. But that’s the wrong answer. All prospects should be treated like the ncaa ones. That’s the proper solution
I can see a Islanders – Buffalo swap in theory but is Dobson really a defensive D, maybe Pulock is a better option?
Jacob Trouba makes sense for Buffalo. Plenty of cap. And since he I low he is. Stay at home defense man which would also add some moxy to BUFF
Buffalo missed the boat by not trading for Carlo at the deadline.
Perbix makes sense for Buffalo, UFA RD, 6’4 205 stay at home D turning 27 in June.