NHL Rumor Mill – May 7, 2025
What’s in store for the Blues and Avalanche in the offseason? What’s the latest on the Islanders’ search for a new general manager? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BLUES?
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford wondered if Jordan Kyrou fits into the long-term plans of the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old winger had his best all-around season, but only scored three goals in seven playoff games and was on the ice for three five-on-five goals for and five against.
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (NHL Images).
If the Blues intend to move Kyrou, they’ll have to do it quickly because his full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1. His performance during this regular season might improve his value in this summer’s trade market.
Rutherford mused over whether the Blues will re-engage with center Brayden Schenn about the possibility of accepting a trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators were interested in the Blues captain at the trade deadline, but he made it clear he wanted to stay in St. Louis.
Schenn will be 34 at the start of next season and has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million. His no-movement clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Management believed the speedy Kyrou had a higher ceiling but he’s yet to reach it. Nevertheless, he would draw plenty of interest in this summer’s trade market. Shipping him out would rob the Blues of a reliable 30-goal scorer. Depending on what they’d want in return, moving Kyrou’s $8.125 million AAV through 2030-31 would provide cap relief for the Blues.
Attempting to move Schenn is understandable given his age and contract. However, the projections for a rising salary cap over the next three seasons could alleviate some of that payroll burden. Playoff contenders seeking experienced two-way depth at center will come calling if the Blues peddle him after July 1.
UPDATE ON THE AVALANCHE
THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak wondered who would fill the second-line center role for the Colorado Avalanche.
Trade-deadline acquisition Brock Nelson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Avs have the cap space to re-sign him and could move another player to create additional room if necessary. Free-agent options could include Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
They could also move Charlie Coyle into that No. 2 center position and go shopping for a center at next year’s trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche must ensure they have sufficient long-term cap room to re-sign Cale Makar, whose contract expires in 2027. That could complicate efforts to retain Nelson or find a suitable replacement.
Masisak suggested Miles Wood or Ross Colton as cost-cutting trade candidates if necessary. However, Wood’s difficult season could make it difficult to move him, while Colton has a no-trade clause.
The Avalanche could peddle Martin Necas if they wish to really shake up their roster. He has a year remaining on his contract and will seek a significant raise after scoring 27 goals and 83 points this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Masisak believes Necas likely has the highest trade value of any player that isn’t among the Avs’ untouchables. Still, shipping him out after he was part of the return in the Mikko Rantanen trade wouldn’t be a good look for management, especially if they don’t get a decent return.
THE LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS’ SEARCH FOR A NEW GM
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports the New York Islanders’ search for a new general manager has been ongoing for a couple of weeks and could wrap up sooner rather than later.
Whoever gets the job has several issues to address. The Isles have a stagnant roster with several immovable contracts. They must decide if head coach Patrick Roy fits into their plans, and they should consider expanding their front office.
Staple took to social media, indicating former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland is considered the top candidate. The Isles sought permission from the Montreal Canadiens to speak with Jeff Gorton, the Habs’ executive VP of hockey operations.
Marc Bergevin, the senior advisor to former Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake, is in the mix for the Kings and Isles’ GM jobs.
Staple said he hasn’t heard much about former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen or former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staple’s colleague, Pierre LeBrun, reports the Canadiens have informed the Isles that Gorton is “here to stay”. He also reported the Isles intend to interview Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche.
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears wondered if the Islanders might reach out to Rob Blake following his departure from the Kings on Monday. It’s unclear if Blake is seeking another front office job immediately. Sears observed that Blake and Roy were teammates with the Colorado Avalanche.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias believes Bergevin and Kekalainen make sense as the leading candidates for the Isles’ GM position.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Darche might be the best option for the Islanders if he’s looking to move on. LeBrun indicates he’s been a hot candidate in recent years. He also said the Isles are hoping to speak to potential candidates currently among teams still active in the postseason.
Re “ The Isles sought permission from the Montreal Canadiens to speak with Jeff Gorton, the Habs’ executive VP of hockey operations.”
Can’t Isles seek permission from Pens to speak with Dubas?
Asking for a friend
8787, do you give your permission for Isles to speak to Dubai’s?
I think the Isles should hire Holland to be President or VP of Hockey Operations and either Darche or Pridham as GM. Preferably Darche.
I do agree that the Isles front office is too thin and must be expanded. Hire two AGMs who aren’t the GMs son. One to oversee player development and the other to deal with matters at the NHL level. Also hire a director of player personnel and beef up the player development department
I give full permission and will be happy to write a glowing letter of recommendation IF it means he moves on from Pens
I do want Dubas gone; but joking aside, your recommendation has very good merit
You can wonder about Kyrou fitting into the plans long term but trying to twist his playoff performance into fitting the narrative is a stretch for me. He scored 3 goals in 7 games. Pretty good pace.
10ilerfan, Kyrou and Schenn put up most of their stats when Holloway was driving play from left wing, when Holloway went out in early April the other two disappeared. Schenn rallied in the playoffs and brought leadership and physicality, Kyrou took 1 big hit and was never a factor afterwards. The emerging play of Holloway and Snuggerud and with plenty of prospects on the cusp could make Kyrou a valuable trade chip.
Avs will be an interesting team to watch this summer. Bednar should be safe but roster players will be in the move. I’d try Coyle in the second center spot for now.
Didn’t the Avs move a player and that player came back and bit them in the ass big time? That whole ordeal was terrible management of assets anyway you look at it. Somewhere, someone needs to answer that blunder…unless it came from the owner and in which case, meh, nothing.
I don’t agree. That was one hell of a first round match up with Dallas. Went to game 7 and they had a 2 goal lead with 10 mins to go. Not sure that means blow up the team. Dallas could go on to win it. I’d look at keepers if I was the avs…they’re kind of like the oilers that way.
Coyle is not a second line center but can fill that roll in short spirts IMO. How ever he is a great third line center and fits that roll perfectly.
But a second line center is hard to find ask 20 teams.
Coyle is what the Avs need in the short term. Not sure they have the space to acquire a true second line center.
They made a huge trade that bit them-so you think he’d end up back in the west when they traded him to the east? They also thought Middelstadt was a second line center too. Another bad move.
You guys obviously don’t watch Avalanche games, the theme or pattern to lose playoff series has been there for awhile. The Rantanen show was just the icing on the cake. Bednar is the only reason they have won a cup. But they lose to Utah and Chicago in the same manner. I blame MacKinnon and Makar who are supposed to be leaders but mentally I’m not so sure? Live by the sword, die by the sword. Landeskog missed so much for 3 yrs, you can’t even State his importance as well as injuries. avalanche have to take a hard look in the mirror, the players. Do they want to be champs again ? I don’t know. I don’t think they do at present and it showed against Dallas. Plenty of opportunities to take that series and they missed them. Now, everyone is crying about Mikko? Maybe if they seized their opportunities, he wouldn’t even have factored in that much. Instead a humiliating defeat, one of the worst if not the worst in Avalanche history!