Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 11, 2025
Could the Canucks bring back Brock Boeser? Who should the Islanders hire as their new general manager? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the Vancouver Canucks haven’t given up on the possibility of bringing back Brock Boeser, provided the 28-year-old winger wants to return.
Boeser is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Canucks management believes he’s earned the right to test the market.
Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
General manager Patrik Allvin told Canucks’ season-ticket holders that they’re going to see if there’s a chance Boeser would return. However, Johnston considers that option unlikely, pointing to the frustration from the winger’s camp over how Allvin framed Boeser’s value at the trade deadline.
Boeser has stated how much he’s enjoyed living and playing in Vancouver, but won’t pass up his best opportunity for a big payday. Johnston also noted this season was one of upheaval for the Canucks. He speculated Boeser might prefer heading to his hometown Minnesota Wild, or a team that previously expressed interest in him, like the Carolina Hurricanes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported that contract term was the sticking point between Boeser and Canucks management. He wanted a long-term deal, while they prefer something less than five years.
Never say never, but it’ll be surprising if Boeser returns with the Canucks. He shouldn’t have much difficulty landing a deal to his liking on the open market.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the New York Islanders need to take “a massive swing” hiring their next general manager.
Brooks hasn’t been impressed with what he called “a parade of recyclables vying for the job.” He doesn’t consider options like Marc Bergevin to be inspiring.
Instead, he’s beating the drum for the Islanders to pursue Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper to take over as their GM and team president. He cited his recent report claiming a “well-connected fellow” claimed we shouldn’t be surprised if Cooper stepped down as the Bolts’ bench boss to take over the operation in Utah for his friend and Mammoth owner Ryan Smyth.
Cooper has instead committed to returning to the Lightning next season. However, Brooks wondered if he might change his mind if allowed to build the Islanders in his image.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks thinks there’s no harm in the Isles seeking permission to speak with Cooper. However, we don’t know if they’ve even considered the Lightning coach as a viable candidate in the first place. Probably not, if the list of prospective candidates is anything to go by.
Slim pickings on the FA market this year. See Boeser going home to the Wild if they want him.Offer sheets look more attractive for the younger market. Wonder if anyone returns the favor to St Louis after last year.
Maybe next year. This year they have just the one RFA on the main roster -= back-up G Joel Hofer coming off an ELC of $775,000 – 2.64gaa 0.904 save %
On their minor league roster they have 5, none of whom are stand-outs with the possible exceptions of C/LW Nikita Alexandrov – 48gp 21g 28a 49 pts and RD Hunter Skinner – 71gp 8g 15a 23 pts +2.
Bruins….Boston print that has Tocchet going to the Bruins ( he’s going to cost big $$$) I think I rather see Strum get the job print also has the Bruins maybe trading the 7th pick in draft and other pieces for Trevor Zegras …. they need a center there’s nothing much there with the UFA’s
Canucks need a reset. Boeser won’t return. They should trade Pettersson, who seems to be a cancer in the locker room (maybe to Anaheim, who hired Quenneville to make the playoffs). If they can’t get a committment from Quinn by the draft then they should trade him as well
Zegras, prospect + pick for Pettersson should get it done. Surely we all know that TZ and EP sure need a change
Canucks are better off letting Boeser walk. Reports are he wants 7 or 8 years at 8m. AAV. He’s not worth it. One season over 56 points. I’d give him 6m. AAV over 5 or 6 years. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to move on.
the Canucks’ GM’s comments about Boeser overestimating his value surely didn’t help, it’s time to move on.
it’s sad watching the downfall of the Canucks, thought Rutherford would have had the situation under better control. But the infighting in the locker room has led to one of their leaders getting traded for little, their coach leaving and possibly their best player (QH) leaving. The big contract to EP surely backfired, he was struggling before the deal was made, and the contract sure didn’t improve the situation
Howard, it is reported Boeser turned down a Canuck offer of 5 years at $8 million which in my opinion was very generous for what he brings to the ice. He’s looking for $8 million or more for 7 years.
Isles need a young mind with a clear vision of how to take this organization to a competitive level in the new NHL. Darche seems to be the consensus among many Islander fans.
I would also take Schaefer with the number overall. I would then put together a package deal with Utah to take Hagens at 4.
That would bring back a lot of excitement to long island and its future
Well, Brooks is at it again with his outlandish speculation. Cooper is not leaving Tampa right now. And he’s obviously a coach, has not worked in management. Scotty Bowman proved long ago that the best coaches don’t necessarily make the best GMs.
I agree, Bulldawg. The Isles need a young and up and coming GM with vision. Darche or Pridham would fit the bill. But they might want to hire a veteran like Holland as President to oversee hockey operations while the GM handles the day to day affairs. At the very least, they must also hire an assistant GM as well as guys to head up player development and player personnel. The days of Lou or someone else being a one man show have to be over.
I agree, if NYI were smart they would fast track a rebuild by starting with a good stable front office, Holland as EVP of hockey ops and Darche as GM. Then take Schaefer as 1 OA and make a trade with Utah for #4 OA to take the kid from Long Island in Hagens. They could probably make a killing with Utah with something like Barzal for #4 OA and maybe a second tier prospect or two (apparently Utah has too many prospects signed, or to sign, and the 50 contracts limit is an issue).
With a full rebuild NYI can set the core being Hagens and Calum Ritchie down the middle and Schaefer on the blueline. Then during next season move guys on the last year of their deals like Lee and Pageau for more picks and take your luck in the lottery to add McKenna. Some of their contracts are almost untradeable though due to cost or term (like Duclair, Engvall, Pulock, Pelech and Mayfield who all have at least 3 more years and some have 5 years) but in the next 3-4 years of building up those contracts get you close to the cap floor.
They should also trade Dobson as he’ll be 26 in Jan and if they are building around the 18-20 year olds then Dobson would be outside that core group age to have them all reach their prime at the same time. Some Mtl media and fans on messageboards are throwing out the idea of Dobson to Mtl for a package including #17 OA and a young prospect (like Kapanen or Beck) plus Price’s contract because if NY trades Barzal and Dobson to rebuild they will need to add money to get to the cap floor. As a Mtl fan I think that would work for both sides.
Don’t think the isles should trade Dobson. He’s still a good young D-man. A rebuild still needs some young veterans. And I’d trade Horvat rather than Barzal.
You know, I think that is all actually possible and would be great for the Isles.
All except thinking Utah will give up a very good – and cost-controlled for several seasons player with the # 4 pick for a guy costing $9,150,000 off the cap to 2031 when he’ll be 32, and who, over the past 4 seasons, has missed 26.5% of his team’s games due to injury, including 36.5% this season due to knee-cap issues.
In that same 4-year span when he played in 241 games, he posted 58 goals and 154 assists for 82-game averages of 20g 52a 72pts – not bad stats, but not in keeping with a $9,150,000 cap hit,
In fact, I suspect that is the main reason why some Islanders fans propose using him as trade fodder, and while I can understand that, I think it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to give up a top 5 pick for a player who, 4 years running, has missed a quarter of each season.
Kenny Holland is a big named candidate for the Isles as well as the Kings now.
Holland was the GM who signed Robitaille as a free agent in Detroit that led to Luc’s only ring.
Bet that transaction looks good on his resume to his potential employer there.
Cam Robinson has reported that the Wild are believed to have offered Marco Rossi a five-year, $5.5 million AAV deal. The contract reportedly offered to Rossi is somewhat fair, but he has improved drastically over the past two seasons, so a shorter contract with the same AAV might be the result of negotiations. It also doesn’t make sense for the RFA to be without a contract heading into the season.
Brooks is at it again. SMH. Why Cooper? Does this mean that Cooper gets all credit for Bolts success and not Brisebois or Stevie Y?
agree with you. Cooper should get credit for getting his starred teams to have so much success
but Yzerman/Brisebois deserve equal credit for building and maintaining a winner. The cap squeeze surely depleted their defense (Sergachev seemed to have been a big loss for them).
Don’t see how Cooper will be a strong builder of a team because of his success as coach.
Lord knows that didn’t transition well in Nashville for Barry Trotz
the smart plan for the Isles is go give Holland the head (VP) of hockey operations, where he can hire a GM (Darche?) to run the day to day. Then Holland can step away in a year or so and hand the keys over to the GM for full responsibilities
It seems like Bergevin was leading candidate to take over the GM spot in LA, as he was already in their front office. I bet Rob Blake takes some time away to recoup, don’t think he joins the Isles
I think you’re right on Blake, milkep.
There’s also a possible issue with a GM switching teams from one season to the next in terms of knowing details of the former team’s scouting reports on potential draftees. Maybe not a HUGE issue … but when it comes to later picks it could.
Boeser is a 25-30 goal guy, good along the walls but is slow and doesn’t drive play. Even with salary inflation, it means 6,5 – 7 times 5-6 years. The only good thing for Boeser is that the UFA class is pretty thin
Isles need youth. Good start with Richie and Eiserman and this year’s first. Defence development is usually long and I would not move Dobson.
Maybe move down from 1 to 4 ( or later) and get a good prospect in return.
They need more to give up on Schaeffer or Misa!