NHL Rumor Mill – June 17, 2025
Updates on Rangers forward Mika Zibenejad and Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, plus the latest on the Flyers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
ZIBANEJAD STAYING PUT?
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Mika Zibenjad’s wife revealed some telling information amid speculation the Rangers are looking to move on from him.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
Irma Zibenajad told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that Mike Sullivan, the Rangers’ new head coach, recently flew to Sweden to meet with Mika. She also pointed out they have a new home in New York, expressing shock over how newspapers were spreading rumors without considering the source.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The speculation picked up recently following the trade of Zibanejad’s friend and now-former teammate Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. The 32-year-old center has a full no-movement clause and there’s no indication he has any intention of waiving it.
UPDATE ON PIETRANGELO
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell reports that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman expressed concern again about the health of Alex Pietrangelo. He recently speculated the 35-year-old Golden Knights defenseman might not be ready for the start of 2025-26.
Appearing on The Fan 590 in Toronto, Friedman said he felt the Golden Knights could be among the teams that attempt to sign winger Mitch Marner when he becomes UFA-eligible on July 1. He mentioned that a lot of teams are wondering what they’re going to do, especially with what might happen with Pietrangelo.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have less than $10 million in cap space for 2025-26. However, if Pietrangelo goes on long-term injury reserve, it frees up another $8.8 million, which could give them enough room to make a competitive bid for Marner on July 1.
So far, there’s no word from Pietrangelo or the Golden Knights regarding his status for next season.
LATEST ON THE FLYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz recently reported a team source rejected a recent rumor claiming the Philadelphia Flyers were interested in acquiring Golden Knights defenseman Nic Hague. He also cited multiple sources saying they had no knowledge of the Flyers having any deal in place with Russian forward prospect Maxim Shabanov.
Kurz cited a team source reiterating the Flyers won’t be pursuing any big-money free agents this summer. He thinks they might have been interested in Sam Bennett, but his recent playoff run will likely put him out of their price range.
marners announcement that he might take to mid july to decide where he is going cannot be tolerated. he is just setting toronto failures at acquiring new bodies many of which will be gone in the wee hours of july 1. they should tell him to pound sand and get on with rebuilding
What? He is doing nothing to Toronto.
so a go daddy website is blocking my comments.
Crazy Cunuck – Nobody is blocking your comments. They simply make no sense.
Marner is in no way hurting Toronto by taking his time deciding which team to sign with. Toronto has been made aware he will not be returning and thus can move ahead with plans to replace his cap space with other people.
Crazy that there are rumors that Peitrangelos career could be in jeopardy, yet there are no leaks of information either for or against it.
You’d think if he was healthy, that he or the team or a friend/teammate would make a comment somewhere disputing it.
Don’t worry too much about Pietrangelo’s health, he will be fine for opening night of the 2026 playoffs.
If justice has anything to say, Vegas will miss the playoffs!
Vegas are likely trying to align the surgery and recovery in time for early April 2026 for Pietrangelo
I guess Ritchie Mitch will take his time
Can’t say I blame him but he could lose some proponent interest. Toronto can move forward.
So what you are saying is that Vegas is going to circumvent the cap yet again. The BS is getting old between Vegas and Edmonton cheating the system. They need to fix that in the next CBA.
Well, Tampa wrote the recipe and a few others quickly followed. No matter what “system” and related rules a business or a government develops and tries to follow, there will always be those seeking the loopholes. And there are always loopholes.
I believe they are fixing it. We’ll get an announcement shortly
All 32 teams have the same rules to follow, right?
Well done getting the site back up n running Lyle. Down detector and “its not just you its everybody” had you down all day yesterday.
What was a decent Stanley Cup kinda got blah when Florida decided enough was enough. Edmonton not having the depth, two back up goalies and Hyman out didn’t help things.
ho hum on to next year. Did anyone see the end of that Jays game? Back to back Jacks for the walk off win!
Thanks, Dark G. It’s a server issue. We’re hoping that it’s rectified now. Fingers crossed.