NHL Rumor Mill – June 19, 2025
Check out the latest on the Oilers, Bruins, Islanders, Flyers, and Rangers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST OILERS SPECULATION
NEW YORK POST: Justin Tasch reports Connor McDavid’s future could hang over this NHL offseason. The 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers captain is a year away from unrestricted free-agent (UFA) eligibility.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
If McDavid remains committed to the Oilers, Tasch believes a massive contract extension awaits in the coming weeks. If he has doubts about the club’s future as a Stanley Cup contender, it could result in a potential trade because the Oilers wouldn’t want to lose him to free agency.
TSN: Darren Dreger believes McDavid will want to take some time to decompress from another disappointing Stanley Cup Final. He believes the Oilers’ superstar will stay put, but wondered if he would want a shorter-term (three or four years) instead of the maximum eight-year commitment.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Dreger that McDavid will remain an Oiler. It could take a little time for the two sides to get a deal done, perhaps stretching through the summer. Ultimately, they’ll get it done.
Dreger mentioned that McDavid is close friends with teammate Leon Draisaitl, who signed an eight-year extension last September. I doubt Draisaitl would’ve done that if he felt McDavid didn’t intend to stick around.
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell looked at what additions the Edmonton Oilers could attempt to make during this offseason.
It seems unlikely the Oilers will maintain the goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. There are no upgrades to be found via free agency. John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks could be a trade possibility. Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets is a less likely trade option.
Mitchell mentioned Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, but he carries a no-movement clause and an $8.25 million average annual value (AAV). Finding a suitable trade package to offer up to the Bruins could also be an issue.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pickings are indeed slim for goalies in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets. Forget about Swayman; the Bruins believe he’ll have a bounce-back performance in 2025-26. Gibson might be the Oilers’ best bet, but the Ducks might have to retain some of his salary to make it work.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman considers Oilers forwards Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson as trade candidates. The 33-year-old Kane has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $5.125 million and a 16-team trade list. Arvidsson also has one year remaining on his deal. He carries an AAV of $4 million and a full no-movement clause.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane seems the easiest of the two to move, but his abrasive personality and personal baggage could adversely affect his value in the trade market.
BRUINS REPORTEDLY IN TRADE TALKS WITH THE ISLANDERS
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited a report claiming the Boston Bruins are interested in New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. He also claims the two sides are discussing a larger deal that would include the Bruins’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in this year’s draft.
A source suggested to Murphy that the Islanders could be trying to get creative by keeping the first-overall pick to draft Matthew Schaefer and perhaps use the seventh pick to select Long Island native James Hagens.
The source also mused about the Bruins perhaps trying to acquire the first-overall pick from the Islanders. However, the asking price would have to include one of their current top-six forwards or top-four defensemen as part of the return.
Meanwhile, Islanders beat writer Stefen Rosner reports the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers have inquired into the availability of Alexander Romanov. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights who could command between $5 million and $6 million annually on his next contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The last time the first-overall pick was traded occurred at the 2003 NHL Draft, when the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired it from the Florida Panthers. Looking at the Bruins’ current roster depth chart on PuckPedia, I’m not seeing any tradeable assets that would convince the Islanders to part with that pick.
COULD BROCK BOESER REUNITE WITH JT MILLER IN NEW YORK?
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma wondered if winger Brock Boeser might reunite with his former Vancouver Canucks teammate JT Miller in New York with the Rangers.
Boeser, 28, is expected to hit the open market on July 1. Kuzma noted they freed up salary-cap space last week by trading Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, and speculated they could seek a replacement. Boeser could seek a six-year deal worth around $8.5 million annually on his next contract.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks pointed out the Rangers have around $14.5 million in cap space for 2025-26 after re-signing Matt Rempe on Wednesday. He dismissed rumors suggesting general manager Chris Drury could use some of it to go the offer-sheet route this summer.
Brooks believes Drury intends to use some of that cap space to re-sign RFAs Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller, or Miller’s replacement if the 25-year-old defenseman is traded this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Cuylle and Miller (or the latter’s replacement) could take up around $10 million of the Blueshirts’ cap space. That won’t leave enough for someone like Boeser unless the Rangers make another cost-cutting move this summer.
E.Kane LTIR investigation is interesting.
I lamented last summer . He waited like 3 -4 months to have the surgeries when they knew in April what had to be done . Went on record as saying exploring his options. To return for the playoffs was the plan all along. Tough to be proven
I would take Misa first overall . Schaefer has only played 100 games over two seasons. How will he stay heLthy at the next level?
Canucks have been looking at acquiring Alexis Lafrenière, who may be needing a change of scenery & a larger role. Maybe, the Rangers could workout a sign & trade deal with the Canucks for Brock Boeser, uniting him with JT Miller, as the two have jellied playing together. That would also create a solution for the Ranger’s cap space issues to sign Boeser as well as Cuylle & the other Miller.
Daljit. You honestly think Rangers would trade the former #1 overall just to get rights to Boeser? I don’t think so. Boeser would’ve been an option a couple years ago. Only way I see Rangers signing him now would be if they can get Panarin to waive his nmc. I’d rather move on from him and put Laffy back to LW.
“SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Cuylle and Miller (or the latter’s replacement) could take up around $10 million of the Blueshirts’ cap space. That won’t leave enough for someone like Boeser unless the Rangers make another cost-cutting move this summer.”
THANK YOU for actually looking at the $’s to see what is realistic. I continue to see reports of the Rangers being in on Marner, Boesser, Marchand, Gavrikov, etc.
PuckPedia is now showing Rangers avail cap at $13.9M and they also have to resign or replace ZacJones and Edstrom too, so take another $2M+ off their available funds.
It doesn’t all fit without a major trade, which would likely be Lafreniere since Zib and Panarin are probably not waiving their NMCs.
So many pundits assumed the $’s freed up from Kreider would go towards a new free agent, but the truth is that his trade was needed just to retain the Rangers own FAs.
Foley.
I still don’t count out Panarin being traded. The fact it’s last year of his contract and there hasn’t been any talk of an extension make this possible. Will have to wait till his bonus is paid and major free agent dominoes start falling. I can see him waiving for Vegas or Florida if those teams don’t sign their top targets. I’ve mentioned before, after bonus is paid there’s only 1mil of salary left. A contender could possibly add him for around 40% of cap hit with a 3rd teams help. IMO, any trade of Laf would need to bring back a top C or LD. prospect
Panarin and pick to EDM for Hyman and RNH?
So they are investigating kane’s LTIR but league seems perfectly fine with turning a blind eye to the timing of all other LTIR. Also why does a player that gets suspended for PEDS not have his cap hit count…how is that a deterrent … timing of Ekblad’s suspension was also a little suspicious ( I know it’s not) just saying from an optics perspective..odd
Also two things can be true- Florida built a great team with ballsy moves and great foresight AND the lower tax rate is also a huge advantage.
Wonder how things play out a few years back if the Penguins had just beat the lowly Hawks on the last day of the regular season and the Panthers don’t make the playoffs at all? You think Zito would have stood still- just crazy
The Florida No State tax has been a thing since the dawn of the Cap era. No one said a word about it until the Cats won. Prior to that it was tough to get Free agents to want to play losing hockey in non- Traditional Hockey Market of Florida. Most cities have their Plusses and minuses. Unfair to now be worried about this tax thing after Florida puts together a Cup winning team. Besides, we are talking about small money when you actually look into it. All these guys have high priced accountants that work around the taxes regardless so its really a mute point.
It’s looking like the Bruins want to move up in draft or trade the pick to which the Islanders might be the trade partner… Islanders grab Dman With their 1st pick and get a Center with 7th pick … if that happens who are they going to move to get that 7th pick ..
Islanders interest in trading picks is to acquire ANOTHER 1st this year. They are keeping 1st overall and drafting top D.
They are also trying to get another pick this year somewhere in the top 5 to grab Hagens too.
Isles have two 1sts next year, so they may be able to trade one of those plus something else to also grab Hagens this year.
I don’t think getting 7th overall will get Hagens. He’s probably going somewhere between 3-5 overall.
Make-it-up Murphy is at it again. He loves to come up with BS for click bait.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is mentioned.. the center will be 33 years old 1 month into the 25/26 season … giving up the 7th pick for him is a tough call from here it would have to be a expanded trade more players involved
Joe. Was not just him also Dobson was included If that is case Good hockey trade
I’m really not good at this but how about 7th pick and Little Z for Bo Horvat
The Isles are not trading the #1 pick. Pageau alone certainly not enough to get #7 pick. Even with Romanov likely wouldn’t be enough. Darche has said that Horvat and Barzal are not going to be traded. The only other player on the roster worth a pick that high would be Dobson and I don’t see them trading him either.
I think every Bruins fan on the site will agree that trading a #7 pick is the last thing the Bruins need to do now.
Joe,just what the .Bruins need an undersized third line center.Just put Poitras there for the year and evaluate him! Boston has about 5 bottom 6 centers on the team. They Need Top Six Forwards
Jag Pageau is a cap dump!
Bruins need SCORING. Could Sweeney look for a big fish like Robertson even Boeser and pay them. They have the money unlike last year.
George explain to me how Zetterlund got that contract with two goals in 20 games and zero points in playoffs?
If you look at history he is a 20-25 goals 50p guy. Given that the salary looks fine, even good with salary inflation
Obe, he had decent stats with SJ, and the Sens gave up good assets for him. They must figure that the small sample size with Ottawa must be an anomaly or he was playing hurt? His playing style and sturdy frame is what the Sens traded for.
This signing concerns me. Zetterlund looked slow of foot on the Sens. Unable to generate any thing on his own and behind the play with others.
Signing a guy in the hopes he achieves something isn’t something I get behind all the time. Especially when you are looking for a guy to go from zero goals to 20.
Seemed an AAV of 2.5 to 3 mill was more appropriate and give another mill of bonuses if certain criteria are met.
On a side note. It’s interesting Giroux isn’t signed yet.
I wouldn’t mind Ottawa walking away from bot zetterlund and Giroux if they spend good money bringing in forwards.
Though Andlauer’s comments about an eternal cap makes me wonder if Giroux will be squeezed out and there won’t be much signed to replace him
Swayman’s NMC doesn’t kick in until next off season
BamBamCam: That’s correct, I went by what Mitchell has written. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the Bruins won’t trade Swayman and are counting on a bounce-back performance from him next season. If they traded him, Joonas Korpisalo would be their starter, and we all know he’s not suitable for that role. Cheers!
Joe,just what the .Bruins need an undersized third line center.Just put Poitras there for the year and evaluate him! Boston has about 5 bottom 6 centers on the team. They Need Top Six Forwards
Obe, while I admit it was a tad higher than I originally thought he might get (I was looking at around $3.8 per), it’s obvious their assessment of his capabilities was based pon his 17g 19a 36pts in 64gp with San Jose.
In fairness, his lack of production after coming to Ottawa can be traced to his perceived versatility, being described at Puckpedia as “right-shot LW, and being shuffled all over the map after his arrival in Ottawa – LW on one line – RW on another – different linemates.
His lack of production here was, however, offset to some significant degree by his solid defensive play, including on the pk.
Early indications are that he will stay at his natural RW position and on the 1st line with Tkachuk at LW and Stutzle at C, and I would bet he starts to find the net early on into the new season. Batherson would then go to the 2nd line RW with Cozens at C and Perron at LW.
I think there is upside offensively wondering about playing a more responsible game defensively? Daily Faceoff have him penciled in on top line if stays there should be able to put up some numbers. Matt Duchane just extended 4×4.5
Yeah, just saw that, Obe, re Duchene. That leaves Dallas with the a cap reserve of coffee money and change ($455,084) and committed to 17 players.
They still have to deal with RFAs right-shot C Mavrik Bourque (no arbitration rights) and coming off his ELC of $894,167, and RD Nils Lundqvist, who does have arbitration rights and is coming off an expiring cap hit of $1,250,000.
And, of course, there are pending UFAs (C/LW Jamie Benn (expiring $9,500,000); C/LW Mikael Granlund (expiring $5,000,000); C/RW Colin Blackwell (expiring $775,000); LW Evgeni Dadonov (expiring $2,250,000); LD Brendan Smith (expiring $1,000,000); and RD Cody Ceci (expiring $3,250,000).
Most won’t be re-upped, but that’s still a lot of production they’ll need to replace somehow and it’s obvious they are going to have to make a couple (at least) of big-name deals to clear the cap space.
What a colossal mess – making them a CHOICE TARGET to have their RFAs offer-sheeted.
In fact, the way the contract works, it will cost $3.8M in salary for the first year, $4.3M for year 2, and $4.725M for year 3 at an AAV of $4.275M. It does not include any trade protection.
George, I haven’t given up on Giroux. Maybe he comes in a bit cheaper with a bonus laden contract. I agree with Levi and cousins, both guys are solid. Now here would be a wild idea and I’m not sure how this works, but what about bringing back Collin white on the 4th could his buyout be reintegrated into the team salary. Maybe they restructure his contract to 1.2 to give him incentive. That gives you a 4th line player for only 300k against our current cap 🙂
Owen, where Giroux is concerned he has to realize that, turning 38 in January, his role at RW on the team has diminished and so, consequently, will his cap hit IF he is to re urn next season.
It appears Zetterlund is going to get a good, long look at RW on line 1 with Stutzle and Tkachuk, with Batherson filling that spot on line 2 with Cozens at C and Perron on the left side.
That would mean a re-signed Giroux would have to be content with dropping to line 3 RW with Pinto at C and Ridley Greig at LW.
Barring some unforeseen UFA signing – or perhaps a deal involving a term contract combined with the 21st pick in this year’s draft – the only sure thing on the 4th line would be Amadio at RW, with the other 2 positions coming from within the system (they could give a good look at Garrett Pilon at C for example.
As for C Colin White, I’m afraid that ship has sailed. Since playing 68 games with Florida in 2022-23 (8g 7a 15 pts), he has played 31 NHL games – 11 with Pittsburgh, 17 with Montreal and 3 with San Jose, producing zeroes across the board. To be fair, he likely didn’t get a lot of ice time in those games – or played with top wingers – but that alone should be an indication that something was perceived to be lacking in his game by 3 different coaches.
In that case, if G signed and was content with 3rd line duties, that would mean we would have both Perron and amadio on the 4th with potentially polling centering. Not a bad 4th line!
Actually, if Giroux signs the lines would/could look like this
Tkachuk – Stutzle – Zetterlund
Perron – Cozens – Batherson
Greig – Pinto – Giroux
Cousins – Pilon – Amadio
That, of course, will change if they decide to pluck a 4th line-type C off the UFA heap, but Pilon had a pretty good season in Belleville with 68gp 11g 37a 48 pts. Another C candidate for the 4th line could be Stephen Halliday who played 71 games with 19g 32a 51 pts. They’ll get good looks at training camp, I believe.
LW Angus Crookshank, who got some looks this season, could also fact or in – 62gp 22g 18a 40 pts.
If Isles want Hagens they’re going to need to move up higher than 7. Any trade to move up will probably take place the night of the draft.Utah was rumored to be making 4th pick available. Most of these rumors are based solely on fact the BC kid grew up an Isle fan in LI. As if no other prospect had a favorite team they wanted to play for when they were kids. I can see Rangers trying to move up for him. Played on line with Perreault at BC and also in international tournaments.
In addition to being an Isles fan, Hagens also played with Eiserman who is on Isles (he’s going back to BC for 1 more year). So there is that linemate connection too.
Isles have two 1sts next year. Gotta wonder what it would take to get the 4th this year from Utah. One of the firsts next year plus another pick this year (like a 3rd maybe)?
Foleyd7 Eiserman plays at BU, not BC
Classic Isles screwing up a perfectly good 1st over all pick.
All indications are the Isles are keeping 1st overall pick and taking the top D prospect.
They are ALSO trying to add another 1st this year to draft Hagens, presumably somewhere between 4-6 overall.
If I’m Bruins I take Brady Martin at 7 not many like him come around a real gamer.
The Stars have signed center Matt Duchene to a four-year extension, per a team announcement. It’s worth $4.5MM per season for a total value of $18MM. His deal carries a no-movement clause through 2026-27 before decreasing to a five-team approved trade list for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons, per PuckPedia. The yearly breakdown is as follows:
2025-26: $3MM base salary, $3MM signing bonus
2026-27: $1.8MM base salary, $3MM signing bonus
2027-28: $3.6MM base salary
2028-29: $3.6MM base salary
Dallas now has just $455K in cap space with a roster of only 17 players, per PuckPedia. They need to open at least $1.9MM cap space at an absolute minimum via trades to be able to sign three league-minimum players for a bare-bones 20-man roster. In reality, they’ll move at least two of Mason Marchment ($4.5MM), Mathew Dumba ($3.75MM), and Ilya Lyubushkin ($3.25MM) to open up far more than that to give them some in-season flexibility while not taking a catastrophic hit to their forward depth. Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, and Mikael Granlund remain as pending UFAs up front.
It looks as though some Vets on the Stars are ripe for the pickings if they wish to sign RFA Borque and RFA Lundqvist!!
Which Star should your team go after?
Plain and simple I want Bourque. I think Fitz should be calling Nill to work out a trade that beats the offer sheet compensation. But so are a few other teams I would suppose…
If I were Staios the one I’d go after – either by trade or offer-sheet – is RD Lundqvist.
Lundkvist is a young RD, out since January with shoulder injury and surjery in February. Missed the balance of the season and playoffs.
That makes him a question mark
Yeah, shoulder injuries are always a red flag (hello Josh Norris), but all reports have him back to start he new season.
And he was having a good season until that set back
https://www.si.com/onsi/breakaway/news-feed-page/dallas-stars-nils-lundkvist-out-season-shoulder-surgery
Conroy should call Nill & offer him up Andersen @ 50%, Florida pick (32nd) & the 54 pick & Mews for Robertson, Bourque & Dumba. & hope Nill doesnt hang up on him lol.
Jason Robertson (cap hit 7,750,000 million one more season before becoming RFA) name recently mentioned in trade rumors.
Stars trade Mason Marchment to Kraken for draft picks.
Last three years Connor has gone from 64 to 32 and now 26 goals maybe he is burnt out has played a ton of hockey but those numbers don’t lie.
Obe, it could be, too, that the 64-goal season in 2022-23 is the career aberration.
I mean, in the 7 seasons prior to that and the two since, he has played 630 games and has scored 297 goals, for an 82-game average of 39.
And in the past 2 seasons he has missed 21 games, 15 of them this past season, due to injury/illness.
McDavid. Made it perfectly clear he is nort resigning with oil if no win it all next year. Want to be a Bruin. Atleast that is what I got out of his presser and I am unbiased 😎
Lol. That’s my takeaway.
Send Kane and Arvidsson to a cap strap team along with picks to clear cap
Trade RNH and human to NY for Panarin ,Berard and a pick
See where the numbers are at make a pitch for Marner
Bread with Mcdavid
Marner with draisatal
Does anyone remember the look on MC David’s face when Edmonton won the lottery pick when Toronto was widely favored to be the winner. I do. He will be a leaf in 26-27 as I said a year ago.
BINGO
Oh boy … here we go …. let’s at least put it this way … the Oilers have been infinitely closer to the cup in his time alone in Edmonton than the Leafs have in 58 years!
Maybe the Oilers sign Carter Hart once he is cleared?