NHL Rumor Mill – June 3, 2025
Could the Stars trade Jason Robertson? What kind of return could the Predators get for Jonathan Marchessault? What’s the latest on Marco Rossi? The answers to those questions, and an update on the Islanders, in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD JASON ROBERTSON BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?
DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek wondered if the Dallas Stars would consider moving Jason Robertson and his $7.75 million cap hit to recoup some draft capital and free up salary-cap space to go “big-game hunting” this summer.
If the Stars were to move the 25-year-old Robertson, Marek suggested the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks as possible destinations. With Robertson’s cap hit off their books, they might get into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger becomes a free agent on July 1.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos examines the pros and cons of trading Robertson.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).
One reason for moving Robertson is that his role has changed since the Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen at the trade deadline. He’s also due to become a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights and will be UFA-eligible the following year unless he signs a long-term extension. Robertson will seek a significant raise on his next contract, and he doesn’t produce at the same rate in the playoffs as he does in the regular season.
Robertson’s offensive consistency in the regular season is one reason why they shouldn’t trade him. He has yet to reach his full potential, and he has matured and improved his defensive game. Trading away a proven scorer could be risky.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson lacks no-trade protection, giving Stars management plenty of potential trade partners if they go that route. Because of his free-agent status next summer, interested parties could prefer a sign-and-trade scenario.
Moving Robertson makes sense if the goal is salary-cap flexibility and restocking their prospect pool. Ditching him to clear cap room for a more expensive veteran like Marner creates a bigger cap headache while doing nothing to improve their prospect pipeline.
PREDATORS WON’T GET MUCH FOR TRADING JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT
THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty mentioned the trade rumors swirling around Jonathan Marchessault of late. The 34-year-old winger would reportedly welcome a trade only a year after signing a five-year contract with the Nashville Predators.
Daugherty believes trading Marchessault’s contract, age, and the decline in his production would make him difficult to move this summer. He carries an AAV of $5.5 million and has a full no-movement clause. If he were asked to be traded, he must provide a 15-team no-trade list.
If the Predators trade Marchessault, Daugherty doesn’t expect they’ll get much back. “A late draft pick or a low-end prospect is the most Nashville can expect in return.” He also thinks they might have to bundle Marchessault with a draft pick to sweeten the deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators could accept that type of return if their intent is freeing up salary-cap space. However, they wouldn’t have much leverage, and interested clubs could even squeeze them to retain part of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.
LATEST ON MARCO ROSSI
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports that Marco Rossi’s demand for a lucrative long-term contract is a roadblock in trade talks with the Minnesota Wild.
It’s believed the Rossi camp seeks a deal comparable to teammate Matthew Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million contract. That’s too expensive for Wild GM Bill Guerin, who is at least taking calls about the 23-year-old center.
Di Marco believes the Philadelphia Flyers have had “lukewarm interest” in Rossi since last year. He clarified his report from last week, saying there’s no indication that the two teams have engaged in trade talks recently. He cited a source claiming Flyers forward Tyson Foerster was a player the Wild were interested in as a return for Rossi. Neither Foerster nor any of the Flyers’ late first-round picks are on the table.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco also acknowledged that Guerin is comfortable retaining Rossi, something he stated to The Athletic’s Michael Russo earlier this week.
An RFA coming off his entry-level contract, Rossi lacks arbitration rights. The only leverage he has is the threat of an offer sheet from another team or withholding his services next season until he gets a suitable deal.
The Rossi camp might be hoping for an offer sheet after July 1. However, there might not be many teams with enough cap space left by that point. Most will have used up their cap space well before then in the trade and the UFA markets. There could be even fewer by then willing to meet his rumored asking price.
UPDATE ON THE ISLANDERS
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears recently looked at the winners and losers from the early days of Mathieu Darche’s tenure as GM of the Islanders.
Sear thinks something has to give with aging blueliners Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. Mayfield has a full no-trade clause, Pulock has a full no-movement clause this season and Pelech has a 16-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been suggested Mayfield could be bought out of the remaining five years of his contract if a trade isn’t possible. It would free up $2.33 million in cap space for the next five years, but the buyout cap hit would be $1.166 million annually for the next 10 years.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau could be their most expendable player. He has a year left on his contract and will be a UFA next summer. Anders Lee is in a similar situation, but as their team captain, there are implications to trading Lee that don’t exist for Pageau.
Torn on Robertson, the eye test tells me that he’s a bit soft, especially in the playoffs. I think he struggles because he’s not that physical with his play and he seems to get out-muscled in one on one puck battles, stays out of corners and doesn’t play in the greasy areas, come playoff time.
That said, he was the only Star that scored in a 3 game stretch, so there’s that….
Not sure I’d be so quick to trade a 25 year old consistent scorer.
can’t the same be said for Marner, (a bit older) but Leafs fans sure want him gone
Starsfan- for better or for worse, Leaf fans are a different breed that Stars’ fans. I think Marner has some tools in is workbook that other teams would covet. Leaf fans have had enough of his inability to get them near the finals. And remember, the also covet that Cup your team won in ‘99.
Starsfan, the Stars don’t have enough cap space, even with Robertson’s $7.5 mil on the books, to re-sign their two RFAs, never mind replace the lost production of UFAs Duchene, Benn, Dadonov, Granlund and Ceci.
They might – just might – be able to do all that if Robertson’s cap hit was gone, but of course no salaried term player could be part of the return.
But then how, within the laws of mathematics, could they possibly get in on the bidding for a player who’ll likely demand in the range of $14 mil and still replace the lost production of those players?
Better to keep the devil you know (Robertson) than to get the devil that you don’t (Marner).
Better to keep the scorer that you know (Robertson) than sign the scorer that you don’t (Marner)
Both are similar.
Isn’t Robertson “big game”. In my books anyway.
Rossi ain’t Boldy who is bigger more physical with speed and aggressive . Not to mention a potential 50 goal scorer and for sure a 40. Not a comparable . I think a superstar in the making . Rossi isnt
Lyle,you seem to be blocking my postings, did I something ?
I don’t have any blocks on your posts.
This one made it!
Getting off my Rossi hobbyhorse and filling Habs needs in a different way.
Let Armia, Dvorak and Pezzetta walk off as UFA.
Offer mid round draft picks to VGK for Zach Whitecloud to make cap space something VGK has a history of doing.
Gives Habs an experienced RD to be a placeholder,
Trade 1st round plus a prospect to the Bruins for Pavel Zacha as a 2C.
Go for UFA Tanner Jeannot to add truculence.
Prospects still aren’t ready and both Dach and Newhook haven’t lived up to expectations. These changes would lower the pressure as 2C is taken care of.
Rossi as 2C would be full of highs and lows.
but how does he fit with the cap issues? Gallagher and Anderson dont seem to be moving…
i missed your older posts about how Rossi fits with the habs
Zacha is Pasta’s center?
i wouldnt think he is going anywhere
I think that job is Lindholms to lose based on how they played well together at end of year
Ds,Lindholm was Pasta s center the last 10 games. He is his buddy though.
Getting on your Rossi hobbyhorse … I made a mistake in saying yesterday that Rossi has arbitration rights.
ds,
Boston will be rebuilding or retooling and Lindholm is seen as Pastrnak’s center.
A 1st round pick would go a long way in that rebuild. If one pick isn’t enough another could be added, as could a prospect.
Any combination fills Hab needs for a 2C in Zacha and worth the overpay.
@habsfan
but why would the Bruins move Zacha instead of Middlestadt? Zacha is more complete
ds,
Habs have zero interest in Mittelstadt who the Bruins gave up assets for to get younger.
Zacha is the one who would bring back better assets, like a round 1 pick for a start.
@habsfan
could Joshua Roy or Michael Hage be available?
ds,
Michael Hage not available, Joshua Roy sure.
I Like Zacha too, but Not certain that i would vive a First round pick for him.
Maybe Mailloux, Newhook and a second pick ?
I’m not sure how Dallas trades Robertson and doesn’t bring salary back in with that trade.
If it’s Ottawa and they just give picks and prospects could they fit Robertson’s new contract with out moving salary themselves.
A 1rst and Yachemchuk.
Would that bump Giroux out. Would they trade Batherson.
Ottawa needs to add to their top 6. Not make trades leading to them remaining underman in the top two lines.
They also wish to shore up their D.
Be interesting.
Jeff Noel – there is NO way Ottawa could bring in Robertson and his $7.75 mil cap hit without moving out one of their own big ticket term players. And that would need to involve a deal with another team since the only reason for Dallas to be trading Robertson is to free up cap space. In the end, a classic “robbing Peter to pay Paul” scenario where the Senators are concerned. ain’t gonna happen.
As for Dallas, “freeing up” Robertson’s cap space barely puts a dent in their cash problem. For the upcoming season Rantanen soars to $12,000,000, Oettnger to $8,250,000, and Wyatt Johnston to $8,400,000, and with just $4,955,084 in cap space they’ll see that (and considerably more) disappear when they re-up their 2 key RFAs – right-shot C Mavrik Bourque, coming off an ELC of $894,167, and RD (a much sought-after position) Nils Lundqvist, coming off an expiring $1,250,000. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see both receive offer sheets that Dallas will be hard-pressed to match.
That’s because they also have to either re-sign – or find adequate replacements for – UFAs Duchene, Benn, Dadonov, Granlund, Ceci, Smith and Blackwell. The last two are easily replaced from the UFA heap (it’s doubtful they could do so from their farm system since it’s ranked 30th out of 32). but the combined production of the others adds up to 92g 169a 261 points.
Dealing Robertson’s cap hit could conceivably make it possible to bring back both Benn and Duchene, and maybe even Dadonov, but they’d still find it virtually impossible to replace the combined production of Granlund, Ceci and Robertson (61g 109a 170pts).
last sentence above should read ” … they’d still find it virtually impossible to replace the combined production of Granlund, Ceci and Robertson (61g 109a 170pts), and even bring in ELC replacements for Smith and Blackwell.”
Sorry to give you bad news but Carter Yakemchuk 6″4, 210lbs right shooting defender is not going anywhere except Ottawa aside from being 19 years old…future # 1 pairing
I agree and I doubt the Sens would entertain the thought of trading him.
Not a chance. There is absolutely nothing they “need” that would entice them to give him up in a deal.
Who is being disappointed. Ottawa doesn’t haveuch else but salarief players to offer Dallas. So it’s what I think they’d have to give up.
Marchessault (retain $1M) for Tarasenko
A 4-yr bad contract for a 1 yr bad contract
Why exactly do the Wings want a 34-year old guy with a 4-year bad contract?
Boldy signed his extension in January of ‘23. Obviously cap has, and should continue, to go up. 7m per on a long term deal for Rossi seems reasonable. It’s not like Wild are deep down the middle. Eriksson Ek’s got 2 career 60 pt seasons and he’s currently 1C. Rossi hit 60 last season. Am I missing something? Any red flags with this kid? I know he’s smallish at 5’9, but he’s listed at a solid 192 lbs.
i believe part of it is because of the contract talks
I don’t order what Sens would have to give up for Robertson. Could be expensive and they are not deep in picks or prospects. But Dallas are up against the cap and need to open some money. I honestly have no idea what Staois would give up. Would he flip Zetterlund and a first or would they need Bath or Pinto and a fist? Would he have to give up Yakemchuk? With Robertson needing a raise what is that going to cost. Pretty big decisions
Batherson for Robertson
Don’t think that would help the Stars, as they need cap relief. As George said, they’d have to broker a deal with another team I think who would give up the draft and/or prospect capital to help the Stars. Would Batherson fetch enough with another team to broker a deal with the stars? I’m not sure.
Regarding the Robertson article: does anyone have a memory that reaches back before last week and/or do a modicum of research or fact-checking before posting their articles? That guy was basically a point-per-game player in the Stars’ past two (deep) playoff runs. So uh, yes, he can produce in the postseason. Yes, he was less effective by far this year but perhaps he was less than 100% coming back from injury, or just hit a dry spell at the wrong time. But it’s pretty laughable to suggest he doesn’t produce in the postseason if you actually look at the numbers.
Senators don’t need anything, they got a taste of the playoffs and the hunger is no a reality.
They’ll take the experience and grow.
The kid, Yakemchuk looked ready last year and will get a long look preseason.
Sens are building a stud D
if Marner walks Toronto might revisit Rantanen. Dallas is in a real cap bind with only $5million and needing 7 players to fill out the roster . the leafs could take him with the marner money and leave $ 20 million for other editions. rantenan has already said he would consider a trade to toronto
Yup! Every superstar wants to play for Hockey -Mecca!
Say good by to Easton Cowan and/or Knies. You know Dallas would start asking for both plus.
That`s funny Toronto turned down Knies for Rantanen, when Carolina was trying to dump him. Why would Toronto give up Knies now. Especially Dallas is in a bind right now. Cowan looks to be Marners replacement, can`t see Toronto dealing him just yet and they need Cowan`s ELC
Sens looking for a top 6 … Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser, and Sam Bennett… any of them would end up being their top paid player …and not much cap left to fill other needs unless they move players out
I would be very hesitant to sign Bennett. There is go guarantee you get the Panthers Bennett. You maybe getting the Flames Bennett. IMO it’s buyer beware on Bennett. With a rumored $10 million plus you need the guarantee, and with his history I don’t see a guarantee.
Where do you get the idea that the Senators are “looking for a top 6?”
Again. Please provide a credible link that says exactly that.
Never mind. Found what you’re probably referring to. A Garrioch “early summer gotta fulfill my column requirements” piece, replete with “better be careful” admonishments and naming the source this way “The talk in league circles is that the Senators would like to acquire a proven top-six forward who can score either through a trade or on the unrestricted free agent market.” League sources. Yeah. No names of course.
The article also goes on to say “Three league executives say a name to keep an eye on with the National Hockey League draft set for June 28-29 is winger Drake Batherson. There was talk at the trade deadline in March that the Senators were listening on Batherson and his name has surfaced on the market again. ” Three league executives. Again, no names so it could be a hockey version of Schrodinger’s Cat. Either true or BS.
https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/teams-eyeing-ottawa-senators-winger-drake-batherson-as-trade-talk-heats-up
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3295213/amp
I have long been of the opinion the Sens need another top 6. Zetterlund produced little to nothing. Giroux is only getting older and the decline is on the horizon.
I don’t need an article to see what a team needs.
Whether their FM agrees is a different story.
Further to my willingness to trade Hab 1st round picks, after one to Boston for Zacha, how about the other 1st round pick and Newhook for Shane Wright.
Other Hab fans may or may not like it.
If the Stars do move Robertson I wonder if a team with multiple 1st rounders this year would be enough? Columbus or Montreal could easily offer both 1sts this draft and even throw in a prospect. Dallas would get the full relief of his 7.75 million to help fill out their roster. Still won’t leave much more than 4-5 minimum salaries plus the 2 rfa’s of their own but would make some sense, no?
Robertson hurt late regular season.
I am sure on his return it was like getting on a freeway at school zone speed. He is a natural scorer and those don’t grow on trees or come with a somewhat reasonable cap hit. A lot of others will go before him. I am sure a capologist had it figured out before the Rantanen signing