NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2025
The latest on the Senators’ Drake Batherson, the Avalanche’s Samuel Girard, and the Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Trevor Zegras in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the talk around the league is the Senators would like to acquire a proven top-six forward who can score via trade or free agency.
They’re also in the market for a right-shot defenseman because Nick Jensen will require a lengthy recovery from recent hip surgery.
Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).
Garrioch cited three league executives suggesting to keep an eye on Drake Batherson. It was rumored that the Senators were listening to offers for the 27-year-old winger at the March trade deadline. His name has resurfaced in the rumor mill.
Batherson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $4.975 million. He had 26 goals and 68 points last season, but Garrioch claims some within the Senators’ organization are frustrated with his inconsistency.
However, the Senators will proceed with caution because Batherson’s contributions shouldn’t be ignored. Moving him would free up a top-six forward spot for Fabian Zetterlund.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Julian McKenzie of The Athletic believes the Senators won’t move Batherson unless they’re getting a better scorer in return. The same could apply to their need for a top-four, right-shot blueliner, if the intent is to move Zetterlund up among their top-six forwards.
THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak observed that Samuel Girard is frequently mentioned as an Avalanche trade candidate. He’s stuck behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews as their No. 3 defenseman. His 5’10”, 170-pound frame and the perception that the Avs need more grit and defensive aptitude on their blueline are other reasons why he comes up in the rumor mill.
However, Masisak believes trading an underrated puck-moving No. 3 blueliner on a team-friendly contract ($5.5 million annual cap hit through 2026-27)is a tough ask for the Avalanche. It would be difficult to find a suitable replacement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Girard trade speculation started about two years ago. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun dismissed those rumors for the same reasons mentioned by Masisak.
Things can change, of course. The Avalanche’s early playoff exits over the past three seasons could spur management to gauge Girard’s value in the trade market. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem like they will consider that move this summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently looked at which players will stay with the Anaheim Ducks this summer and those that might be on the move.
Mason McTavish is on his “Not going anywhere” list. The 22-year-old center has been mentioned as an offer-sheet candidate, but Stephens points out the Ducks can easily match an offer that doesn’t throw off their future salary scale.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks could let McTavish go if a rival club signed him to an offer sheet with an AAV between $7.03 million and $9.36 million. The compensation they’d receive would be a first, a second, and a third-round pick.
However, only 15 clubs have the necessary picks to make that pitch. Of those, the Devils, Predators, Canadiens, Flyers, and Oilers have less than $20 million in cap space and could be reluctant to invest between $7 million and $9 million on an offer sheet for a second-line center.
Nobody’s paying McTavish between $9.36 million and $11.7 million and giving up two firsts, a second, and a third. He’s good, but not in that pay class. And if anyone is dumb enough to offer up over $11.7 million and four first-rounders, they should be fired immediately.
Stephens acknowledged that Trevor Zegras is a long-time trade candidate whose career with the Ducks has reached a crossroads. However, playing under Joel Quenneville next season might help him finally develop into an elite playmaking forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was plenty of interest in Zegras last summer and lots of speculation suggesting he’d be moved. However, another injury-hampered performance this season has hurt his trade value.
Zegras has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.75 million, becoming an RFA with arbitration rights next July. Unless the Ducks get a terrific trade offer, they’ll likely hang onto Zegras and see how he does playing for Quenneville.
Batherson + 2nd for Jason Robertson
Girard trade could now be a necessity. AB’s just extended Brock Nelson. 7.5m X 3 years. Crazy. Leaves them with 1.2 m in cap space with a roster of 19
That certainly points to a deal or two in the offing. I mean, $1.2 mil won’t even cover their only RFA (with Arbitration rights) RD Sam Malinski, coming off his $850,000 ELC with 5g 10a 15pts in 76gp.
Then there are, among their 6 UFAs, Drouin, 16-goal scorer Joel Kivirenta and LD Ryan Lindgren.
If none are brought back they still have to find replacements at least as good. Where? and how do they pay them?
Has to be further trades coming.
Wow, Landeskog coming back put the Avs cap situation in a pickle.
lol
Batherson isn’t going anywhere.
Staios has $78,598,214 committed to 8F (Stutzle, Tkachuk, Cozens, Batherson, Perron, Pinto, Amadio, Greig); $28,117,500 to 7 D (Chabot, Sanderson, Zub, Jensen, Matinpalo, Yakemchuk), and $8,250,000 to 1 G (Ullmark). With $1,875,000 in dead cap, and a projected cap of $95.5 mil, that leaves him with $15,026,786 with which to sign 7.
RFA G Leevi Merilainen (exp. ELC of $820,000) will likely get a 2-year bridge deal similar to that of Kleven ($1,600,000), and negotiations are under way with LW Fabian Zetterlund and his expiring $1,450,000 per. He, too, could sign a bridge in the range of $3.8 to $4. Using the high-side, that would leave $9,420,780 to sign 5.
Indications are that Claude Giroux wants to finish his career in Ottawa, and Staios wants to keep him, but it will be for something less than his expiring $6.5 mil as he turns 38 on Jan 12. My guess is he’ll sign a 1 year deal at $4.5 mil, which would leave Staios with just under $5 mil to sign 4.
UFA Nick Cousins (exp. $800,000) could be re-upped at around $1.2 mil leaving around $3.8 in the bank and still 3 to sign. UFA Adam Gaudette (exp. $775,000) certainly deserves a raise to at least half of that. but early indications are that he’d like to test the market to see if he can get something with a bit of term beyond 1 year.
This is where a trade could enter the picture since rounding out the roster with 3 or 4 ELCs could be dicey as they are simply not that deep.
What they can’t continue to do is relegate Pinto to 3rd line work. He is better than that. One solution – which would also resolve the RW shortage – is to move Cozens to RW on the 1st line with Tkachuk at LW and Stutzle at C. Batherson would then take over the 2nd line RW with Pinto at C and a re-signed Zetterlund at LW. Giroux, in lieu of his age, would move to 3rd line RW with Perron at LW and Greig at C. A 4th line could consist of a re-signed Cousins at LW, Amadio at RW and, if Gaudette does leave to get a longer term elsewhere, perhaps 6′ 4″ 212lb left-shot Stephen Halliday at C. He had a decent 19g 32a 51 pts in 71gp season in Belleville. and has been up for short stints over the past 2 seasons.
Giroux’ expertise at face-offs could still be used in key situations and, of course, he could also move up to the top 2 lines if and when injuries occur to either Cozens or Batherson. Playing him regularly with 3rd line reduced minutes would, in the meantime, conserve his energy.
Moving Cousins to RW and putting Giroux on the 3rd line is looking more and more like the right move, especially if they sign Zetterlund. If they don’t, and go out to to get a reduced property at RW in the market (jonathan marchessault or ivan barbashev), then EVERYONE gets moved down…Pinto becomes 3C and I don’t know if Giroux or Perron are anything more than a 4th liner at that point. Batherson is okay for what he does and not expensive. Only reason you trade him is if Jensen isn’t expected back til mid season and you REALLY need a RHD, who are stupid expensive at this point.
John G … Jensen will be back at some point in the new season – I haven’t seen “mid-season” mentioned anywhere – and for the early part of the schedule the RD can be covered by Zub, Matinpalo and Carter Yakemchuk, who could get a good, long early-season look. And who knows, if he plays well and sticks, they may have their answer in-house.
Oh, and it’s Cozens to RW … Cousins is a 4th line LW 🙂
George. I also haven’t heard “mid-season” or any other time line. But I did hear possible career ender in certain circles. He may not be the player he was.
Dark G – this date May 21 in The Hockey News
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/why-ottawa-senators-defenceman-nick-200010328.html
Ok Lyle I have tried 5 times to post a scenario whereby Toronto makes a trade for rantenen without success,so this post will likely make it.
Knies and Cowan? hahahah
You think the Stars will be asking less for Rantenen than Carolina did when he didn’t have a contract? Now because he has a contract the asking price will be even greater. The team acquiring him isn’t acquiring him for a single playoff run.
I don’t see the Stars accepting a deal that doesn’t evolving one of Knies or Cowan. I fully expect that the Stars will start the negotiations with both, and it would be smart for the Leafs to walk away at that point.
Trying to trade to replace a player who you let walk away isn’t good asset management. The best way is trying to replace that player with a UFA target.
Knies I can see … he has proven beyond doubt that he is a budding NHL star .. Hell, some would say he’s already reached that artificial pinnacle.
But Cowan? A 28th pick overall who hasn’t proven squat at the pro level yet? Sure, he has good stats at the Major Junior level. But there have been countless junior players over the years with far better stats and who also went much higher in the draft – quite a few at # 1 – who quickly faded from sight.
The way Cowan can elevate his play in the playoffs like he has shown the past two OHL playoffs and Memorial Cups, the kid is going to have a strong NHL career.
He just broke Marner’s record for most point in the Memorial Cup by a London Knights player.
I’m not saying he won’t make it big. But until he shows that at the pro level – based on countless before him – what he’s done in Major Junior proves nothing. That’s all I’m saying.
Right now he’s a 28th pick. And from 2013 to 2022, the success of those taken 28th is anything but encouraging: 2013 – Morgan Klimchuk – 1 NHL game; 2014 – Josh Ho-Sang – 53 NHL games; 2015 – Anthony Beauvillier – 631 NHL games – decent bottom 6 F; 2016 – Lucas Johansen – 9 NHL games; 2017 – Shane Bowers – 13 NHL games; 2018 – Nils Lundqvist – 183 NHL games – bottom-pairing D; 2019 – Ryan Suzuki – 2 NHL games; 2020 – Ridley Greig – 170 NHL games – bottom 6 F; 2021 – Oskar Olausson – 4 NHL games; 2022 – Jiri Kulich – 63 NHL games.
10 players – 2 of whom can best be described as “decent.” Cowan may be requested from another team involving a major talent … but he will be an addition in the deal – hardly the target.
So what you`re saying George is that Carter Yakemchuk has no real value because at the NHL level he hasn`t done squat either.
No, Yogi – you know I’m not saying that. All I’m saying is, for someone like Rantanen – or even Jason Robinson – the “ask” won’t start with Cowan. He might be part of the ask, but right now he’s a prospect. Like Yakemchuk. We have high hopes for him here – much like Leafs’ fans have high hopes for Cowan – but until they show they can handle the game at the NHL level they remain just that. Prospects.
Knies, on the other hand, would definitely start the “ask” in a major deal. He is the real deal of a power F.
Honestly, I have no idea why your post hasn’t appeared. You are not blocked, nor are they appearing in my “Awaiting Approval” file. Yet, your last two posts claiming you were blocked or that your attempts to post were unsuccessful showed up without an issue.
Thanks for the response.
Try a different browser.
Panarin for Zegras.bread joins his old pal Strome. Zegras comes home.
I like this trade
I read an article a few weeks ago about offer sheets this offseason. The author doesn’t expect any off sheets this season duo to Gavin McKenna. No one is going to want to risk losing their opportunity to be able to draft him. The only teams that have the combination of cap space and draft picks are the lower teams who are expected to be in the draft lottery again next season. Then there is the unforeseen like the Leafs in 2009/10 when they signed Phil Kessel, who predicted the Predators to finish third last after their moves last years offseason, and then there are this years NYI moving from 10th to 1st in the draft order. No one is going to want to risk their opportunity to draft McKenna no matter how small of a chance it might be.
IMO we will not see any offer sheets that involve a 1st round pick this offseason.
There are a “lot” of in the middle teams that forsee fighting for a playoff spot and if they lack their 3rd rounder in 2026 Im sure they can get it back.
Vancouver comes to mind but there are 5-10 more teams
I can see someone offering 4,6 for Zetterlund on a 4-5 year deal, would only cost a 2nd.
And if you have the picks and cap and really need a 2nd line C, which means half the league. Offering 9,3 times 7 to a number 3 pick who is 6 1, 220 lbs and is 22 years old with upside and it would cost you a mid first rounder plus a 2nd and 3rd. Now I dont have the pick situation but I could see 10 possible teams going after McTavish with an offer sheet
K’Andre Millers name has been floating around. Could see him signing an offer sheet and Rangers taking the picks. Also a trade candidate for Zegras. NY could package him with a young winger. He can go pair up with Trouba again. Maybe Ducks can retain part of Zegras’ last year. NY can’t absorb that cap hit without moving more salary.
This would be a good trade for both teams.
Ok…never mind Batherson for a second, or that Garioch is as reliable whoever does the weather in your city.
Why would Dallas ever entertain the idea of trading a 2x 40 goal scorer (nearly 3x and nearly a 50 goal scorer–100 point season) 6’3 200 pound 25 year old. LIKE….none of us should be GM’s. And someone pointed out yesterday that he IS a playoff performer he just wasn’t this year.
Didn’t you know? All the players in the NHL want to play in Toronto. Just ask the Leafs fans. LOL
Uhh, how does Toronto fit into what Dark G wrote above?
Oh crap, I thought he was describing Rantanen. Yesterdays rumors explained why Dallas would look into trading Jason Robertson.
Penguins hire Dan Muse as next head coach.
Dang. Was hoping he’d stay with Rangers. Actually thought he’d be Rangers HC before Pitt let Sullivan go. Spent a few years with USNTDP.
Brock Nelson 3x 7.5
what would Bennett be offered if he leaves FLA?
8.5 has to be starting
Brock Nelson – 6′ 4″ 205lb C 920gp 301g 286a 587 pts for 82-game averages of 27g 26a 53 pts –
Sam Bennett – 6′ 1″ 195lb C 691gp 162g 174a 336 pts for 82-game averages of 19g 21a 40 points
@george
5 years younger. and of course harder to play against. in prime
I think he gets overpaid by a few million if leaves FL
Oh, that I agree … overpaid for sure. Happens every UFA Frenzy like clockwork,.
Brady Tkachuk to Bruins Trade could happen …
No, it couldn’t. Brady Tkachuk is staying with the Senators.
For now
Slick62, that can be said about most. No one knows for certain what the circumstances for each team will be next season, never mind 2, 3 4 years down the line.
But I’ll bet one thing … IF he ever asks for a trade out of Ottawa, or even if the team at some point sees fit to peddle him, it won’t be to Boston or NYR.
In either scenario he’d choose St. Louis.
Pasta will look good in black n red.
Pasta for Brady
Keep dreaming Joe. For the next while, as a Bruins fan, that’s all you’ll have.
Or do you expect the frequent target of your wrath, Sweeney, to suddenly become a genius GM along the lines of Sam Pollock, starting with the hiring of the next Scotty Bowman as coach?
Why would the Senators trade their catalyst- what could bruins offer?
I remember the draft year when the habs took KK instead of Brady, I was in shock
Because the pedigree was there.
Jensen will be on LTIR to start the season . Cap to play with.
Rantanen wasn’t a playoff rental .
For almost no reason do you move Batherson.
Exciting times for NHL fans- Cup Draft FA