NHL Rumor Mill – June 6, 2025
Check out the latest on the Avalanche, Canucks and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE AVALANCHE BE FORCED TO MOVE MARTIN NECAS?
THE DENVER POST: Troy Renck believes the Colorado Avalanche signing Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension puts general manager Chris MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar on notice.
Renck understood the need to retain Nelson to address their long-standing need for a second-line center. However, he believes the cost ($7.5 million annually) has boxed MacFarland into a salary-cap corner, likely forcing him to buy out Miles Wood and trade Ross Colton when his full no-trade clause becomes a limited one on July 1.
Martin Necas is eligible for a contract extension this summer and could ask for $10 million-plus if he reaches 100 points playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon next season. There’s speculation that the Avs could trade Necas, as the 26-year-old winger is reportedly unhappy in Colorado.
Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas (NHL Images).
Necas was the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen trade. Moving him would mean trying to get the same haul all over again, which could leave MacFarland with egg on his face.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen cited Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos claimed that “there’s a sense” that Necas wasn’t “overly thrilled” in Colorado and could seek other options.
Deen questioned this, citing Necas’ performance with the Avalanche and how well he fit in with his new teammates. However, he’s concerned that the winger is a year away from UFA status and could seek a substantial raise over his current average annual value of $6.5 million. They can’t afford to lose him for nothing next year, and they can’t let this situation linger like they did with Rantanen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas’ asking price will be the deciding factor in his future with the Avalanche. If he seeks $10 million annually, that will be $2 million less than what Rantanen got with the Dallas Stars, and likely won’t sit well with Avs followers, who would’ve preferred hanging onto Rantanen.
COULD THE CANUCKS PEDDLE THATCHER DEMKO?
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma noted that the plethora of injuries suffered by Thatcher Demko creates a dilemma for Vancouver Canucks management.
The 29-year-old goaltender is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He can be signed to an extension as early as July 1. When healthy, he’s among the league’s best netminders, but the concerns about his durability will affect their plans for re-signing him.
Kuzma reports Demko wants to remain a Canuck and has put up numbers that warrant an extension. The salary is negotiable, but contract length will be an issue. Demko will seek long-term security, but Canucks management could prefer caution.
Patrick Johnston reports plenty of people have noticed that Demko and center Elias Pettersson don’t appear in the Canucks’ latest marketing imagery.
He suggested Pettersson’s absence could be because he’s on the trade block, or perhaps his image has too much negative connotations for Canucks fans right now. However, Demko’s absence makes Johnston wonder if the goalie is quietly being shopped.
Johnston cited a league source suggesting Demko would be a solid trade chip that would fetch a return that addresses their need for a second-line center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s poor performance in 2024-25, his drama with former teammate J.T. Miller, and hefty $11.6 million AAV through 2031-32 makes him very difficult to move this summer.
Demko, on the other hand, would be easier to peddle in the trade market. Despite his injury history, there’s no question he’s a talented goaltender. The lack of quality netminders available in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets would draw plenty of interest from teams looking to upgrade between the pipes next season.
The Canucks’ goaltending is in decent shape if they wish to move on from Demkov. They signed Kevin Lankinen earlier this season to a four-year contract extension, and they have promising Arturs Silovs in the minors.
WILL THE BLACKHAWKS MAKE A MAJOR OFFSEASON MOVE?
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports there’s an assumption around the league that the Chicago Blackhawks are poised to make a major offseason move. They have plenty of cap space and draft capital, and could be aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets following their recent finishes in the league standings.
GM Kyle Davidson remains determined to continue building through the draft. They could inquire about Mitch Marner if the 28-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs winger goes to market on July 1, but they won’t overpay for him, nor do they consider him or any other player in this year’s UFA market as an essential piece to add.
Powers considers it unlikely they’ll target another club’s restricted free-agent talent with offer sheets. Instead, they could focus on the trade market. Someone like JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres could intrigue them, and they have the trade capital to make such a move.
Turning to their UFAs, Powers indicated the Blackhawks have had contract talks with Ryan Donato. They haven’t reached an agreement yet, and time is getting short, but there’s still a chance he could sign an extension.
Powers also interviewed Davidson, who remains open to trading draft capital for an NHL roster player. The Blackhawks GM is willing to explore every option to help his team, but it has to be the right fit. He also pointed out that acquiring good talent remains difficult because of the competition for the few available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Davidson brought in veterans over the past two years to help his rebuilding team. The problem was that most of them were past their prime, with several ending up traded to other clubs.
His challenge is finding those in the prime, preferably in their mid-to-late twenties, who will fit well with the Blackhawks’ young core. Marner fits that category, but he’d be too expensive, and he could be unwilling to join a rebuilding club.
if Columbus acquires Demko and signs Mitch Marner, the rest of the Metro division better look out. After all that team went through this past season, they could really use a pick me up like that duo.
Demko,maybe. Marner? Not in this or any other lifetime.
Ignorance or distain? Saying no to a 100pt., all situations type player, like top 10 ant least isn’t a good look. A team where you have many players similar to him, sure, pass. Is it the cost to get such a good player or that that blue and white stench will never leave him for you?
Hate really makes one blind, eh?
Odds for Blue Jackets sign Marner +2,900 are 10th in the NHL. Top four favorites: Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, Golden Knights have no idea why Maple Leafs and Hurricanes are that high considering Marner words doesn’t want to resign with Maple Leafs and he declined trade to Hurricanes this year. Still is it possible next season Marner regular season stats could regress?
I think of all the teams this summer…If Marner does hit the market as expected…Chicago could be the one place that could land him his biggest payday. They need to land someone that can help Bedard. It seems a perfect match to me.
Canucks will have suitors for Demko but that does not mean getting a substantial return for an injury riddle goalie 1 year from UFA status. Again..Chicago? Adding Marner and Demko would be a great summer.
Columbus may be willing to take a shot at Demko as well
only issue with this is they run into the same issue leafs did when they signed tavares. What do you pay Bedard then? 15? on top of that you improve enough to get out of the lottery for mckenna but not enough to sniff the playoffs.
Necas for Lafreneire
I like Necas and I do think Rangers could shop Laffy. But, moving Lafreniere would be to open up cap space. Adding Necas would cost more in long run and Laf could still have upside with his cost certainty. Like rest of team, you hope his last season was a one off. That said, I could see him or K Miller as fits in Chicago.
I wouldn’t trade for LaFreniere if the ask were a pack of chewed gum.
something going on with Necas, is he another player only concerned about his next contract? he had issues with his contract with Carolina, wasn’t happy there, and then got traded to the Avs, to play with MacKinnon, but not fully happy. What is up with this guy? what is he expecting?
Teams will blindly throw him the $$$ if he becomes a free agent, but with that attitude (and hasn’t shown yet that he can be the #1 guy on the team), would you really want to pay him big bucks (and major cap space) for a guy with that type of demeanor?
I was thinking the exact same thing. Sounds like an attitude you want to stay away from.
I think Necas was jerked along by Carolina for years, never getting paid his worth, didn’t get ice time as the team had to jusify the Kotkaniemi offer sheet.
The team had to let Trochek go and Necas slid down the totem pole despite outperforming the kid.
So, he’s had a chip on his shoulder for a few years.
Or maybe his playoff stats are on the thin side. 🤷♀️🤷🏻♂️
Ron Moore,
Maybe you should look at his playoff stats..Necas has and continues to perform well.
Stars fire DeBoer!
All other coaching positions have been filled!
can’t really be surprised there, he lost his cool on the bench in game 7, and hung his starting goalie out to dry afterwards.
wonder which direction the Stars go.
Peter Laviolette has a coaching history of big success in his first year but downhill after that. Stars could use that first year energy to get past the Oilers, Would be surpised if that takes place
Didn’t Oettinger hang the Stars out? He let the first two shots in, and had played poorly in three of the other 4 games.
I don’t buy the coach got fired because he hurt the goalie’s feels. It was losing three straight conference finals.
Let’s cool it on the necas story. Did he come out and say that he is not thrilled about his brief time in Colorado ? Now the rumor mill is in full swing. Until the guy says it is so you can’t go down every rabbit hole. I like him on the Avalanche but he didn’t do much against Dallas. Let’s let the guy play for a full season before ratcheting up a rumor that may or may not be accurate. Fits in well with that speed and great shot but he doesn’t utilize it enough; that was one criticism bednar mentioned I believe? Which are bad habits that many Avalanche have. Too busy passing it around instead of letting it rip, especially MacKinnon. MacKinnon would probably have approximately 10-15 more goals per year if he would shoot when he has the opportunity . Same for Rantanen when he was on the team. Drouin is another. Great shots but they prefer to pass the puck into the net; then you got Landeskog and nichushkin who are smart enough to just let it go or make sure they put the puck on net
Heh, tommyboy – probably based on this
https://coloradohockeynow.com/2025/06/04/is-martin-necas-unhappy-in-colorado-one-nhl-insider-reportedly-believes-so/
The fact the “insider” is Nick Kypreos should be enough to dismiss the rumour.
Well said, George. It is a mystery to me how Kypreos was hired a second time by Sportsnet
Not to worry. Pete will get paid to sit at home & wait for next opportunity.
Is Lankinen that good today, that the Canucks really think he’s the long term answer in goal? Was last year the coming out for this keeper, or an illusion?
I don’t see Jarmo letting Petreka go anywhere.
Thanks George O! I saw something similar but not sure where that was? But that is interesting. That guy seems to believe he has all the inside scoops but like biz, he is not always correct! I would believe it if it was from some of those other guys like Sara valli or Friedman, or a beat writer that is involved with the team. Regardless, that is interesting. But deen the guy who wrote the article noted specific examples of there being no evidence of that he is “unhappy” . So, unless there is something not being said, I don’t believe it at present I hope he stays and likes the Avalanche. We need him obviously. Gave up a lot for him but he and Drury did a good job. Need more when it counts
Not a big rush with Necas. Highly skilled player with speed and size under contract
MacKinnon doesn’t shoot enough ?? He led the league just ahead of Pasta and Werenski.
He doesn’t shoot at critical opportune times when it’s available despite whatever the stats, misses the net, passes the puck when he has a clear opportunity, etc!
MacKinnon was second in scoring and first in shots “on “ net. I think the blame is elsewhere. Maybe not clutch enough but he has been in he past.
They should not have lost to Dallas except for a brief lapse in momentum . Not sure they do any better against Edmonton anyway.