NHL Rumor Mill – June 7, 2025
Check out the latest on Drake Batherson, John Gibson, Charlie Coyle, and Nicolas Hague in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SENATORS MANAGEMENT DISMISS BATHERSON TRADE RUMORS
OTTAWA SUN: Jason Duench reports Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer denied rumors claiming Drake Batherson was on the trade block.
“It’s not right,” said Andlauer. General manager Steve Staios added there was “no truth” to the speculation that he was shopping the 27-year-old winger, adding he’d spoken to Batherson to reassure him.
Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the Batherson speculation was reported by Duench’s colleague Bruce Garrioch, who claimed earlier this week that there was “no shortage of talk” that the Senators were shopping the winger.
Andlauer and Staios won’t publicly admit to shopping Batherson or anyone else. Nevertheless, the fact that they dismissed the speculation before reporters started asking questions suggests that they wanted to nip this in the bud.
The Batherson trade rumors were puzzling because they would be trading away a reliable scorer carrying a team-friendly contract for the next two seasons. More than one critic felt the Senators had better be getting a significant return if they were serious about moving him.
Staios also indicated that contract extension talks continue with pending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux and restricted free agent Fabian Zetterlund. He also said the Senators won’t be spending toward the projected $95.5 million cap ceiling for 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have a projected $15 million of cap space with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. Giroux and Zetterlund should be affordable re-signings, but they will eat up at least $5 million of that cap room, leaving $10 million to fill out the remaining roster spots.
Their determination not to spend to the cap means they won’t be pursuing big-ticket talent in this summer’s free-agent market. They could go the trade route, but that could mean a player-for-player swap to manage the dollars, which could explain why Batherson surfaced in the rumor mill in the first place.
MORE SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR JOHN GIBSON
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin proposed five trade destinations for John Gibson. The 32-year-old Anaheim Ducks goaltender has been a fixture in the rumor mill over the past two offseasons.
Larkin suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins as potential landing spots for Gibson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The significant increase of the salary cap, the lack of quality goaltending depth in this summer’s free-agent market, and Gibson having two seasons left on his contract could finally create the right conditions for a much-anticipated trade.
It was rumored the Hurricanes looked at acquiring Gibson last summer before opting to bring back Frederik Andersen on a one-year deal. The Blue Jackets, Flyers and Penguins lack reliable starters, while the Devils could need a replacement for 1B goalie Jake Allen if he hits the open market on July 1.
THE LATEST ON CHARLIE COYLE AND NICOLAS HAGUE
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes the Colorado Avalanche’s re-signing of Brock Nelson likely means Charlie Coyle will return to the trade market. The Avalanche acquired the 33-year-old forward from the Boston Bruins at the March trade deadline. He has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.25 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche has only $1.2 million of cap space after re-signing Nelson. They must shed salary to create more room for other signings. Coyle’s cap hit, his no-movement clause, and three-team trade list could make him a tough sell in the trade market.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ limited cap space could force them to move defenseman Nicolas Hague in a cost-cutting deal. Kypreos claims the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are “hot on the trail” to acquire him, potentially.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hague, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The 6’6”, 240-pound left-shot defenseman earned an AAV of $2.294 million on his previous contract.
After watching the first two games between Edmonton and Florida, Matthews, nylander and marner should be mentioned here. They don’t have the intensity, urgency and drive to win a cup like the stars in these 2 games.
Anytime I here an owner of my team talk about player personnel decisions I cringe. Spent to many years with Melnyk interfering.
Staois from all I understand maintains that everything is on the table. Batherson may not ever have been on the trade block but man I’d wish I never heard that from Andlauer and only from Staois.
Here is hoping we don’t continue with the same old ways of an Owner not able to stay away from the cameras and unable to let the people he hired to run the team run the team.
It may be my hockey PTSD, earned by many a Sen fan, and may not be deserving, but I cringe….how I cringe.
Relax Jeff … unlike Melnyk, from who we heard comments constantly, the only time this [past year we have heard from Andlauer was at the beginning of the season, and recently at the annual charity golf tournament in Stittsville.
And there he simply felt obligated to try and answer media questions when they spotted him. He could hardly just flash them the middle finger and move on.
Matt Larkin believes one of John Gibson’s landing spots is the Penguins. Is Larkin aware of Tristan Jarry’s contract and Penguins prospect Sergei Murashov could be ready the following season?
Rumor – heard Penguins interested acquiring defenseman Nicolas Hague.
Edmonton needs to get more offense out of their forwards.Ater 28 and 87 the next best forwards have been 33 yr old Kane and 40 yr old Perry. Where s the rest of the bunch.Also Bob has been a little better than Skinner.
You’re right, Sr, re Bobrovsky having an edge over the Oiler goaltending – and that shows in the tale of the tape over the playoffs so far – but they are pretty close when it comes to goals distribution (so far) by lines and D
EMONTON: 18gp 19 players with 1 or more goals: 10 by Draisaitl; 8 by Perry; 7 by Bouchard; 6 by McDavid, Kane; 5 each by Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Brown; 4 by Henrique; 3 each by Janmark, Kapanen; 2 by Nurse, Arvidsson; 1 each by Klingberg, Podkolzin, Kulak, Walman, Frederic, Skinner; zero by each of Joshua Brown, Stecher, Emberson
Top 2 lines – 38 goals – Bottom 2 lines – 17 goals (not counting Hyman who is done for the series)
Defense – 16 goals
Skinner & Pickard – 18gp W13 L5 2.94gaa 0.897 save % 505SA 453Sv 52ga
FLORIDA: 19gp – 19 players with 1 or more goals: 13 by Bennett; 7 by Marchand; 6 each by Barkov, Verhaeghe., 5 each by Tkachuk, Lundell; 4 each by Luostarinen, Reinhart, Jones; 3 each by Ekblad, Schmidt, Mikkola; 2 each by Boqvist, Kulikov, Greer, Gadjovich; 1 each by Forsling, Balinskis, Rodrigues (who also has 12 assists); zero by each of Samoskovich, Sturm, Nosek
Top 2 lines – 35 goals – Bottom 2 lines – 20 goals
Defense – 16 goals
Bobrovsky – 19gp W13 L6 2.11gaa – .0912 save % 500SA 456Sv 44ga
I’m beginning to get this feeling that a new contract for Claude Giroux in Ottawa might not be as cut-and-dried as first thought. Over the past 3 seasons his production has steadily declined from his position as the 1s line RW, and he does turn 38 in January.
If the decision is to play Cozens at RW, thereby creating a situation where C Shane Pinto can move into the top 6, would Giroux be content with becoming a 3rd line RW? (that situation would see Stutzle between Tkachuk and Cozens on line 1, while Pinto would be the C for the 2nd line with Batherson at RW and possibly a re-signed Zetterlund at LW. That would drop Giroux to rd line duty at RW with C Ridley Greig and LW Perron.
If Giroux balks at that possibility, he could wind up elsewhere to finish up his career.
Now, I am NOT suggesting this is how it will definitely play out … but it does now become a possibility. If it goes that way, the cap that would have gone to Giroux then becomes available in combination with that set aside for use on the UFA market (or perhaps a trade package).
Any player not named Sid or Ovi still sees himself as a top 6 forward at that age, really needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. Just to be healthy enough to contribute at 38 is quite the accomplishment
Agree there Yogi. If he re-signs he has to drop to 3rd line duty. He simply can’t handle the ice-time of the two 2 lines. He’s a nice player to have for a variety of reasons – but Sid or Ovi he ain’t.
Habs have , 5 LD and 1 RD.
In Laval there are 6LD and 2RD
These are starters with other prospects and pro signings to come, boring info for the off-season that Nick Kypreos apparently unaware.
With 11 LD and 3 RD, why are the Habs “hot” to get another LD?
Kypreos and Garrioch have both been around for a long time unfortunately, spitballing more than giving insider news.
I can’t recall ever reading about a player/team renegotiating a contract for a longer term to reduce the AAV and make the contract more palatable for other teams to acquire. John Gibson’s contract would be a perfect example where a renegotiation might facilitate a trade to the benefit of both the player and the team. Is there anything in the CBA that prevents renegotiating contracts?
Harry
Don’t have to. Swayman and Beacher for Gibson and Zegras
😎
Harry,then trade Zacha or Lindholm and Lohrei for Necas.
Ottawa is “determined not to spend to cap”???
They made playoffs and picked up that extra revenue. There’s no guarantee they get back to playoffs. Taking a step back would be disastrous and risk Brady wanting out. Not saying they should throw money around but, should be assuring fans youre looking to improve team.
Slick62, when Staios and Andlauer speak about “not spending to the cap” it isn’t because they are adopting a “cheap” approach. You don’t do that when you fork over 3/4 of a billion to purchase the team.
They are both of the sound philosophy to leave some “wiggle room” for the unexpected – like being able to perhaps acquire a key player when the trade deadline approaches, or to be able to sign a free agent without the team suddenly being thrust into a cap crunch.
And they’re not talking huge reserve, like $5 mil up.
George. When I read it I took it to mean saving. Period. My mistake. East will probably be a dogfight again for wildcards.
Oh, a dogfight for sure, and I think the Capitals and New Jersey could fall back into that grouping, with Columbus, Detroit, NYR, NYI and, yes, Buffalo all in that dogfight with Ottawa & Montreal.
Kypreos is also the same guy who said that Nick Suzuki is not a true number 1 centre. I’m not saying his concussion history maybe effects his judgement. What I will say is, there are YouTubers with more hockey knowledge than him.
Sr, I think you’re missing my point. I have no horse in the race with regards to Gibson or Anaheim. I was only using Gibson as an example. Every day in this blog we read about players that could (or need) to be moved but their contracts and/or the acquiring teams cap space gets in the way. So I’m wondering why we don’t see contracts being renegotiated to reduce AAV’s. Is there something in the CBA that prevents this?
Lyle, could you enlighten me on this?
HarryO: Contracts are guaranteed under the CBA. That’s why there’s no renegotiation.
Coyle has to go . I am sure he would be open up more teams when push comes to shove . Hopefully those 3 need a good #3 . Avs may have to hold a little and throw in a late pick.
No way they get Giroux and Zetterlund for 5m. Zetterlund is a +20 goal guy and about 45-55 points if given opportunity. 25 years old and built like a tank. Iwould offer sheet him a 4-4,5 times 5 years for a 2nd rounder