NHL Rumor Mill – June 9, 2025
Big changes could be coming for the Rangers, the latest on the Penguins, and a list of potential buyout candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
RUMBLINGS OF BIG CHANGES FOR THE RANGERS
THE ATHLETIC’s Arthur Staple reported that the word at the NHL Draft Combine was that the New York Rangers are among the teams looking to shake up their rosters this summer. The others include the Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Seattle Kraken.
Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin are considered the only untouchables on the Rangers roster. Staple believes general manager Chris Drury could attempt to sign Vladislav Gavrikov if the Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks considers it inevitable that the Rangers will trade K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and is coming off a disappointing 2024-25 performance.
New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (NHL Images).
Several sources told Brooks that they believe Miller will be targeted with an offer sheet if he isn’t moved by July 1. He believes the offer would be around five years with an average annual value between $6 million and $7.012 million, which the Rangers “all but certainly would not match.” They would receive a first and third-round pick as compensation.
Parting with Miller would leave the Rangers without a left-shot defenseman who can skate alongside Fox on their top defenseman pairing. Unless such a blueliner is part of the return in a trade involving Miller, Brooks believes they’ll have to overpay for a UFA like Gavrikov if he’s available.
Brooks also indicated that Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere is “surely available” and was the topic of several conversations at the draft combine, “though it is unclear whether the majority of inquiries were outgoing or incoming.”
If the Rangers can’t move Miller for a defenseman and instead move him for a forward, Brooks believes Drury could use Lafreniere as a trade chip to add a left-shot blueliner.
Brooks pointed out that Vincent Trocheck’s no-trade clause becomes a 12-team no-trade list on July 1. If next season goes sideways, he believes Trocheck could become one of the Rangers’ most attractive trade chips.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury was among the busiest general managers in this season’s trade market. He began tinkering with his roster in December, hoping to stage what would be a quick turnaround in their fortunes within a season or two.
If he’s peddling Miller and Lafreniere, he’ll want good NHL players in their prime in return, not draft picks and prospects, unless he intends to use those as trade bait as well.
PENGUINS COULD SPURN FREE AGENCY FOR THE TRADE MARKET
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reported Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said he’s probably not going to be as aggressive in the free-agent market, unless it’s for a younger player “who maybe deserves a little more term.”
Dubas said he’s been getting trade inquiries from other clubs, indicating that some of them are rebuilding clubs looking to take the next step in their development.
Yohe stated the Penguins have “a bushel of draft picks and several veterans they’re willing to trade.” In return, Dubas wants young, talented players who no longer fit with their current teams. He’ll also be watching cap-strapped clubs looking to offload some salary.
Penguins fans could want Dubas to target restricted free agents with offer sheets, like the St. Louis Blues did last summer when they signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers. However, he doesn’t think that’s going to happen much this summer because of the rising salary cap.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins could have two first-rounders in this year’s draft if the Rangers agree to send them their 2025 pick as part of the terms of the J.T. Miller trade with the Vancouver Canucks, who included that pick as part of the return to the Penguins for Marcus Pettersson.
They also have three third-rounders and two fifth-rounders in this year’s draft, three second-rounders and two third-rounders in 2026, and two second-rounders, three third-rounders and two fourth-rounders in 2027.
The veterans who they are willing to move could include defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves, goaltender Tristan Jarry, and forward Kevin Hayes. However, rival clubs are likely more interested in top-six forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
POTENTIAL BUYOUT CANDIDATES
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli recently published his list of seven players he believes could be bought out of their contracts this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first buyout window opens the later of June 15 or 48 hours following the completion of the Stanley Cup Final and closes at 5 pm ET on June 30. A team can get a second, 48-hour buyout window if a player files for arbitration and is settled or awarded, beginning three days following the settlement or award.
Defenseman T.J. Brodie of the Chicago Blackhawks tops Seravalli’s list, with forward Pierre Engvall of the New York Islanders and blueliner Matt Dumba of the Dallas Stars sitting second and third, respectively.
Chicago forward Joe Veleno, St. Louis Blues winger Mathieu Joseph, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Justin Holl, and San Jose Sharks blueliner Marc-Edouard Vlasic round out the list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Veleno are over the age of 26, meaning their buyouts are calculated at two-thirds of the remaining value over twice the remaining term. The 25-year-old Veleno’s buyout would be calculated at one-third of the remaining value over twice the remaining term.
One pending UFA – IF he chooses to test the waters – sure to get some attention from over-anxious GMs, is 29 y/o 6’ 190lb left-shot C/LW Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks. Prior to joining Chicago he had played 325 games with Boston, Minnesota and Seattle, registering 65g 70a 135 pts, for 82-game averages of 16g 18a 34 pts. Decent bottom-6 numbers which continued last year in his first season with Chicago, where he played 78 games with 12g 18a 30 pts.
This past season, after being moved to LW on the first line with Bedard, he broke out with 31g 31a 62 points and, at an expiring cap cost of $2,000,000, was attracting attention at the trade deadline (including interest from Ottawa).
Sitting on a cap reserve of $29,203,690 and just 4 RFAs to re-up – none of whom are looking at big raises following rather pedestrian production/results – and only one other UFA – 37 y/o LW Pat Maroon (68gp 5g 14a 19pts), coming off an expiring $1.3 mil, I doubt Chicago will allow it to go that far.
However, they – or whoever does sign Donato if he tests free agency – will need to be very careful on this one, and shouldn’t go overboard on a player who, over his 403 games prior to playing with Bedard this past season, averaged 16g 18a 34 pts per season.
GeorgeO I watched Donato play HS,college at Harvard and with the Bruins.I believe his uncle coached him at Dexter Academy ,Harvard by his father Ted.,and then the Bruins where his father played..Point being he was taken care of until he got to the Pros. He is SOFT
Rangers 2015 pick? What a deal lol
Keep it
Gives us a potential extra lottery chance at McKenna
I don’t see Rangers giving up 12th pick this year. Goal is to be back in playoffs next year, not in lottery. Could see 2 teams as likely trade partners after swapping coaches.
Awesome
I thought I read Maroon is retiring
which he should have done a couple of years ago 🙂
A full season with JT will help the Rangers . I don’t think they need to do a lot . Not that far removed from the Presidents trophy. The defence Corp needs some attention .
Lafreniere would be a nice chip. Hague and Howden .
Maroon has indeed (finally) retired … I just mentioned him as part of Chicago’s expiring contracts – with $29 mil + there’s no need to over-pay Donato and they could likely do much better elsewhere in the UFA market
There might not be a lot of offer sheets but targeting some cap strapped teams makes sense. Zetterlund of Ottawa is one of those. 20-25 goals, 50 points, age 25 and built like a truck with Ottawa with little cap space and already saying they arent spending to the cap. Anything below 4,6 and a 2nd as a cost makes sense as he is a 2nd line guy
That’s a trade Staios made so I seriously doubt he’s gong to let him walk … they have enough to sign him – or match an offer sheet – and still leave some cap “wiggle room” – which is why he said they would not spend to the cap
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2025/06/senators-not-planning-to-use-full-amount-of-cap-space-this-summer.html
I also think one more big-ticket trade could be in the offing
Staios certainly isn’t about to allow him to slip away in an offer-sheet scenario involving a cap hit of less than $4.6 after giving up Ostapchuk, Gregor AND a 2nd round pick to get him, AHLer Tristen Robins and a 2025 4th-round pick.
Now, if someone is dumb enough to go above $4.6 in an offer sheet, giving Ottawa a 1st and a 3rd, that’s an entirely different story.
Ottawa has 16 players signed, so they need to sign 5-6 including Giroux and Zetterlund. And they want another top six forward and a top 4 RD. Cap space is 15, Giroux gets 4 you sign 2 players for 2,5m. That leaves 8,5 for those top 6/4, including Zetterlund, and they arent spending to the cap. I can see Staios matching but that leaves basically no money left
He no doubt has his work cut out for him Kent, but from all the talk re Jensen’s return to action not taking place until well into the season, he does have his $4 mil cap hit (unless they alter the rules this summer) to cover some of the other costs.
In his absence, at RD they have Zub, Matinpalo and Yakemchuk – who will certainly get a long look in those circumstances – and there is always the possibility of another trade involving one of the big-ticket players.
Let’s at least wait and see what the summer brings. And if someone does submit an offer sheet on Zetterlund, he’d probably match anyway … and then perhaps talk trade with the interested team – or another.
As much as Millers name has been thrown around, I’d think he’s pretty much gone. Maybe a swap for Samberg from Jets. Top 5 shut down dman. Perhaps NY can throw in a winger like Othmann? I wouldn’t count Panarin anymore of untouchable as Zibanejad, due to nmc. But, if there’s no plans on an extension, I can see him waiving. I’ve always thought Florida for him with his bff Bobrovsky. If Bennett walks in FA, Vergaeghe could slide to center. Panarins gets a 7m bonus this year, leaving only 1 mil in actual salary. Would need a 3rd team to divide up the cap hit.
He definitely ain’t gonna get an offer sheet that brings back a 1st and third.
Re : Penguins and
“Penguins fans could want Dubas to target restricted free agents with offer sheets, like the St. Louis Blues did last summer when they signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers. However, he doesn’t think that’s going to happen much this summer because of the rising salary cap.”
I’m sure the very high majority of Pens’ fans want this.
Re “The veterans who they are willing to move could include defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves, goaltender Tristan Jarry, and forward Kevin Hayes. However, rival clubs are likely more interested in top-six forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.”
EK…. CanNOT be moved without retention
Wait until signing bonus paid; retain 50% more (of remaining) and get a young 20’s NHLer with term ; plus an NHL ready (definitely expected to play in 25/26) prospect
Retain 50% on one ONE (not both) of Rust OR Rackell; get same return as above
Use pick or picks to boot Hayes
No chance at finding a taker on Graves
Keep Jarry; trade Nedjelkovic for a pick (used in Hayes punt)
Re-up all current RFAs
For craps sake Dubas; do not re-up Grzylcyck or Nieto
Not liking his choice for coach; many far better options were available
Miss playoffs again; hard to believe Crosby wants to finish career with 5 straight years of missing the playoffs; $8.7 M Cap hit…. All teams that have the space will want him
8787. What about Malkin? Last year on his contract. Maybe a deadline trade candidate?
Slick62
If Pens definitely out of playoff picture nearing TDL; and Malkin exit “an extreme longshot” no more
Any GM in a re-build – including Dubas – who doesn’t seriously consider offer sheets to 5′ 11″ 181lb right-shot C Mavrik Bourque (1st round pick – 30th overall 2020), coming off an ELC of $894,167, and 6′ 192lb RD Nils Lundqvist )1st round pick 28th overall 2018) coming off an expiring $1,250,000, simply isn’t doling his job.
Dallas, with just $4,955,084 in cap reserve and 7 to sign, simply could not afford to match any combination of offer sheets totaling over $5 mil and still fill out their roster.
Hi George
Re your above and “simply isn’t doing his job.”
Dubas HAS NOT done his job
Dubas currently IS NOT doing his job
and I have fair confidence
WILL NOT do his job
Look at his trades, coach choice, non moves; acquisitions; non acquisitions; player demotions/non demotions/promotions etc
That’s a GM who is NOT doing his job
There will still be good selections for Dubas this year at 11 (and possibly 12…Rangers); but don’t be surprised if Dubas goes off the board and picks a sub 5’9”, sub 165 lb player, who was passed over in ‘24 draft; and currently ranked to “maybe” be picked in round 3!
Rumors Penguins interested in few RFAs including:
Hague – Golden Knights defenseman
Byram – Sabres defenseman
Peterka – Sabres winger
Miller – Rangers defenseman
Rossi – Wild center
Following off-season with McKenna lottery, sounds like Penguins want keep their own 2026 #1 draft pick. Five players above most to possibly all next season likely earn more than 4.6 million. Dubas indicating making trades. Rumor – Dubas wants specific player, who? Also, weeks ago heard Dubas may make RFA offer giving up to their 2026 #2 draft pick.
Fox and Miller are not a pairing and seldom have been.
If another team wants to offer sheet Miller for 6 or 7 per ? Have at it. I don’t see NY getting a 1st and a 3rd for Miller in a trade.
He’s gone either way. They don’t have the cap space to qualify him, and I doubt Drury has the desire to do so anyway.
After re-signing Cullye 3-4 per on a bridge deal? There won’t be much left.
They already have a solid guy on the left side that’s cheaper (or will be) and a much better option than Miller. Make nice with Zac Jones and move on from Miller.
I hope Cuylle comes in at only $3-$4M. I’m hoping he doesn’t get an offer sheet for $4.6M (which is only a 2nd round pick comp).
Rempe will get a raise too on his new deal.
K.Miller probably has to go due to salary. Rangers cannot afford to pay him (or any replacment) $5-$7M. I’d love Gavrikov, but Rangers can’t fit him in either, even if K.Miller walks.
And Zac Jones is RFA so he’ll likley get a raise too.
The Rangers are so cap strapped that the only way they can make a significant free agent add would be to trade away 1 of Laf, Panarin, Kreider, or Zib. Laf might be the easiest to trade based on age and his lack of movement clauses.
Cuylle could be tempting some GMS with his skillset…and somehow does not taken needless 2 minute penalties…
Dumolin would be an interesting RFA for the Rangers with his Sullivan past and how he played for the Devils last season
I would love to swap Soucys cap hit with the Avs for Colton too.
I have no idea if a new coach can keep KA Miller a consistent NHL defenseman. the kid has all the tools
Morgan Reilly for Lafrenière?
@Jeff
As a Ranger fan, I wouldn’t swap Laf for Reilly.
While the dollars work in the trade, the Rangers already have their offensive, PP D in place (Fox, younger and locked up long term), so Reilly wouldn’t be on PP and therefore his best skillset would be redundant, not to mention he’s $7.5M for another 5 years.
Rangers need D with some size and physicality, which he doesn’t bring.
If Rangers trade Laf, I think it will be for a Center or a physical D.
I’ll try to track down the data, but I saw some report about Fox and Miller playing together way more in 2023/24 than in 2024/25. And if I recall their stats when paired together were actually very good in both years.
I don’t know why Lavy kept them split for most of this year.
Found it:
However, take it with a grain of salt that 314 minutes together is LESS THAN 4 minutes per game.
Maybe Lavy needed an analytics guy to help him more with his pairings.
The New York Rangers’s Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller pairing played 314 minutes together at five-on-five, leading the NHL with a 64.72% expected goals share, according to The New York Times. They also outscored their opponents 19-12 during that time. This pairing was the best-performing defensive duo in the NHL that played at least 200 minutes together, according to The New York Times.
Robertson didn’t look too bad in couple games he got in at end of year.
The NHL level physical talent, size & skating has always been there for Robertson. The question would be his decision making, like it is with so many young D.
Never want to say it is now or never with a young player, but he is at that age and experience level when it kind of is with Robertson. At least with the Rangers.
Somebody will claim him on waivers if he doesn’t stick?
K. Miller for Chiarot ($2m retained), a 2nd and NYR 3rd that the Wings possess for him.
Ben skates with Fox, Zac becomes a regular.
If Yzerman made that pitch, Drury would cut off all contact with him. Try again, Johnny.
Fans of this sport (pick any team) are ridiculous when it come to off-loading players on the own team. Like teams are lining up to take overpaid, older players off your roster to make room for shiny objects out there. No offense to Pens fans but, no one is lining up to take Jarry, Karlsson, Graves etc. If a player’s contract doesn’t age well. other teams can’t wait to take them off your hands? Please
Next season Jarry likely Penguins starting goaltender as he played well latter part of this past season. The following season prospect Sergei Murashov could be ready.
Karlsson this summer could be traded providing Penguins keep portion of his contract, and Karlsson agrees be traded.
Graves simply bad contract, buyout doesn’t make sense this off-season. Rumor – stick him in the minors.
CaptainObvious just curious – if, as you say, they don’t have the cap space to even qualify LD K’Andre Miller – which would be $4,646,000 (up only slightly from his expiring $3,872,000) – would they settle for the 2nd round pick that would emanate from an offer sheet of $4,680,076?
This is a durable 6’5″ 210lb D who had 7g 20a 27 pts in 74gp this past season and who has played 368 regular season games with 36g 96a 132 points for 82-game averages of 8g 21a 29 pts, adding 3g 9a 12 pts in 43 playoff games, so experience there as well.
I mean, there is very likely some GM out there who will try the $4,680,076 offer.
No way K’Andre would sign an offer sheet for $4.68M from anyone.
His qualifying offer from the Rangers must be $4.65M, so thats the bare minimum he would make next year. If he actually gets to arbitration it will likely be well above $4.7M for a 1 year deal.
It would all be academic anyway, foleyd7, if – as CaptainObvious observes – they couldn’t afford to even qualify him because, if it went that way, he’d become a UFA. I completely missed that aspect.
I think they will qualify him, and then maybe trade him before or after arbitration. Teams are allowed to be over the cap in the offseason by 10%, so the Rangers def have room to qualify him now. They would just need to be cap compliant before the start of next season, so they will not just let him walk to free agency.
The thing there is, even if they extend the qualifying offer, teams can then prepare an offer sheet in excess of the offer, forcing Rangers hands … of course, then the compensation rises accordingly .. and the little wheels keep grinding
@ 8787
Dubas has done a solid job with the s**t fest that Hextall and Burke left him.
He has accumulated 32 picks over the next three years and 15 in the top 3 rounds…the Penguins farm system has gone from a crap rated 31st to recently ranked 20 th.by the scouting experts.
Guys Like Mcgroarty Koivunen Pickering and Brunicke will play this year at some point.
Murashev is this stud 20 year old goalie from Russia who Dubas got is the real deal is coming very soon.
Yes not all his acquisitions have been great…but Eller was useful as was Beauvillier.
Hayes Nieto Accairi Graves all sucked true…
We have $24.5 million in cap space, lots of draft capital to use, and this team can easily be a playoff team like the Capitals turned it around…everyone thought they were dead.
Trading for a defenseman like Nicolas Hague signing a Ryan Donato or getting a Matco Rossi or a J J Peterka this can be done.
Time for Dubas to shine though year three Hextall Burke been gone for a while his team now..
I’m sure he will find a taker for Karlsson with $3 million retained…a playoff team which gives him a good defensive defenseman partner.will take him.
He should at 4 nations lot left in the tank Pittsburgh just not the right fit.
We shall see
Re “We shall see” … you got that right