Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – June 29, 2025
What’s the latest on Bowen Byram? Are the Oilers still goalie-shopping? What’s going on with the Rangers and Islanders? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST ON BOWEN BYRAM
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports Bowen Byram appears headed out of Buffalo. The 24-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1, and has been the subject of frequent trade speculation.
Byram might be the only good asset the Sabres have left to bring in a top-six winger to replace the departed JJ Peterka.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
Harrington noted there are several clubs making inquiries about Byram. He wondered if the blueliner might fetch a top forward like Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings or Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. He also speculated whether a move for Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust is dead now that the draft is over, or does it return to life on Tuesday, when Rust’s no-trade protection expires.
BARN BURNER PODCAST: TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Sabres are getting interest in Byram from the Kings, Vancouver Canucks and the Vegas Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I doubt the Kings will part with Byfield. Kyrou has surfaced in recent speculation, but the Blues appear to be listening to offers rather than actively shopping the 27-year-old right winger.
Rust has also been the subject of recent conjecture. Like the Blues with Kyrou, the Penguins might be listening, but they’re not rushing to move the 33-year-old winger.
WHO COULD THE OILERS TARGET TO IMPROVE THEIR GOALTENDING?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski reported that a couple of goalie options for the Oilers came off the board yesterday. The Anaheim Ducks traded John Gibson to Detroit, and the St. Louis Blues re-signed Joel Hofer.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he’ll continue exploring his options, but didn’t rule out sticking with his current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
Kurt Leavins noted the Oilers have been linked to Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko. The 29-year-old has a year left on his contract with a $5 million cap hit, and the Canucks could move him if unable to sign him to an extension.
Leavins wondered if the American goaltender would prefer being traded to a US-based team like Philadelphia or San Jose over a contender like Edmonton. He also mentioned Demko has an injury history. His cap hit would be difficult for the Oilers to fit into their limited cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There aren’t many options left for Bowman to improve his goaltending. Jake Allen is the best UFA-eligible netminder and could re-sign with the New Jersey Devils.
The Canucks have not indicated that they want to move Demko. He lacks no-trade protection, but if they were to peddle him, they could send him to a team of his choosing.
UPDATES ON THE RANGERS AND ISLANDERS
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers face the possibility of Will Cuylle becoming an offer-sheet target on July 1. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights coming off an entry-level contract.
The Rangers could pitch a two-year bridge deal for Cuylle comparable to that of Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster, who signed a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million on May 30. However, Cuylle could be tempted by a more lucrative offer from a rival club.
Brooks doesn’t see Cuylle getting an offer that the Rangers couldn’t match. However, they have around $13 million in cap space. An offer sheet between $6.5 million and $7 million could put them in a pickle.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller hasn’t been traded yet. If the RFA blueliner is still a Ranger by July 1, it could complicate their efforts to sign Vladislav Gavrikov when the Los Angeles Kings blueliner becomes a UFA on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov could cost around $7,5 million annually. Combine that with Brooks’ proposed offer sheet for Cuylle, and the Rangers would have to make another cost-cutting trade as he did earlier this month when he sent Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks.
Meanwhile, Ethan Sears reports Islanders GM Mathieu Darche confirmed forwards Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat won’t be moved.
Trading Noah Dobson to Montreal gives the Islanders some cap room to maneuver after accounting for RFAs like Alexander Romanov, Max Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman. Sears believes they must shore up the right side of their blueline if they intend to compete for a playoff berth in 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders have over $20 million in cap space for next season with 17 active roster players under contract.
Nothing on the potential sign & trade for Marner to the Vegas in exchange for Roy and possibly Hague? (Via Freidman on Sportsnet)
Supposedly 8 years @ $14.5M
Not sure how Vegas would make that work though.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-golden-knights-discussing-sign-and-trade-involving-mitch-marner/#vfCommentsBox
Konstantine: That was covered in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.
My mistake, apologies
RG.com has a report that the Oilers are interested in Matheson. They believe his puck moving skills would help their offense. They add that the Oilers are willing to move Nugent-Hopkins.
If that’s true – a big IF obviously – that could certainly be a mutual fit. Though the Habs would likely have to throw in a prospect like Mailloux or Roy.
Either way, I expect Matheson to soon be traded for forward help.
Howard: RNG has a full no-movement clause. So that’s not happening.
Didn’t realize that. Sportrac didn’t mention a NMC for him and they usually list those clauses.
Regardless, I still think that Matheson goes somewhere, whether it’s Edmonton or elsewhere, for forward help.
Agreed, and that was something Sportsnet’s Eric Engels suggested (which I duly noted in Saturday’s rumor mill).
Absolutely loved the Flyers draft as they went huge. Their 2030 roster is gonna be down right scary! On the flip side hated my hometown Jets selections as we went small and soft yet again?? Hearing more and more buzz of Marner to Vegas. The Leafs only free agent replacement options appear to be Boeser or Ehlers, neither of which are ideal. Which team makes a big splash this week by trade or free agent signing? My $$ is on Vancouver, Rutherford needs to make moves. Happy Sunday everyone.
Re “Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said he’ll continue exploring his options, but didn’t rule out sticking with his current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.”
This is the “safe” public statement.
It would not at all be unreasonable to believe that Bowman is secretly waiting until a formal decision on July 24th.
If the outcomes aren’t what he was (secretly) hoping for; then he’s done zero wrong publicly.
If NGs are handed out; then Bowman can reach out to agents; and perhaps pick up a local goalie answer at a reasonable Cap hit
If the decision goes the other way; Bowman can explore trade options then; and no one is the wiser to his possible internal/personal thoughts now and over the next 3 weeks.
If he does make a costly trade now; AND then NGs are handed down; opportunity may have been lost.
The safe move is to publicly say what he did say. That being that he’ll continue exploring his options, but remaining non-committal (not ruling out) re: sticking with Skinner/Pickard
Does anyone think a team could/would take a chance on signing the Habs’s Dobes an offer sheet? He’s had good numbers with limited playing g time. As a Habs fan I would hope not, but it seems like many teams are seeking goaltending depth and not many options are out there.
Since I doubt any team would make the mid-to-high offers for Dobes, Montreal would certainly match despite the fact they are currently projected as being $3,394,166 over the cap.
With also RFA LD Jayden Struble to re-up, they would simply play the Price LTIR card.
I would offer up Kyrou and Leddy for Byram and Krebs for your consideration.
It sure leaves a hole in the Blues offense!?!
IP
Lyle what is your view on the top 5 winners of the draft and top 5 losers of the draft?
Bulldawg: I think the Bruins land among the winners having James Hagens drop into their laps at No. 7 overall. I thinks the Isles did well with Schaefer, Eklund and Aitcheson. The Canadiens were big winners shipping those two firsts and Emil Heineman to the Isles for Noah Dobson. I think the Capitals did well getting Milton Gastrin in the first round.
As for losers, that title goes to the 26 general managers who voted for the decentralized format, and hope they’ve seen the error of their ways and vote to return to the tried-and-true arena format.
LOL. I just wish they had identified them. Why the secrecy in this instance? Probably half of them have a f ear of flying 🙂
The Rangers should walk from Cuylle if he gets Offer Sheeted.
Drury has destroyed the Rangers for over a year now, so why stop now.
Too bad Drury couldn’t get Offer Sheeted. I would love to see this moron leave town, once and for all.
He’s a disgrace for a GM.
He once was a player, yet he treats his players like dogs.
Disgraceful.
I know Hab fans keep talking about a 2C but it appears more and more unlikely to happen.
I have suggested going the other way and shoring up the bottom and not taking back any of the UFAs.
Sign a UFA like Radek Faksa.
6’3 215 L shot, 57% faceoff, hard hitting physical guy, shot blocker.
He easily replaces Dvorak and plays the heavy game we always wait for from Armia.
Habfan30,wouldMatheson for Zacha work?
Would certainly work for me. But I get the feeling that if the Bruins wanted to trade Zacha they’d have done so before the draft.
The Bruins obviously took a big downturn this year. The question is if it’s an aberration or the start of a trend. If they miss the playoffs again next season then maybe they’ll start moving players and making changes.
Howard I think Boston is waiting to see how free agency pans out. Zacha has been mentioned as trade bait for awhile. Boston has to evaluate Minton,Middlestadt and Poitras to see how they make out. Hagens will be there shortly.
Sr,
i think it would be a huge overpay by the Habs but will admit I appear to be a minority among Hab fans,
Most. like Howard want to see Matheson traded, while I think they need to keep him. Won’t bore you with the details why.
At this point, Habs could offer prospects like Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy which I don’t think do the trick. They are widely different opinions on both of them.
@SR, the Habs reddit sub is rather bullish on keeping Matheson. I am not super familiar with the sub, so can’t speak to the worth of that, but I am leery of the idea that trading Matheson is the right thing.
Seems to me, short of a good 2C coming back — which might require Matheson plus — isn’t the current Habs D corps better than a stopgap measure in the top six? I would included Zacha in the stopgap category. Bottom line, I wouldn’t mind going into the season with this configuration of the D corps because if Kirby Dach miraculously stays healthy and matures … baazinga!
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
HabFan it’s not that I want to see Matheson traded. He’s played well for the Habs and I like him as a player. But we have to be realistic.
At this point he’s arguably their #3 on the left side. By this time next year, the Habs will be counting on a top 4 of Hutson and Guhle on the left side and Dobson and Reinbacher on the right side. Matheson is currently carrying a hit of nearly $5m. with one year left on his contract. That’s money better spent on forward help.
It’s quite likely that the Habs won’t want to extend him long term. Might as well try to get something for him now rather than lose him for nothing.
At the same time though the Habs won’t just give him away. The right deal has to be there to help the team. Otherwise they won’t trade him.
Howard,
I’m not ready to count on Guhle as the second pairing LD.
He hasn’t played a full season yet. missing lots of .time for injuries,
Matheson is a minute muncher and plays every game, he’s far more reliable.
I can see Guhle missing 20 games again with another freak injury, then what?
Who will replace him, Struble?
Signing Dobson still leaves the Habs with only 5 full time D as it stands, Struble and Xhekaj are platoon D and the Laval D are not NHL ready.
Trading Matheson is short-sighted and the team needs a full complement of regular D-men not prospects .
I am not unconcerned about Guhles injury history. But the fact remains that it is a cap league. Even with the cap going up, choices have to be made.
It is very obvious that the Habs long term plans for their top 4 on D do not include Matheson. Don’t get me wrong. Before the Dobson trade I was hoping they’d extend Matheson. But the trade has changed things. Matheson will be 32 before the end of next season and a long term big money extension will turn sour as they always do. The money spent on him would be better spent on filling other holes.
If the right deal comes along and they do trade him they could sign a depth Dman or two as insurance.
Panarin is entering last year of his contract. Haven’t heard anything about an extension. NY traded Kreider. Knowing that I’m pretty confident that Drury will get a deal done with Cuylle. Pretty much penciled in as a top 6 LW for foreseeable future. Honestly don’t see an offer sheet for 6-7 mil. From who?
Considering Dawson Mercer $4 million cap hit and his declining production, are the NJD ready to trade him and for what kind of return.
Given Peterka’s much higher value and the return, could Dawson be a bargain target and what would it cost?
I don’t see the Devils trading Mercer now. They’d be getting pennies on the dollar. Theyd rather be patient and see if he bounces back.
With Howard on this
Young in his career. Let’s see how this year turns out. Bounce back; and all iis then good
If, Same lower output; then consider trading low NEXT summer
Don’t give up on him yet
Would Buffalo consider signing Byrum and trading Powers?To NYR for Lafreniere?
Willing to add if necessary. Rangers can then pass on the older Gavrikov.
My thinking also! 👍👍
Would need to be a fair add
Powers value > Lafreniere’s value
If I’m Sabres, I’m keeping Powers; trading Byram (either directly for needed assets OR for prospects that can be used to get the NHL player(s) they want)
To be fair, Laf’s past season should be an anomaly like rest of team around him. He doesn’t get PP time Peterka got, otherwise offensive numbers are about same and they’re only 3 months apart in age.
Just wondering if Buffalo would entertain trading power instead of Byram. I’m sure Power would fetch a Byfield in return.
Bruins rumored to be in the Brad Marchand hunt for… they offered him 2 years no price per was ever given .. Bruins upped it to 3 years again no $$$ per was given and he was making I believe 5.6 per … so he for sure wanted more money .. it’s why he wanted to leave … can’t see the Bruins bringing him back with those numbers thrown around
Bruins need to move Korpisalo.. Habs need a backup GT .. can have him for a draft pick
The Canadiens have a backup goalie in Dobes, with the promising Jacob Fowler about two years away. They don’t need Korpisalo and his $4 million AAV for three more years.
Lyle ,Ottawa is picking up1 million of the 4. Get Boston to pick up a million and someone can have him for 2 million.Boston needs to move him.Their2 goalies in tha AHL are out of options. Boston could lose them for nothing.
Doesn’t matter, Sr. It’s a moot point. The Canadiens aren’t acquiring Korpisalo. For that matter, there’s been nothing to suggest the Bruins are shopping him.,
Lyle in Boston they mentioned Korpisalo wasn t happy about his playing time and wanted to be moved. I never said that Montreal should trade for him and Icorrected the money line that you mentioned about 4 million.In the deal with Boston Ottawawas picking up a million making it 3. I just said if Boston picked up a million his AAV would go down to 2 million.
I wasn’t referring to you regarding the Boston comment, Sr. I was referring to Joe’s earlier remark. Anyway, it’s still a moot point.
Having seen both perform in Ottawa, when it comes to degrees of consistency – something they both lack – I would say they’d be far better off signing UFA Forsberg
Golden Knights news – Alex Pietrangelo out for 2025 / 2026 season. Additional 8.8 million added to their cap.
LTIR attacks again. Mitch Marner, come on down.