NHL Rumor Mill – July 19, 2025
Updates on Bowen Byram and Yegor Chinakhov plus the latest on the Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Following the Sabres’ signing Bowen Byram to a two-year bridge contract earlier this week, Mike Harrington looked at whether the 24-year-old defenseman remains a trade candidate.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
Byram will become eligible for unrestricted free-agent status when the deal expires in 2027.
Harrington suggested Byram could still have plenty of value at the March 2026 trade deadline because he’ll have another year remaining on his contract. That would provide the Sabres with the opportunity to move him in a “hockey trade” for another player, rather than for draft picks and prospects.
However, Harrington cited three NHL sources who confirmed that Byram never requested a trade before signing his contract and the Sabres aren’t shopping him. General manager Kevyn Adams could listen to calls about the defenseman now that he’s signed through 2027, but he’s not initiating those discussions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram’s new contract immediately ended all the trade speculation that swirled around him for months. Nevertheless, his name will likely resurface in the rumor mill if the Sabres get off to a poor start this season, or if they’re out of playoff contention as the trade deadline approaches.
THE PROVINCE: Steve Ewen wondered if the Vancouver Canucks will use the salary-cap space created by trading Dakota Joshua to Toronto to pursue UFA forward Jack Roslovic.
The Canucks now have $3.27 million in cap room and must boost their depth among their top-six forwards. They’ve been linked to the 28-year-old Roslovic in the rumor mill.
Roslovic earned $2.8 million on a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. The Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs are also rumored to have an interest in him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Canucks can’t land Roslovic, they could turn to the trade market. They were recently suggested as a potential suitor for Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann if he becomes available.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Yegor Chinakhov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, doubts there’s any way his client can stay with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Earlier this week, Chinakhov requested a trade. Babaev said the 24-year-old winger is comfortable with the team and the city but not with head coach Dean Evason. Babaev isn’t confident that the relationship between the two can be repaired.
Portzline indicated that Evason had conversations last season with Chinakhov, and there were conversations between the player and the assistant coaches. Through a spokesman, Evanson stated that the lines of communication were open and would remain so.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is open to trading Chinakhov, but only if he gets the right offer. The expectation is that the winger will report to training camp in September, which Babaev confirmed his client will do.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see if Chinakhov gets traded before training camp. Several teams still have forward depth issues to address.
NESN’s Jay Pritchard believes Chinakhov could be a “smart gamble” for the Boston Bruins. Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski suggested the winger’s youth and potential could be a good fit with the rebuilding Penguins.
Vancouver has a surplus of young D, or would Höglander be an option?
To bad VAN traded Joshua for a fourth rounder. Chinakhov for Joshua would have made alot of sense.
Sabres continue to be the NHL version of a dumpster fire/train wreck. Wondering when the league gets involved and starts asking questions as to why so many bad decisions are made. Stupidity reigns supreme
And, unfortunately, there is no cure for stupidity on the horizon.
You figure they would do something- since they are losing money and money is the only thing that matters. Byram is one of the few trades they action won, and they are screwing around with him too.
The smartest man in the room also happens to be President of Hockey Operations.
(Terry Pegula)
The problem in Buffalo starts with the owner.
Terry Pegula has a net worth of $7.6B USD. He runs the Sabres on a shoestring budget because his first love is the Bills football team.
Look at some of the players they’ve allowed to leave- Eichel, Reinhardt, Montour, McCabe, Peterka, Ullmark…I’m sure I’m forgetting a few.
No funding for scouting. A string of poor choices as GM and coaching has aided in their futility.
They have a very passionate fan base that has been more than patient with management.
Daryl by the looks of it,his favorite hockey team is the Penn State Nitanny Lions!
They certainly do have a passionate fan base, Darly. Almost 16 thousand per season, which while low for an NHL club is still remarkable given the club’s performance.
Looking at Bostons forward group they should be all in on a player like Chinakov. Oh I forgot Sweeney and Neeley are looking for forwards with jam,or bottom 6 forwards.
They already have the candidates for tge 2 open spots on forward positions. Potsy Lysell Minten and Blumel. It’s already been reported by Don Sweeney. Which is the right thing to do. Get them shots if they stick all is good. If not they know it’s time to move on. This team makes the playoffs baring any long term injuries to key players
Paul I thought that’s what the last 15 games were for last year.How about Merkulov,Farinacci,Steeves,Kman,Locmelis,Beecher?Aren t they in the mix? This team on talent alone is a potential lottery pick.
Paul, since they finished tied for last in the East with Philadelphia, and have 7 teams to climb over just to get to the last WC spot (including Buffalo), had the fewest goals scored in the East (222) and were exceed by only Pittsburgh (293), Buffalo (289) and Philadelphia (281) in goals allowed with 272, what makes you so certain that they make the playoffs?
Are you suggesting that the improvements made by all 7 that finished ahead of them are not as good as those made by Boston (including the loss of Marchand)?
I’m truly curious as to why you see it that way?
Sr,
This is Yegor Chinakhov not Dmitry Voronkov, what’s the attraction?
As usual. Sweeney goes for the marginal third and fourth liners before the top players and then has no cap space left. This is the reverse of a sane effective strategy. How does he get a two year extension?
That one is an easy answer….they make money.
Chinakov was a surprise at his draft . Maybe the surprise pick of many drafts. I would be surprised if his return is much.
A bottom 6 roster player and a lesser round pick
Got to agree there, SilverSeven. The pre-draft consensus had him listed no higher than the 3rd round, with some pundits/scouting services not even listing him after he had been passed over completely in the 2019 draft.
Sabres are not signing Roslovic. Their F line up is something like
Benson-Norris-Thompson
Zucker-Kulich-Tuch
Quinn-McLeod-Greenway
Malenstyn-Krebs-Danforth
Kozak
ELCs-Doan, Rosen Ostlund
Signing a vet without trading a F forces players into waivers
Roslovic is a player you might sign until young prospects are ready
On byram…..
Thr most likely situation is in the offseaskn nrxt yr Buffalo decides on moving one of byram/Power/Samuelsson
Next summer they are going to be tight against the cap.
This year they might be 5M under the cap after everyone is signed.
Next year…
5M in unused space
Cao increased by 9M
Skinner penalty increased hy 4
That least 10M in space
New contracts benson, tuch, kesselring could see contracts increase by a combined 10M.
Bryson replaced by ryan Johnson
Krebs replaced by Levi
Malenstyn resigned with minimal cap change
Thr fill rest of roster with ELC/ contracts at $1M or less will put them over the cap by about $3M
So a byram/Power gets traded fir a lower cost D and futures
26/27 roster looks same as above with Rosen and Doan losing waiver exemption
The D look like
BPS= byram, power, samuelsson
BPS-Dahlin
BPS-Kesserling
Ryan Johnson-acquited D/Mrtka/Strbak
In 27/28
Mrtka-Dahlin
BP-Kesselrlring
RyJo-Strbak
The F in 27/28
Benson-Norris-Thompson
OSTLUND-KULICH-Tuch
Quinn-McLeod-Doan
Wahlberg-Kozak-XXXX