NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2025
Who could be traded this season by the Oilers? What could it cost the Sabres to pursue Penguins winger Rickard Rakell? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell looked at some Edmonton Oilers players who could become trade candidates this season.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).
Mitchell suggested Stuart Skinner as one option. The 26-year-old netminder carries an affordable $2.6 million cap hit and will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Skinner has big-game experience (50 playoff games, two Stanley Cup Finals). His performance during this season could silence any questions about his reliability as a starting goaltender. However, he could also be a key piece in any deal for a goaltending upgrade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitchell cited Oilers general manager Stan Bowman mentioning that his club’s goaltending would be an area of evaluation. A strong, consistent effort by Skinner would silence his critics, but could also improve his trade value.
Promising forward Matt Savoie will get an opportunity to earn a regular spot on the Oilers’ top-two forward lines. If he struggles, Mitchell thinks he could become a trade chip for a more established veteran, preferably one with an affordable contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Savoie will be an interesting player to monitor this season. The 21-year-old forward had 54 points in 66 games with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield last season. If he doesn’t fit with Edmonton, he’s still young enough to entice rival clubs with his potential in the trade market.
Mitchell also suggested Vasily Podkolzin as a trade option. The 24-year-old winger has been inconsistent and could be shopped if he struggles this season.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello observes that the Buffalo Sabres still haven’t replaced the offense they lost when they traded winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth last month. He believes GM Kevyn Adams might have to address that in the trade market by using young players, prospects, and draft picks as trade bait.
Augello suggested Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins as a trade target. The 32-year-old winger has been mentioned in the rumor mill as the Penguins are rebuilding their roster. He’s coming off a career-high performance of 35 goals and 70 points.
Rakell has three years left on his contract with an AAV of $5 million. He also has an eight-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Sabres were interested in Rakell, they have the suitable trade assets to tempt the Penguins. However, Augello acknowledged the Sabres could be on the winger’s no-trade list. Rakell could prefer joining a contender rather than bouncing from one rebuilding team to another.
The Penguins are like the store Winners. You think you’re gonna get good value but you’re actually buying a miss-stitched shirt or a pair of jeans with one leg shorter than the other. Buyer beware.
I like that analogy Dark G đ
I’m also a little weary of seeing Pittsburgh perpetually among the topics. Surely there are others among the 32 teams (many of whom are barely if ever mentioned) who have key players in similar situations – either current or pending.
Typical george always whining complaining about the Penguins.
Why are talking about the penguins
Ok lets talk Ottawa. đ
Coming from someone who must have multiple sprains from jumping on and off the bandwagon, that’s ironic.
Since this is your site and you control lost things here….then don’t post these !
Or if your tired of the Penguins topic here is a thought don’t read them and for the love of god don’t comment…save us all đ
At least when I post something it’s 99% league-general in nature in the interest of creating back and forth dialogue, with comments on Ottawa only when they are part of the day’s topic.
But since it offends you when I observe that there is more than enough about the Penguins, don’t worry. I’ll leave the site to you and 8787.
Have fun boring the living s&^t out of the room.
Just curious if there are 2 better forwards on other teams that are blatantly available for trade? Serious question. No âmight be availableâ, potentially available, could be available playersâŚopenly available players.
BuellerâŚBuellerâŚ.Buelllllller?
“The Jets have agreed to a three-year deal with defenseman Dylan Samberg, avoiding his arbitration hearing that was set for later today, Murat Ates of The Athletic was first to report. The only restricted free agent so far to even get to the point of swapping arbitration figures with his club lands a $5.75MM AAV for a total value of $17.25MM.”
Jets have come thru for Dylan, however this is still a bargain for them.
Samberg is considered one of the top defensive defensemen by the analytics guys. Big boy who I wouldâve preferred in NY over Gavrikov, in part due to age. Donât agree with the betting on himself logic as I feel he was in a good spot to sign an offer sheet and force Jets to match or walk away. Worse case, go to arbitration, take a 1 year deal and become ufa next year.
Agree Slick62 … that’s why I couched it by saying “in a way …” only because I’m sure Cheveldayov would have liked to have seen him locked up for more than 3 years.
I sort of figured the talks dragged on as long as they did for term reasons … and waiting for an arbitrator decision could have made him a UFA next year. But the fact he agreed to 3 years says he likes being there but at the same time wants to become a UFA while still relatively young.
Just a guess on my part – and probably way off base in reality. lol.
George, I think you hit nail on the head. Heâs a kid who played hometown hs hockey in Minnesota. Played college in Minnesota. And except for Wild, Jets are just as close to home for him as any other team. Add to that, theyâve got a winning team and maybe heâs helping to keep Connor there.
It is that, for sure, Johnny Z. In a way, the settlement indicates he’s betting on himself to some degree, as he’ll still only be 29 when it expires in 3 years, at which point he becomes a UFA./
So, depending upon how things go over the next 3 seasons he could still cash in at a much higher salary.
Cheveldayov, meanwhile, has $4,798,810 still in the kitty with 22 committed to – 12F 8D 2G. I doubt he intends to carry 8D, so when one is optioned he’ll likely have closer to $6 mil to sign 2.
Be interesting to see if he now intends to offer a contract to one of the remaining UFAs and./or bring one in on a P.T.O.
It doesn’t offend me it is just you just bang on anything Penguins…. ill debate you on anything….
i don’t scoff when Ottawa is talked about ..you say comments about the Penguins just to get a rise. Since this is your site fix that.
Jets fans may disagree but as a casual fan watching the Jets management, they always seem firm – on point with their stuff.
As a Jets fan, I agree with you. And the culture seems to begin with the Chipman family. A friend of mine did security at the arena for a spell. On the first day, Mark Chipman came in and told the security personnel, cleaners, and food vendors that they were integral to the success of the organization. He shook every one of their hands, and thanked them. And by the sound of things, they negotiate with their players in a manner that is dignified.
Jets fans should be proud of the organization- it is well run and they have a very competitive team.
In my opinion outside the bell centre in Montreal, it is the best place to watch a hockey game.
I appreciate this kind of feel good story, as so much emphasis is placed on greedy corporate owners these days, and for good reason. Thanks for sharing this, especially as Winnipeg is one of my two favorite teams.
I would be more interested in Rust if I was to go that way for Buffalo. Rakell has more skill but Rust more sandpaper.
I know he is a 3rd line player, but as Buffalo I would check in on Sherwood in Vancouver, its his last season on his contract and they might be interested in selling high
Kinda headscratchy oiler report. Certainly anything could happen but…
By all reports the team was happy with Podz first season and there are even rumors of potential extension this summer. He seems to have some chemistry with Leon and while we all wish his hands were a bit better he is young, affordable and useful even when not putting up points.
Savoie will be intriguing to watch but again where ever he lands in the line up he will also get time on the pk as he did in the ahl. Again another young affordable player with a lot of upside.
The two forwards mentioned seem to fall exactly into what the off season goal was which is to add an influx of youth. They also opted to keep them while letting older players walk. While anything is possible I doubt either gets moved this season.
As for Skinner the reason they are interested in an alternative starter is essentially his inconsistency. If he gets a handle on that, it solves itself and there is not reason or an appetite to move him out.
Dog days of summer I guess.
Inconsistency can be the utmost frustration – booth Korpisalo and Forsberg – when with Ottawa – would go from brilliance over several games to stretches where they couldn’t stop a beachball.
To the point where the skaters could never know what to expect from their netminder.
I can confirm the wild swings from those two netminders. Sadly we are still paying one of them. Now, for some of those stretches inconsistent defense and coaching plagued the team. And it looked like Korpi had a decent year last year when Swayman faltered. The Bruins in general were pretty horific and K’s numbers aren’t terrible when you factor that in.
True, Dark G – he did seem to perk up in Boston, Perhaps explainable by the fact he only appeared in 27 games last season, which was more or less in keeping with his average per season compiled in his seasons with Columbus and L.A.
In his 1 season in Ottawa, however, they pressed him into service at twice that – 55 games as a quasi # 1. Clearly, his role is strictly back-up.
If Rust (33) and Rakell (32) didn’t have 3 more years left on their deal, maybe some teams would bite, but I just don’t see it, especially Buffalo. They aren’t giving up prime prospects for that.
The growth of Quinn and Benson should be enough to replace the offense of Peterka, and at about half the combined cap hit.
Buffalo’s problem wasn’t offense (5th ranked)…. it was defense (29th)
Foleyd 7. I think their term is the reason their names are the ones being floated. Pens know all their pending ufaâs could be gone one way or another next summer. Some will be dealt at tdl, and some will walk.
As far as Buffalo, I agree but, even if itâs not a trade with Pens, they need to move a dman. They added Kesselring in JJ trade, drafted Mrtka with top 10 pick and have signed Timmons, Jones, and Byram. Seems like defense should be better. Not sure leaving NY was a good move for Jones.
A bounce back season from UPL in goal would help.
Looking at the cap/roster situations for these teams that have no top-roster RFAs left to deal with, I expect we should see them making further moves prior to camp openings due to their existing 23-man roster make-up as shown at Puckpedia – some with D, G or F reserve either too high or too low – e.g., itâs doubtful any team will go with 8D, 3G and either too many or not enough F (given that the norm of choice for most is 14F 7D 2G.
SAN JOSE $20,682,499 in reserve â 22 listed (12F 8D 2G)
PITTSBURGH $13,053,571 in reserve â 23 listed (13F 8D 2G)
UTAH $6,682,143 in reserve â 23 listed (13F 7D 3G)
WINNIPEG $4,798,810 in reserve â 22 listed (12F 8D 2G)
WASHINGTON $4,125,000 in reserve â 23 listed (13F 8D 2G)
NEW YORK ISLANDERS $1,625,000 in reserve â 24 listed (15F 6D 3G)
TAMPA $1,180,001 in reserve â 23 listed (15F 6D 2G)
NY RANGERS $777,976 in reserve â 23 listed (13F 8D 2G)
PHILADELPHIA $370,238 in reserve â 22 listed (11F 8D 3G)
Puckpedia doesn’t make it any easier to understand, either, with the way they list the rosters.
In Philadelphia’s case, for example, they show 11F – but actually list 12 – along with the 8 D (9 if you count Ellis whose $6,250,000 cap hit will go on LTIR once the season kicks in, giving them additional cap relief, along with the $875,000 deal given to D Dennis Gilbert who, as the 8th D listed, is likely ticketed for the AHL to start, anyway.
So, too, will one of the goalies – Vladar $3,350,000 – Fedotov $3,275,000 – Ersson $1,450,000. Likely Ersson – adding his cap hit to their reserve.
Among the remaining non-arbitration RFAs left to re-up I see two who could take some considerable time to finalize, given that what they are likely seeking, and what the team has in cap reserve, donât add up.
Those are Alex Lafrerrièe of L.A., a 6â 1â 205lbs RW who, in 77gp this past season, scored 19g and 23a 42pts, and is coming off an ELC of $875,000. The team has $6,768,333 in reserve, and Luke Hughes of N.J., a 6â 2â 200lbs LD who, in 71gp this past season, scored 7g 37a 44pts, and is coming off an ELC of $925,000. New Jersey has $6,131,667 in cap reserve.
Both are likely seeking something uncomfortably close to both cap reserves.
What band wagon? I have supported the Penguins through thick and thin.
You just can’t stand the Penguins but your so obvious about it..at least I listen to others…
This site is controlled by you that’s obvious…an well documented…which is fine.
you never listen to anybody else point of view but your own….
I don’t know who posts these rumors packages and since this is an authoritarian site well u know…
I think we all wanted to see Samberg signed to a longer term but this will do for now. He gets a huge raise over his previous salary, and seems to love being a Jet. One of those hunter/ fishermen type from Minny that isnât drawn to the big city spotlight. Jets have made a habit of getting players from the State of hockey as they donât have the pressure of playing for the so called hometown team. Even if in many cases their home towns are closer to the Peg than the Twin cities.
BnG stfu already
Sure MP. Whatever you say..
Ok MP sure whatever you say… wtf bro
You good, guy?
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