NHL Rumor Mill – August 16, 2025
I’m back from vacation and catching up on some of the notable trade and free-agent speculation involving the Oilers, Canadiens, and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE OILERS
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Dan Powers of the “Empty Netters” podcast raising the scenario of another “King’s Ransom”, in which Oilers captain Connor McDavid followed the path of Wayne Gretzky by getting traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
If that were to happen, Powers believes it would be “the greatest thing to happen to the NHL in 50 years. It would be the greatest story of all time.”
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Two things. First, the Gretzky trade was the biggest thing to happen to the NHL since the 1967 expansion. Trading McDavid to the Kings today wouldn’t eclipse the Gretzky trade.
Second, and most importantly, with all due respect to the Kings, the Gretzky trade occurred during different times and circumstances. History will not repeat itself.
BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli reported on Aug. 12 that it’s still early in the negotiation process between McDavid and the Oilers. While numbers haven’t been exchanged yet, neither side is expressing nerves, fear, or panic about this situation. Servalli anticipates the process will pick up in the coming weeks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation abounded at this time last August about Leon Draisaitl’s contract status with the Oilers. He signed an eight-year extension in September, and McDavid could do the same this year.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer suggesting the Oilers could make a cost-cutting trade before the start of the regular season, accrue salary cap space, and use that cap room to acquire a top-nine forward at the March trade deadline.
Stauffer mentioned forward Mattias Janmark as a trade candidate. Staples pointed out he carries a $1.45 million cap hit through 2026-27 with a 10-team no-trade list.
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell listed Boston Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro and St. Louis Blues netminder Colten Ellis as possible trade targets for the Oilers.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Montreal Canadiens are playing the waiting game when it comes to adding talent during this offseason.
He cited an NHL source saying Canadiens management isn’t interested in parting with top prospects like defenseman David Reinbacher and center Michael Hage, seeing both players as key pieces in their long-term plans.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers believe the Canadiens could be interested in Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. If so, Reinbacher and/or Hage would be part of the Ducks’ asking price. If the Habs aren’t willing to part with them, it’s doubtful they can come up with a more enticing offer for McTavish.
Meanwhile, there’s ongoing speculation that the Canadiens could attempt to trade Carey Price’s contract on September 1, after he’s been paid his $5.5 million signing bonus. He has a $10.5 million average annual value, but in actual salary, he’ll be $2 million after he receives that signing bonus.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Canadiens could try to ship Price’s contract to a rebuilding team, enabling the latter to remain cap-compliant should they dump salary by the March trade deadline. The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks have been mentioned as possible trade partners, but it remains to be seen if either club has an interest in taking on that contract.
D’Amico also reported that contract talks between the Canadiens and defenseman Lane Hutson are in the early stages. Thus far, the discussions have been “amicable”.
Hutson, 21, won the Calder Memorial Trophy last season, becoming the first Canadien to do so since Ken Dryden in 1971-72. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent next summer and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club.
Noah Dobson’s new eight-year contract with the Canadiens(with a $9.5 million AAV) has been cited by some as a comparable. However, D’Amico suggested that Luke Hughes’ next contract with the New Jersey Devils could be more of a determining factor in Hutson’s negotiations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Luke Hughes…
SOME RECENT DEVILS CONJECTURE
SPORTSNET: During a recent appearance on the Halford & Brough radio show, Luke Fox said that Luke Hughes and the Devils have agreed to negotiate a long-term deal.
The 21-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He is ineligible to receive an offer sheet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wonder if the rising salary cap would result in Hughes getting a deal with an AAV that exceeds his brother Jack’s $8 million. That could be the sticking point in their negotiations.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has more work to do during what remains of this offseason.
Nichols pointed out that the Devils have over $6.1 million in cap space, meaning they’ll have to shed some salary to make room for Luke Hughes’ new contract.
The Devils still need to add a second-line winger and a third-line center. Nichols believes they should attempt to reacquire Tyler Toffoli from the San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toffoli might not be willing to leave the lowly Sharks. He’s slated to skate on their top line with Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund this season. The 33-year-old winger is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $6 million and a full no-trade clause until the final season of the deal, when it becomes a 15-team approved trade list.
The real question in NJ is “what teams will Dougie Hamilton accept a trade to?” Trading him to make room for Luke’s contract and another lesser cap dump move to add a scoring winger are the ideal moves for NJ. Anything less keeps NJ in the mushy middle.
Got to agree there Johnny Z. While it might seem necessary and reasonable that the Devils will need to shore up by acquiring a 2nd line winger and a 3rd line center, accomplishing that – which would cost in the area of $6 to $7 mil combined – AND getting Luke Hughes under a contract at $8 mil + simply can’t be done without moving out one (or more) of their own big contracts.
As matters now stand, they have $6,131,667 in cap reserve, all of which – plus at least another $2 mil. will ne gone with Hughes’ signature. So where do they find the necessary $6 to $7 mil?
Meier, Bratt, Hischier, Palat all have NMC/modified NTC and wouldn’t be considered anyway as that would be classic Robbing Peter To Pay Paul, nor would they consider either Jack Hughes or Mercer – who don’t have such clauses – for the same reason. The same rationale applies to the D – Hamilton, Pesce, Dillon, Kovasevic and Siegenthaler.
That leave the likes of 31 y/o RW Connor Brown, costing $3 mil per to 2028-29 when he’ll be turning 35, 32 y/o RW/W Stefan Noesen, costing $2,750,000 per this season and next when he’ll be turn 34, and 26 y/o C/RW Cody Glass costing $2,500,000 per also for this season and next. All 3 would need to be moved in the deals to acquire the 2nd line winger and 3rd line C – assuming Fitzgerald could find takers also willing to relinquish better players! Talk about the need for “sweeteners”! Good luck with that.
You can pretty much take Conner Brown off the list. It’d look awefully bad for Jersey to sign him as a UFA just to trade him 6 weeks later and 31 teams know Hamilton is the guy that’s going. Tough to make deals when you’ve painted yourself into a corner. It’s gonna cost Jersey to move anyone. Hamilton and a 1st for a 7th anybody. I’m sure he’d look good next to Karlsson somewhere. Not sure why Jersey’s waited so long to get Luke signed, deals like Hamilton and Karlsson should’ve been don at the beginning of July when teams had cap space
Well, if Palat and Dougie agree with going to Detroit (they both have 10 team trade lists), Detroit could send them Copp and Holl (retain $1M.
Palat and Copp are a wash but Copp is nearly $400K cheaper, Holl is $6.6M cheaper than Dougie, so together NJ would gain $7M in cap and then realize over $13M in space to sign Luke and have $4-5M in space to shop for another area of need. Because of the big dump Detroit gets away with sending a much lesser player back in Holl. Detroit gains a better offensive D on the #1PP and allows Seider to pay attention to other duties. They lose a shutdown C in Copp but gain a more physical winger in Palat.
You just have to convince Dougie to accept a deal, but the deal does help both teams
Actually, a Dougie for Robo (Jason Robertson) might be the perfect trade.
NJ would have $23M minus L Hughs contract …..so around $15 M in cap space with 15 players signed next year to sign Robo. If NJ could get away with sending the older player with more salary by adding a pick like a 2nd rounder and a lesser pick, then it could satisfy both club’s immediate needs. Dallas might want a RD under 30 yo though. But what a lineup both these teams would have!!!!!!
Welcome back. Tofolli has succeeded at every stop in his NHL career. Makes you wonder why so many teams have moved him. He could play in my team anytime, a real asset.
It’s because he’s not a great skater, but clearly he does put up points.
Seems like a good teammate too.
You wonder if he is initially signed for his offensive talent which he has & contributes. And, on the other hand, he’s a valuable trade asset come TD day. He has a NMC, & he’s tired of moving all the time. IMO Jersey moved on too quickly from him.
Hopefully we start seeing some player movement or trades leading up to the beginning of the season.One obstacle is the 8 teams that have a cap space of 10 million or more aren t necessarily desired locations . Put that next to the players that have NTC and NMC and this might not get addressed until the trade deadline.
I’m afraid you’re bang on, Sr. And it’s looking more and more that there might be several among the unsigned RFAs who will remain unsigned when the season begins, a couple of whom might see the situation drag out to the December 1 deadline date for getting RFAs concluded- after which they cannot play in the NHL until the following season.
Jersey is one tean that can ill afford to let Hughes contract situation go into the regular season. The longer the impass lasts, the higher the cap hit will be. An 8 per for Hughes to sign on Dec. 1 would carry a cap hit of about 12 million for the first season
Not to mention what missing camp and 2 months of the season might do to his “game.”
Mark Spectoris so arrogant! How the hell does you know history won’t repeat itself does he have a bloody crystal ball?
I think you’d be well-served to go back and read it again and then apologize for the snarky post.
First of all, “Mark Spector” isn’t quoted anywhere. And secondly, what Lyle is saying is that the circumstances surrounding Gretzky’s move and the current situation of McDavid have absolutely nothing in common, so in that regard history will definitely not repeat itself.
I doubt it could be any clearer.
Re: MTL and Kirby Dach. Dach is in the final year of his contract. So they’re going to give Dach every opportunity to put up numbers to either
A) Boost up his trade value going into the 2026 off season.
Or
B) offer him a 1-2 year bridge until Michael Hage is ready.
Either way, Hughes is going to want to attempt to put Dach in a position to succeed in order to salvage an abysmal trade for the Habs.
NJ should see if there is any way to Palat, he is the big anchor at this time, playing and cap wise
I agree. Palat will be tough to move w/out a sweetener of some kind. And a draft pick aint going to do it. it’ll be a “promising’ prospect likely. imo, Dougie was a big part of Devils have a top 5 PP. He has the bomb still.
Some technical points on trading Price.
A team trading for him after the Sept 1 bonus is on the hook for $2m for 1 year. Insurance pays 60% of that, so the actual cash out of pocket is $200k.
In other words a team near the floor wanting to dump contracts will have $10m to play with at a cost of $200k.
That makes it a great deal and worth paying “something”.
From the Habs perspective they have $1.7m in bonuses to pay for ELC contracts, and THAT comes off the Habs cap ceiling if they use LTIR to be below the level.
That makes it worth “something” for the Habs.
With or without a trade, the team isn’t restricted in making a trade.
60% of $2M is $1.2M
Price is owed $800 K in salary for his last year.
Yes, $800K I don’t know why I said $200k, not even a typo. Brain cramp.
I was thinking more of explaining what the advantage would be to Montreal.