NHL Rumor Mill – August 23, 2025
Could the Kraken trade Jared McCann? Are the Bruins peddling Fabian Lysell? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SEATTLE HOCKEY INSIDER: Rob Simpson recently reported that the New Jersey Devils were at least one team to express an interest in Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken. The Montreal Canadiens were also rumored to have a strong interest in the 29-year-old forward.
However, the Kraken informed Devils management that McCann wasn’t available. He’s led that club in scoring in every season since their expansion campaign in 2021-22. He also carries a reasonable $5 million average annual value on his contract through 2026-27 with a 10-team no-trade list.
Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann (NHL Images).
Simpson believes it would take a hefty offer to tempt the Kraken into trading McCann. The trade talk could increase if they’re out of playoff contention following the American Thanksgiving long weekend in late November.
RG. Org’s Jim Biringer believes the asking price for the Devils could be a first-round pick. If Dawson Mercer is part of the deal, they’ll have to add a top prospect as well. If the Kraken need defense, Biringer suggested they might have to offer up Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McCann’s been a good, reliable scorer for the Kraken, but he could be surpassed on their depth chart by younger forwards like Shane Wright or Kaapo Kakko. That could make it easier for the Kraken to peddle him if necessary later this season.
The Kraken would understandably want to get the best return possible if they decide to trade McCann. However, the suggested asking price of a first-rounder or a top prospect like Nemec or Casey, plus Mercer, would probably be too expensive for the Devils.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio reports the Bruins’ recent influx of youth reportedly has management entertaining the idea of trading Fabian Lysell, whom they chose in the first round (21st overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.
The 22-year-old Lysell made his NHL debut last season, netting three points in 12 games. Fantucchio singled out the lack of consistency in his defensive game. Entering his fourth professional season, this could be a make-or-break campaign for Lysell.
Fantucchio believes Lysell’s trade stock remains relatively high, but that could change if he has another poor showing this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That might explain the recent speculation suggesting Lysell’s availability in the trade market. The Bruins could attempt to cash in while his stock remains high.
The latest on Lysell linked him to the Edmonton Oilers for Matthew Savoie or Vasily Podkolzin, but David Staples of the Edmonton Journal doesn’t see him as a fit with the Oilers.
If the Devils give up Nemec or Casey they would likely want a player in return who still hasn’t passed his RFA status. McCann is good but he’s 2 years away from UFA and the wrong side of 30. Kraken should either lock him up after this season or accept the picks they’ll receive for him in return. If they’re lucky they get a mid-prospect.
Hopefully Devils don’t trow in the towel on Nemec. He’s still a raw defenseman w/ great skating skills & thinking the game. Regardless of who the Devils want, cap space is an issue. I’m sure Fitz looked into trading Pally &(maybe) Dougie w/ no takers except for a rebuilding team that neither player has any desire to go to. Until Luke’s contract is settled, its’ hard to make any moves.
McCann just turned 29 and while his goal scoring did drop to 22, he’s playing on a crap team and if you think you can acquire for a mid prospect or mid draft pick, you’d have 31 teams lined up in a freaking hurry to get him
Not sure how anyone sees Lysell’s stock as “remaining high.”
I mean, this is a RW of average size (5′ 11″ 181lbs) who, despite being a 1st round pick 4 years ago, has played all of 12 NHL games (1g 2a 3pts) for a team that has been starving for some offense.
Nor can his AHL production be regarded as anything more than decently modest – 162gp 40g 81a 121pts – for 72-game (AHL) averages of 18g 41a 59pts.
This past season, in 52gp in Providence, he had 11g 23a 34pts, which ranked him 187th in AHL scoring.
So, someone please enlighten me – lol – on what basis does his stock remain high? The fact he was a 1st Round pick – 21st overall?
George
That was a young Bruin beat writer. Lysell still has value and is only 22. But his time is definitely fleeting. He has yet to be given an opportunity to show case himself as he is not built for 3rd or 4th line. Same can be said of Merculov not getting a fair shot. I think both have a do or die season with bruins this season.
So many teams seem to do this with their offensive prospects too often.
If guys are skilled offensively, you can’t truly judge their NHL ceiling if you force them into roles they aren’t suited for.
Skill has to play with skill to maximize potential. Trying to develop high skill, offensive players on the 4th line with goons and grinders is not a recipe for success. Just ask Ranger fans.
There’s also draft history not working in his favor.
Going back to 2010 there is really no one taken at # 21 who has managed to become anything more than a good journeyman type:
Riley Shehan, Stefan Noesen, Mark Jankowski, Frederik Gauthier, Robby Fabbri, Colin White, Julien Gauthier, Filip Chytil, Ryan Merkley, Samuel Poulin, Yegor Chinakhov, Owen Pickering.
The jury is still out on the last 2 or three, having been drafted fairly recently, but for the most part that is an “enhh” collection.
I would bet, in most cases, their history contains some deficiency in their approach to a 2-way game.
Just for the heck of it, here’s the entire history of players taken at # 21 – with a number of notable exceptions here and there (Lowe, Koivu). for the most part it’s a singularly unimpressive bunch.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/draft_by_pick.php?position=21
Lysell has had little chance at the NHL level. In Providence he had nagging injuries and I am sure was discouraged not being called up when a ton of other players were called up instead. He has been mismanaged and when the Bruins were out of contention he could have his defense worked on at the NFL level. Giving up on him now reminds me of how the Bruins gave up on Seguin who was just immature. I am not comparing the two but Lysell has some of the same offensive skills.
That link was a lot of fun to read. Thank you George.
Montreal’s 20-40 line might be Koivu between M.Naslund and John Leclair or S.Richer … pretending I did not see C.Lemieux. With Langway and Chelios on D. Desjardins on the bench. :)) Like I said, fun.
lol right on George.
Lysell isn’t a “bust” but he isn’t the kind of player anybody is looking for.
Bruins have to keep working on him in Providence and hope he finds “it”
Barry the Bruins signed 2 wingers who played in the AHL last year and they had 39 and36 goals. Lysell had 11goals last year .
McCann on the Devils is a 3rd liner. They aren’t giving up 1st rounders or top D prospects for that.
Heck, not sure he’s even going to be better than Mercer going forward.
He’d be a great 3rd liner for NJ or a lot of teams, but not at those asking prices.
I only see 4 forwards better than McCann on NJ right now. Mercer I’d say in the same boat as McCann. Palat is a top 6 forward in Jersey and McCann way better than Palat and Palat’s not going to improve. So if you think McCann’s a 3rd liner then Jersey has serious problems
An observation. Most fans of teams blame mgmt. (always) when a draft pick falls short the level they were “hyped” to be after being drafted. “He would have “excelled” if he played w/ this guy, but he was never given a “real chance”. Which is crap in my opinion. When you get a call up, you have to make a difference, not just keep up. Lysell was drafted for his offense, so, put up or shut up.
Teams push those so called young offensive talents to learn different roles simply because, their offensive talents aren’t good enough to get them into the NHL or keep them there. Just because a kid puts up great numbers in jrs. or college, can he do it in the NHL and the answers usually no. So they either expand their game or go home
That sort of thing is far too common, Yogi, when you compare the progress in the NHL of kids who came up through Major Junior ranks where there are far too many scheduled games and not enough time devoted to teaching. Which is where college draftees excel thanks to far less scheduled games and a LOT more time spent on teaching. By and large, on average, the draftees from the college ranks take far less time earning the ice-time and the trust of the coaching staff than do Major Junior draftees.
At least, that is my perception.
Two classic examples in Toronto would be Knies and Robertson.
A one is never done.
Someone will want Lysell on that basis alone
No way Jose on both Mercer and Nemec for McCann . Not even a one for one. Casey maybe
I think McCann would be great for The Wings, who have a variety of options to send to the Krakken. I think he’d mesh well on Larkin and Reymond’s line. Or put Kaspar on the 1st line and have McCann center Kane and DeBrincat.
I hope I am wrong but being drafted number 1 by Boston has to be taken with a grain of salt since you can look back at their many first round pick failures.Lysell could become the next Ryan Spooner or Jack Studnicka,or Zach Hamel. I will stay away from their 2015 draft.
I take issue the notion that players drafted for their offense have to be put in top 6 positions and not expected to succeed in a bottom 6 role.
It’s up to the team and player to succeed at offense or be reinvented as defensive specialists.
Digging back into Hab history, Guy Carbonneau was an offensive star in Junior but couldn’t cut it in the pros and he became a 3 time Selke winner, Captain of the Habs last SC team.
Doug Jarvis was a 2ppg player his draft year and couldn’t break the lineup so he became a defensive star, faceoff specialist on a few SC teams.
All of these drafted guys are really good players at their level, the progression is a different matter. F become D, D become F, scorers find new roles.
Players and development teams have to figure it out and hope for success in new roles.
One big difference habfan30,both Jarvis and Charbonneau were centers were Lysell is strictly a wing. Boston brought in 2 wingers from Dallas and Toronto and both were amongst the leaders in goals in the AHL last year.Boston is just stockpiling guys to try to stay competitive.I was they would just start a rebuild and get on with it.