NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2025
Some speculation over Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks, and potential destinations for Carey Price’s contract in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: A reader recently asked James Mirtle if he saw the New Jersey Devils attempting to acquire Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes to reunite him with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Hughes is signed through 2026-27. Mirtle thinks it would be only natural for the 25-year-old defenseman to wonder about his future in Vancouver if the Canucks can’t break through and win.
The Canucks could surprise with a bounce-back performance this season that convinces Hughes to stay, but Mirtle considers it unlikely. If they don’t, he thinks management will have to consider a blockbuster trade and what the return might look like.
As for the Devils, Mirtle speculated that they might consider making that commitment next summer if Hughes really wants to join his brothers. He observed that they have over $62 million in cap space for 2027-28 before accounting for Luke’s upcoming new contract, leaving plenty of room to sign Quinn to a massive extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season will be crucial in determining Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks. If they struggle this season, it will only stoke the trade rumors. Even if a deal isn’t possible with the Devils, there will be potential contenders with salary-cap space willing to acquire him and sign him to an expensive long-term extension next summer.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont looked at possible trade partners for the Canadiens to move the contract of Carey Price, who has been on permanent long-term injury reserve since 2022.
The Canadiens could retain Price’s contract and use LTIR to exceed the salary cap for the coming season, but they wouldn’t be able to accrue salary-cap space during the season. It would provide them with more cap flexibility if they could find a trade partner to take that contract off their books.
There is a year remaining on Price’s contract. The average annual value is $10.5 million, but he will make $7.5 million in actual salary for 2025-26, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1. That would make his contract palatable for rebuilding teams to remain cap compliant without paying much in actual salary if they move pending UFA players by the March trade deadline.
Dumont suggests the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, and Pittsburgh Penguins as three potential trade partners. The Canadiens would likely have to add “a mediocre draft pick” to the deal to sweeten the pot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks have also been mentioned as a trade partner.
Price has a full no-movement clause, but he won’t use it to block the Canadiens from trading his contract.
Trading Price for a mediocre pick, like third round or later, would be ideal. But I wouldn’t give up more. The Habs are not yet Cup contenders. Better to ride it out with Price on LTIR for one more year till his contract expires,
Not sure why Dumont includes Chicago as a possible destination for Price’s contract.
They already have their own perennial LTIR in Shea Weber’s $7,857,143 to ensure they reach the cap floor, and he has one more year to go as does Price.
Dumont’s article is dated as new but it isn’t, the data in it is old as the teams he mentions not making the floor are above it now.
As I explained before , a team trading for Price would do it for actual $ cash savings, so who throws in a draft pick comes down to who makes the more convincing pitch between GMs.
I agree, Mtl doesn’t have to move Price’s contract, they would just like to. It is more of a benefit for a team like SJ who has a bunch of UFAs that they will probably look to trade around the deadline so they will need contracts to get them to the cap floor. I would expect a team like SJ to include a late round pick or maybe even dump a contract of a player/prospect that is not in their long term plans in exchange for Price. I don’t expect Mtl to give anything of value when they don’t need to.
Remember the lack of flexibility that LTIR brings with that cap space. And remember the Habs not long ago lost the most man games to injury for a couple of years ago. Include the most fragile player in the league, Dach.
Gaining flexibility with the cap is definitely worth a mid level draft pick.
Especially considering the Canadiens’ recent solid draft record and their deep prospect pool.
I don’t see QH going to NJ
Maybe in the twilight of his career. Other possibilities are signing for only 4 years but I expect Rutherford and Alvin to offerMcDavid like $$ as I would think the Vancouver fans would form a lynch mob if they don’t get a deal done
In no world would SJ (or any other team) give up a pick in order to take on the remaining contract of Price. No team is currently below the floor, and though it might help them later at the trade deadline stay above the floor, the benefit of moving Price’s contract is solely for Montreal for 2 reasons:
1) they get to accrue cap space during the season (and this is a BIG deal).
2) they aren’t on the hook for the remaining $2M salary due after the bonus is paid. SJ would have to actually pay that for a player who is basically retired.
Montreal would def need to give a pick or prospect to dump Price’s contract
I disagree…
The most fragile player in the league is Matt Murray.
I agree that mtl doesnt need to move price. I agree that where they are at there is no need to be aggressive and give up much to move it.
While anything is possible, considering the current shape of rosters being all well above the floor now by at least 10 mil…i dont see any team offering an asset to Mtl to take on the ltir hit. Has that ever happened?
No matter how you phrase it…it benefits mtl more than the receiving team.
Isn’t Priced only getting $2M in salary and 10M bonus
There might be a taker if the Habs offer a late round Poland a prospect they don’t see in their plans anymore
Actually, it is only 800k as insurance covers the rest. Basically, peanuts on the money side.
“No matter how you phrase it…it benefits mtl more than the receiving team.”
Not necessarily true.
A team can trade away contracts in return for draft picks, using Price LTIR
to reach the cap floor while at the same time saving actual cash.
Getting cash in pocket plus multiple draft picks has value, what is it worth?
Is it worth spending $2m and a 3rd round pick to get the cash and draft picks collected from $10m contract dumps?
Habsfan30 – do you realize in season trades, the cap is pro rated right?
So a 12 mil player traded at half way is only 6 mil cap impact, in March it is closer to 4.
So with an already 10.mil Cushion needing more space is excessive. Dont you think? At least to the point where any team would pay to acquire more by moving an asset for Price.
If it is moved…mtl will pay. They may not have to pay much but they will pay.
But time will tell
I realize that, but I’m not suggesting waiting till trade deadline, just after Sept 1, before the season even starts.
For $800k cash they can start dumping cap for draft picks whenever they want and use the contract to cover the cap .
A team like San Jose made a number of foolish signings just to reach the floor. They could dump $8m in contracts, that’s money in pocket.
You feel that has no value, so I don’t bother trading his contract.
Habs aren’t impacted till next year when bonuses of $1.5m come off the cap which will be rising.
In the meantime, this year they can use the LTIR toe get more players.
The Habs don’t gain or lose anything this year whether the contract is traded or not.
$ value, draft pick, Habs have a $1.5m cap saving, the other team has an $8m cap saving.
Since many moves are dictated by cap situations, in terms of cap space and committed rosters (max. 23) as reported at Puckpedia just a couple of weeks away from new season camp openings, here’s where each team stands – some pending roster moves are self-evident e.g., teams listing 3G:
over the cap
Vegas (22 13F 7D 2G – $7,638,571 & RFA Holtz to sign – Pietrangelo’s $8.8 mil LTIR to factor in),
Montreal (24 14F 7D 3G – $5,931,667 – Price’s $10.5 mil LTIR to factor in, Florida (23 14F 7D 2G –
$4,500,000 – Tkachuk’s $9,500,000 LTIR to factor in)
less than $1,000,000:
Edmonton (23 14F 7D 2G – $225,834), Philadelphia (23 12F 8D 3G – $370,238 but Ellis’ $6,250,000 LTIR to factor in), Dallas (23 14F 7D 2G – $405,084), St. Louis (23 14F 7D 2G – $625,151), NY Rangers (23 13F 8D 2G – $777,976)
between $1 and $ 2 mil::
Tampa (23 15F 6D 2G – $1,180,001), Colorado (23 14F 7D 2G – $1,330,000), NY Islanders (24 – 15F 6D 3G – $1,625,000), Toronto (23 14F 7D 2G – $1,919,722)
between $2 and $4 mil:
Boston (23 14F 7D 2G – $2,081,667), Los Angeles (23 13F 8D 2G – $2,668,333), Vancouver (23 13F 7D 2G – $3,270,000), Winnipeg (23 13F 8D 2G – $3,963,810)
between $4 & $7 mil:
Washington (23 13F 8D 2G – $4,125,000), Ottawa (22 – 13F 7D 2G – $4,294,286), Minnesota (23 – 14F 7D 2G – $4,411,835), Seattle (23 14F 7D 2G – $4,599,287), Buffalo (23 13F 8D 2G – $5,190,319), New Jersey (23 14F 7D 2G – $6,131,667 & RFA Luke Hughes still to sign), Utah (23 – 13F 7D 3G – $6,682.143)
between $8 and $12 mil
Nashville (22 12F 8D 2G – $9,341,039 & RFA Luke Evangelista still to sign), Carolina (23 14F 7D 2G – $10,644,291), Detroit (23 13F 8D 2G – $11,992,461)
between $13 and $21 mil
Pittsburgh (23 13F 8D 2G – $13,053,571), Calgary (22 13F 7D 2G – $15,412,500 & RFA Connor Zary still to sign), Columbus (23 14F 7D 2G – $15,567,501), Chicago (22 12F 7D 3G – $18,662,024 & RFA Wyatt Kaiser still to sign), San Jose (23 – 13F 8D 2G – $19,740,832), Anaheim (22 – 12F 7D 3G – $20,538,811 but RFA McTavish still to sign)
Here’s another link with some interesting insight into both possible future moves and one that happened by The Hockey Writers
https://thehockeywriters.com/panarin-trade-rossi-chatter-kings-offer-for-mcdavid-more-nhl-rumors/
Rasmus Andersson trade speculation is making the rounds again!
Dallas could get this done:
Robertson and 2026 2nd for Andersson and Calgary 1st (top 3 protected) and Vegas 1st
Robertson still RFA at season’s end.
Andersson has benefit of signing with a perennial contender.
Dallas moves up apx. 30 spots in the draft with acquiring Vegas 1st for their 2nd.
Flames would never give up both 2026 1st rounders in a deal like that. Too deep of a draft. I would say an extended Andersen with 50% retention for this next year, Zary & the Vegas 1st would be a haul for Dallas.
Wow extend Andersson and retain 50%. You do realize if Andersson is extended, the 50% retention covers the entire length of that contract, not just 1 year and to give up Zary, plus Vegas 1st for Robertson who isn’t extended. Yikes you might want to reconsider your offer. That would be a haul and a half for Dallas. An extended Andersson, Zary and a maybe a 2nd, unless Robertson agrees to an extension too
The “next” year is on the current contract.
Honestly, if there truly were a market for Price’s contract, i would think it would have been dealt long ago.
A $10 million cap hit is not chump change and it applies until teams are permitted to place players on LTIR after the summer.
Teams are allowed to be maximum 10% over in salary before that date.
So Price being traded makes far more sense to MTL in the offseason, and far less sense to a rebuilding team in the same period, unless they already have a ton of cap-space.
If a team had a rising superstar and wanted to lock down a huge extension after the start of the season, AND has an extra $10 M in cap space in August…maybe that works?
But does it really give much gain to Montreal?