NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2025
How much could Kirill Kaprizov receive in his next contract? What moves could the Red Wings make? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WORST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: The Athletic’s Michael Russo believes the Minnesota Wild have offered Kirill Kaprizov “a ton of money,” perhaps more than Russo thought on an eight-year contract.
Kaprizov, 28, is in the final season of his five-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. The high-scoring winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July 1.
Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).
Russo believes the Wild are willing to pay Kaprizov “in the 16 (million) range”. He indicates that the deal hasn’t been done yet, but general manager Bill Guerin remains confident it will get done.
Nevertheless, the next month could be telling. The longer Kaprizov goes without signing an extension, the more questions about whether he wants to stay in Minnesota, especially if the Wild offers him $128 million on an eight-year contract.
Russo believes whatever Kaprizov wants from the Wild, he’ll get it, even if he seeks a five-year contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last October, Wild owner Craig Leipold stated that no other team could offer Kaprizov more money or more years on his next contract. If Kaprizov wants to be well paid, $16 million annually would make him the second-highest paid player in the league for 2026-27. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is also UFA-eligible next summer and will get much more from the Oilers or another club if he goes to market on July 1.
However, if Kaprizov is hesitant to sign, it will suggest that he doesn’t believe the Wild will be winners over the term of that contract. If so, they would face the prospect of trading him before the March deadline or losing him to free agency for nothing next summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman was asked recently if the Detroit Red Wings might make a trade for a top-four defenseman or a top-six winger.
Bultman listed Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell as the most realistic to address the Red Wings’ needs.
However, Bultman’s not holding his breath waiting for any of those players to land in Detroit, citing the high asking price for Rust or Rakell (a first-round pick) and the aging Karlsson’s expensive contract.
Bultman also acknowledged rumors linking the Red Wings to Mason McTavish, but doubts the Anaheim Ducks will part with the 22-year-old center.
Winnipeg Jets winger (and Michigan native) Kyle Connor is UFA-eligible next summer. Bultman doesn’t see the Jets attempting to move him this far out if he remains unsigned. If they do decide to move him, the Red Wings should be among the suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings might make another move or two to improve their roster before the start of the season in October. Based on Bultman’s comments, don’t expect to see Karlsson, Rust, Rakell, McTavish, or Connor donning the Winged Wheel jersey anytime soon.
If Kaprizov is worth $16M; then isn’t McDavid worth North of $18 M?
I’m sticker shocked at the $16 M being bandied around for him.
Yes their top player. Yes a top ranked elite player in the NHL ; but a Winger! Add to that , talking $128 M ($16 M per for 8 years) to start at 30 years old?
I get that the Cap is escalating; but $16 M for a winger, to me, is high
Re Wings and “Bultman listed Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell as the most realistic to address the Red Wings’ needs.”:
Pens’ roster as is , is literally the worst case scenario for a rebuilding club; with the above 3 they won’t finish in bottom 7 (so basically kiss any chance at McGavin goodbye) ; and they won’t be playoff bound.
Yes, any of those 3 would benefit Wings; the hold up is a GM that completely (and repeatedly) misses the boat on player valuation (selling and buying)
No team takes EK at full whack;
At $7 M or $8 M the deal is a loss for sure
Retain 50% and get a return that improves team
Pens have 4 NHL righties Ds and for a rebuild team it is nuts to pay Clifton $3.33 M to sit in the press box or attempt to have him play a few minutes experimenting on his wrong side at 3LD
Re McTavish; I still think he’s a needle mover for Habs.
McTavish for Hutson as main pieces in trade. Sundry balancing assets/picks to finalize the deal
This of course would need to happen after Monday when Price can be moved (Price gets his SB paid on Monday and come Tuesday when insurance picks up most of remaining , Habs [or team acquiring , is only on hook for $400 K).
That’s classic Robbing Peter To Pay Paul.
When it comes to Hutson, he has all the attributes to be the next Hall Of Fame Montreal D. He has more than proven himself in the NHL and could well be the poster boy for the old adage that you build a winner from the back end up.
A move like that might solve their 2nd line C dilemma, but they’d then spend the next few seasons searching for the cornerstone of the D.
In my opinion.
No question re robbing Peter to pay Paul
I just think Habs biggest anchor (as reinforced by the article you linked) is at 2C
In this case, now and in the long run; Paul is worth more than Peter to the team
As is; they just may not make the playoffs.
And they are still over the cap
A 2 pronged set of moves would seriously move the needle (yes I know these multi move trades are rare; but just listing as a possibility to bring home the point of needing a 2C)
Hab’s suggestion for Tuesday:
Price , Laine, Dach, 2nd.
For
EK (50%), Rust, Accairi (Habs bury)
Habs clear close to $12.5 M in Cap space; sit at ~ $7 M in space;
Habs increase in top line production (Rust over Laine)
Habs get PP key; making Hutson available for move
Tuesday:
McTavish for Hutson; sundry picks/prospects to balance trade
Wednesday: sign McTavish to extension
Result:
McT replaces Dach; huge improvement
Rust replaces Laine, fair uptick in production
EK replaces Hutson as key offensive D; saw off in production
2 veterans added (one with 2 cups)
Habs go from being OVER cap and maybe making playoffs; to UNDER cap; and more importantly; very much a contender to make playoffs; on the rise; and available to potentially win a round or two
Simpler still:
Tuesday— flip Price at a cost of a pick (3rd OR give up a 2nd (they have an extra) receive a 4Th)
Then do the Hitson/McT swap(with sundries)
Shuffle current D; make move in-year if necessary
The long and short; I truly believe the Hutson/McT flip (with sundries balancing) is a WIN WIN trade:
Ducks get a needle moving D man and extract themselves from a contract hold out/protracted negotiations (and they already have Cs on board);
Habs get the much coveted 2C (strapping 2C at that)
IMHO Habs need McT MORE than they need Hutson
George,
Exactly, it’s only one season but Hutson has quickly shown that he might have a HoF career.
Mason McTavish is a very good center but he isn’t even the 1C on his own team.
Finding a Hutson is much more difficult than finding a McTavish.
Habs are a rebuild team that got into the playoffs unexpectedly last year, there’s no rush for the 2C.
It’s a hole that needs to be filled, as was RD before the Dobson trade.
GeorgeO Montreal has so many young prospects to evaluate. Look at where the group is deepest and trade from that position.Or evaluate a lesser option like Zacha.
Could Montreal slip back to among the non-playoff teams? Sure. So could Ottawa.
But it’s unlikely simply because none of the teams that finished behind them – Columbus, Detroit, NYR and NYI – that otherwise have any chance of replacing them – have (yet) made changes to their rosters that are significantly better than those made by Montreal and Ottawa.
It will be tight again but barring crippling key injuries, I think the experience gained by the two teams in reaching the dance last season will be the added positive to get them there again.
I’m simply going to say, it is MTL’s best interest to not be too trigger happy in the trade market. Give Dach this year to prove it. It’ll also give MTL the chance to evaluate where Hage is at in his development. Based on these 2 factors, you can either:
A) Dump Dach at the deadline in a package for a 2nd line center rental.
B) Dump Dach at the draft in favour of Hage as 2nd line center.
Either way, I think it’s to Hughes benefit to exercise patience in the matter. Don’t force the issue or make a move simply to please the fan base. Do what’s best for your team.
8787 re “As is; they just may not make the playoffs.”
So, which team among those that didn’t do you see having improved themselves more than Montreal and which you think may replace them as a playoff team?
As for being over the cap, that’s where Price and his $10.5 mil come in – right now his contract is counting – without it they’re about $5 mil under the cap – which will happen either when they place him on LTIR or trade his contract.
Vegas and Florida are essentially in the same boat.
Hi George
Sorry, out of context written quotes can be interpreted in different ways
“ As is; they just may not make the playoffs.” was not meant to be negative or definitive
It was meant to be read as “playoffs not guaranteed” as compared to “playoffs in doubt”
As is; I couldn’t say that they are a lock for playoffs
Doing the trade flip I suggested; I think moves (significantly) the playoff possibility/probability needle and gives them a chance at winning a round in ‘26
Re other teams flipping with them for final spot in East; don’t count out Jackets (finishing only 2 points behind Habs)
Jackets key player changes: Tarasov out; Woods and Coyle in. Add to that, Monahan (who was over a PPG (1st time in 7 seasons) last year: 19-38-57 in 54 games; missed s third of the season.
It is not out of the realm of possibility that Jackets bump Habs
Craig,
Dach is coming of knee surgery for the second time in two years and expecting him to slot in to 2C when he never did so in the past is unrealistic.
Considering how the Habs give him every opportunity to succeed, his trade value is very low if they give up on him.
Hage is a prospect in NCAA and not exactly lighting it up, he isn’t a Hobey Baker candidate or a standout. He’s a feelgood story.
Since 1990, players drafted at #21 did become NHLers but they never lived up to the expectations put on Hage.
Not to say he won’t succeed but it’s way too early to be betting on him.
“Hage is a prospect in NCAA and not exactly lighting it up, he isn’t a Hobey Baker candidate or a standout. He’s a feelgood story.”
FYI, Hage finished second among University of Michigan scorers with 13 goals and 34 points.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/803/univ.-of-michigan/2024-2025?tab=stats
He was named the Big 10 Freshman of the Year for 2024-25.
https://bigten.org/article/blt695a9cf7bd6340ba/
Maybe Hage will become a good second-line NHL center. Maybe he won’t. But he’s did better last season that you suggest he did.
“Maybe Hage will become a good second-line NHL center. Maybe he won’t.”
Possibly, Kent Johnson and Matty Beniers played two years at University of Michigan and turned pro very successfully, but one was drafted #5 and the other #2.
2020 #21- Yegor Chinakhov
2021 #21- Fabian Lysell
2022 #21- Owen Pickering
2023 #21- Charlie Stramel
I hope he does succeed but it’s way too early to be betting on him.
Hutson is worth more than McTavish.
Wings definitely need to make another move or two to improve their roster before the start of the season. However, Stevie is balking at the very high price he would have to pay. Even aging but effective veterans like Rust and Rakell are well overpriced! And forget about Karlsson unless the Pens retain 1/2 of his salary and only want a “b” prospect for him……besides Karlsson wants a contender, not Detroit.
In fact, Y has been bargain basement hunting again this summer, so I see him relieving the Pens of Dumba being more likely than trying to acquire Karlsson!
If Stevie Y wants a rightie D; EK @ 50%
OR Take Clifton instead of Dumba
Pens can ill afford to keep 4 NHL RHDs
How dumb can people be? You don’t spend your cap on wingers. They are a dime a dozen. Centers and goalies. That is it. After 5hat RHD. Eveeyone else is a commodity
I agree with you to a point. Some wingers are exceptional. Kuch, Pasta, Greedy Mitch, Art, and Rantanen are all different types of wingers. They shoot a ton, score a lot and distribute the puck as well as the leagues top pivots.
There’s exceptions to every rule.
As the norm, your main point stands well though.
“Greedy Mitch”. WT actual F? Another reason why I’m happily going to hope Vegas wins it all this year. It was great for Underoo Boy to talk a lot about staying on the Island but robbing the bank to sign in Toronto, but not for the perennial Toronto whipping boy Marner to get paid. Ridiculousness at its finest.
Some old guy, I’ve been calling him “greedy Mitch” for a very long time.
Since he signed his first big deal with the Leafs in fact.
It has nothing to do with Vegas.
I like the player. Not too sure on the person though.
As for JT. He wasn’t greedy. He just wanted to play for his hometown club.
He’s been an absolute bargain since he signed there the first time.
Azhockeynut,are Kaprizov,Rantanen.Guentzel,Knies,Pasternak,Panarin just to name a few a dime a dozen?
In the sense that probably twice as many Fs than D from among graduating Major Junior, College and European ranks make it to the NHL – yes, they are.
Added to that is the well-established fact that learning to PLAY D at the NHL level is a lot more complicated, exceeded only, perhaps, by goaltending,
If I’m an elite athlete I’m not playing for a team in Canada it’s not safe and our taxes are unreal. Pick a city where it’s safe to bring up a young family and where you can walk in the woods. If I’m Connor and I want to win and also love life I pick Florida Tampa Dallas or Vegas and I’m a Boston fan. World is a different place and it’s not for the better.
It does seem that Connor will not sign before the season. And when he season starts, I bet he sez “Let’s wait and see how it goes first”. Oil fans are gonna get very nervous!
Lol sorry there but that’s delusional! Toronto is ranked 6th saftest city in the world and saftest in North America! Tampa Miami and Vegas all higher violent crime and Detroit St.. Louis and Chicago and Colorado lol forget about it! And taxes are mostly BS. The U.S. federal taxes are more than Canada’s and California and New York state are comparable! Also player’s are paid in U.S. funds and in Canada everything they buy is Canadian funds so a 30% saving! If a wife was given 10 million U.S. dollars for a mansion budget..Canada the budget would be 13 million. Better standard of life all around! Especially in the political environment that is south of Canada. It’s all about the weather! Lol don’t really blame them I went to school in Tempe Arizona and loved it!
You’re wrong on many points. Either you’re not serious, or you are serious, which is sad.