NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Luke Hughes’ contract talks with the Devils, potential suitors for free-agent goalie Carter Hart, and Alex Wennberg’s future with the Sharks.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the wedge between the Devils and Luke Hughes is growing more concerning as training camp continues.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).
Hughes, 22, is a restricted free agent completing his entry-level contract. He’s missed nearly the entire first week of Devils training camp. Both sides seek a long-term deal, but cannot find common ground on the dollars.
Nichols cited recent speculation by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting general managers around the league are doing their best to hold their ground so as not to be taken advantage of with the rising salary cap.
Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, sees his client as a future No. 1 defenseman and believes he should be paid accordingly. He also doesn’t want to see Luke’s contract land on the “best bargain” list, like his brother, Jack Hughes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils also have $5.2 million in cap space, which would also explain why negotiations have stalled over money.
They could get some short-term cap relief if sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovecevic ($4 million average annual value) lands on LTIR to start the season. However, they must be cap-compliant when the season begins, which could lead to a cost-cutting trade if the AAV on Hughes’ new contract exceeds their current cap hit.
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports sources are claiming the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are among several teams still in the mix for free-agent goaltender Carter Hart.
Hart won’t be returning to his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers. He seeks a destination where he’ll have a clear path to playing time on a team built for success.
It’s expected he’ll sign a two-year contract and could play some tune-up games in the AHL in mid-November before his first NHL start in early December.
The Utah Mammoth had internal discussions about bidding for Hart, but is out of the process. The Edmonton Oilers have decided not to pursue him.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports Alex Wennberg faces an uncertain future with the San Jose Sharks.
The 31-year-old center is in the second season of a two-year contract with the rebuilding Sharks. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Pashelka noted that the Sharks have promising centers such as Will Smith, Michael Misa, and Filip Bystedt on their roster or within their system.
Carolina is a good landing spot for Hart.
Is Jack Hughes a bargain ? Certainly not factoring games played .
I recall him working with Adam Oates trying to learn to protect himself. Has not worked out yet. Great skill but good is it eating pop corn in the press box
Luke wants a mega contract based on potential and pedigree ? Get a bridge deal executed and get into camp. Both him and McTavish are missing valuable time with potential to derail their seasons
The KHL would be a good spot for Hart.
Wennberg might draw interest from a playoff team needing a decent 4th line-type C. He just turned 31, has good size at 6′ 2″ 190lbs, and over 789 career gp has 82-game averages of 11g 28a 39pts. His one notable weakness is his futility in the face-off circle (around 46% career-wise), offset to some degree by his strong defensive play.
George, Rangers picked him up at deadline 2 seasons ago when they made it to Conference finals. Hes got a 5 mil cap hit this year and SJ only has 1 retention slot left. Hes 1 of 10 pending ufa’s on that team. They could retain salary on him but won’t be able to on other players. Definitely a good add for a contender.
Yeah, the Sharks could approach his move in a couple of ways Slick62 and Nav. One, of course, is to put him on waivers to see if anyone would claim him at the full $5 mil. Unlikely, in which case they could then bury him in the AHL until his deal runs out at the end of the season.
But with $9,240,832 in cap reserve covering a roster of 24 (13F 8D 3G) … and even counting Price’s $10,500,000 to enable them to reach the cap floor – they have more than enough to entice a trade by withholding half of Wennberg’s $5,000,000 for his final year. They probably won’t go with 8D, and with RD covered by Leddy, Klingberg and Desharnais, and RD Jack Thompson waiver-exempt, they’ll likely send him and his $800,000 ELC to the AHL, giving them $10,040,000 in reserve. More than enough.
Nicely put, and a guy that can slot into the 3C spot if there is an Injury to their other Centers.
As long as J Hughes continues to play as he does, he’ll continue to get hurt (seriously too) and therefore, isn’t a bargain contract.
You know what’s too bad. If the Canucks had the space and wherewithall to offer Luke an offersheet. that would give them 2/3 and show “their Hughes” that he should stay. Hmmm… They just don’t have the room.
Thought about this the other day, say the Canucks moved JT Miller, Willander, Lerramakki and a 1st to NJD for both Hughes Brothers, would NJ have atleast seriously thought about it, especially concerning the injury concerns with J Hughes. For Vancouver it would have been worth the risk honestly.
They don’t have the necessary picks for an OA either!
Like Hughes couldn’t be offer sheeted, He doesn’t have enough games under his belt.
For MJ, Kovasevic will be out until January, as per GM Tom Fitzgerald. JK going on LTIR bides time until then, to free the cap space needed to get under the cap, whether it’s Hamilton or Palat traded away.
I bet Luke Hughes signs just before the season opener
L Hughes missed the start of last season with an injury and took a while to gain his form back. Although the Hughes family is undoubtedly talented, I can’t help but feel a sense of entitlement coming from them. This is of course from the outside looking in. One wonders what kind of return they’d get on the market.
Btw Luke Hughes has done little in his time with NJ to warrant #1 D status.
Woll taking a leave of absence to deal with personal family matter … looks like Stolarz will get the bulk of work for the next while
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-joseph-woll-takes-leave-of-absence-no-timeline-for-return/
Big, big mistake by EDM not bringing on Hart.
I don’t see easy alternatives to try, meaning they’ll get a carbon-copy result of the last 2 years.
Stupidity is trying the same thing, expecting different results.
They cannot risk it on Hart.
The stipulation that he cannot play until December puts any contending team at or near cap in a peculiar scenario.
Add in missing all of last season…that is a lot of what ifs to manage.
I would have been for adding Hart to the team…with a full camp…and in tandem with Skinner.
Agree. Assuming he could return to form without the benefit of a training camp and preseason games after missing a full season would be risky.
And can you imagine the level of heckling and cat-calls he’d have to endure if he was experiencing obvious problems in keeping the puck out his net?
Deserving a second chance is one thing … living up to it is quite something else.
No doubt Utah and the Oilers took all that in to account before making their decisions.
Is Hart’s cap hit on them as soon as he is signed or comes on board on Dec 15??? It does not seem fair that the team be penalized before he can play.
Johnny Z, if you Google the question you get this
“Yes, NHL player cap hits still count against the salary cap during a suspension, even though they forfeit their salary for the games missed and are not paid for the duration of the suspension. The salary forfeited is instead moved to a league fund. There are specific circumstances where a suspension does not count against the cap, such as for off-ice infractions, where the player is suspended without pay by the league.”
Now the question becomes, does that last apply in their case? Can’t seem to elicit an answer to that one!
Edm re upped Podkolzin, 3 years at 2.95
I really like this deal and Podz. He is Versatile winger. Leon likes having him on his wing. Plays hard and kills penalties.
With any luck and playing significantly with Leon he should produce about 15 to 20 goals and about 40pts. Not a big stretch to see it as such.
Suspect a Walman contract is soon to follow
That’s a very good deal.
Johnny Z – good question. Not sure. I suspect it gets prorated.
George.O – exactly. I think the smarter decision for the guys would be just play a full pro season where ever and make a return to the NHL in 26-27 be the goal.
But I also didnt go from making millions per year to making 0 per year to paying likely half a million or so on a trial defense team. 😉
That’s the way Formenton is approaching it, with his contract in the Swiss league, which runs through to some point in December. By then, all 5 will be allowed to play in the NHL, so if he is offered a deal somewhere he’ll at least have those Swiss games under his belt.
We just know for certain that it won’t be Ottawa.