NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2025
Check out the latest on Jets winger Kyle Connor, Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, Devils blueliner Luke Hughes, and Predators winger Luke Evangelista in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman doesn’t envision Kyle Connor moving on to another club after this season. The 28-year-old left winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).
Chipman said he’s not directly involved in contract talks, as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff handles that issue. Nevertheless, he pointed out that Connor is part of their roster core, and those players are very close.
“I think it would be my expectation that we’ll get something done sooner rather than later,” Chipman said. “My instincts are telling me that this is likely going to get done.”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a rumor on Connor’s contract situation, but it’s worthwhile including here because he’s bound to come up in media chatter the longer he remains unsigned this season.
Connor’s offensive skills would make him a highly-prized player in next summer’s free-agent market, especially if Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, Vegas’ Jack Eichel, and the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin end up re-signing with their current clubs.
Some observers might question whether the small-market Jets can afford to retain Connor, especially after losing Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer. However, they were able to re-sign Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele two years ago despite speculation that they might test the open market. It wouldn’t be surprising if they keep Connor in the fold.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes there’s a chance the Calgary Flames might be able to re-sign defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but he still considers it unlikely.
Andersson, 28, is UFA-eligible on July 1. The Flames are happy to have him back, and he’s willing to play his best for them this season. Neither side wants to totally close the door on contract talks.
LeBrun said Andersson was nearly traded to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, but it failed to materialize. He thinks the blueliner might listen if an eight-year offer is on the table, but it doesn’t seem like the Flames are willing to go there.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson turns 29 next month, which explains why the Flames are reluctant to offer up an eight-year deal. Unless he’s willing to accept a shorter term, he’s likely to be moved by the March 6 trade deadline.
LeBrun also reported that New Jersey Devils’ management and representatives for Luke Hughes met on Monday to try to find some leeway in contract talks.
Hughes, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. LeBrun stated that the two sides remain far apart and still must find more common ground. They are both focused on a long-term contract but can’t agree on the average annual value. He indicated the tone remains amicable, but a deal isn’t imminent.
THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: provided an update on Luke Evangelista’s contract talks with the Nashville Predators. Johnston indicated the Predators are offering up a two-year deal worth an AAV of $2 million. Meanwhile, the Evangelista camp seeks around $3.25 million.
A week or so ago the issue in the Evangelista negotiations centered around term, with Trotz offering a bit more per but over a longer term, and the Evangelista side actually seeking less per, but on a 2-year deal.
Now, it seems, they’ve reached an agreement on the 2 years but the issue has switched to $$ with Trotz offering less per than he did on the longer term, and the kid and his agent seeking $1.25 mil per more than is being offered!
Neither side here is doing itself any favours with their positions. Trotz desperately needs to start getting younger NOW because that collection is going to fare even worse than they did last season – which was pretty bad.
Evangelista, meanwhile, can’t continue to improve (as most expect he would) by sitting on his arse back home and missing THE most important part of the early season.
Boneheads on both sides.
the beauty of the Sens having their core locked up is pretty much the best thing Pierre Dorion did. They’re good enough that those deals aren’t terrible. Are they good enough to win a Stanley Cup…who knows. Staois should have locked up Pinto. That one might cost him at the end of this year.
Yakemchuk didn’t look great last night.
No he did not. Which is why something like a 3rd of a season in the AHL will do him more good in the long run than not having his offensive talents will do the Senators any appreciable harm.
If, after 20-odd games in Belleville, he shows marked improvement in his defensive tendencies, then he can be recalled. If he isn’t showing improvement according to the coaches … then be prepared for a long, hard lesson Carter.
Agreed.
And his offensive numbers were down this last season in the WHL because he was apparently told to work on his defensive game. It was only one pre-season game but he was paired with our best D and was noticeably lost a lot of the time. There was one particular sequence where he was in the middle of the ice, at the blue line of the Sens zone leading the rush up the ice until the “team” collectively lost the puck and rushed back in 3 on 1 (of course Jake was back) and the Leafs didn’t score but they could have. Easily.
I see where Batherson is expected to be out about 2 weeks with a pulled upper-body muscle. Looks like Giroux will start on the 1st line at RW, with Zetterlund on line 2 and Kaliyev moving over to RW on the 3rd line. Amadeo will remain as the the 4th line RW.
Winnipeg should get Connor deal done asap. Unless he’s a guy that wants a new home, there’s no reason not to get this done. Plenty of cap space next year with no other big ticket players to re sign.
As fans we get antsy…I mean why wait…July 1st…sign the bloody extension already..haha.
But as fans we dont have to carry the weight of a crossing off options and often look at only the production vs dollars. As I am now nearing my 50s I can appreciate why these things can get strung out much longer.
When you think about chances of winning a cup, any team you dreamed of maybe playing for, but its the family that I start to feel for players that are looking at what could be their last long term deal.
Things like being closer to family, different schools that suit your kids future better, extracurricular activities for you as well as the family, amount of travel vs less travel (east vs west). And for guys like Kyle Connor if you hit UFA you would have lots of suitors.
It can be heavier than us fans sometimes appreciate.
As far as suitors, Jets have enough cap space to compete with any offers. Money won’t be the issue. Home has been Winnipeg for 8/9 seasons. His wife is involved in kids program run by team
They had 1st child in March, so schools not really an issue. Coming off a 97 point season, I’d say his value not getting higher.
Evangelista and Garland have the same agent, McDavid as well.
So, too, do Roman Josi, Austin Matthews, Max Domi, Zach Werenski and Morgan & Connor Geekie.
Devils show as having $5.2M in cap space, that isn’t enough to get a long term deal done for Hughes.
They can increase that by $900k by sending Gritsyuk down and another $900k sending Seamus or Nemec down.
So that would give them up to $7M for Hughes and leave them with 13 active forwards, 7 D, and 2 goalies.
So they have the wiggle room to make it all work, not sure why it’s dragging on. And Hughes missing camp and preseason is not good for the player or team.
(Double not good on the McTavish side too because Anahiem also has a new coach with a new system, so he’d going to be way behind once he signs/reports).
These are both “kids” and while they should fight for their money now, they should also consider the urgency to report to secure for prime deployment/opportunity now so that their next contracts (presumably in their prime) could be even better.
As it stands now with the season starting in less than 2 weeks, Hamilton probably starts as PP1 ahead of Hughes and McT probably starts on the 3rd line instead of 1C or 2C once he joins.
foleyd7, New Jersey will also have the option of placing Kovacevik and his $4 mil per cap hit on LTIR as he has not recovered sufficiently from his offseason knee surgery to take part in training camp/preseason… a process that is currently considered indefinite. That, added to their $5,206,667 cap reserve, should be enough to cover a Hughes deal … at least for as long as Kovacevik remains out – without needing to option anyone at the start.
NJ should’ve tried to trade Palat and if nobody wanted him, could’ve bought him out. Bottom 6 players with a 6mil cap hit.