NHL Rumor Mill – September 30, 2025
The latest on the Panthers, an update on Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov, the Blackhawks are shopping winger Lukas Reichel, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Florida Panthers will have ample salary-cap flexibility once they place sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on long-term injury reserve to start this season. He expects they’ll look at every option to replace Barkov between now and the March 6 trade deadline.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).
Barkov underwent knee surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months. The earliest he could return to action is late April.
Panthers general manager Bill Zito is known for his aggressive moves. “You do your projections, and so that just continues,” Zito said. “And if there’s something that we think makes us better as a team, we’ll do it. And if not, we don’t. It’s really no different.”
If Barkov returns sooner than expected, the new postseason salary cap means the Panthers can’t use up his entire $10 million cap hit and then bring him back after the regular season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zito and his staff understand they won’t find anyone available who can suitably replace a leader and three-time Selke Trophy winner like Barkov. Nevertheless, they have a proven record over the last five years for making acquisitions that bolster their club. Even with the new postseason cap constraints, they could land someone who helps their chances for a Stanley Cup three-peat.
UPDATE ON BLUE JACKETS FORWARD YEGOR CHINAKHOV
THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline reported on “X” that Yegor Chinakhov skated on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ fourth line the last two days, and he hadn’t been part of their power-play practices.
The 24-year-old forward refused to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, head coach Dean Evason said they are still evaluating their forward line, noting that Chinakhov worked hard and did the right things during his three preseason games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chinakhov requested a trade through his agent in July, citing “misunderstandings” with Evason. He seemed happy with how things were going with the club after speaking with Evason on the eve of training camp, but he hasn’t rescinded his request.
BLACKHAWKS SHOPPING LUKAS REICHEL
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports the Chicago Blackhawks explored trading Lukas Reichel during the offseason. In the last few days, they’ve let teams know that the 23-year-old winger is available.
Powers believes it’s anyone’s guess where Reichel starts this season. He could be traded, claimed off waivers by another club, demoted to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, or start the season on their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks chose Reichel in the first round (17th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was expected to become a scoring winger, but has struggled to meet expectations. With younger players already in the lineup and others within the Blackhawks’ prospect pool pushing for NHL jobs, Reichel could be running out of time to establish himself.
Earlier this month, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reichel believed that he was going to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers at one point during this summer. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes they could move the young forward, who might welcome the change.
SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said there will be teams looking at the waiver wire for goaltending depth.
Friedman observed that Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Clay Stevenson of the Washington Capitals could hit the waiver wire this week. He said he’s “really curious” to see if they pass through waivers or get traded beforehand.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: DiPietro is expected to be the starting goalie for the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, while Stevenson is supposed to fill the starter’s job for the Capitals’ AHL team in Hershey. Neither player is waiver-exempt this season.
Hmmm 🤔, Reichel for Chinakhov!
That’s a thought, but I doubt it will happen. The Jackets have a few forwards in AHL Cleveland who should push themselves onto the Columbus roster over the next three years.
I also don’t see Chicago taking on someone else’s problem child just to move Reichel. Or Waddell accepting Reichel as fair value for Chinakhov.
But I have been wrong a few times in my life.
It seems that the Oilers would have a bit of a logjam on D. Reports indicate that Regula has impressed and some pundits suggest that maybe Boston among others may put a claim in on him if he gets sent down.
If the Oilers are actually wanting to retain him it would mean perhaps moving on from either Stecher or Embersson. Both had spells where they played very well last season and both spent ample time in top 4 spots along side Nurse. Both are on affordable contracts as well.
Reichel was an intriguing name pre camp and may still be on the Oiler’s radar but I think it now depends on what the team feels is best for Howard, Tomasek and Philp. All three had good camps from reports. I didnt mention Savoie who I feel is a lock for the team, and I think Philp should make the team as well. If they oilers feel either or both Tomasek or Howard are better served with AHL seasoning for a bit then Riechel would be a fine project/bet.
So taking the long way around would could a deal that centers on maybe Embersson/Reichel work? IdK
Maybe Robertson for reichel. Leafs would save $600k on the cap
FLA will need to consider the playoff cap when determining who to bring in. I think they sign Kuznetsov as their 2nd line center, the rest of their forwards are very good defensively to pick up the slack. they probably won’t finish 1st in the Atlantic but should be in the playoffs. I think the Bolts or Leafs take the division (still don’t think the B’s have filled in the holes to rebound from last year)
MikeP – Lundell can step up and fill that void of 2c imo. 45 pts last season being use primarily as a 3c and with limited prime pp time if much at all. The kid can play and would likely be in a more prominent offensive role any many teams were he not playing behind Barkov and Reinhart.
I would be looking more at a 3c/4c if their internal options dont hold.
Doesnt Reinhardt play the wing? Or do you mean Bennet?
Kent – i think Reinhart is akin to Leon in that he plays center and wing, both frequently enough. And i actually forgot about Bennet lol.
So they can run reinhart lundell and Bennet down the middle…lol.
Maybe a panther fan can chime in with their thoughts.
17 x 8 for Kaprizov per Tsn
Surprised by Kaprizov signing. Thought he wanted to go somewhere else. Guess it was the money.
Wild will have over $24M to sign 8 next year, not gonna handcuff them at all!
So 17m for Kaprizov and he will be 29 when the contract starts. I geet why they think they had to sign him but I still think this will age bad, he isnt known for being injury free, 41 games last season. McD yes, McKinnon also, Kaprizov?nope
I thought only centers got the best and highest contracts among forwards.Now are Pasta and Marner underpaid?
In my view Marner has been overpaid his whole career…should be happy with his salary as it is,,,which is still way too much
Based on KK’s contract I would say Marner is underpaid, not very often 100 pts players make it to FA,
I would say Marner took less in Vegas then he would have gotten from the leafs,
Pasta signed 2-3 years ago it was different landscape then, Marner’s agent knew the cap was going to sky rocket prior to signing, maybe he was set on Vegas or maybe the offers weren’t there, a majority of reporters thought he would be in the 14-15mill range,