NHL Rumor Mill – September 8, 2025
A roundup of takes on the latest scuttlebutt involving the five notable remaining restricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET’s Luke Fox looked at the latest rumors regarding the remaining notable RFAs.
Fox believes New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is still trying to get defenseman Luke Hughes signed to a team-friendly contract. A good comparable would be Brock Faber’s $8 million average annual value (AAV) on his eight-year contract.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).
Hughes reportedly prefers a five-year contract taking him up to unrestricted free-agent status by July 2030, the same time as teammate and brother Jack’s contract expires. The Devils prefer locking up Luke to a three-year bridge contract or an eight-year deal.
The Devils have roughly $7 million in cap space remaining, which is why veterans like winger Ondrej Palat and defenseman Dougie Hamilton have surfaced in recent trade rumors.
DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis cited AFP Analytics projecting Hughes could get $8.386 million on a six-year contract or $5.786 million on a three-year deal.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Devils are under considerable pressure to get Hughes signed before the start of the season. His absence could make the difference between them securing home-ice advantage for the playoffs and being a wild-card team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils must shed salary if they can’t get Hughes signed within their current cap constraints. If he gets over $8 million, expect a cost-cutting trade to follow.
Turning to Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, Fox noted that there has been trade interest from rival teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks. However, it’s believed Ducks GM Pat Verbeek wants to sign him beyond a bridge deal. One comparable could be Quinton Byfield’s five-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, which carries an AAV of $6.25 million.
Ellis considers the 22-year-old McTavish to be the premier forward still chasing a contract this summer. AFP Analytics projects he’ll get $6.772 million on a six-year contract or $3.983 million on a three-year deal.
Proteau believes the Ducks are under a lot of pressure to get McTavish signed. The rebuilding club needs all hands on deck if they’re to push for a playoff berth this season. They can’t afford to have a dynamic young player like McTavish on the sidelines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verbeek has a well-deserved reputation as a tough negotiator who isn’t afraid to let contract negotiations carry over into training camp and preseason. He also won’t trade McTavish if this turns into a standoff unless he gets a comparable player in return.
Fox indicated contract negotiations continue between the Nashville Predators and winger Luke Evangelista. He thinks the approach of training camp will be the true pressure point, suggesting a bridge deal as the path toward a solution.
Ellis cited AFP Analytics projecting a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.513 million for Evangelista. Proteau believes the Predators don’t have to rush into getting the young forward re-signed, noting the clock isn’t ticking as loudly for them as it is for the Devils with Hughes and the Ducks with McTavish.
Turning to Alexander Holtz of the Vegas Golden Knights, Fox cited Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon expressing his belief that his club can help the young forward unlock his untapped potential. A bridge deal or a trade could be the outcome.
Ellis indicated a one-year deal worth $874,125 was projected for Holtz by AFP Analytics. Proteau concurs that he’ll get an affordable short-term deal and believes the Golden Knights are feeling pressured to sign him.
The last RFA on Fox’s list is Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser. He cited Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times indicating that a deal should be worked out before training camp. Fox projected his contract will be three years with an AAV of $2.5 million.
According to Ellis, AFP Analytics projected Kaiser receiving $3.208 million annually on a three-year contract or $5.479 million on a six-year deal. Proteau believes the Blackhawks can afford to take their time getting him under contract.
I don’t see McT signing anything under $5M AAV, unless it is a 1 yr deal to get him to arbitration rights.
New Jersey has, exactly, $6,131,667 in cap reserve with, according to Puckpedia, 23 on the main roster – 14F 7D 2G – so, when Hughes is eventually signed, one D would be optioned – likely Casey or Nemec, both in the $900,000 range, which would up their reserve to around $7 mil. That would explain NJ’s preference for a 3-year deal at $5.8 mil per.
If, however, he were to get 6 years at $8.4 per they could stall things only temporarily by placing RD Jonathan Kovacevic and his $4,000,000 per deal on LTIR to start, since he’s not apparently going to be available for the first part of the season following his May knee surgery. But at some point they would be faced with moving another big contract to get cap compliant.
All of which calls into question the rationale and thinking behind the signing of P.T.O.s centers Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening and goalies Georgii Romanov and Adam Scheel – unless it’s for possible minor league depth types.
Kovacevic to LTIR is the play. Palat or Hamilton will likely get moved during the season, if there are still no takers then Mercer probably is moved.
My guess for the PTOs is the fact that the Devils really don’t have an option for 4C. My money is on Glendening getting s contract at league minimum.
Palat to Detroit with at least $2M retained for a 5th, if he waives his NMC/NTC 10 trade list
Counter offer
Hayes and Accairi and Clifton to Wings for minor leaguer named Jack Squat
His brother Didly Squat Is a better skater
Yes but Jack is a Righty Winger; Diddly a Lefty D
If my offer is rejected and they won’t take Jack or Diddly, I might go as high as their cousin Zippo Bupkis
There of course is our non drafted goalie Richard Awl. His nickname is “Sweet”
How about a good ol hockey trade. Hughes brothers to Detroit for Seider and Kasper.
I said it earlier this brother thing is a total turn off and a team distraction.
So, pass on a turn-off and team distraction to Yzerman? Don’t you think – if all that were the case – he wouldn’t want any part of it either?
That is just my preference. Maybe Yzerman doesn’t care. How about would you care?
Yes, and for the exact same reasons you cite. Also, as I note elsewhere, how would you like to be the GM of a team where all three reach UFA status at the same time, perhaps seeking a combined deal in excess of $27 mil and for identical long-terms – likely complete with NT/NM clauses?
Would it not be the same for Detroit?
Lyle, I have a question for you do you think what Luke is doing trying to lineup his UFA with his brother , do you think the three of them are trying to hit UFA at the same time and pick a team of choice? Seemingly what these young players are trying to do recently. Do you think all three are just biding time? I mean big picture wise obviously it’s a business and they all need to make money, but it seems funny that they’re trying to align their UFA status.
Mike: I can’t speak for Jack or Quinn, but based on recent reports, Luke certainly seems to be trying to align his UFA status alongside Jack’s, perhaps to garner some leverage to ensure they re-sign together or depart together. Quinn’s future is more difficult to determine. Quinn is UFA eligible in 2027, so if he re-signs with the Canucks or another team for just three years, then we’ll have our answer, especially if the Devils agree to give Luke a five-year contract.
Mike, don’t know what Lyle’s stance is on that, but, boy, if they all arranged to reach UFA status at the same time, it would take a GM with a whole LOT of cap reserve and gonads of steel to fork over something in excess of potentially $27 mil by then and, I would presume, their likely demand for identical long-terms.
No thank you.
Yzerman will pass as he is anti drama. Plus would rather have Seider than Hughes on Defense, and wondering might come of Kasper.
Hmm, 🤔, I am thinking Kasper could be as good as Jack’s season averages because he has been very healthy so far.
PajaDa, with Jack Hughes, Hischier and Mercer holding down center spots 1, 2 and 3, isn’t the 4th line spot why the reason they dealt at the trade deadline for Cody Glass from Pittsburgh?
His production last season might have been “modest” (6g 16a 22pts in 65gp with Pittsburgh and NJ), but the 6′ 3″ 200lb 26y/o at least has several year on Glendenning whose production in 77gp in much the same tole with Tampa was worse – 4g 3a 7pts.
Is Glass that bad at face-offs? And if they dealt Mercer could he or Glendenning move into the 3rd C slot.
In your view, how far away is Thomas Bordeleau?
“much the same role …. “
Re: AFP analytics and “guess” at McTavish contract value : “ AFP Analytics projects …….or $3.983 million on a three-year deal.”
If McTavish’s agent can’t get him $5 M or more on a 3 year deal; McTavish needs to fire him
I realize Ducks are pretty well going to match ALMOST any Offer Sheet; but why not (as another GM) put out an offer that forces the issue. There will be a point where Verbeek walks for picks compensated
Compensation this year:
$4.7 – $7 M; 1st & 3rd
$7 M – $9.4 M ; 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$9.4 M – $11.7 M (which he won’t get offered; but just to show); 2 *1sts, 2nd, 3rd
Note: teams need to own their own picks; and more importantly AAV is total contract amount divided by the lesser of (a) actual term and (b) 5 years. So OS’s of 6 or 7 years are pretty well not happening
I still think the best move for Ducks, is a trade (they’d certainly get a better deal than a 1st, 2nd, 3rd; and McQueen will be available as 2C in a couple of years (just around the time they start jockeying to get into playoffs)
Yeah well, having McT this season may have them contending for a WC spot.
Who s going to take on the next Core 3?
Sr, won’t know about that for a while, anyway, but if you look at what teams spend, in terms of the cap, on each of their 3 top-hit Fs, D and 2 Goalie Tandems for the upcoming season’s $95.5 mil cap limit, these 7 teams are forking over anywhere from 60 to 65% on those 8 players (and 2 of them failed to make the playoffs this past season):
60%
DALLAS F Rantanen-Seguin-Hintz $30,300,000 D Heiskanen-Lindell-Harley $17,700,000
G Oettinger-DeSmith $9,250,000 TOTAL $57,250,000
VEGAS F Marner-Eichel-Stone $31,500,000 D Theodore-Hanifin-McNabb $18,425,000 G Hill-Schmid $7,125,000 TOTAL 57,050,000
BOSTON F Pastrnak-Elias Lindholm-Mittelstadt $24,750,000 D McAvoy-Hampus Lindholm-Zadorov $21,000,000 G Swayman-Korpisalo $11,250,000 TOTAL $57,000,000
61%
FLORIDA F Barkov-Tkachuk-Reinhart $28,125,000 D Jones-Ekblad-Forsling $18,850,000
G Bobrovsky-Tarasov $11,050,000 TOTAL $58,025,000
62%
TAMPA F Kucherov-Point-Guentzel $28,000,000 D Hedman-McDonough-Cernak $19,950.000
G Vasilevsky-Johansson $10,750,000 TOTAL 58,700,000
64%
EDMONTON F Draisaitl-McDavid-Hyman $32,000,000 D Nurse-Bouchard-Ekholm $25,750,000 G Skinner-Pickard $3,600,000 TOTAL $61,350,000
65%
NYR F Panarin-Zibanejad-Miller $28,142,857 D Fox-Gavrikov-Borgen $20,600,000 G Shesterkin-Quick $13,050,000 TOTAL $61,792,857
As a Habs fan I want them to get all the best available players. But is all this McTavish talk real?
Or just slow season talk? Like how every top FA is coming to Toronto and Montreal every year.
“Slow season” = “Wishful-Thinking Season” – every year without fail.