Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 7, 2025
Why shouldn’t we expect a reunion of the Hughes brothers to happen with the Devils anytime soon? Why haven’t the Islanders pursued a contract extension with team captain Anders Lee? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently looked at why we shouldn’t expect a Devils trade for Quinn Hughes to happen sooner.
Speculation persists linking the Vancouver Canucks captain to the Devils and a reunion with brothers Jack and Luke Hughes. In a recent interview with Sportsnet, Quinn left more questions than answers about a contract extension with the Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
“Who knows what we can do and who knows how I’ll be feeling this time next year? It’s still a year away,” Hughes said.
Nichols believes if the Canucks were to trade Hughes now, it would have to mean they’re trading everyone of significance. However, that’s unlikely to happen at this point, as the Canucks re-sign Brock Boeser, Thatcher Demko, and Conor Garland. They have several defensemen signed through 2030, and center Elias Pettersson is in the second season of an eight-year contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last season was a disappointment for the Canucks after their strong showing in 2023-24. Despite their inconsistent play, the turmoil between Pettersson and J.T. Miller that led to the latter’s trade to New York, and injuries to key players like Demko, the Canucks remained in the playoff race until late in the season.
Management is hoping for a bounce-back performance with a healthier roster this season. They’re also hoping that things go well enough that Hughes will commit to a long-term extension next summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche doesn’t plan to pursue a contract extension with team captain Anders Lee just yet.
The 35-year-old left wing is entering the final season of his seven-year contract and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. He’s earned an annual cap hit of $7 million.
Darche told LeBrun that he and Lee have agreed to see how this season plays out. He indicated there is no urgency on either side.
“He’s the captain of our team, and I really like the individual,” Darche said. “But I’m new to the team, right? There’s no one on an expiring contract, that has one year left, that I’ve re-signed. It’s not because I don’t want to, I had enough on my plate this summer. I’ve got a great relationship with Anders.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A sensible decision by Darche. He wants to evaluate his roster before making any decisions on new contracts. Given Lee’s age, he’ll likely get a short-term deal of two or three seasons if Darche decides to re-sign him. The annual cap hit is likely to be lower than his current one. How much lower will depend on his play this season. Nevertheless, the longer Lee goes without a contract, the more speculation about his future with the Islanders.
I would never want to be on a team with 3 brothers. Everything would be about them. It would be tiresome. When I heard that Luke wanted to have the same term as Jack I thought good riddance to both of them. Already trying to influence and control the team.
It makes one wonder what the real impetus was for trading away Dobson as opposed to seeing how the season played out.
Did he maximize the return for the Islanders, should he have pushed it through to Columbus, did they really give a better offer than the Habs.
Did a hard-ass agent take advantage of a new GM getting his footing?
What would Lou have done?
The hope was Dober was going to be the guy for the Isles. However, inconsistency and mental mistakes did not warrant a max contract on the island. Could he excel in Montreal not being the number one guy. 100%.
Isles dodged a bullet with Dober. Who knows if the return we be positive or negative. Talk to me in 3 years.
The Isles had no choice with Dobson. He wanted out and he wanted to be traded to Montreal. Anything else and he would have taken a one year deal and walked as a UFA. So the Isles had no choice but to move him. And he’s only 25 years old with hopefully many great years ahead. Lee, on the other hand, would likely prefer to stay with the Isles and is 35 years old. He could be re-signed on traded as a rental at the deadline, depending on how the season turns out.
With size being such a big factor in the playoffs do you think you could make a deep playoff run with the 3 brothers, you’d have to surround them size, the Canucks aren’t even close to a cup contender, to me if you break it into 4 groups of teams the Canucks are in the third group which is fighting for a wildcard spots so you might get one round if you get in, they should be focused on 2030-35.
Jeff when you get 3 players of that caliber,who cares if they are brothers. Be careful what you read about Luke wanting to have the same term as JackI wish Quinn wasn t injured for last years 4 nations tournament. He could have been the difference for team USA.
I agree Lyle. Very wise for Darche, as a new GM, to take his time and evaluate his roster. I believe Lee wants to spend his whole career as an Islander and will sign a 2 or 3 year deal at a lower cap hit.
For a guy drafted in the 6th round of the 2009 draft – 152nd overall – big LW (6′ 3″ 235lbs) 35y/o Anders Lee has had a consistently-productive career with few games lost to injury.
In 841 career games he has 289g 218a 607pts for 82-games averages of 28g 21a 49pts, and this past season exceeded that with 29g 25a 54 pts and played in all 82 games.
In fact, he’s played close to the maximum every year, with the only appreciable dip coming in the Covid-shortened (2020-21) 56 games season when he missed 29.
He does that again this season – or even close to it – and while he might not get another $7 mil deal, someone will go at least a year @ $5.5.
Your math isn’t adding up George. 289g plus 218 assists equal 507pts.
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