NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2025
Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Sabres forward Alex Tuch, and Avalanche forward Martin Necas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: With the top of next summer’s free-agent market already thinning out, Pierre LeBrun believes the focus will shift toward New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.
The recent signings of Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel leave Panarin as the biggest name worth monitoring.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin is the oldest among that group of stars, turning 34 on Oct. 30. The play-making winger is coming off a seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.642 million.
Panarin won’t get another long-term contract. However, another solid season on his part could ensure he receives at least a three or four-year deal with an AAV close to his current number.
This situation could make things interesting for Panarin’s contract discussions with the Rangers. He reportedly rejected their offseason proposal of a short-term deal with a hometown discount. Both sides are staying silent about the subject as they await the outcome of this season.
LeBrun is also focused on Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas. He believes the recent re-signings have affected the Kempe and Tuch negotiations.
Contract negotiations have been ongoing between Kempe and the Kings, with Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander’s contract ($11.5 million annual average value) brought up in those discussions. Connor’s new contract with the Jets ($12 million AAV) could also be mentioned, leaving LeBrun to suggest that Kempe’s next contract could be between $11 million and $12 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The case can be made that Kempe isn’t on the same skill level as Nylander and Connor and thus not worth between $11 million and $12 million. However, with the salary cap rising, his camp’s asking price would be less than 12 percent of next season’s $104 million salary cap, which would subsequently decline each year as the cap continues to rise.
LeBrun said there’s been good dialogue between Tuch and the Sabres, but nothing’s imminent. Meanwhile, Necas wanted to start this season and see how it goes, as it’ll be his first full one with the Avalanche. However, he could soon get his agent to open talks with them. LeBrun thinks Necas will eventually re-sign with the Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch told reporters last month that he’d love to sign a long-term extension with the Sabres. However, there could be another front-office housecleaning if the Sabres missed the playoffs again, which could leave Tuch facing an uncertain future in Buffalo.
As for Necas, RG.Org’s James Murphy cited an NHL source casting doubt on his finishing the season with the Avalanche, citing the club’s salary-cap crunch and the need to prioritize re-signing superstar defenseman Cale Makar.
Murphy listed the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks as possible playoff-rental destinations. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks could be clubs that trade for him with an extension in place.
I think this has worked out as well as possible for Panarin. If the Rangers don’t pay up to what he wants, someone else will. I doubt he gets what he is currently making, but it should still be a good deal for a 34-year-old. And I assume the Rangers will sign him with a lot of the name-brands already signed.
Panarin will be 35 at beginning of next deal. There’s no reason to rush into a new deal. Honestly don’t think he fits into kind of style they want to play. He’s been a great player for them but, they should spend on a younger player.
While a really good player I would rank the players in question
Nylander, Connor and then Kempe, however he is signing with a rising cap, Nylander wasnt. 10,5-11 sounds plausible.
I wouldnt sign Panarin at 11 at this time of his career. While he has been fairly healthy and productive I can see 3×9 or 4×8 as more fair if he wants to stay
Both Tuch and Kempe are players that are better than most people give them credit for. Kempe in particular is the straw that stirs the drink and can play with anyone and elevate the line. Tuch is a real nice complementary piece that’s adds a certain dimension to a line and drive it hard.
If either are available, I would love to see them on my team.
About Tuch:
“The longer the season goes without a deal, and depending on how the season goes for the Sabres… Unless (GM) Kevyn Adams wakes up and says, ‘alright, we’re gonna give you this deal, 8 (yrs) by $11 (million), or something like that, this is gonna take a little bit of time.
If this team doesn’t have him signed by the halfway point of the season and we already know that we’re focusing on ’26-’27 for them… then I think you start to have (trade) discussions (with other teams) out there, and I imagine the Oilers would be one of them.”
David Pagnotta
Wow! I think Tuch is worth $9M AAV tops! CapWages projects him at $8,524,800 x 7 yrs
Kevyn Adams is in a contract year. If he wants to do his job of making the bold right moves for the Sabres to be in the playoff and securing talent beyond the season, he has to extend Tuch.
Lebrun has no insider info on Panarin – he’s purely speculating.