NHL Rumor Mill – October 13, 2025
The latest on the Oilers’ goaltending and a suggested trade target for the Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer and TSN’s Ryan Rishaug suggesting it’s now or never for Stuart Skinner to establish himself as a reliable starting goaltender. If he can’t, there will be changes.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).
Rishaug told Stauffer that the Oilers intend to let it ride for a little while with Skinner as their starting netminder. However, the 26-year-old goalie is on the clock to prove himself.
The Oilers recently acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth, who is currently with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, getting up to speed after missing training camp and the preseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples observes that the Oilers’ “Plan B” will be Ingram if Skinner struggles to nail down the starter’s job. The trade market for goalies is thin right now, but it might improve a little over the course of the season if the Oilers feel they must seek a “Plan C” option before the March trade deadline.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes that, if the Oilers don’t win the Stanley Cup this season, they can go out and sign Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. He pointed out that they’ll have the money and cap space to do it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmons is assuming that the Panthers won’t re-sign Bobrovsky and that he’ll want to play for the Oilers if he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. Don’t rule out the Panthers finding a way to keep Bobrovsky in the fold.
LAS VEGAS SUN: Case Keefer suggested Rasmus Andersson as a potential trade target this season for the Golden Knights. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Andersson has stood out above the rest in offseason trade rumors. It’s expected he’ll be traded before the March 6 trade deadline. The Golden Knights are reportedly his destination of choice.
Keefer noted that Mitch Marner was linked to the Golden Knights last season before he ultimately landed in Vegas. “Andersson might be even trickier financially, but it’s hard to rule anything out.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are pressed for cap space for this season, having placed defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve. They’ll have to shed salary if they intend to take on the remainder of Andersson’s cap hit for this season by the trade deadline. The same goes for next summer if they want to sign him as a UFA.
Nothing about Ingram screams out Number 1 goalie. Far from certain he’ll be better than Skinner. Oilers may have to get to Plan C pretty quickly.
Maybe he doesnt have to be better but just more reliable, as in stop the pucks he should
Oilers and Panthers are showing nearly identical cap numbers for next season. What exactly inspired this writer to think Edmonton could possibly sign Bobrovsky? Zero chance he leaves sunny SoFla.
Exactly, him and his family are fully entrenched in South Florida. No way he leaves at this stage of his career to move all the way to Edmonton even if it is for one maybe two seasons. He is 37 with two young kids. Edmonton needs to ride it out with the three they have and go with the hot hand.
Sort of re space
Yep very close in Cap room: Oilers just $600 K more in space
Next year (as at now):
Oilers $18.8 M space; with 7 spots to fill (4 bottom 6/Depth Fwds; 1 (one) 6th/7th D; starter; back-up
BUT:
Panthers: $18.2 M space; BUT with 10 spots to fill (6 bottom 6/Depth Fwds; a 6th AND a 7th D; starter; back-up)
So Panthers need more juggling than Oilers; however always have the tax advantage to get same/similar player(s) at lower Cap hit
Agree long long shot at Bob having a home near the Arctic circle next year; but not totally impossible
Let’s not forget that media savvy Toronto always has EVERY key UFA tied to Leafs
So let’s not be surprised if Treliving lands all of Panarin and Bob, and Ovi and Malkin, and Taresenko; all 5 “well below what they could get elsewhere” because “they all wish to play for a an expected Cup champion” and “there is a large Russian community in Toronto”
And don,t forget the Toronto media will lobby Tavares for rookie of the year
8787
Not sure where you got your numbers. Puckpedia has them both with rosters of 16 for 26/27 season. Both with between 17-18m in cap space.
Bob re-signs a 1-yr deal at $1.5M with a plethora of bonuses
Some Salary would come back to Calgary for Andersson . Maybe a Howden at $2.5 plus Connelly and a late pick.
I think it would need 50% retained
Can’t see Knights giving up Howden
Anderssen 50% retained
For
1st (‘27)
Lauzon
Holtz
Problem with that is that kind of return is pretty well a rental return Flames can get from 26 other teams because Andersen only has a 6 team NTC.
Why would Flames do a division rival a favour. But yes absolutely I can see Flames eating 50% to max out the return. Holtz they could have offer sheeted & acquired for free. Lauzon not really interested in so the 2027 1st is about the only value in that package.
. According to a team announcement, the Canadiens have signed Lane Hutson to an eight-year, $70.8MM ($8.85MM AAV) contract extension.
Good deal if he proves to be durable!
Hutson 8 @ 8.85
Habs must be in Glee heaven
Shows that Hughes and Gorton were Geoff Molson’s best signings.
A culture is being built, players who want to be a part of it in Montreal.
Being able to sign Dobson and Hutson to these contracts on top of locking in Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsy and Guhle will keep future signings in line.
In a few short years they have turned the Habs back onto the destination city it used to be.
Interestingly the team hasn’t won anything yet, the players and their agents see the writing on the wall.
And with only Bolduc, Matheson and possibly Dach as significant resigning for next year. Laine must see the implication for him.
Seems to me that Laine needs to go. Retain$1.5M anb trade him for a 3rd and call up a youngster.