NHL Rumor Mill – October 18, 2025
Check out the latest on the Sabres, Maple Leafs, and Flames in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco examined who stays or goes if the Buffalo Sabres end up rebuilding their roster, should they extend their league-record playoff drought, currently at 14 seasons.
Among their forwards, Di Marco believes there isn’t much outside of Tage Thompson and winger Alex Tuch that would fetch a major return. Young forwards Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, and Jack Quinn have potential, but they aren’t proven commodities.
Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (NHL Images)
The defense is a different story, where Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram would garner plenty of interest in the trade market. Of the three, Dahlin would fetch a king’s ransom given his status among the league’s elite blueliners.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Zach Berman suggested the Devils target Thompson, citing speculation that the 27-year-old forward could be leaning toward asking out of Buffalo.
If Thompson becomes available, Berman believes Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald should go all-in to land him. He suggested that no one, other than the Hughes brothers, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier, should be considered untouchable.
SPORTSNET: Player agent Brian Bartlett said his client, Alex Tuch, has paused contract negotiations with the Sabres. Bartlett indicated they weren’t able to get a deal done during the offseason, and that things are on the back burner for now.
Tuch, 29, is among the notable forwards eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer. Bartlett indicated that there had been good, consistent communication with Sabres management, adding that his client informed them that he was happy to stay in Buffalo.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres’ 1-3-0 start has already made them a hot topic for trade conjecture. If they don’t snap out of this early-season funk, it would lead to significant changes in the front office and behind the bench, subsequently leading to roster changes if things don’t improve.
Thompson, Tuch, Dahlin, Power, and Byram will definitely draw the most attention if the Sabres decide to tear down the roster and rebuild again.
Tuch’s UFA status for next summer makes him the most obvious trade candidate, which is why he’s already surfaced in media trade chatter. However, he could be joined by one or more of the other core players if any of them finally reach the limit of their patience with the club’s current direction.
UPDATE ON LEAFS WINGER NICK ROBERTSON
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston noted the recent trade speculation swirling around Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson.
Siegel and Johnston believe the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets as potential trade destinations.
The Penguins are rebuilding and targeting players in Robertson’s age group, plus there’s his connection with Penguins general manager (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas. Columbus doesn’t have the same apparent need for a scoring winger, but they believe the Blue Jackets should still call.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan also noted Robertson’s return to the rumor mill. However, he believes the Leafs are better off hanging onto him, citing his goal-scoring potential despite his early-season drought. Trading him for a draft pick would free up his $1.85 million salary for this season, but Koshan feels that money is better spent on keeping him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs likely see Robertson as a depth forward worth retaining in case injuries strike the lineup. Unless they go into a tailspin and drop out of playoff contention, which is unlikely, trading him for a draft pick doesn’t improve their roster.
The Blue Jackets aren’t a suitable destination for Robertson unless injuries deplete the ranks of their wingers this season. Seigel and Johnston noted that Yegor Chinakhov can’t crack the Jackets roster, so it’s unlikely Robertson would fare better.
FLAMES SEEK BLUELINE HELP
DAILY FACEOFF‘s Anthony Di Marco stated that the Calgary Flames are looking for “a young, left-shot defenseman with size.” He pointed out that they have “too many bodies on 1-way deals and want to move some out.”
Di Marco heard that the Flames would like to move Jake Bean and Daniil Miromanov. He’s heard they like Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula, who played his junior hockey in Calgary.
Buffalo, the tire fire that just keeps burning. A shame. Those kids deserve better. For their fans sake I hope they work it out. I would assume ownership would not let Adams make any team altering plans at this point, he would/should be the first to go. Let new (competent) management make decisions. But if a fire sale were to occur, Buffalo should get a haul – but to what end, they already have great prospects, why trade them for the unknown picks? The tire fire burns more brightly…
Poor kids? The millionaire men that you refer to as kids are they not a major part of the problem? I get it, the management has made many blunders but last year the Sabres had a very good team. They just can’t seem to put it together. That partly rests on their shoulders.
Pundits have been rumoring Tage Thompson to Montreal for Dach, Reinbacher and Roy.
I don’t see it but Sabres let talent go.
Thompson would be expected to play centre in Montreal
Tuch signed for Berggren, Mazure, and Cossa
Reinbacher in any trade scenario would suprise me has he is a natural right D and right now the habs only have Dobson and Carrier that are ”naturals” at that position
“ Seigel and Johnston noted that Yegor Chinakhov can’t crack the Jackets roster, so it’s unlikely Robertson would fare better.” That sure is a hot take, right? If a player can’t crack a lineup of a team that failed to make the playoffs, are we to believe that it is no different than one trying to crack the roster on a team that has been a top team, like winning their division? Do these scribes think we are as dumb as they are? I’m not saying one player is better than the other but certainly it’s got to be a lot harder making a roster on really good team than it is on a team that is still finding its stride. Or maybe they are alluding to overall fit in which case neither will succeed being a square peg in a round hole.
Yep. Sort of like some – when assessing potential trades, labeling Shane Pinto a 3rd line C because … well … that’s where he’s primarily played in Ottawa b/o, first, Stuzle and Norris and now Stutzle and Cozens. So, if dealt, Ottawa couldn’t really command a return equated to his being a top line C.
Another rebuild/tear- down for Sabres?
Di they want 2 full decades if continuously missing playoffs?
4 more years (after this) still missing the playoffs ; and they will have accomplished that dismal feat.
No Robertson here please.
No more pip-squeaks.
I’m liking the large man trio of Brazeau-Mantha-Gino
Lizotte, Kindel, Novsk and Koivunen are getting hammered and easily pushed around
Sign Leason at league min before trading away assets to get the minuscule Robertson
For those of you arguing Robertson’s vs Leason
Leason in 23/24 with poor usage had an 82 game season average of 13-13-26
Leason would sign for league min
Leason would require no assets given up
Leason is 8″ taller and 45 pounds heavier than Robertson
Robertson’s Cap hit is almost 240 % of that of what Leason’s will be!
Leason is a signature away. Robertson has to be a negotiated trade (again with assets given up).
No to Robertson on Pens
Looks like posting on Morning Coffee is not available now?
tried posting this about the great accomplishment of Jaromir Jagr (38 pro years):
“38th Professional season of Hockey for Jagr
Wow!
Howe did 25 straight with Wings; took a couple of years off; then did 4 with Aeros and 3 with Whalers; playing his last Whalers’ game at 52 (that year believe it or not he got 15 Gs and 26As!!)
That’s 32 pro years
The data base shows he played as a 17 year old for the Omaha Nights (USHL) in ’45/’46. Was USHL pro hockey in ’45/’46?
Howe also played that one publicity game for Vipers (IHL) at 70 in ’98 to conclude playing a pro hockey game in 6 different decades (40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s)
Jagr has already played pro in 5 decades and would need to play a game in the 2030’s to match the 6 decades . Also if he played a single game on/after 2/15/42 , he’d match Howe for playing as a septuagenarian and will then have played in 7 different decades. Jagr already has a full year under his belt while finishing at 52 and 53 (albeit not in the NHL) so surpassing Howe in that feat.
38 professional years supasses How
What is truly crazy about Jagr and his career is looking at his stats
He took a 3 year hiatus from the NHL (08/09 to 10/11) by playing in the KHL
Several years after that NHL break, back in the NHL he had more than mid 60’s points a couple of times (13/14 Devils finishing that year at 42; and 15/16 with Panthers finishing that year at 44).
Extrapolating those missed NHL years at a much younger age and he’d have at least another 60-70 goals and at least another 140-150 A’s.
That would have put him well past Ovi in goals and well past 2,100 total points
Good on ya Jaromir
I’m hoping that in the first week in April of 2030 that the Pens are locked in a playoff position; and locked in their standings position; and WITH Cap space still in hand; then they sign Jagr to play a single (meaningless to Pen’s standings position, but meaningful to Jagr and all Pens’ fans) game. Thus Jagr matching Howe playing pro hockey in 6 separate decades.”
One of the few long posts of yours that I was able to get thru. Thanks
Thanks
I think?
LOL