NHL Rumor Mill – October 29, 2025
More updates on Bruins center Pavel Zacha and Flames center Nazem Kadri, plus the latest on the Hurricanes in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports sources confirming that the Vancouver Canucks reached out to the Boston Bruins during the summer about the availability of Pavel Zacha.
Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (NHL Images).
LeBrun said the Bruins still see the 28-year-old center as a long-term fit. He’s signed through 2026-27, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he signs an extension next summer.
RG.ORG: James Murphy also noted the recent reports linking Zacha to the Canucks, and that the Bruins have told their players that they haven’t given up on this season. If the Bruins’ season goes south, their asking price for Zacha from the Canucks could be young defenseman Victor Mancini.
Murphy also reported that the Calgary Flames were also interested in Zacha during the offseason. The Edmonton Oilers could also be a good fit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams will keep an eye on the Bruins in the coming weeks. They could be sellers if they haven’t gained ground in the standings by midseason. Zacha will draw plenty of interest, but LeBrun’s report suggests it could take a significant offer to pry him away from the Bruins. If he’s willing to sign an extension, they’re unlikely to peddle him.
THE LATEST ON NAZEM KADRI
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that there is plenty of media-driven speculation regarding Nazem Kadri based on the Calgary Flames playing well below expectations to start the season. There are other Canadian teams (Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs) that can envision the 35-year-old center in their lineup.
However, Kadri loves playing in Calgary. Unless the Flames decide to reconstruct their roster, any talk of moving him is premature.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Flames are still wallowing in the basement by the Christmas roster freeze, then it’s likely they’ll start exploring trade options for Kadri. However, they’re under no pressure to move him this season. He’s signed through 2027-28 with an annual average value of $7 million and a 13-team no-trade clause. They can afford to wait until next summer if necessary if they don’t get any suitable offers for him during this season.
WILL THE HURRICANES ATTEMPT ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER MOVE?
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo believes Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky will attempt to acquire a superstar for the long term.
League sources said the Hurricanes reached out to the Minnesota Wild to express an interest in Kirill Kaprizov if they were to consider trading him. This was before Kaprizov signed his eight-year extension with the Wild.
Russo also noted that the Hurricanes are often rumored to be looking to upgrade their goaltending. However, Tulsky said that doesn’t mean they’re unhappy with the current tandem of Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes acquired Mikko Rantanen last January, but moved him six weeks later to the Dallas Stars when he wouldn’t sign a contract extension. They also attempted to acquire Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. So yes, Tulsky will likely attempt another big move in the trade market.
The Hurricanes currently have over $9 million in cap space, which accrues to over $36 million by the March 6 trade deadline. Tulsky won’t let that cap space go to waste if he can find a suitable trade target and meet the asking price.
Bostons strategy seems to be to see if they are a playoff team when the deadline gets closer,if not the yard sale begins. Arvidson,Korpisalo,Middlestadt,Zacha and all their forwards on their undefeated AHL Providence team should be in play.
Absolutely foolish Zacha isn’t going anywhere. These insiders are not Bruins insiders. There are none and haven’t had any since at least Sweeney took over. I’ll agree on Korpi and Mittlestadt but Zacha no way in hell is he moved regardless of how the season goes
I do like the Frozen Frenzy concept
However, here is what doesn’t make sense (and definitely shouldn’t happen again) re scheduling:
1. With just 2 games (4 teams playing) the night before (Monday) WHY do ALL 4 need to move for the B2B’s? The scheduler could have had the two Monday home teams; stay for the B2B’s. All 4 travelling is not necessary.
2. Why on God’s green earth, with staggered starts; is one of the B2B teams travelling getting a game that starts less than 24 hours from previous start?????I like to see B2B travel ONLY happen with a MINIMUM of 24 hours between starts. Not rocket science to schedule a start time that holds to this.
3. B2B games WITH travel traversing time zones (Sens travelled Monday night from Ottawa to Chicago) should never happen. EVER!
4. B2B games should never have a travelling team required to cross the border (like Sens to Chicago) . Border crossings for teams SHOULD be smooth; but NOT guaranteed. No need to schedule like that.
5. A 16 game schedule (32 teams) should NEVER be scheduled in late October (hint World series; big TV conflict). Obviously no one could know when specifically the World series games would be played; nor that our 2nd biggest city would be playing Canada’s biggest city. But that’s irrelevant. World series IS played at this time of year, so schedule the Frozen Frenzy anytime from mid Nov to early April. Not Rocket science!!
If Vancouver cant get Hughes resigned or if he tells them he isnt resigning before trade deadline, during the summer, Vancouver needs to do a full rebuild since they just dont have the talent on the ice or in the system to actually challenge for the cup. If Pettersson continues to improve maybe the Canes can trade for him and Demko sending Kotkaniemi and Svechnikov plus futures the other way