NHL Rumor Mill – October 4, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at recent speculation about Cale Makar’s next contract with the Avalanche, the latest on Lane Hutson’s contract talks with the Canadiens, and an update on free-agent forward Jack Roslovic.
DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently discussed how much Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar could make on his next contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar, 26, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $9 million, after which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Avalanche agree to an extension before then. The earliest they can re-sign him is July 1, 2026.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)
Yaremchuk and Hutton believe Makar could earn between $17 million and $18 million annually. He’s the best defenseman in the world and knows that he’s going to get a significant raise given how much the salary cap is rising.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap is going up significantly over the next two seasons for sure, and probably longer. With the flat cap era over, the cost of signing players is increasing, especially for superstars like Makar. We’re starting to see it with the eight-year contract worth $17 million annually that Kirill Kaprizov recently got from the Minnesota Wild.
It’ll be interesting to see whether clubs in smaller markets can keep pace with the rising cap. There is revenue sharing in the CBA to help those clubs, but some of them may still lack sufficient funds to spend against the cap each year. Those teams could be forced to part ways with their top talent if they cannot afford to re-sign them.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Canadiens are engaged in detailed discussions with Lane Hutson’s camp. The final price of re-signing the 21-year-old defenseman could be close to the new contracts of New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Jackson LaCombe.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both defensemen signed long-term contracts with their respective teams, with each worth an AAV of $9 million.
Friedman acknowledged the suggestions that the new deals for Hughes and LaCombe meant it could cost the Canadiens between $10 million and $11 million annually to re-sign Hutson. However, he thinks the Canadiens blueliner could end up with an AAV closer to $9 million.
Marc Dumont points out that Hutson will be coming off his entry-level contract next summer and ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club. He also lacks arbitration rights. He indicated that Friedman said there is still work to be done, but the two sides might not be far off from their ideal number.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that the Canadiens are trying to get Hutson signed to an extension as quickly as possible. If he builds on last season’s Calder Trophy performance, he could seek closer to $11 million annually, especially if he finishes as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.
It seems that $9 million annually is the baseline for Hutson’s next contract. Keeping that number under $10 million would be quite the accomplishment for Habs management.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun recently said that Jack Roslovic had an offer from the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, but it didn’t interest him. The 28-year-old forward is the most notable player still available in this year’s unrestricted free-agent market.
Roslovic has since changed agents, but LeBrun is surprised that he spurned an opportunity to play with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Nevertheless, he believes the versatile forward will sign with a team soon.
just ask Larry Brooks of the NY Post, his feelings about Roslovic, after his short stint with the Rangers, and you will understand why teams are balking at his demands. He overplayed his hand in free agency and is going to have to take a $1M 1 year deal or go to Europe
yelp! No! he can still get $3M or more AAV on a mushy middle team, but will take a 1x 1M on one of the 4 top contenders.
He passed on Edmonton where he would of saw some ice with 2 of the best players in the league and a a team that went to the Cup back to back…he must be looking for some length
How would a mushy middle team see Roslovic elevating them a notch above mushy-middle?
Not sure re $3 M or “mushy middle” teams signing; but perhaps a bottom’ish team with Cap space could look at acquiring TDL asset(s) by signing him now; with disproportionate signing bonus to Sal ratio; then retaining 50% at deadline and trading him to a contender
$1 M sal (paid out through year) on a contender starting next week;
OR
$800 K in SB (now); $800 K in Sal paid out through year on bottom feeder team; then traded at TDL for 1/2 Cap ($800
K) and only owed then in the range of $270 K cash
Current acquiring team gets him for 55-60 games; pays approx $1.5 M; gets at least a 2nd or a prospect in return
TDL contender acquiring team gets him for cup run at just $800 K (annualized Cap but Cap space needed of only $270 K) for the price of a 2nd or a prospect
The mere fact they clearly don’t see it the way you do suggests that there is another, underlying and unrevealed reason why no team wants to be his 5th in 5 seasons.
There has been chatter online about a potential announcement form the Oilers on Monday fuelled by sports anchor Kevin Karius stating that he had the hall of fame room booked for an event Monday but OEG pushed him out to Tuesday instead.
Could be something. Could be. Nothing.
MikeP
Probably won’t ever get a chance to ask Brooks his opinion on Roslovic. Maybe elaborate? It didn’t stop Carolina from signing him after helping NY bounce them from playoffs. Looking at Oilers limited cap space, I’m guessing their offer wasn’t close to the 2.8m he got last season when he scored 22 goals. At 28, he’s probably looking for a little bit of term. Evangelista just got 2 years at 3m per as a rfa. Would think Roslovic is worth at least that.
There has been chatter online about a potential announcement form the Oilers on Monday fuelled by sports anchor Kevin Karius stating that he had the hall of fame room booked for an event Monday but OEG pushed him out to Tuesday instead.
Could be something. Could be. Nothing.
Hughes at $9 M appropriate
Lacombe going from a hair over $900 K to $9 M (basically 10 fold)— WT freaky deaky?
Lacombe IS a good player no doubt.
But we’ve all heard about Verbeek being this very tough negotiator and somehow beating/wearing down Zegras and Drsydale camps; then trading them; then outwaiting/outwhitting the McTavish camp for a steal at $7 M
The McTavish battle is followed up by a quick overpayment signing of $9 M for Lacombe???? Hunh?
McTavish camp must be peeved
$9 M for Lacombe has to put Leo (in Verbeek’s mind) worth $15 M
$9 M Lacombe?? That’s in effect saying Verbeek must think Hutson is worth $13 M+ and Makar closing in on $20 M
Transparency here: I’ve probably only seen Lacombe play maybe 15-20 games. Small sample size noted. I saw a pretty fair player but certainly in no way a player that deserved to be the highest paid on his team and a player deserving to jump 10 fold in pay.
I didn’t see a player as good as Hughes; definitely not as good as Hutson; and not to even be included in the same sentence as Makar
Did he completely shine in the games I didn’t see and only show as “pretty fair” in the ones I did see? I guess that’s a possibility
Ducks’ fans here; thoughts?
Let’s see what Leo’s extension comes out at