NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2025
The latest speculation on the Blues, Oilers, Rangers, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford confirmed a recent report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli claiming that St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has told his peers that he’s “open for business.” However, Rutherford points out that Armstrong has done that in previous seasons and made no significant subtractions from his roster.
A league source told Rutherford that one NHL club contacted the Blues about Jordan Kyrou after the winger was a healthy scratch against the Buffalo Sabres last week. It’s not known if the Blues are shopping the 28-year-old Kyrou, who was the subject of trade speculation last summer before his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1.
St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn (NHL Images)
Rutherford suggested Brayden Schenn as another trade possibility. He drew plenty of interest leading up to last season’s trade deadline, but told the Blues he wanted to stay. However, he might reconsider given the way this season is going.
Finding a suitable trade partner will be difficult at this stage of the season because most clubs are still settling into the season and aren’t sure what type of deals they want to make.
BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t expect Kyrou will be the first player out the door if the Blues become sellers. He believes it’ll be Schenn, based on the limited number of available centers in the trade market and the interest in the 34-year-old Blues captain at last season’s trade deadline.
Seravalli believes the Blues should bolster their defense corps if they make a foray into the trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong is willing to listen to offers, but it’s still too early to consider him a seller. He’s seen this club dig itself out of deep holes in the standings before with many of the current players, and he’ll likely allow them to do so again. They’re only four points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
However, if the Blues continue to struggle and fall further out of contention, Armstrong could become more motivated to shake things up. Schenn could be easier to move than Kyrou, given the latter has full no-trade protection while the former has a 15-team no-trade list.
LATEST ON THE OILERS, RANGERS, AND MAPLE LEAFS
BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli wondered how the Edmonton Oilers would improve their goaltending given their limited salary-cap space and trade capital. He noted that some observers have suggested that they attempt to acquire Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators.
However, Seravalli doesn’t consider Saros the answer for the Oilers. He pointed out that the 30-year-old Predators goalie carries an eight-year contract to age 38, his stats haven’t been good, and his size and ability to win in the playoffs remain a big question.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Saros suggestion is coming from some desperate Oilers followers. Some of them are the same group that thought Connor Ingram was the answer to their goaltending woes.
Seravalli made good points about why Saros is unattainable for the Oilers and why he’s not much of an improvement over their current starter Stuart Skinner. What’s overlooked is the fact that Saros has a full no-movement clause, which he probably doesn’t want to waive because he wants to stay in Nashville. He wouldn’t have signed that eight-year deal if he didn’t.
Seravalli believes the New York Rangers’ poor early-season home record is merely an aberration, pointing out that they have a strong road record. He indicated how much their defense has improved in front of goaltender Igor Shesterkin and believes they could become a Stanley Cup contender if they can boost their scoring and improve their depth among their bottom-six forwards.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a long season, and the Rangers are still adjusting to the system of new head coach Mike Sullivan. General manager Chris Drury has been tinkering with his roster since last December. He could become a buyer if the Rangers move up among the top-four clubs in the Eastern Conference when January rolls around.
Seravalli reports that David Kampf continues to evaluate his options. The Toronto Maple Leafs have given the 30-year-old center permission to seek a trade, terminate his contract to seek a deal with another NHL team, or terminate his deal and head to Europe.
I’m in that group of Oilers fans.
I don’t see how Saro’s wont be an upgrade on Skinner? He has a career .911 save percentage in the playoffs. If I remember correctly Nashville has been in the bottom 3rd of the in goals for the majority of their existence. In the playoffs from 2016/17 (Saro’s first playoff season) to the 2024/25 season the Predetors rank 22nd out of 30 NHL teams in GF/G at 2.64. All the teams that had success in the playoffs in that time period are all over 3 GF/G.
They are ranked 16th in GA/G at 2.92. The Panthers sit in 15th at 2.91 (2.75 the past three playoffs). The past three the Oilers have a 3.05 GA/G.
This is all without looking at Saro’s advanced stats in the playoffs.
As per Natural Stat Trick at 5on5 Saros has a .866 HDS% in the playoffs. In the 2023/24 playoffs he had a .893 HDS% in the 6 game series against the Canucks. The last two playoffs combined Pickard has a .750 HDS%, Skinner has a .803HDS%, and Bobrovsky has a .832 HDS%.
So I would think that Saros does have the ability to win in the playoffs if he can get on a team that can score.
As an Oiler fan, I’m the other category. I don’t think Skinner is the problem. I’ve watched the games and it’s usually defense that have left players wide open for point blank shots. I don’t know what’s wrong with our defensemen, but they certainly aren’t blocking the shots.
Besides, everyone in Edmonton seems to forget that he beat Oettinger twice in the playoffs for us to beat Dallas.
Personally, I think the upgrade should be Pickard. Not Skinner. They replace Pickard with someone better and to challenge Skinner to do better at 1a and 1b tandem.
Kevjam – when it comes to the Oil net…I just dont know.
I dont see Saros, or who Saros has been recently rather, an upgrade at all.
But regardless…does it matter? As much as I want Skinner to figure it out…when do we simply go another direction in net just for the sake of it?
Right now the Oilers need to figure out how to play defence. As per Natural Stat Trick they sit 26th in HDCF% at 45.93. The previous three seasons combined they sat 1st with a HDCF% of 57.21. Anything above 50% is good.
I would love Skinner to figure this out as well, but I think that has run it’s course.
I still think Ingram can turn things around. He has only played 4 games in the AHL since not playing a game since late February and not having a full training camp. Last season in front of a worse team when he was struggling he had better regular and advanced numbers than Skinner and Pickard.
Can’t see Saros being an option. He is signed for big $ for 7 more years, so who/what is the $7M going the other way? Nashville isn’t eating significant money for 7 years. Plus that pesky NMC.
Think a guy like Nedeljkovic if SJ comes back to earth. Not a savior but having him and Skinner gives you options for at least one of them to get hot at the right time. There is no savior out there. It’s why they didn’t chase one in the off season.
Your right KevJam, right now tending is just one issue. IMO not even the biggest one, there isn’t much they are doing well other than the PP. Wake up time.
The Oilers have just looked a little gassed and that is to be expected considering how much hockey they’ve all played in the last 3 years. Could be a year where they just are mediocre all year and need an early year to refocus and renergized.
If you could make Saros work, he’s better imo than skinner for sure, but what can Oilers offer to get him from Nashville (assuming he even wants to leave).
I’d prefer Kampf play 4c till Laughton is healthy.
At this point, the team literally can’t get worse. It’s not like they lose close games, or struggle to put a good 60 minutes together. They’re just very bad, in all positions, and on all 4 lines, losing all 3 periods, and in all 3 zones.
And now it looks like Matthews is gonna be out a while, or playing at less then 100% like last season.
Originally, knowing the Leafs are better than this, I thought they could mirror the Blues of a few years ago when they won the cup. That team was in the basement before everything finally clicked about midway through the season when they went on a heater that lasted the rest of the season and into the playoffs. But after last night’s circus, I realize this team is broken.
Bring on the draft lottery. Maybe I’ll look in on the Raptors. Is there any hope for them?
Assuming Berube can’t fix this team and they miss the playoffs, I’d retool in the off-season. Rielly, gone (if he can be convince to wave). Carlo, gone. Kampf, Jarnkrok, Maccelli, and Matthews, gone. The return would be what you build the team around. Fire Berube, hire Gerard Gallant or Peter Laviolette.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but also maybe it’s time to change the heart of this team.
With Steen taking over for Armstrong I Don t see St.Louis being a big seller. 2018 should remind them of that. I still think they have enough talent to turn it around.
After putting up 6 goals total in their 1st 7 home games, the Rangers put up 6 at home last night. Disclaimer: It was against Preds, who look awful. Trochek back from IR and top prospect Perrault in lineup as well. That pushed players who didn’t belong in top 6 down to bottom 6. Rangers currently have 3rd worse winning percentage in EC. (Leafs 2nd worse)If NY continues to play .500 hockey, Drury will need to do something. If Blues are trying to move Kyrou,they should be Drury’s 1st call. Wouldn’t doubt if he’s the one who already inquired.
McAvoy & Zacha for Matthews …
This might seem odd, but, no thanks from the B’s. And we need a high end C.
Guessing some of my fellow B’s fans would disagree.
I just don’t think he’s the kind of guy to get you to the promised land and McAvoy is. I also think he isn’t right physically, something seems up with him since he got hurt last season.
See your point but McAvoy seems a little off himself this year … a Matthews/Pasta would be awesome to watch
I’m just throwing out this as something to think about. The Sabres are going through an insane rash of injuries/illnesses. The talk about being cursed may have some truth behind it.
Meanwhile, their G-corp, while not inspiring, is full from the NHL level to the AHL & ECHL, with some decent prospects in the pipeline. They almost have to move one of them.
What would EDM give to have UPL?
I’m just throwing out this as something to think about. The Sabres are going through an insane rash of injuries/illnesses. The talk about being cursed may have some truth behind it.
Meanwhile, their G-corp, while not inspiring, is full from the NHL level to the AHL & ECHL, with some decent prospects in the pipeline. They almost have to move one of them.
What would EDM give to have UPL?