NHL Rumor Mill – November 7, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup: we have updates on Flames center Nazem Kadri and Predators forward Steven Stamkos, plus the latest on the Mammoth and Devils.
THE FLAMES AREN’T INTERESTED IN MOVING NAZEM KADRI
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Calgary Flames ownership is telling people that they’re not interested in trading Nazem Kadri.
Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).
The 35-year-old center has been the focus of trade speculation since the summer. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million. Multiple teams are seeking a second-line center who covets Kadri’s experience. However, he loves living in Calgary and wants to help the Flames win.
Dreger admits that things could change between now and the March 6 trade deadline. For now, the position of ownership is that Kadri is unavailable.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The struggling Flames aren’t giving up on the season. Ownership’s unwillingness to move Kadri could put a damper on the media speculation for now. However, he’ll continue to be a trade target if the Flames remain mired near the bottom of the standings, especially if they’re still in that position when the calendar flips to January.
THE LATEST ON STEVEN STAMKOS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun considers the recent trade chatter swirling around Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos to be premature. He indicated that there haven’t been any conversations between management and the player, or the Predators, with other teams, about a trade.
However, LeBrun thinks the Predators could field calls about Stamkos if they’re out of the playoff hunt by the March trade deadline. However, the 35-year-old forward has a full no-movement clause. He would have a short list of acceptable destinations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’s age, movement clause, declining production, and his $8 million annual cap hit through 2027-28 will make him difficult to move during the season. This could be a deal that takes place during the offseason.
THE MAMMOTH COULD BE AGGRESSIVE BUYERS
TSN: Chris Johnston thinks the Utah Mammoth will be “extremely aggressive” as buyers by the March trade deadline. They’ve made no secret of their intent to reach the playoffs this season. Johnston points out they have plenty of trade capital in draft picks, prospects, and in salary-cap space if they wish to pursue high-ticket players, such as a top-four defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The patient rebuilding strategy of Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong is paying dividends this season. Even if they have a firm grip on a postseason berth by March, Armstrong could use his cap space and trade capital to bolster his roster for a deep playoff run.
COULD THE DEVILS PURSUE A DEFENSEMAN?
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently expressed concern over the blueline depth of the Devils. He speculated that an early-season trade might be necessary if things don’t improve soon.
The Devils are missing sidelined defenseman Brett Pesce, who was recently placed on injured reserve. They’re also waiting for Johnathan Kovacevic to return from offseason knee surgery. Simon Nemec has been inconsistent, and Jonas Siegenthaler hasn’t had a strong start to this season.
Nichols believes that the Devils need another defensive-minded blueliner. He suggested Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, Vincent Desharnais of the San Jose Sharks, and Andrew Peeke of the Boston Bruins are potential trade targets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils also lost Dougie Hamilton in their 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. That might prompt management to seek help if he’s out for a long time.
If Hamilton isn’t out for a lengthy period, the Devils might be willing to remain patient and wait for their sidelined blueliners to return. They’re currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings, so there is no urgency to address their defense issues right now. However, that could change if those absences start adversely affecting their performance.
Devils can’t really make a trade right now for a player on a 1-way nhl contract. they are in the overage, due to LTIR. If/when Kovasevic returns (probably January) then they will need to free up almost $3M in cap space to activate him.
A lot of Devils fans want to get rid of Palat and his $6.5M AAV because of his lack of offense but easier said than done, unless the Devils add in a #1 pick in a salary dump. Don’t see that happening.
so they’ll just rely on their defense depth in Utica (Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards) for now. They undefeated at home so it’s not a time to panic
Pretty sure Daneyko would suit up to help out his old club. Slow footed but he is a defensive defenseman
Othman to the Mammoth for picks?
I kind of feel Othmann is stuck between what he wants to be (top 6 wing) and what Sullivan wants him to be (defensive bottom 6 checker).
They send him to the AHL to play top line minutes and PP. They call him up to NHL to check and play with grinders.
I saw a quote by a former NHLer earlier this year that having projected 3rd line guys playing top line scenarios & PP in the AHL doesn’t help their development to actually become good 3rd liners in the pros. His said the style of play, responsibilities, and game scenarios of an AHL 1st liner and NHL 3rd liner are very different. Practicing for one doesn’t prepare you for the other. If you want a player to develop as a 3rd liner, that’s where you play him and develop him in AHL. It was unrelated to Othmann, but was an interesting take that has some logic to it.
Either way, Othmann probably does need a change of scenery at this point, but his value is so low right now not sure what the Rangers would even get. If it’s 4th round or later, you probably just keep him in the AHL for now.
Not related to above rumours but I wonder how drury feels about letting krieder and trouba go lol
As I noted yesterday, he’s probably totally fine.
He got JT, Gavrikov, and extended Igor for 8 years.
He couldn’t have done all that under the salary cap if he kept Kreider and Trouba.
And as noted yesterday, Trouba trade was a no brainer. Gavrikov replaced K Miller and Igor wasn’t going anywhere. So Kreider 2 more years at 6.5m vs JT at 8m for 5 more years? I like JT and should’ve never let him go, but with Zib and Trochek as 1 and 2c and a scoring RW as a big need last few years, hasn’t really worked out. Defense was biggest liability last season and seems to be fixed. Offense? PP without Kreider? Btw, he’s up to 9 goals in 9 games. Bread,Zib, and JT? Combined 9 goals in 14 games.
Slick, I think position had to do with it too in terms of JT vs Kreider.
Kreider only played LW and Rangers had a 100 of them already on the roster.
Zib was playing poorly, looking more like a 3C.
Troch is at best a 2 C.
So Rangers lacked a true 1C and had an abundance of LW and needed to do something to change the lockerroom.
Trouba wore the C and Kreider had an A, and they weren’t leading and the lockerroom went to hell. Zib wore an A too and if they could have traded him as well they would have, but he was unmoveable.
I’ll also add, there was a stretch last year where Kreider went on IR (I think around Christmas/NewYears) and without him the Rangers went on a great run. He supposedly came back still hurting and they fell apart again.
If he was really that hurt, shut him down completely. Let him heal. See if the team could have made a playoff push and then have him come back at the end of the year, fully healed.
But he didn’t. He came back still injured. Did the team push that? Did he push to get back in too early because of pride? Sometimes coaches have to project players from themselves and shut them down. We’ll never know. Handling his injury was probably botched on both sides.
Also can’t forget the Igor factor in the equation. This wasn’t just about Kreider/Trouba vs JT/Gavrikov.
Igor’s cap hit went from $5.6M last year to $11.5M this year. They gave him that extension once Trouba and Kreider were off the books. In addition to changing the locker room, they had to clear space to make that extension work.
Last year, we had a bunch of people here saying Kreider was washed , unmovable , NY was stuck with his contract.
See how hindsight works?
Trouba was an expensive 2nd pairing guy . The writing was on the wall quickly that he’d eventually be moved when Fox emerged as their #1. And even more so with the emergence of Schneider.
Right now , Fox, Borgen and Gavrikov are in the top 10 in most defensive metrics. (Where’s Trouba at?) And 2 of the 3 are still cheaper than Trouba.
As a mentioned yesterday, Trouba just quit on NY the minute they asked him to waive. Odd behavior coming from a guy that weaseled his way out of Winnipeg.
I still love Trouba, but lost a ton of respect for the guy and the way he handled leading up to the trade .
Ultimately, a whiny quitter.
Trouba a whiny quitter. Hardly. I’d say more like Drury pulled a dirty move and IMO it is still reverberating through the locker room.
As I said, Trouba trade a no brainer. I’d go as far as saying he was a 3rd pair. Kreider has long been one of my faves. Drury moving him seemed personal. Who knows what the dynamic was between Drury and leadership group but I guess Drury got his way in the end. To not see Kreider injury plagued season as an outlier was a huge mistake. The way the guy trains in off season kind of makes his age a non issue for next couple seasons. What’s done is done. Let’s see where this goes.
Well that 3rd pair guy is 2nd on the Ducks in ice time, 8 pts (#1 for D) and plus 13 (best on team) in 13 games.
2:46 a night on the PK and very little PP time.
May have been a no brainer for Rangers, but sure looks like it was for the Ducks as well. The guy is killing it in Anaheim and they’re rolling out of the gate.
Don’t know what happened in the locker room, but he was their Captain for a reason, and doesn’t seem like a guy who quits on his team. If he didn’t play as well after all the BS, well, he sure wasn’t the only one from what I can tell.
Owen,
The entire story is probably important here.
Drury asked Trouba to submit his nt list a day early prior to the opening of FA last year. Trouba refused. Drury was forced to hold onto trouba. Trouba showed up at camp and to the season disinterested to show leadership, throw a hit (his hits were down by 50%)
The fact that Troubas wife’s internship was delayed a year because of COVID wasn’t Drury or NYs problem. While Drury ended up forcing his hand, Trouba didn’t leave him many options. And also just quit on his leadership role and his team.
Ray,
Trouba was a 2nd pairing guy in NY, not a 3rd. And while he was a solid guy most of his years with NY, it made a lot of sense to move him. From a cap perspective, and a personnel perspective.
Again, NY defense isn’t suffering from the loss of trouba. And it wasn’t like he was going to get #1 minutes, PP time etc with Fox in the lineup.
Borgen is doing just fine in his place, and comes a lot cheaper. And again the ill mention a top 10 guy right now in defensive metrics.
Not sure why the internet is so obsessed with Trouba / Kreider thing right now. A futile attempt at gaslighting?
What they’re doing in Anaheim with a very good young core may or may not have translated over in NY?
Let’s talk about Zegras and his success in Philly? Are Anaheim fans in the sky is falling mode?
I don’t think Drury and the majority of NY’s fan base outside of the casual fair weather fans are losing any sleep over trading an $8 million 2nd pairing guy.
And again, if these pro athletes, making millions of dollars are still upset about a trade from a year ago, they need a team shrink! Not a new GM or trade.
Ray Bark. Glad it’s worked out for Ducks. Happy they were willing to take on that full cap hit. Are they going to extend him for that price? Let’s not forget Rangers also had baby Trouba (Schneider) who they felt would move up into top 4. Drafted another big RD in 1st rd a couple years ago and now have Borgen as mentioned. Ducks needed a RD and had the cap space.
Slick,
NY is dead last in gf and 2nd in the league in ga. Is defense their problem? 0-5–1 at home and 6-1-1 on the road? I guess these players only get pissed off they traded Trouba at home? And only while playing offense? And learn to let it go on the road? Makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it at all!
Half of the same people that were claiming NY / Drury couldn’t get a bag of picks at 50% retained for Trouba are now making it out to be like Trouba is the next coming of Orr…
Ditto Miller. The same guy that claimed NY couldn’t get a 1st for Miller last year, os now saying what a mistake it was to trade him!
I guess which ever the way the wind blows.
Gaslighting and not understanding NY’s problems at it’s finest!
I believe Leetch had it best when cornered with “how on earth could they trade you, their franchise player!”
“Well, they weren’t winning WITH me”
NY has made some mistakes. Kakko, probably even Kreider. But this trouba 💩 is beyond reaching.
Good for Trouba, better for NY!
Not arguing any of that Captain or Slick, like I said may have been a no brainer for the Rags. I understand cap problems, just reality. I’m just saying he is playing great in Anaheim. He just is. Exactly the kind of vet, and yes leader, they needed.
The 3rd pair comment was a reaction to Slick who considered him a 3rd pair guy in NY.
Will he re-sign in ANA? No idea, but wouldn’t bet against it. Good young team, nice place to live. Term & $? Depends where he and his wife want to live I suppose, he’s made his $, he should be reasonable. If that was my wife, I might move wherever she asked me too! Beauty and brains, good for him.
As far as him and Drury, I think the trust was eroded with some of the players over another respected veteran; Goodrow. Drury took a hardline stance, and fair enough, but if that’s the relationship you want with your players, then, that’s the relationship you will get. And he did get it returned to him, with Trouba.
Drury made his choices, I don’t blame Trouba in the least for not handing it in early. Family first, and his boss was kinda acting like a dick and just did with Goodrow.
Ray,
I think I’ d have less of an issue with Trouba if he didn’t #1 bring his crap attitude on the ice. Be a pro! And #2 didn’t force his way out of Winnipeg. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black? It’s only okay when it’s the other way around?
Taking a deeper dive, Anaheim is 1st in goals for, NY dead last. I don’t think his +13 is all about his defense. This is a solid young team with some great pieces. Adding in Trouba and Kreider made a hell of a lot of sense.
Kreider may be a guy that would help what’s ailing NY. But I can’t say the same about Trouba. Ny’s defense is just fine. Statically better right now than at any point last year.
NY needs goals. Trouba and wasn’t bringing that.
And again, when he’s on his game I love the guy. But his nonsense was no better than Drurys. At least Drury didn’t quit when he didn’t get his way!
Utah is on the rise, and if they do decide to deal at the TDL, they have a full cupboard or quality prospects to choose from, not just picks.
They could use a give like Zacha for a couple years if Boston ends up in a position where they decide to sell again. Win streak is now at 5, so maybe they can get in a stay in the race?
RayBark
I don’t think there is any doubt they could stay in the race; they have been difficult to play against for awhile now. They just keep getting better and utilized trades and draft picks. It’s seems to be headed in the right direction
I didn’t word my post well tommy boy, I was talking about Boston staying in the race and getting into the playoffs. 2 weeks ago I would have thought no way, 5 game winning streak is nothing to sneeze at though. Still not sold, 100%, but letting some hope creep in.
Utah is in prime position to take a jump. Young, deep, fast with some high end skill in the NHL already. They’ve got quality prospects as well. Desnoyers, Iginla, Beaudoin & But up front. Some quality D developing as well.
Will be interesting to see how they play this at the deadline.
Men, the Eastern Conference is awful this year.Every team in the conference is missing something.Some teams like Florida are waiting for the Olympic Games and the playoffs. You have to be realistic with the Bruins. It would be good if they overachieved,get some experience and then trade for young players and draft picks at the deadline.Wish Hampus Lindholm could stay healthy since the team is 7-1 in the games he has played.They will have some attractive pieces to trade at the deadline . Korpisalo, Arvidson,Middlestadt,Peeke, K man,and all the guys they have in Providence.Still not sure about Lohrei!
Sr if by Kman you mean Khusnutdinov I wouldnt consider moving him unless its a cant refuse offer. He is showing he can play on any of the 4 lines, drives play, retrieves pucks, has a good motor, and is still getting better. Interested to see how he develops.
I do not see the Bruins moving Zacha unless its a wowser offer. I can middelstat moving at the TDL and moving one of the kids up and pulling in another kid from providence. Baby Bruins are killing it so far this year.
I don’t see Utah needing Zacha. I don’t watch them but looking at roster they have a bunch of guys listed as centers. Are they going to extend Schmaltz? What’s their biggest need?
I saw them listed at C as well on some sites Slick. But not on others. Like Keller and Schmaltz. So I checked face offs. Keller has taken 1 draw this year. Schmaltz has taken 70, which isn’t very many for 14 games and he loses 2/3rds of them. As far as the top 2 lines, it’s Cooley with over 180, which is about right for a full time C. He loses most as well, which is pretty normal for a young guy.
So to answer you question – 2nd line C is what they need. Short term anyway as they have some kids who play that position now. Can always use more D too, a vet for depth. Their tending has just been OK.
Ray Bark
Oh I went back and read. You were talking about Boston in last paragraph. IDK about Boston’s chances to stay in the race. I can’t believe the Avalanche lost to them but they outworked Colorado in that game; the Avalanche are guilty of that at times: don’t realize that the other team wants to win too. Swayman could keep them relevant and McAvoy and Pasternak are their go to guys obviously but they got other guys there also.