NHL Rumor Mill – December 11, 2025
Are the Devils interested in Ryan O’Reilly? Are the Oilers still interested in Tristan Jarry? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During Monday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,” Elliotte Friedman said he believes Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly remains a legitimate trade target for the New Jersey Devils.
Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).
However, as with the Devils’ rumored interest in O’Reilly’s teammate Steven Stamkos and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, salary-cap space would be an issue, especially if the Predators didn’t want to retain salary in the deal. That means the Devils must make a separate cost-cutting trade with another team before attempting to add O’Reilly.
Friedman also noted that O’Reilly lacks a no-trade clause, but the Predators are treating him as though he does. He would have to agree to go to New Jersey.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Until this season, the Devils could attempt a three-team trade that would spread O’Reilly’s cap hit around. However, that’s no longer possible. A second salary retention on the same contract can only happen 75 regular-season days later.
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently acknowledged the Edmonton Oilers’ rumored interest in Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. He reported that Penguins sources claimed the Oilers had inquired about the 31-year-old goaltender, who is enjoying a bounce-back season thus far.
However, Yohe doesn’t expect the Penguins to be sellers if they remain in the playoff race this season. He’d be surprised if Jarry, forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and defenseman Erik Karlsson are moved.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins continue to rebuild…er, sorry, retool their roster by transitioning younger players into the lineup. However, a chance at reaching the playoffs is a great way to keep your players motivated and your fans invested. Another shot at the postseason for future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is great for ticket sales.
If the Penguins collapse over the next couple of months, then Jarry could be available by the March 6 trade deadline. However, that might be too late to save the Oilers’ season. They must look elsewhere for goaltending help.
Does anyone know what is actually wrong with Thomas Chabbot?
The only thing I can see is when he left the Dallas game with what looked like back injury – he got hit into the boards by the bench facing towards the hitter..and appeared to get folded the wrong way over the bench. He’s been out a while and Green just can’t seem to leave things alone with his pairs.
I think Pinto is knee related. Probably tweeked.
I don’t think the time would right to call up Yakemchuck as he’s a defensive liability but he might just be a spark for some offense which also sorely need.
The Sens need POINTS…any points. Loser points. PWHL points…anything they can get at this er point. Brayden Point? LOL
Dark G, 3 or 4 days about they were saying Chabot would be out for another 10 days – so 6 or 7 to go. For Pinto it was expected to be a couple of weeks. Whatever the case, above all the goaltending HAS to be better.
The East is so tight I can see the worst nightmare I cautioned in the Spring could very well happen.
I could not understand Staios opting to keep their 1st round pick – 23rd overall – and so relinquish this coming one due to the penalty handed down by the runt for that Dorion gaffe re the Dadidinov trade.
With virtually the entire Conference improving to some degree – some at a better pace than Ottawa in terms of additions – I could see them falling back to the bottom third and quite possibly within lottery range.
In fact, that’s where they are right now with games coming up on the road in Columbus, Minnesota and Winnipeg – at the end of which they could be mired in last place. And no pick because Staios thought they’d remain among the top 8 and, for some reason, that a 23rd pick (D Logan Hensler) was worthy of the gamble.
He wasn’t.
Sens keep losing by one goal…I think 11 times this year.
League average goaltending would help with that.
But so would scoring winger.
They could be very out of it by Christmas.
I agree John.
I don’t know if I blame Green or the team. As you John said, Sens keep winning or losing by a goal, and Green said himself he likes when the boys play this way. Playing in these types of games, especially with sub-par goaltending is why we are seeing the Sens in the position they are in. They have the team and skill to open it up a bit. They can dominate games when they are down and are “allowed” to open their game up. With our goalies playing the way they are, I feel the coaches need to allow the players to open up the game a bit. At this point it can’t hurt.
Hell, I’d bring up Yak or Kaliyev for a bit just to get some kind of spark. I know Kaliyev is open to a waiver claim if and when they’d send him back down, but at this point, Sens need to gamble a bit. I’d go with something like this:
Kaliyev- Stutzle – Bath
Zetterlund — Cozens – Chucky
Amadio – Greig – Giroux
Cousins – ellers (Halliday) – Perron
Bath and Stutzle were rolling until Chucky came back, I’d go back to that. You could sub Perron and Kaliyev around based on offensive faceoffs and such to protect Kaliyev a bit.
The D is what concerns me most though. Losing Chabot shows just how thin Sens are in reliable puck moving defencemen. Spence and Kleven are so up and down, and look to be better off as the 3rd pair.
The team hasn’t been playing horrible, but you can tell their confidence is shaky.
Devils have a bunch of dead weight on the roster clogging up cap space, namely Palat and Noesen. One or both need to be traded out in order in to bring in help. I had mentioned that a Palat for Stamkos swap makes sense, if both both their NTC’s, and if the Preds throw in some $$$. O’Reilly won’t fetch much due to his age, probably not a 1st rounder, more likely a 2nd and lower prospect
I think he gets a 1st RD pick plus a decent prospect if he didn’t get to pick where he goes. But he does, so maybe you’re right mikep. If he is open to giving NSH a few options, then I think the return will be very good.
This year and next at a good cap hit and he is still a quality 2C based just on points. But his real value is that he is a defensive standout and will play against the other teams best like he does today.
Players who have more take aways than give aways are rare and they often win Selkes. Bergeron did it consistently, Barkov does it consistently, O Reilly does it consistently. Coyle used to back in the day, but he doesn’t produce points like a 2C.
If you want to waste 5 minutes go check your team and see how many guys do it. Check the teams some other good teams. Nobody on the Devils is this year, or last year. Hischier did it a couple years ago, and he gets Selke votes. O Reilly is that type of player. Kills it on the dot too.
That type of C is gold in the playoffs. The only thing that could dampen his return is that it sounds like he gets to pick where he goes, so maybe your right. We’ll see.
Palat and a 1st for Stamkos?
mikep: I don’t understand. If Palat is dead weight why would the Preds take him for Stamkos and pay extra $ as well?
Don’t be surprised if O’Reilly gets a first – if he is traded soon. It would give the receiving team 1 1/2 seasons with him.
Mp
I would think ROR. Will definitely get a 1st and probably them some. Low salary. Good 2nd line ctr on most nhl teams and would be amazing as 3rd line ctr on any team going all in
What about EDM? Henrique and a 1st and prospect to NSH for OReilly with salary retention to make numbers work
That’ll show Connor you are making moves to solidify the team in front of the goalie
OReilly won a cup so great addition to EDM
I think Edmonton has other issues to address before C IHC. Like how they’re playing first and foremost.
He would help them no doubt, he would help every team in the NHL in some kind of role.
I’m sure Henrique would waive for Nashville.
I don’t, Henrique wants to win a cup before he’s done, and he’s nearing the end.
sorry, I forgot the sarcasm font……….😉
All these NHL organizations have dead weight on their teams because of the contracts that were given out by their General Managers. That and the NMC and NTC has made descent trades impossible.I salute Adam Foote for saying the Hughes situation is disrupting his team.Vancouver sitting back doesn t make sense,especially if Hughes gets hurt at the Olympics or during NHL play.
That’s rich coming from Foote. He probably forgot about his classy exit from Cbus.
Very nice of Preds to treat a player like he has a ntc. Maybe if my teams GM (Drury) had same attitude, last year wouldn’t have been such a poop show.