NHL Rumor Mill – December 16, 2025
Check out the latest on Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and the Devils’ Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat, plus updates on the Red Wings, Rangers, Senators, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
PENGUINS CONCERNED ABOUT KRIS LETANG’S PLAY
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports there is considerable concern among the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization regarding Kris Letang’s struggles this season. The 38-year-old defenseman has always been plagued by the occasional mental lapse in his game, but his athleticism and stamina often offset that issue. Not anymore.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (NHL Images)
Letang won’t be traded, partly because he’s got a full no-movement clause. There’s also no market for him given his age, a health history that includes two strokes, and his $6.1 million average annual value through 2027-28.
Yohe also pointed out that a buyout is unlikely. Letang was 35 when he signed his current contract, meaning the Penguins won’t receive any cap relief. Retirement is unlikely unless health or another circumstance forces his hand.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a trade rumor, but the frustration over the decline in Letang’s play could prompt some Penguins fans to call on the club’s management to peddle him, even if it means retaining half of his cap hit. It’s worthwhile pointing out the reasons why such a move is unlikely.
DEVILS REPORTEDLY ATTEMPTED TO MOVE HAMILTON AND PALAT
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported the Devils attempted to move defenseman Dougie Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat. According to Weekes, Hamilton and Palat were mentioned in potential trade scenarios involving the Devils.
Hamilton surfaced in trade rumors during the summer when the Devils were reportedly gauging the trade market for the 32-year-old defenseman. He shrugged them off at the time, insisting that he wanted to remain with the Devils. Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $9 million and a 10-team trade list, along with a no-movement clause that prevents his demotion to the AHL without his permission.
Palat, 34, has the same conditions in his contract. He’s signed through next season with an AAV of $6 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those contracts are sticking points in any attempt to move those two players, as is the decline in their production. Still, Hamilton could garner more interest given his puck-moving abilities.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DEVILS, RED WINGS, AND RANGERS AFTER MISSING OUT ON QUINN HUGHES?
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon speculated over which players the Devils and the Detroit Red Wings might pursue after failing in their efforts to acquire Quinn Hughes before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
Dixon wondered if the Devils might consider Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch as a trade target. He believes Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames would be a good fit for the Detroit Red Wings as their second-line center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames ownership insisted that Kadri won’t be traded, so we must assume he’s unavailable. Tuch, however, could become a trade candidate if the Sabres feel they could lose him to free agency next summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano took note of New York Rangers GM Chris Drury’s interest in Quinn Hughes. He thinks Drury could attempt another big swing at a big-name player in the trade market. However, the Rangers GM has depreciated his club’s prospect pool, which makes it difficult to win any bidding wars for notable talent in the trade market.
Mercogliano speculated that Drury may have offered up winger Alexis Lafreniere, defenseman Braden Schneider, and at least one of their two first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Vancouver Canucks for Hughes.
However, the Canucks sought a young, top-six center, which the Rangers don’t have. Meanwhile, the trade value of Lafreniere and Schneider isn’t what it was a few years ago.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are better-positioned than the Devils and Rangers to land a noteworthy player in the trade market. They have more cap space and plenty of young players and promising prospects to draw on for trade bait if they wish to.
THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios continues to scour the trade market for a top-nine forward and a defenseman. He believes Staios has contacted sellers such as the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and the Nashville Predators.
Many teams remain in the playoff chase, which means the sellers’ asking prices remain high.
The Senators are among the clubs interested in Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, who carries a $1.5 million cap hit and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. He’s also drawn interest from the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Sherwood’s teammate, Conor Garland, isn’t expected to be traded. However, Garrioch claims that if the Canucks were to peddle Garland, he’s a player that Senators head coach Travis Green holds in high regard. However, the 29-year-old’s six-year contract extension kicks in next season, with a $6 million AAV and a full no-movement clause.
Garrioch believes Staios has had conversations with Flames GM Craig Conroy. He thinks Flames winger Blake Coleman could be a good fit with the Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The problem in landing Sherwood and Coleman is that a lot of teams are interested in them, meaning the Canucks and Flames will retain them for as long as possible to drive up their value before the March 6 trade deadline. Garland’s new contract is a big stumbling block that could be insurmountable unless the Canucks are willing to retain salary.
REICHEL ON THE TRADE BLOCK AGAIN
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports the Vancouver Canucks are willing to entertain trade offers for Lukas Reichel.
The Canucks acquired Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season. Projected to become a top-six forward when drafted by the Blackhawks, he’s struggled to meet expectations as a scorer.
Kuzma cited Reichel’s poor decision-making, penchant for turnovers, lack of battle, and misfiring on scoring chances as the reasons why he’s been demoted to the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
Actually, Copp has been doing very well as 2nd line C between Cat and Kane. Kadri is too long in the tooth and too much term for the Wings. With Copp doing well I would think the Wings can wait for one of their young C’s to develop. They have Kasper, Danielson, Lombardi, Finne, and yet to turn pro Kiiskinen (leading the NCAA in pts) and Bear.
The way Kadri plays the game is exactly what the wings lack. They do not have anyone that gets under the other teams skin the way he can. Come playoff time, those are the type of players that get you to the next round.
Devils are boxed in with all of the NTC clauses for players who are underperforming. I had mentioned a Palat for Stamkos trade, if both players would waive their NTC, but Stammer went out and scored 4 goals in a game. so who knows if Trotz upped the price on Stamkos after that
forget Reichel, he has had plenty of chances. he is destined to finish his career in Europe
The thought of Tuch playing on a line with Tkachuk would be insane
I attended the jets and Sens game last night. Yeah for the OT win !!
But I was talking to Her fans about their centre position. Toews has struggled. I think Tuch may be a good addition for them. Chevy is always so patient with his trades. It’s a team we hear little about.
As for Ottawa I’d like a forward with a bit more scoring punch. Losing Pinto has really hindered our offense.
If I’m the Staois, I pass on Sherwood because of the high price I’d have to pay. I like his game, but IMO Sens are missing a high end finisher. They get a lot chances and control play well enough, but to me it’s their finish that needs improvement. Those players are not easy to get, and I think the Sens should not blow their limited resources on another mid player.
That applies to Garland too. I like his game, but he doesn’t move the needle much and his new contract is too much.
Coleman. Solid player, but in that mid zone that Sens have lots of.
With Chabot out, the Sens have found out how thin they are on D, particularly the left. When Sebrango got claimed by the Panthers, that hurt. I noticed he wasn’t in the Panthers lineup last night, I’d keep an eye out on getting him back through a waiver.
It’s hard to know where the Sens are at as, big pieces have been missing all year. Batherson, Brady, then Chabot and Pinto have all missed time and the team has not played much at all.
Staois is in a tricky spot, the players out there are not amazing pick ups and they are expensive, but you want to help your team with some depth, while key guys are out.
I’d stand pat if I was GM and hope the team can put together some wins with a weak schedule coming up and hope to get some guys back.
Maybe Green mixes some lines up. I’d try:
Stutzle, Batherson, Chucky
Cozens, Zetterlund, Giroux
Greig, Amadio, Perron
Halliday, Cousins, Big Mac
Sanderson Zub
Kleven Spence
Montipalo Jensen
Better to experiment with your depth a bit then overpay in the trade market IMO
Stammer, Marchy and maybe Forsberg could be your solution, maybe too temporary for the 1st 2.
I have to more or less agree with your observations, Owen. Now is not the time for a move borne out of panic. Chabot could be back against Chicago and, hopefully, Pinto within another week to 10 days.
Eller? Who knows? Nevertheless, if the right opportunity pops up from, say, a rebuilding team prepared to relinquish the kind of player Staios is seeking, he has to get creative in what he’s offering.
I know I’ve been critical of their decision to use the 23rd pick at last Spring’s draft, rather than relinquish it for the Dadonov trade screw-up and so keep their pick in 2026. But they did, and used it to select 6’ 2” 200lbs 19y/o RD Logan Hensler out of the University of Wisconsin. Since then he’s been assessed as a solid pick who, by virtue of being a product of the University system where they spend more time teaching than actual games, could eventually be a fixture on the Senators’ D. And even though that is at least 2 seasons down the line, he’ll be better prepared “defensively speaking” than will 20 y/o Carter Yakemchuk. In the meantime, they have other depth at RD in Cameron Crotty and Lassi Thomson, both reportedly playing well in Belleville.
So, for the right top 9 F return, offer up some sort of combination from among the offensive-minded Yakemchuk (a 7th overall pick), 6’ 2” 212lb winger Arthur Kaliyev, who’s having a very good season in Belleville with 17g 10a 27pts in 26gp, and 6’ 185lb C Ridly Greig. a 28th overall pick, along with perhaps a future 2nd or 3rd round pick – the make-up all depending upon the targeted player’s age and contract status.
George,
I agree with you regarding the Sens not parting with last year’s pick, but I think they still hope that maybe the league rescinds or modifies that first round pick loss.
I agree with Andlauer that the league should have said something before the sale of the team. A bit of a cheap shot there for parties involved in the sale.
Never thought of trading Yakemchuck, but I guess for the right return it could make sense, but the pipeline for the Sens is pretty bare, so that would be a last resort for me.
We are pretty deep at Centre, so losing Greig could be tolerable, but he is relatively cheap and very versatile.
Tough spot for a GM
Big believer in the patience idea with regards to the Sens Owen.
I think they get it figured out and start moving up the standings in the New Year.
Tending and PK require improvement. Ullmark’s done it before, I would wager on him doing it again.
Exception for more bad injuries of course.