NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2025
Are the Devils interested in Predators forward Steven Stamkos? Could the Stars pursue Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood or Flames forward Blake Coleman? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
STEVEN STAMKOS LINKED TO THE DEVILS
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils are believed to have internally discussed Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos, among several other trade targets.
Stamkos, 35, is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-movement clause. LeBrun doubts that he’s going anywhere this season, but indicated that the Predators “would definitely listen to calls on him.”
Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)
The Devils were among the suitors for Stamkos when he was an unrestricted free agent in 2024. LeBrun suggests this is something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Stamkos’ production since 2023-24 likely means the Devils won’t have to put together a significant offer to pry him away from the Predators, assuming he’ll waive his NMC.
Cap space will be a sticking point. The Devils have a projected $3.6 million in trade deadline cap room. Even if they convince the Predators to retain salary (which will raise their asking price), they still must free up more cap space to acquire Stamkos.
HOW WILL THE STARS REPLACE TYLER SEGUIN?
TSN: Chris Johnston believes the recent injury to Tyler Seguin could turn the Dallas Stars into more aggressive buyers by the trade deadline.
Seguin suffered what could be a season-ending knee injury earlier this week. The Stars currently have just over $3 million in cap space, but that’s with sidelined forwards Matt Duchene and Adam Erne and defenseman Nils Lundkvist on long-term injury reserve (LTIR)
If Seguin is out for the season (including the playoffs), he’ll go on season-ending long-term injury reserve (SELTIR). That would enable the Stars to spend up to the entirety of his $9.85 million cap hit to exceed the cap to another player.
On the other hand, if Seguin is expected to return later in the regular season or during the playoffs, the LTIR benefit is limited to last season’s average league salary, which was just over $3.8 million.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos goes into greater detail regarding the changes to the LTIR policy and how it would affect the Stars’ efforts to replace Seguin.
If Seguin’s gone for the season, she speculates the Stars could trade for a forward with an expensive cap hit to replace him on the roster. If he is to return later this season, the Stars will have to be more conservative in their efforts to add to their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston noted that the Stars were reportedly among the clubs interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. His $1.5 million cap hit would make him a very affordable trade option.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs are showing a strong interest in Blake Coleman. The 32-year-old Calgary Flames winger is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4.9 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
Murphy claimed the Utah Mammoth, Minnesota Wild, and Carolina Hurricanes have also been linked to Coleman. He believes the Flames winger could be a cost-effective option who could move earlier than more expensive teammates such as Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Seguin goes on SELTIR, the Stars will be in a better position to pursue Coleman than the cap-strapped Leafs. The Mammoth, Hurricanes, and Wild would be in an even better cap position and could have more tradeable assets to work with.
Seguin’s injury has to put them in the Kadri/O’Reilly sweepstakes. It’s definitely going to be situation worth monitoring.
O’Reilly seems to be the optimum choice for the Stars with his cap hit and contract.
I’m not sure on the Stars, who Calgary or Edminton would want. I’m guessing that Borque would probably be the one that would go the other way.
Coleman continues to be a the player any contender would want; he is also the perfect mentor for the Flames. I suspect the offer would need to be one that the Flames would not be able to refuse.
Definitely not like the offer Tampa put in for Jeannot! 😣
Coleman (the 3rd line generally) had a lot to do with Tampas success when they were winning cups.
But at 34 and on the books for nearly 5 million this year and next I wouldn’t expect a 1st rounder or good prospect. Certainly not without some serious retention.
I don’t think other teams will overpay because he’s a great mentor for Calgary.
32, not 34
Actually Captain Obvious, you were right the first time. In fact, he turned 34 on November 28 and he’ll be turning 36 a couple of months into his UFA season of 2027-28.
A few days ago you wished only amateurs went to the Olympics, Lyle.
If the current # of injuries continues you will have your wish, at least as far as hockey goes.
Never mind the Ebugs, each team needs a travelling MASH unit.
You’re not kidding. Check out this Puckpedia current injury list. A quick count – and not counting perpetual injuries like Weber and Price – there are 139 anywhere from day-to-day to month-to-month, with Los Angeles being the only one totally injury-free!
https://puckpedia.com/injuries
Even if Nashville retained 50% on Stamkos, that’s still a 4mil cap hit for 2 plus seasons and that pesky nmc. Are Devils expecting to get back Kovacevic and Pesce before end of season? Both on ltir with significant cap hits. And wouldn’t this create more problems when they try to pursuit the 3rd brother?
The only way the Leafs make a trade are going to be (1) an older player wants to go only to Toronto (bucket list for a Toronto boy perhaps?) But that would require a lot generosity for a GM and a willingness to trade for a long term project and a spare part.
OR (2) Treliving sees a younger player who might still have an upside or specific skill that but is in a logjam in another system and can be moved for a prospect with a different skillset.
Anything else really does not make much sense.
doktor dave, there are now so many factors that enter into a trade of any sort, not the least of which are NM clauses and 10-team no-go lists and, of course, cap space.
That latter could, at one time, be covered by a team offering up a player from a position where they felt they had some depth for a player in another position where they needed shoring up IF and when there was another team with the opposite situation e.g. a F for a D and vice-versa … IF it was equal dollars in and out – or close enough to it.
But now it seems everyone in the top echelon of talent has a NMC or limited trade destination, and so stagnation unsues on the trade front.
“ensues ….”
Current Flame leadership is not trading with the Toronto current leadership . Certainly not doing any favours. Coleman I believe is a Texan. He would not balk at a deal there. Bourque maybe an option to consider.
Coleman has one a cup.