NHL Rumor Mill – December 6, 2025
Could the Devils attempt to acquire Predators winger Steven Stamkos? Were the Canucks scouting Canadiens forward Zach Bolduc? What’s the latest on Alex Formenton? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols weighed in on a recent rumor suggesting the Devils may be interested in Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos.
Nichols noted that the Devils were among the few suitors for Stamkos when he went to free agency in July 2024. While his production has declined with the Predators, it could improve playing with the Devils, where he’d have playmakers such as Jesper Bratt and a healthy Jack Hughes to set him up.
Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)
Nevertheless, a Stamkos trade would be a risky move. He’s 35, with two years remaining on his contract, which carries an average annual value of $8 million. A potential trade would require the Predators to retain some salary, which means increasing the compensation going to Nashville.
Nichols wondered if a prospect such as Seamus Casey and two second-round draft picks would be enough to land Stamkos.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils have been struggling to score lately, partly because Hughes is sidelined with an injured hand. Once he returns, they could still seek a reliable scorer.
Stamkos probably isn’t the only one they’re considering, assuming he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to New Jersey. Management will likely remain patient and see what other options emerge in the trade market as more teams fall by the wayside in the playoff chase.
TVA SPORTS: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal claimed the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild are two teams with an interest in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July, and the two sides aren’t any closer to a contract extension.
The Canucks recently scouted the Canadiens during their game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. They’re interested in getting a young player in exchange for Sherwood, and Dhaliwal wondered if they might target someone like Canadiens winger Zack Bolduc.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are interested in adding to their forward line, preferably a second-line center. However, giving up the 22-year-old Bolduc (who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues last summer) for the 30-year-old Sherwood goes against the Habs’ habit of bringing in players in their twenties with term remaining on their contracts.
The Canadiens probably prefer to offer up a draft pick or prospect for Sherwood. If the asking price is Bolduc, they might look elsewhere for help at forward.
TSN: Darren Dreger believes Alex Formenton could become an offer-sheet candidate next summer.
The 26-year-old Ottawa Senators forward is a restricted free agent who is now ineligible to play in the NHL this season because he wasn’t signed by the Dec. 1 deadline for an RFA contract.
In September, Senators general manager Steve Staios said Formenton would not be returning to the club, as both sides believed it was best for him to have a fresh start elsewhere. Staios attempted to trade Formenton this fall, but couldn’t find any takers.
Just out of curiosity, did the Canucks come right out and say their scouts were there to watch the Habs? If not, perhaps they were there to scout Ottawa?
You would think when two teams are infront of a scout players in each are targeted and scouted. Even if a trade isn’t an option. It’s not waisting resources.
That goes without saying. What I was getting at is the implication that the scout(s) was/were there to specifically look at someone on the Habs and was simply wondering where that originated.
George: What you are suggesting is completely logical. And while these wild guesses irritate me, I suspect the link to the Habs only flows from the speculation that the Habs were interested in Sherwood, ergo the Canucks wanted to see if any Habs interested them in return.
It could also be pre scouting either team if they are set to face the nucks in an upcoming game. That’s fairly common and thirsty reports jump on this once they hear that someone from another team is in the building.
George… It was speculation from a few outlets in Vancouver
Thanks Tyler … so, in effect, based upon some element of wishful thinking coupled with perceived logic as to player exchange/needs.
Much like we see daily in here 🙂
GeorgeO what is the latest on Pinto?
Nothing up to date yet other than he won’t be in the line-up tonight against the Blues.
Likely of interest only to Habs fans, but having watched them live twice this week I wonder if their interest in a 2C might be cooling. Kapanen looked good, especially with Demidov. Their chemistry will only get better.
And – before the Gazette noted this – I had my growing appreciation for Veleno as a 4C validated by watching him. Good on the forecheck, good on faces (he started the OT), mediocre on offence though he has often been entering with rookies.
Of course they can be stronger and teams upgrade all the time. Just saying that there are worse problems to have than having two leading rookie scorers on one line. And with Dach due back by the end of the month (I know!), and the Habs still in the thick of it, don’t see the need to take on a patchwork acquisition.
LJ,
I’ve wanted to move Veleno regularly for Kampf
then Beecher on account of defensive play, penalty killing and faceoff %.
With no trade happening I fell back on the obvious- that’s why I’m just a fan and not part of the organization.
In the meantime, Veleno has become the top faceoff guy on the team, kills penalties and gets D-zone starts and while not scoring, he’s showing an offensive flair.
That’s why pro-scouting is so important and real player evaluation is done by real hockey people and not fans.
Chalk up another big miss on my part, c’est la vie.
“Keefe mentioned that both Pesce and Kovacevic, who are both skating, are “working their way back, not close to playing at this point.”
Quote from a Devils blog. Not ready at this point but I’m assuming they’re back at some point this season. As I mentioned yesterday,Devils will need to clear cap space for their hits. How does this Nichols guy propose adding an 8m cap hit to a roster in trade that sends back a prospect and 2 draft picks?
Wasnt it reported a couple weeks ago that Sens were offering up Formentons righs for a mid/late rd pick?
Yup. Obviously, no one expressed any interest.
I suggested Ottawa offer him a 2-way “show me” deal and insert him in Belleville, where, if he shows he can be a help somewhere, might draw more interest from teams against whose farm teams he’s at least performing.
Far better than plugging away somewhere in Switzerland.