Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 21, 2025
Could the Oilers add another goaltender after the holiday roster freeze is lifted? Could a coaching change be coming for the Maple Leafs? Are the Sabres adding to their front office? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
COULD THE OILERS PURSUE ANOTHER GOALIE?
SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers might have to go shopping for another goaltender when the current NHL holiday roster freeze is lifted on Dec. 28.
Recently-acquired goalie Tristan Jarry was injured during Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins and was placed on injured reserve. The Oilers called up Connor Ingram from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield to serve as backup to Calvin Pickard.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (NHL Images).
The Buffalo Sabres could become a trade target for the Oilers. Newly-hired Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen stated last week that he wanted to resolve his club’s three-goalie situation. They’re currently carrying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis.
During Friday’s edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said the Oilers looked into signing Lyon last summer before he joined the Sabres. He claimed they called the Sabres a couple of times this season about Lyon before Kekalainen took over as general manager last Monday. Friedman said he wouldn’t be surprised if they called the Sabres again on Friday before the roster freeze was implemented.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres called up Ellis earlier in the season when Luukkonen was injured. None of those three goalies are waiver-exempt, so the Sabres can’t risk demoting any of them because they’ll get plucked off waivers by another team.
Luukkonen is the Sabres’ starter, but he’s struggled at times this season. Ellis showed some promise before being sidelined by a concussion.
Lyon has been on a tear of late with five straight wins as the Sabres moved to within five points of a wild-card berth. It’s doubtful they’ll part with him as they try to claw their way back into contention.
MAPLE LEAFS COACH CRAIG BERUBE COULD BE ON THE HOT SEAT
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the speculation over Craig Berube’s future as head coach of the Maple Leafs will intensify unless the club can pull off an upset win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Koshan believes Berube could lose his job in the not-too-distant future, making him the fourth head coach for the Leafs with the core of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Berube seems to have lost the room. Following their 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals last week, he slammed the players for playing without urgency and passion. When he was asked to explain it, Berube replied, “Ask those guys, not me.”
The fault for this mess lies with the front office. They’re the ones who constructed this team. However, it’s unlikely that general manager Brad Treliving will take the fall. Barring a sudden turnaround, it’ll be Berube who gets the axe, perhaps before the calendar flips to 2026.
MORE FRONT OFFICE CHANGES FOR THE SABRES
DAILY FACEOFF: Multiple reports claim Marc Bergevin is expected to step down from his role as a senior advisor with the Los Angeles Kings to join the Buffalo Sabres as an associate general manager.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Sabres received permission from the Columbus Blue Jackets to speak with assistant general manager Josh Flynn. LeBrun pointed out that Flynn worked for Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen when the latter was GM of the Blue Jackets.
Feel for Berube. Hands are tied by the primma Donna s in Toronto. Would be surprised if anyone on that team would make it out the door if they were locked in with chief!
In comes DeBoer? Toronto’s Christmas present.
Johnny Z,the recycling of coaches in the NHL continues!
Sr
Toronto could do a lot worse. DeBoer has had more playoff success in the last few years than every Toronto coach going back decades.
Yeah, but that’s coaching teams other than the Leafs, Paul.
Yes .. but also with vastly different team-core players in each of his previous 4 stops.
Why would his record with those teams be an automatic difference-maker than for those coaches who failed, perhaps, due to the core make-up of the Leafs “going back decades” as constructed by the GMs/Director Of Hockey Operations involved?
LJ, we were both thinking along the same lines in our responses to Paul.
Making us both wise! LOL!
Hey, we’ve both been closely following hockey for a long time, and over the years have perhaps developed some sort of “sense” as to how a team’s fortunes can change from struggling to cohesion with a win where everyone and his uncle is automatically chalking up 2 points for the opposition.
I’m sure the general feeling for tonight’s Leafs game in Dallas is an automatic 2 points for the Stars. But these guys are, first and foremost, pros and so don’t be surprised if, from top to bottom, they play the game of their lives and beat Dallas.
Their next game would be Tuesday Dec 23 – the last before the Christmas break – at home against the Penguins, and another win there would put them at 39 points and right back in the thick of the Eastern playoff race.
If it works out that way Berube’s job will be safe, at least for the time being. If it doesn’t, and they lose both, his Christmas present is a one-way ticket out of town – opening the door for the next “can’t miss” savior.
But one thing they won’t do … or more precisely can’t do due to the NMC/NTC and/or cap limitations of teams that MIGHTinterest some in waiving … is move out any of the core for immediate key help in the same fashion as did Vancouver with Hughes.
Treleving – who inherited those restrictions – can’t be held accountable for that (although why he took the job knowing full well that he’d go in with one hand tied behind his back is anyone’s guess).
Same, in a way, with Berube.
It’s become clear that you can tinker all you like with the supporting cast, but with the way they’re structured at the top, and the inability to be able to move any of them virtually anywhere for the right return, who they can hire as UFAs is severely limited by their own cap situation.
Matthew’s has checked out but he’s not only one Nylander figure skates half the game lots of talent no heart.
George made a comment awhile ago on Spector – Leafs have to get it Right this time around !
Treliving has NOT done that …
Leafs need to get rid of the GM and Coach. This team was put together so poorly. Get rid of Tre before he makes it worse. Bernie isn’t a fit. Bring in DeBoer who lines up better with the players we have. Trade the fringe players we have and recoup any assets possible. No playoffs this year.
@ CB
A dramatic change in Leafland .
Minnesota is in a 7 game winning streak
Buffalo of all teams is on a 5 game winning streak !?!
Deboer has his faults , I am sure he has learned from them
Deboer is very good with young players and can instill confidence and a new system that will benefit Nylander and Matthews especially , team as a whole
I know Deboer very well from his junior days in Kitchener , where he was highly successful !
The change needs to be done NOW!
How is it that DeBoer lines up better with the players the Leafs have, CB?
People are pointing to Berube’s “ask them” comment as proof he has lost the room. Yet DeBoer was fired after he criticized Oettinger. If coaches can’t hold players accountable then what, exactly, are they supposed to do?
I don’t know what is wrong with the Leafs, but isn’t Berube the same coach that got the Leafs to first place in the Atlantic last year, and got them into game 7 of the second round of the playoffs? Now he can’t coach?
CB, what makes you think any other team would want any of those “fringe” players if, indeed they’re either as bad or ineffective as you suggest?
Treliving was not the one who decided to build around a few players who took up way too much cap space. He’s not the one who used up a ton of cap space to sign JT, a player the Leafs didn’t need. Leaving little room to patch up other holes on the roster.
Letting Marner go wasn’t easy but it was necessary. But you don’t easily replace a player like that. Depth was improved somewhat but it’ll take a couple of years to build add the type of players necessary to win a Cup. Treliving will have to be given more time. But Berube will be gone soon if the Leafs don’t snap out of their funk.
Treliving’s record of letting guys walk for free is established. He continually does it and gets burned.
Exactly LJ. They’re in a funk. Happens to all teams. And yet they’re still above .500 and just 6 back of each of Philadelphia, Tampa, New Jersey and Boston – with a couple of games in hand on Boston.
Not long ago some were raving about the resurgent Penguins, then up at or near the top of the Conference. Their funk has dropped them like a rock in terms of the standings. That’s what happens when it’s as competitive as is the East this season.
Agreed George. It’s the Toronto spotlight and their fans that is really the problem. As soon as the team is in a funk they call for their star players, coaches and gms heads.
I figured that losing Marner would force this team to play another way, and that comes with some growing pains. But instead of being patient and supportive, many TO supporters are calling for a mass blow up. Mathew’s hand to ear celebration proves this way of thinking.
I’m not really complaining, as a Sens fan it makes me a little happy to see the Leafs struggle. 🤓
This team reminds me of the end of the Phaneuf Era when they decided not to salute fans at the games finish
When I read above “Could the Oilers add another goaltender after the holiday roster freeze is lifted??” and the ensuing possibilities, it made me wonder when the clamor to dump Bowman as GM would start to pick up?
I hear Skinner is available for that goalie opening…
Oh that’s cruel.
Columbus became only team in east below .500. Buffalo streaking but 3rd worst winning % (Toronto 2nd.) Jarmo feeling good.
A little off topic. While Minnesota has garnished most of the attention after acquiring Q Hughes, Vancouver has gone 4-0 since trade. Hold off on the fire sale.
That’s for sure.
I was a Bérubé fan. However, if not him it was Sheldon. The power play has sucked for years, when it mattered. Yet the same 5 guys are out there. I’m shocked that a guy like Bérubé would put up with that. Put the 4th liners on the pp. make the 1st liners sit and watch.
Here’s thought. The Leafs don’t have a 1st round pick. Although this year’s is top 5 protected. How about packing it in, and start again next year.
Yes guy,I know that Boston has Toronto s first round pick from the Carlo trade. So what happens to that pick if they finish in the top 5?
It becomes Toronto’s 1st pick in 2027 in that event. And that, I don’t believe, is lottery protected.