NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2025
Check out the latest on Dougie Hamilton, Darnell Nurse, Evan Rodrigues, Mario Ferraro, and Joonas Korpisalo in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During his season-ending “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episodes, Elliotte Friedman wondered where defenseman Dougie Hamilton fits into the New Jersey Devils’ plans.
Hamilton, 32, is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value (AAV) of $9 million. Friedman noted that his full no-movement clause now contains a 10-team trade list. The Devils also paid Hamilton his bonus on July 1.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).
Friedman thinks there’s a low percentage chance of Hamilton getting traded this summer. However, he said the blueliner’s name was “out there” in the market, adding he’d heard the Devils spoke to a couple of teams about him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols pointed out that, at one point, promising Devils blueliners Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey were mentioned as trade candidates. He noted that moving Hamilton’s contract would free up the cap space needed to bolster their top-six forward lines and also add a third-line center.
Regarding the Edmonton Oilers, Friedman believes management checked with all their players who had a no-trade clause if they would waive them. Among them was Darnell Nurse, whom Friedman believes doesn’t want to leave Edmonton.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: David Staples of the Edmonton Journal believes this is the first credible news about the Oilers having any interest in trading Nurse. The 30-year-old defenseman is signed through 2029-30 with a $9.25 million AAV and a full no-movement clause until 2027.
Staples thinks there could be a trade market for Nurse’s “brutally aggressive style of play.” However, he also suggests that this might push Nurse to address why his performance has suffered in the playoffs and what he can do to fix it.
The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are sitting over the salary cap by $2.95 million. Teams can be above the cap by 10 percent during the offseason but must be cap compliant for their season-opening game.
Friedman said there’s an assumption the Panthers could trade forward Evan Rodrigues, who carries a $3 million AAV through 2026-27. However, he indicated that he was told not to assume anything, as there are several options they could use to free up cap room. For example, they need to figure out if Matthew Tkachuk requires surgery and what his recovery timeline would be.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito surprised everyone by re-signing core players Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Much has been made about their advantage of playing in a no-tax state as a factor in retaining those players.
However, the cost of keeping the core intact remained steep even with their tax advantage. Unless Tkachuk is out of the season on long-term injury reserve, they could indeed face the possibility of giving up a popular, useful depth player like Rodrigues in a cost-cutting trade.
Meanwhile, Friedman reported the Toronto Maple Leafs are among several teams interested in Jack Roslovic. The 28-year-old unrestricted free-agent forward enjoyed a productive season with the Carolina Hurricanes, finishing with 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games.
Friedman suggests Roslovic could be waiting for the Maple Leafs to free up some cap space by moving out a player or two. He indicated the Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres could also be interested.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Roslovic’s inconsistency probably explains why he remains unsigned nearly a week into free agency.
Turning to the San Jose Sharks, Friedman confirmed a report by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period claiming they were looking to shop a defenseman. They recently added veterans Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy and John Klingberg, creating a logjam on the blueline.
Friedman suggested Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren, Henry Thrun or Jack Thompson as trade candidates. Ferraro and Liljegren are UFA-eligible next summer, Thrun will be a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights next July, while Thompson is currently an RFA.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reported last week that Sharks GM Mike Grier was hoping to add a top-nine forward this summer. One of those blueliners could be used as trade bait to address that issue. Ferraro would have the most value if he were unwilling to sign a contract extension with the Sharks.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Markus Lehto, the agent for Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, said his client has not requested a trade.
The 31-year-old Korpisalo has been the subject of trade speculation since his end-of-season comments in which he expressed his unhappiness with his limited playing time. The Bruins’ recent signing of Michael DiPietro to a two-year, one-way contract fueled the conjecture.
Lehto stated there was no truth to a rumor that Korpisalo wanted to be traded, claiming his client loves it in Boston.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Korpisalo is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $4 million, though $1 million of that is carried by his former club, the Ottawa Senators. He also has a 10-team no-list.
DiPietro was a depth signing by the Bruins. His $812,500 AAV won’t count against their cap when he’s in the minors.
“Mason McTavish Upset With Role In Anaheim”
This could be the opening for the Habs to swoop in and acquire a #2C! Would a Reinbacher or Laine for McTavish work?
Anaheim needs help on D and the worst powerplay in the league.
They aren’t giving McTavish away.
Habs could send Laine and Struble (after signing).
That helps both needs .I’d be shocked if Anaheim went for it.
Seems like Buf should be interested in McTavish and ANA should be interested in Byrum.
Byrum is playing his off side and not getting 1st PP minutes which is limiting his potential IMO. I think he could run a PP on the first unit.
Not sure how unhappy McTavish is, or if Byrum wants out, but perhaps both would benefit personally from a change of scenery? Although not sure how going to BUF helps any player, at least from the outside looking in.
Perhaps a Chabot for MacTavish deal could be made.
I’m convinced Ottawa needs to shore up their Top 6 more than the D being a concern.
Yachemchuk fills in….
Would that he stretching Ottawa’s af to much.
Ottawa doesn’t seem to need a centre but Stutz can’t win faceoffs and I often think he should be moved to the wing.
Just a good old spit ball.
Ducks do need more salary to get to the cap!
I sorry typos let me try again
Perhaps a Chabot for MacTavish deal could be made.
I’m convinced Ottawa needs to shore up their Top 6 more than the D being a concern.
Yachemchuk fills in….fornchabots absence.
Would that be stretching Ottawa’s D to much.
Ottawa doesn’t seem to need a centre but Stutz can’t win faceoffs and I often think he should be moved to the wing.
Just a good old spit ball
Johnny, where’d that come from. From what I’ve heard, MacTavish prefers to stay in Anaheim.
I don’t think Laine would do it. Even with Struble added. Reinbacher might but I don’t see Hughes trading him right now.
Byram for MacTavish sounds like a good idea but I still don’t see Anaheim rushing to trade MacTavish.
Like Elliott Friedman said, Nurse doesn’t want to go. There is no point in talking about it, because it won’t happen over the next two seasons at least, while he has a full NMC.
Regarding Florida, their $3M overage does not yet include RFA Samoskevich’s new deal.
Samoskevich’s last deal was $925k and that could possibly double on a short term bridge, pushing Florida’s overage closer to $5M once he is locked in.
In that event, trading Rodrigues’s $3M salary won’t cover the gap. I’m assuming Tkachuck starts the year on LTIR, but the question is for how long. But once he is ready to play, Florida has more cap work to do.
Samoskevich should be the type of player that Boston should go after. A young affordable top 6 winger if given the opportunity. They have few players in their group like him!
Hamilton actually has a 10 team trade list not a 10 team no trade list. So he submitted 10 teams he’s willing to be traded to.
If Tkachuk goes on LTIR to start season it’ll be a total mockery of system. Injury occurred during 4 nations.
Didn’t require surgery 5 months ago. Didn’t keep him from playoffs. Didn’t stop him from celebrating on beach for a week, where he’s often seen carrying 35lb cup around. Has almost 4 months between last game and start of regular season. Most players have surgeries once eliminated. So what’s next? “ we thought rest would heal injury, unfortunately going to need surgery”
It’s the Evander Kane model applied by Edm this past year.
0 games played resting an injury, has surgery half way through year because rest isn’t working, then ready for post season.
I don’t think Florida will do that but who knows…
Buyer beware in a trade for Hamilton. For the player and reputation that he has,he has played on 4 teams. He is a minus player in the playoffs. Has a reputation for being soft. Signed as a free agent by Nj Devils when they were looking for a name player to sign.
Re: MacTavish. Seems like Patrick Morris at Newport Sports Management might be strategically leaking stories to the media as a negotiation tactic.
Ray/Oiler fans: My impression is that Nurse is not worth the 9.5 and that the Oil would benefit from moving him.
Thoughts?
LJ, my thoughts; Nurse is a very good D-man, and leader, who wasn’t worth $9.5M. But he had the Oil over a barrel, when Larson left (strange circumstances) and Klefbom got forced into early retirement due to injury. Had to keep him.
But maybe with the cap rising as much as it is over next few years, he isn’t so over priced? He brings a lot to the table. 6’4″ and you won’t find many 6’4″ dmen who can skate like him, and he’s tough too.
Now the Oil have too many quality LD’s, with 4. Both Kulak and Walman played their off side at times in the playoffs. Need a RD to replace Nurse then. Not easy to find if folks haven’t noticed.
Lj,how about Hamilton for Nurse?
Lj,how about Hamilton for Nurse?Ray Bark,there s your Rd for Edmonton
I thought that exact same thing Sr. Would need to ponder it a bit. Both players bring elements the other doesn’t.
Nurse skates, defends better, is more physical and brings toughness which matters a bunch come playoff time. Hamilton brings more O and is a play driver when he’s on the ice. Like elite that way.
Both drafted high; Nurse at 7 OA and Douggie at 9 OA. Which tells you they both have the physical tools.
Tough call, which probably means a fair trade. I don’t think the Oil would want to lose Nurse’s leadership as the deciding reason. Him and McDavid are close as well.
Still think the Oil needs Nurse’s tough play, even if he is a bonehead sometimes.
Devils are trying gain cap space not lose it
https://x.com/RogerHicksNHL/status/1942285981098598716
Karlsson to Detroit????
Dunno if I like this……….
Hopefully just Berggren and Holl (1/2 retained) for Karlson at $6.5M
Seems weird both teams would retain. How many years on holl?
That is just my hopeful guess! 😁
Maybe Doobee wants 2 youngsters:
Berggren and Anton Johanson for Karlsson with salary retained.
He’s said he’ll hold salary for an asset. He will also take back a bad contract for asset.
Johnny Z, fresh Karlsson rumor. Start heard Karlsson (NMC) wants play for contender. That return isn’t good (unless Penguins want tank next season?). Once Byram gets moved, Karlsson trade rumors increase?
I’d do Matheson for Kasper.