NHL Rumor Mill – July 21, 2025
What’s the latest on the Oilers and Devils goaltending? What kind of return could the Blue Jackets get for Yegor Chinakhov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins believes Oilers starting goaltender Stuart Skinner could be in line for a lucrative new deal when his contract expires at the end of this season.
The 26-year-old netminder is in the final year of a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $2.6 million. Leavins points to the five-year deal ($6.25 million AAV) that Lukas Dostal recently signed with the Anaheim Ducks as a blueprint for Skinner’s next contract.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I can hear the eyerolls of Skinner’s critics, but backstopping the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals matters. If he has a solid performance this season, he won’t have any problem landing a deal comparable to Dostal’s, either with the Oilers or another team via free agency.
Leavins also examined the Oilers’ current goaltending conundrum, particularly Skinner’s inconsistency. If he’s a “1B” goalie, they must find someone to be their “1A”.
The Oilers had “active interest” in Arturs Silovs. However, the Vancouver Canucks refused to trade him to Edmonton, shipping him instead to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re also rumored to have an interest in Boston Bruins third-stringer Michael DiPietro.
Landing one of those goalies might’ve been an upgrade over current Oilers backup Calvin Pickard, but their limited NHL experience doesn’t address the need of bringing in a “1A” goalie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The goalie market is thin right now. If the Oilers seek an upgrade, they’ll have to wait for the coming season to unfold and hope that better options become available.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols wonders what the Devils will do with goaltender Nico Daws after they brought back Jake Allen as Jacob Markstrom’s backup.
Daws, 24, is in the final season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $812,500. He’s eligible for restricted free-agent status next summer with arbitration rights and is no longer exempt from waivers.
It’s unlikely Daws would pass unclaimed through waivers. Nichols suggested the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets or Chicago Blackhawks might pluck him off the wire. He proposed trying to trade Daws, either on his own or packaged with defenseman Dougie Hamilton or center Dawson Mercer in a larger deal.
Nichols included the Oilers among his list of potential trade partners for Daws. He also mentioned the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights as possible landing spots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Silovs and DiPietro, Daws has potential but also a limited NHL resume, so it’s debatable if he can be considered an upgrade over Pickard for the Oilers.
The Flames could use a replacement for Dan Vladar after he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month. Vegas Hockey Now’s Hannah Kirkell indicates the Golden Knights need a clear-cut backup for starter Adin Hill.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger examines what type of return Yegor Chinkhov might fetch in the trade market. The 24-year-old forward recently requested a trade from the Blue Jackets, citing misunderstandings with head coach Dean Evason.
Hedger considers Chinakhov “largely undefined as a player.” A first-round pick in 2020, he’s been hampered by injuries, limiting him to 175 NHL games.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell could seek an established NHL player in return. However, trading him creates an additional hole in their forward lines, having let James van Riemsdyk, Sean Kuraly and Justin Danforth depart via free agency.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hedger noted that Chinakhov has one more year remaining on his contract. Staying in Columbus could help him improve his trade value. It could also give the forward and the Jackets time to sort out their differences.
Re Oilers and goalies and
“If the Oilers seek an upgrade, they’ll have to wait for the coming season to unfold and hope that better options become available.”
Again, without siding one way or the other; IF this Friday’s decision goes a certain way; a “local goalie” becomes available
According to Jason Gregor of Edmonton’s Sports 1440, the Oilers have no interest in Carter Hart and will not attempt to sign him if he is found not guilty and attempts to resume his NHL career.
Seems silly not to look at Hart. Though I think the time out side the game will affect all the accused players conditioning. I think PTOs would be requested.
Disagree Jeff.
I would think a guy like Nurse, who grew up with sisters, would just as likely want to punch Hart’s teeth out than defend him in the crease.
But that’s just me.
I agree with you Ray. Being found not guilty and actually being not guilty are two different things in this case, plus being from Sherwood Park makes it even harder to hide from the mountain of questions that follow Hart
Yes I read what Gregor said
I think Oilers would be foolish IF the decision comes down in favor AND they don’t even make a call
Signing him (IF acquitted) at $1.15 M or less comes with zero risk; as he can be waived and nothing shows against Cap
Oilers right now, are doing/saying (not doing and not saying) the right things.
If they say (or hint) that they are interested AND the verdict goes the other way; they are then retroactively deemed to have been supporting a convict.
If they call him or agent after an NG announcement; they’ve literally done nothing wrong; as all that would be is a call to an available local UFA goalie
8787….zero risk eh?
Except you risk the verdict of public opinion, as an organization.
And while not guilty should truly mean not guilty…we all know it plays out outside the court and social media.
Based on the gm hire I don’t think oilers care so much about public opinion
Chrisms was citing only Bowman
Oilers brought in Kane and Perry
IF (notice I am careful to put that in CAPS) it is an NG; then Oilers would be contacting a local available UFA goalie
Bowman, Kane, Perry
Precedent (with it appears little or no negative long term effects) has been set
Again, IF an NG; Bowman absolutely should be reaching out.
I would suggest what those 3 did, doesn’t compare to what Hart and his buddies did.
Bowman was actually banned from the league for close to 3 years, (I would have done longer, but OK) and he wasn’t the one who actually committed the act. That POS will never work in the NHL again. Perry got drunk at a team event and did or said something unprofessional, Kane was a gambling addict and kind of an a-hole.
See the difference? No?
Devils resigning Jake Allen was a sign of lost faith in Daws. I thought they were going to have Daws as back up. They have quite a few prospects in the pipeline. So shipping Daws out is likely. I think Daws has to pass through waivers as well.
“He’s eligible for restricted free-agent status next summer with arbitration rights and is no longer exempt from waivers”
I think of Daws as a 2B goalie with potential.upside. in somewhat limited NHL action he has proven adequate. In the AHL, on a horrible team, his stats are not so good. So a team short of goalie depth could make a waiver claim, see how it works. If he falters you return him and lost nothing, no worse off then you were. But if he succeeds, found treasure. Worth a risk.
Sens giant Dane Madds Soggard might be available for minimal cost. Often injured though. He’s shown promise and that was behind a porous badly coached defense with DJ Smith at the helm. He’s been languishing down in Belleville AHL and got passed by finn Levvi Merilienen.
Dark G, it would appear he’s also fallen behind the recently signed Jackson Parsons
So will the Devils resign Markström this year? He started mediocre, was great before the injury. Came back and was mediocre but was pretty good in the playoffs is my take. Two years at 6m?
I think Devs resign Markstrom, but that will wait until off-season to se what type of season he has, and base comp on that. $6 million is a little rich based on age and recent performance, but we will see. All just my opinion though.
With the cap rising…. His history… if he has a pretty good to good season he’ll likely be a 7-8 mil a year goalie.
8787 they can’t be that desperate to find a goalie to resort to signing Hart. The fact is, the players did what they did regardless of consent. They were representing Canada, and, even though they were young, it’s disgusting what they did. It showed a complete lack of respect. Signing him would NOT go over well in the community and would not look good on management.
Plus after the Kyle Beach Blackhawks incident, I highly doubt Bowman would want to get involved with Hart.
Edmonton never should have got involved with Bowman. Quenville either in Anaheim.
I’d be surprised, frankly, if anyone on the Oilers or Ducks is overly keen on being involved with Bowman or Quenneville!
On the question of goalies, the following are still available as UFAs
Ilya Samsonov – last season with Vegas – 28y/o – 6’ 3” 205lbs GP29 2.82gaa 0.891 save % – coming off a $1,800,000 cap hit
James Reimer – last season with Buffalo & Anaheim – 37y/o – 6’ 2” 200lbs GP24 2.90gaa 0.901 save % – coming off a $1,000,000 cap hit
Chris Driedger – did not play – 31y/o – 6’ 4” 205lbs – coming off a $795,000 cap hit
Alexander Georgiev – last season with Colorado & San Jose – 29y/o – 6’ 1” 180lbs – GP49 3.85gaa 0.875 save % – coming off a cap hit of $3,400,000
Georgii Romanov – also with San Jose – 25y/o – 6’ 5” 207lbs – GP8 3.890gaa 0.877 save% – coming off a cap hit of $910,000
Time has probably caught up with Reimer and Dreidger, but those with San Jose weren’t playing with anything remotely described as a good defensive team in front of them … their stats weren’t horrible, considering … and they’re still in their 20s.
I don’t see Carter Hart playing . Maybe a beer league somewhere . Dube is playing in Minsk. Didn’t check any of the others.
Players have missed significant time with injury and returned. Ala Landeskog . I think Hartmwould have to play far far away . Certainly not in Edmonton and not in Canada if acquitted .
Seems Oiler fans have forgotten what caused Stan Bowman’s ouster in Chicago. I doubt he wants to get caught up in yet another sexual assault story . There is no way Bowman will want the stench that will follow Hart around impacting the t am.