NHL Rumor Mill – July 25, 2025
The latest on Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell, and potential trade targets for the Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Sonny Sachdeva recently listed five potential trade destinations for Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson.
The Penguins carry $10 million of the 35-year-old Karlsson’s $11.5 million cap hit. Sachdeva noted that Karlsson was paid his $5 million signing bonus on July 1, meaning he’s owed $11.5 million in actual salary over the remaining two years of his contract.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)
Karlsson has a full no-movement clause, but he could be open to waiving it to join a contender. The Penguins also have a logjam of right-shot defensemen after acquiring Matt Dumba from the Dallas Stars earlier this month.
The Vegas Golden Knights topped Sachdeva’s list, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All five teams have been previously mentioned as trade destinations for Karlsson if he agrees to waive his NMC. Whether any of them are interested remains to be seen.
Any deal involving Karlsson could mean the Penguins retain part of his annual salary-cap hit to facilitate a trade. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas could be keen to get as much of Karlsson’s cap hit off his books, but he won’t just give him away. He’ll want a return that also helps with the rebuilding of his roster.
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes trading a forward like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell will sting for the Penguins, but it’s the right move for this rebuilding club to make.
Yohe commends Dubas for not rushing into trading either player, especially when the offers weren’t that great. However, he thinks both forwards could command a first-round pick or a top prospect. Moving them would also clear considerable cap space for the next three seasons.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lot of clubs remain flush with cap space this summer. Some of them could use experienced top-six wingers like Rust and Rakell.
Nevertheless, they might still be with the Penguins when their season opens in October. Interested parties could also remain patient, assessing their early-season roster needs before pulling the trigger.
They could also prefer waiting to see how well the 33-year-old Rust and 32-year-old Rakell perform this season. Any decline in their play could scare off potential suitors, especially considering they’re each averaging at least $5 million annually through 2027-28.
Speaking of Rust, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal recently reported on some speculation tying him to the Oilers. However, they lack the cap space to take on his contract even if the Penguins retained half of his $5.125 million AAV.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski recently looked at a couple of trade targets for the Penguins.
The first is winger Yegor Chinakhov, who has requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kingerski suggested the 24-year-old could be a reclamation project akin to their acquisition of Philip Tomasino last season from the Nashville Predators.
Kingerski also suggested acquiring the contract of permanently sidelined goaltender Carey Price from the Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins have the cap space to take on his full $10.5 million cap hit, while only paying $2.5 million actual salary once his $5 million bonus is paid on September 1.
The Canadiens would like to move Price off their books, enabling them to accrue cap space this season. Kingerski suggests the Habs might be willing to include a second-round pick in the deal, if not more.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season is the final one for Price’s contract.
You would think young teams like SJ and Chicago with talented young forwards would take a flyer on veteran forwards like Rust and Rakell. I wonder if their contracts box out those teams as no trade options.Has their even been more talk of teams looking for second line centers?What are the prerequisites 45,50,60,65 pts?
I’m thinking the opposite. Teams like SJ and Chicago aren’t competing this year. They need to let their young guys play and grow.
Adding older players like Rust and Rakell would just be blockers to the teams future development, especially since Rust and Rakell wouldn’t really be part of those teams’ future.
The only good place for Rust and Rakell are playoff teams in need of 2nd line wingers…. but so many playoff caliber teams lack cap space. So I think they might be stuck in Pitt until the trade deadline.
They will have to go to a mushy-middle team like Detroit, CBJ, Buffalo or Seattle.
There is a balance to be struck, foleyd7; I agree young players need NHL ice time to fully develop, but they need to do so with players whom they can learn from and who restrict getting thumped every game. Bedard, early on in his young career, expressed just that frustration last year.
i have two words for those thinking CHI and SJ should add more experienced forwards like Rackell or Rust…
Gavin
McKenna
Foleyd7,I think players like Bedard and Celebrini would look at this as the team getting more serious to get better. Both players contracts run out in 2-3 more years. I can t see either team making the playoffs for at least 3-5 years.
Have to agree – with or without a Rust or Rakell – OR a McKenna for that matter – going from records of 25 48 11 6apts .372 pace -70 goal differential and 20 50 12 52pts .317 pace -105 goal differential isn’t going to be an easy turnaround.
Those two – currently experiencing 5 and 6 year playoff droughts – are likely looking at having those extended to at least 8 and 9.
Re
“Any deal involving Karlsson could mean the Penguins retain part of his annual salary-cap hit to facilitate a trade. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas could be keen to get as much of Karlsson’s cap hit off his books, but he won’t just give him away. He’ll want a return that also helps with the rebuilding of his roster.”
First of all; “could mean” needs to be replaced with “absolutely means”
Secondly, no one is taking EK at $10 M Cap hit. No one
I believe no one will look at him above $7 M Cap hit; and for sure the more retained , the more in return
He’s only owed (by Pens) $ 10 M cash TOTAL over next two years
30% further retention ($7 M cap hit, which is the realistic absolute ceiling for a trade); means Pens retaining $3 M in Cash
50%; $5 M cap hit; many more actual bidders; better return
Difference: $2 M cash extra retention for Pens
Compare that to other post today re taking on Price’s contract ; much more in Cap; cash outlay of $2.5 M; suggested return : 2nd rounder
A return on EK at a $5 M Cap hit vs $7M cap hit will definitely be a greater difference by MORE than a 2nd
So $2 M extra cash in retention is getting MORE of a return than the $2.5 M Pens would have to dole out to Price (per Kingerski)
Pens have the space, if they want, to do both; but 50% retention on EK should be done now!
A team can only retain actual salary, not cap hit. If EK is only owed $10m, then Pitt can only retain $5m (max 50%). His cap hit would be $7.5m – it cannot be lower.
I would like to know what Pengy thinks about this.
So would Lyle if he was paid per word . George seen your comments in the news section . All could imagine is the debate on who is worse Jack Johnson and CR against Hayse amd Accrri lol
Is pengy dead or is he 8787?
I remember he used to b on here all the time.?
Im not on here as much either since this site became authoritarian.
😀
“Authoritarian”? Care to explain or provide examples?
No way Habs trade Price to the Penguins unless Crosby is coming the other way 😉
Happy Friday, everyone!
Karlsson 50% retained and 3 rd pick for Chinakhov a B prospect and a couple of late round picks
Before any criticism how many years left for EK who is one dimensional and plays as a lightweight
According to Puckpedia Habs are 4.5 mil over cap. Don’t they need to put Price on ltir? Am I missing something?
Yeah, they can be 10% over cap till the start of the regular season.
You’re not missing anything Slick. They either need to put Price on the LTIR or trade him to remove his cap hit and make the Habs compliant.
At which point – barring a term contract coming the other way in a trade – would give them a reserve of just over $5.9 mil.
Any potential 2nd line C among those teams needing to acquire his cap hit 🙂
Brain fart.
Need a delete button
Hab’s 2C:
Newhook and a 2nd or 3rd for Ryan Strome
He should be a good place holder for couple years.
Or instead of the pick, include Price’s contact.
But when the Ducks sign McTavish, they won’t need that.
@Kyle..i think u know what who i mean.😆