NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2025
Check out the latest on Stars winger Jason Robertson, Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, and Bruins forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Pavel Zacha in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE SPORTING NEWS: cited Dallas Stars beat writer Sean Shapiro reporting the club had considered trading Jason Robertson in anticipation of making a bigger deal this summer.
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).
According to Shapiro, the Stars were among the clubs pursuing winger Mitch Marner, who ultimately landed with the Vegas Golden Knights via a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
To make room for Marner, the Stars would’ve had to trade Robertson. While the deal never happened, this story will only stoke speculation about the 26-year-old winger’s future in Dallas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.75 million. He’s eligible to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July and could be UFA-eligible in July 2027.
Robertson’s contract status is primarily responsible for the conjecture about his future with the Stars. His role with the club has also changed with the addition of winger Mikko Rantanen last season.
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford was recently asked if there was anything to the trade speculation swirling around the St. Louis Blues this summer.
Rutherford indicated he hasn’t heard anything specific, pointing out that trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres about Bowen Byram cooled before the defenseman re-signed with the Sabres. He also pointed out that clubs were still interested in Blues winger Jordan Kyrou.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou frequently surfaced in the rumor mill following the Blues’ first-round playoff elimination this spring. The conjecture continued until after the NHL Draft in late June, with the 27-year-old winger linked to the Montreal Canadiens, but the chatter died out once his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio weighs in on the recent trade speculation surrounding Bruins forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Pavel Zacha.
Fantucchio dismisses the rumors, pointing out that trading away two top-six players will further deplete their already weakened offensive depth. He points out the Bruins intend to compete for the playoffs this season, which they can’t do if they trade away Mittelstadt and Zacha. Fantucchio also noted that it wouldn’t make sense to move either player when their trade stock is low.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantucchio believes trading Zacha and/or Mittelstadt now would be giving up on the season before it’s begun. Indeed, if they were truly rebuilding, they would’ve likely peddled away both players well before now.
That doesn’t mean they’re untouchable. As Fantucchio points out, if the Bruins are out of playoff contention later in the season, moving either or both players near the trade deadline makes more sense.
Apparently, the prospect of offer-sheets may still be in the cards if Pittsburgh responds positively to inquiries coming from teams regarding the return of 2nd and 3rd round picks they had dealt earlier to the Penguins. The clear inference is that the teams concerned would like to go the offer-sheet route but need their own 2nd and 3rd picks to do so. In that regard, Dubas may be able to wrangle an immediately useful player (or two) in exchange
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/trades-dubas-says-teams-calling-153405097.html
As far as I can determine (perhaps Pens fans can elaborate), St. Louis, Winnipeg and San Jose have dealt either a 2026 2nd or 3rd to Pittsburgh.
Jets and Blues…. Pen’s own their 2nd
Pen’s own Shark’s 3rd
Thanks 8787 … the Jets have just under $4 mil in cap space so they could be looking at one of the potentially lesser-cost RFAs – unless they are also contemplating a separate cap-free up deal, while the Blues, although down to less than an ELC in cap space, may indeed be looking to deal Kyrou and his $8 mil + contract.
As for San Jose, they sit on buckets of cash, so could pretty much offer-sheet whoever they like.
Something could be brewing with one of them.
If the Stars don’t resolve Robertson’s situation by next June, it could turn into a similar issue that the Isles had with Dobson. He’d refuse to sign long term and would be in a position to take a one year arbitration award to UFA status. So the Stars would be forced to trade him to a team he’d be willing to sign long term with. They’re best off working on an extension now. With Marner out of the picture and the cap rising, they could afford to.
Hard to imagine that Bruins punt both Zacha and Middlestat
Would have them jump up the probability list for McKenna BUT absolutely no guarantee (in fact still very high probability of NOT getting him; while fans despair with low standings rankings)
8787 Bruins have to give opportunities to players like Minten,Poitras ,Locmelis and Hagens when he joins them.Those other guys are just getting in the way and probably aren t in their long term plans anymore.
Fair point re punting 1; but IMHO, they shouldn’t punt both
We’re in a worse situation; we have the NHL’s absolutely slowest skater (and only playing a 100’ game)—-Hayes; and also the ever declining Accari; taking up spots where our youth should be
I don’t see Jim Nill letting Robertson go anywhere. Once Seguin’s horrible contract is done in two years, there’ll be plenty of money.
I don’t get the whole Robertson rumor mill.
Unloading him in a chase for Marner is close to changing 4 quarters for a dollar.
If they wait till next summer, he’ll get a QO of $9.3m and the comparable contracts would be between $10-11m.
The no state tax guys will say that’s easy to beat lol.
I don’t see Nill moving him, there’s just nothing to talk about till cap is settled and requisite space is made for both Robertson and Harley.
Seguin has 2 more years, he’s the logjam now
The whole Robertson thing is because it’s August and they need to talk about something.
If I’m a Stars fan I’d be pissed if they dealt Robertson. Especially after extending Duschene. Same for Blues and Kyrou. Makes no sense.
As far as Pitt and dealing draft picks back to teams. Not sure it pertains to rfa’s still available this year. Pens also hold picks in 2027 draft which would be needed by teams next offseason that want to do offer sheets.
Well Slick62, the 2027 draft isn’t for a year and a half so there’s no rush to negotiate those trades yet … and besides, we have no clue which pending RFAs that year will be hanging around as long as this bunch has. And which includes several enticing players.
The author of that article makes a strong case, and it’s worth noting that St. Louis got one of their picks back last year so they could go after those two Oilers.
Then there’s Dubas’ comments “Dubas admitted to hosts Andy Strickland and Cam Janssen that teams are calling him this summer trying to reacquire their second and third round picks. While he doesn’t exactly know why, it’s common sense. “We dealt with (those types of calls) a lot this summer, as well. Teams were calling for picks back in the 2026 Draft. And you know why,” Dubas said. “So that’s their business. If they want to pay a fair price, we probably talk about it.”
I think by “you know why” it’s clear that that is te rationale for the queries. What else makes sense?
It’s for OS’s now (potentially buying back to use: 2nds : Blues/Jets; and 3rds: Sharks; for the ‘26 draft)
Blues 2nd in ‘26 was a “re-buy”…. Dubas originally got hosed with a Blues ‘25 2nd ; for taking on the Albatross contract of Hayes
Then Army called Dubas and said “ooops, meant 2nd in ‘26” ; because he (Army) needed the 2nd in ‘25 to do his double whammy OS’s on Oilers (which was successful)
Dubas only got a minor bump in return to make the ‘25 2nd into a ‘26 2nd
The original deal was 2nd in ‘25; to take on $3.6 M for 2 years, for the NHL’s slowest player; OUCH!!!!
That was bad enough
Then Dubas did Army another favor by giving him back his 2nd in ‘25
Moving the 2nd to a year later; we had to add a 5th; just to get a 3rd
The net effect…. We had to give up a 5th; eat a useless contract for 2 years; to get a 3rd and then a 2nd(two drafts away)
If Dubas has to flip a 2nd in ‘26 (in this deemed “deep” draft) to a 2nd in ‘27; then the return better be a good prospect
Jordan Kyrou is exactly the top line RW Ottawa so badly needs.
Zacha and Mittelstadt aren’t getting the Bruins into the playoffs and they missed the boat by not trading them earlier.
Neely and Sweeney haven’t exactly been lighting it up in personnel moves with regard to quality or timing.
Teams actively looking for Cs passed on them because they either weren’t interested or the ask was too high.
Mittelstadt has pedigree but is a bust for a #8OA and is an overpaid 3C, not much value in a trade.
Zacha is a serviceable player, who I happen to like, but really isn’t a 2C who moves the needle.
I like him because he can play up and down the lineup, cap hit is too high for his production but it’s only 2 years and worst case scenario is a 3C, face off guy, penalty killer. A better Christian Dvorak.
Best case he steps into 2C , covers Laine mistakes and clicks with Demidov.
Given his declining production, waiting doesn’t help the Bruins cause and the return at TDL will be lower.
They are like Montreals version of Gallagher and Andersen.
Or better yet Newhook and Dach