NHL Rumor Mill – October 17, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the Devils hope to re-sign Jacob Markstrom, Rangers winger Brennan Othmann is drawing some interest, and the latest on the Maple Leafs.
DEVILS TALKING CONTRACT WITH MARKSTROM
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the New Jersey Devils have had contract extension talks with the representatives for goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
The 35-year-old goaltender is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
Dreger indicated the discussions were “healthy”, adding that negotiations are expected to continue. There is a mutual interest from both sides to get something done.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was a recent rumor claiming the Devils offered Markstrom an extension with a slightly lower AAV of $5 million. However, there’s been no confirmation about that.
Markstrom could draw a lot of attention if he goes to market next summer. Apart from himself, there aren’t many experienced starting goalies who could be available. They include Florida’s aging Sergei Bobrovsky, Carolina’s oft-injured Frederik Andersen, and Edmonton’s inconsistent Stuart Skinner.
RANGERS COULD CONSIDER MOVING OTHMANN
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports New York Rangers prospect winger Brennan Othmann is garnering some interest in the trade market. The 22-year-old was sent down to their AHL affiliate in Hartford, and there have been conversations with other clubs about his future.
Friedman indicates the Rangers have a lot of wingers. Othmann might benefit from a change of scenery.
THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano cited a league source claiming the Rangers are open to moving Othmann. There’s been no trade request from the young winger, but both sides feel he might benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury is believed to be gauging interest in Othmann, but he’s not in a rush to move him. It’s uncertain what type of return Drury would want.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Othmann was the Rangers’ first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He’s had 25 games with the Blueshirts since 2023-24, collecting two assists.
Drury has been steadily reshaping the Rangers’ roster since last December. Othmann would be the latest of several players to be shipped out in recent months. Given the young winger’s struggles, he might not fetch much of a return unless he’s included in a package deal.
LEAFS MANAGEMENT HAS THE GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE A MAJOR MOVE IF POSSIBLE
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that Keith Pelley, the CEO and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), feels that it’s “go time” for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With the salary cap rising and the Maple Leafs having some cap flexibility, LeBrun believes Pelley has given the green light to general manager Brad Treliving to “take a swing” at a deal sometime before the March 6 trade deadline.
Treliving remains in the market for a top-six forward. Given the average age of the Leafs roster, there’s a sense of urgency to get over the hump this season.
LeBrun believes they’ll have to get creative given their limited trade assets. They don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Drafts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how creative Treliving can get to land that elusive top-six forward before the trade deadline. And no, shopping Nick Robertson won’t be enough to get it done.
Yes the Rangers have a lot of wingers. The problem is that none of them are scoring.
Othman’s situation is a lot like Kakko’s was and Lafreniere still is. Hasn’t done much yet to merit a solid return but they feel it’s too soon to give up on him. They’re obviously nervous that he’d blossom elsewhere, but if they wait too long they won’t get anything for him.
Sounds like – albeit to a much lesser degree – Toronto and Robertson.
And Rangers wing problem over they last year+ has been their glut of natural LWs (Kreider, Panarin, Cuylle, Lafreniere, Berard, Othmann).
This forced most to play out of position as RW, including Lafreniere who is still playing RW this year and Zib moving from C to RW (prior to Troch injury). Perreault might be the only natural RW capable of playing in the top 6.
Othmann might not turn into a huge scorer, but he can be physical and I’d like to see him get a real shot as LW3 with Laba (C) and Sheary (RW).
Problem is that 2 year contract that Drury handed out to Raddysh which is a big blocker to roster and cap space for all the youth in AHL.
Othmann’s stock is pretty low right now, so probably makes sense to hold him in AHL to boost his game and trade value. If they do trade Othmann, I hope its for a true RW (and then give Berard the LW3 spot).
Foley. Perreault was LW before signing at end of last season and also being forced to right side.
Go time for the leafs?!? What they hell have they been doing for the last half a decade if not going for it lol. Green light what? Where they holding Shanny Dubas and now Treliving from making moves? I think not. What nonsense
Yeah don’t fall into the trap. “Go time” is puff material for puff pieces and to get reactions from fans and haters. It’s a game. Like as it’s never been go time for anyone, Leafs or otherwise.
George, foleyd7 and Howard, that is a problem with some of these tweeners. Guys that would excel but depend on how they are deployed, or how well they can still be succeed when playing a style the coach wants the team to buy into. I guess you can look at it as if they can be easily replaced or not but before you decide on that, you really need to know what you have in the context of your team.
I can’t speak for players on other teams, but with Robertson, the issue might lie with his physical limitations although I don’t think he’s the only one who has issues exerting physically on the team. He not a grinding, hold onto the puck type of player but a lot of players fall into that category both on the Leafs as well as in every team. But man has he got a good shot though. If he was stronger, he’d be a decent, nothing special other than his shot, 2nd liner with minor and will likely improve with time defense or a good scoring, speedy checker 3rd liner on any team. Right now, he hasn’t shown to be either with any consistency.
For me, everyone can be upgraded on a team and GMs ought to bring in talent that supplants someone who is weaker where they play now and push that player down the lineup where he can excel. So maybe with the way Berube has this team set up, Robertson either has to excel at being that role he is in now or else there won’t be a fit for him lower in the line up. I suspect that to be the case with many of these player types. Unfortunate because I’m sure in all cases, there’s a really good and useful player there but is it what you need right now?
Tough getting a top 6 without adding a first.
Rangers fans
Looking to move Othmann??
How about 2 vets for one youngster
Kevin Hayes and Accairi
LOL
Kidding aside
What’s the ask (if from Pens)?
8787
I can see a Pens Rangers trade at some point. NY has a few prospects that your new coach has familiarity with, either as asst coach here or his time with USNTDP. As of today, my top choice would be Rakell. Starting with Othmann and including Soucy for cap purposes, what would NY need to add. I’d throw in Terrance, who is a 1 player that played for Muse
That could potentially be a very good trade for the Penns……….
Big fan of Soucy’s but he’s injured , over 30, and a Lefty (we need Pickering up so Soucy in means a Leftie must come back)
Would rather send Rusty than Rakell (year younger and his playing style and size and history leads me to believe he’s likely to miss less games [than Rusty] due to injury
Counter proposal:
Option 1:
Rust (30% retained) + 3rd (‘27)
for Othmann and top 10 protected 1st (‘26– Rangers have their own AND Canes)
Option 2:
Rust (50% retained) + Accairi + 3rd (‘27)
for Othmann and top 10 protected 1st (‘26– Rangers have their own AND Canes)
Option 3:
Rust (50% retained) + Hayes (50% retained) + Accairi
for Othmann and top 10 protected 1st (‘26– Rangers have their own AND Canes)
Option 4:
Rust (50% retained) + Clifton + Jones
for Othmann and Soucy and top 10 protected 1st (‘26– Rangers have their own AND Canes)
8787
No interest in players you’re offering. Soucy is on expiring contract and would need to be included to help with cap hits. I don’t see Pens retaining on players with term. Rakell would be only player I’d want (besides Crosby). Has a history playing internat’l with Zibanejad.
Rakell (25% retained) and NY’s 2027 2nd rd pick to Rangers.
To Pitt: NY 2026 1st rd pick. Top 3 protected. 3rd rd pick,
Othmann, Soucy, Terrance.
Re “ I don’t see Pens retaining on players with term. “
I’m sadly getting to believe that
Against all logic, Dubas has seemed to steer clear of yhat
Retention absolutely increases the return (more potential buyers; and more value to final bidder)
Pens should have unloaded. one of the 3 (EK, Rusty, Rakell) this summer
Dubas asked too much in return and seemed intent in trying to trade without retention
Pens don’t need the Cap space at all for the next frw years. They are rebuilding so need youth and futures.
In essence a retention trade “buys” youth and futures
Not Rocket Science here
Re your trade ; you are close to a WIN WIN trade
Your proposal:
“ Rakell (25% retained) and NY’s 2027 2nd rd pick to Rangers.
To Pitt: NY 2026 1st rd pick. Top 3 protected. 3rd rd pick,
Othmann, Soucy, Terrance.
Accepted except for 3 “tweaks”
—retention increased to 50% (saving [compared to your offer] Rangers an extra $1.25 M in Cap
—Rust instead of Rackell
—Accairi and/or Kevin Hayes (40% retained) a MUST in going to Rangers. NOTE : Accairi on Rangers and buried is $850 K on Cap and more than covered by extra retention savings above). Similarily; Hayes with 40% retained and buried counts $1 M to Rangers’ cap (again more than covered by the extra retention above)
Rangers can bury Hayes or Accairi; but Dubas literally refuses to bury them; so they are now taking up very valuable youth spots on Pens
Both my counter-counter offers have Rangers gaining net Cap space from your offer ; the only difference then is Rust not Rackell
They should delay talks with Markstom with him starting out the season at .845 SA.
Definitely cool the extention talks with Markstrom, considering he’s once again injured as well.
The injury would be of more concern than his record so far, given that these goalies are also expected to be a lot better that their marks to date
Vasilevski 4:08gaa 0.870 save %
Wolf 3.77gaa 0.873gaa
Ullmark 3.72gaa 0.862gaa
Hellebuyck 3.02gaa 0.895gaa
Hill 3.60gaa 0.860gaa
Lankinen 4.09gaa 0.866gaa
On Marek’s The Sheet podcast on Friday, fellow insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on the latest doings around the Western New York native, Tuch, and the Sabres.
“They’ve actually pressed the pause button for the time being and put negotiations on the back burner to concentrate on what’s going on with this team. There’s a lot of concern in Buffalo.”
“I’ve talked to a few teams in the last 24 hours, that think it’s not just a $10M AAV for (Tuch) to stay, you’re probably looking at north of $11M, and maybe closer to $12M. ”
Wow! That is $2-3M more than he should get! Just wait for Kempe’s and Necas’s ask!!!