NHL Rumor Mill – October 23, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at the latest on Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Flyers winger Owen Tippett, plus the difficulty facing the Canucks in finding a second-line center.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald downplayed the effect of defenseman Luke Hughes’ new contract on blueliner Dougie Hamilton’s future with the club.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).
Hughes recently signed a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. With the rising salary cap, it’s not a big deal to have two defensemen earning $9 million annually. However, there is only one top power-play unit on a team, and both Hughes and Hamilton are suited for it.
LeBrun noted that NHL clubs are keeping a close eye on this situation in case Hamilton becomes available. He carries a 10-team trade list in his contract through 2027-28.
Fitzgerald pointed out that the Devils are running a power play where the strategy is based on the opposing team’s penalty kill, adding that Hughes and Hamilton play different styles. He also said that Hamilton is on a long-term contract and insisted that Hughes’ contract had nothing with the other Devils defensemen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils are riding high in the standings right now. If they remain there throughout the season, they will have no reason to part with Hamilton. However, if things get rocky and they start tumbling down the standings, Hamilton’s name could resurface in the rumor mill.
Some have pointed to rumors suggesting Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes would like to one day join his brothers in New Jersey. For that to happen means shopping Hamilton to free up the cap space.
For now, there is no indication that such a move will take place. The earliest that it could be would be next summer, depending on how things shake out for Quinn in Vancouver.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma pointed out the difficulty the Vancouver Canucks face in finding a suitable second-line center if Filip Chytil remains sidelined for a lengthy period.
He believes Canucks GM Patrik Allvin will have to get creative to address the issue. That could mean parting with a good prospect and draft picks because that’s what it would take to swing a suitable deal.
The Canucks were linked to Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi and Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish during the summer. However, the duo re-signed with their respective clubs.
Kuzma pointed out that the struggling Calgary Flames need to do something. He wondered if the Canucks should pursue Flames captain Mikael Backlund. The 36-year-old center is struggling offensively this season, but he’s strong in the faceoff circle and is capable of more on a better team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are among several clubs that were in the market for a second-line center this summer. However, there were no suitable options available then, and none are now. By the time the market for centers improves, it could be too late to save the Canucks’ season.
Backlund is unlikely to be available if the Canucks were interested in him. He’s in the final season of his current contract with a full no-movement clause. He signed a two-year extension in September with the intention of finishing his career with the Flames.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman telling the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast that he doesn’t see the Flyers shopping Owen Tippett.
The 26-year-old Flyers winger was the recent subject of trade speculation as some observers suggested he could be a trade chip to address other roster needs. However, Friedman hasn’t heard Tippett’s name out there in the trade market, adding that he’s a player the Flyers aren’t really looking to move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett is under contract through 2031-32 and is off to a sizzling start with a team-leading five goals in six games. He’s not going anywhere.
This summer the hot item was 2C, teams needed them and few were available, big numbers were tossed around.
The Habs still don’t have a “real” 2C but are rolling along just fine anchored by a RW, Demidov instead of the centre.
We’re used to the traditional centre being the set-up man for the wings and forget that other positions can fill the role.
The #2 center doesn’t just set up the Wings. He’s looked at to win big draws and neutralize opposing forwards. Demidov has played well as has Bolduc but they’d both be better with a true top 6 center.
Vancouver’s real difficulty in finding a second line center, as HabFan points out, is that there are few available even at the best of times and too many teams in need. Right now there’s simply no one available.
Agreed, Howard. Kapanen and Bolduc aren’t going to continue at their current pace and if Suzuki’s line isn’t on there isn’t another one with consistency.
As I feared, Dach truly is made of glass and isn’t the solution. Watch for a trade late in the year or in the off season.
With Coronato, Zary, Bahl, and Wolf the Flames have a good thing going. Parekh is also looking good, but he has taken some big hits the last few games, so they better be careful with this 19 year old kid. Their biggest issue is at center, and as Vancouver is finding out top 2 centers are very hard to find. If they by chance do get the 1st pick this coming up draft they can’t say no to McKenna (who is a winger), but that still won’t fix their issue at center. IMO if they do get the 1st pick they take McKenna and then do whatever they can to get a second top 5 pick to get Tynan Lawrence. That kid looked great in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Although being an Oilers fan I hope they don’t listen to me. LOL
I’m looking forward to seeing Lawrence and McKenna play together at this year U20 WJHC.
As at now just 2 C’s ranked in top Ten on most sites (big boy Rooebeck at 4th-5th and Lawrence at 6th-7th)
They both have a strong 2 way game and Tynan Lawrence isn’t as physical as Ryan Roobroeck, but he does have some nastiness to his game. You probably couldn’t go wrong with either of them, but Lawrence’s style just seems that it will mesh with McKenna better.
Don’t know a ton about either; but chemistry/gelling is important as you have rightfully pointed out.
SOP: Here today? A few days ago you said the league was better for Bettman and invited another poster to change your mind. The owners and players are certainly wealthier. But here are some things I don’t like via Bettman:
Expansion: Utah fans may feel differently but expansion is not good. We are heading for 34 teams. The dilution of talent is clear, and no silly arguments that we will soon have an influx of talent from countries like China, Belgium and Bohemia will mitigate that. Would one rather watch the national teams that go to the Olympics, or watch Chicago play San Jose? Would you watch either of those teams if Bedard or Celebrini weren’t playing? Watching 4th liners who play 8 minutes a game is painful.
Broadcast: Yes, more games are broadcast. But we pay for them now, and even then the packages we buy are divided so you have to pay more than once: in Canada, you pay for both Center Ice and Prime if you want to watch all your teams’ games. Even then you get a regional blackout. See affordability, below.
Betting: Yes, personal choice; but bombarding ads pushing betting on young fans is self evidently problematic. Also consider the issue of integrity of the game via today’s arrests of NBA coaches and others, and Rick Tocchet’s guilty plea re gambling some years ago. Wait for the shoe to drop, it will.
Affordability: Be it tv packages, tickets or beer, the cost of hockey has grown dramatically even as league revenue from all sources has sky rocketed. Many can’t afford to see an NHL game.
CTE: The NFL has acknowledged it’s a problem. The NHL, under Bettman, refuse to do so. This may be the worst of his faults. The NFL has paid out over a billion to injured players. The NHL: nada.
That’s a quick list that should at least give some balance on the Bettman era. It ain’t all bad, but I am no fan of Bettman.
LJ, I wholeheartily agree with your complete list and I would add the following:
Competitive imbalance: The salary cap is not creating a level playing field. The no-tax states are still getting an advantage when it comes to attracting and more so retaining talent (see Florida). See also Growth Promotion Agenda below.
Growth Promotion Agenda: Bettman has focused on promoting the game in the southern US markets and I would argue to the detriment of Canada. One only needs to look at the Nordiques and Jets (who only came back due to failing support and ownership issues in Atlanta). Plus why wouldn’t Bettman promote the addition of a second team in the GTA? They could definitely support two teams. With this agenda it makes sense that the league is not trying to fix the tax issues which benefit predominantly southern US teams.
Post-season Salary Cap: The only reason why Bettman negotiated to close this loophole which allowed teams to essentially cheat the system was that it was occuring pretty much every year and was an embarassment to the league.
Expansion is fine as it is. Prefer not to see 34 let’s see what happens. More and more people are realizing how the chl agreement is more problematic than expansion. NCAA will force nhl to look at it.
Broadcast and betting. Agreed.
Affordability is based on current economic trends. Not really a bettman issue
Cte. Agreed.
Good solid points, I could add some more too it as well. Here’s one, remember that time where games were on Versus, Instead of any other major us market.
I remember a time where the skilled players like Bossy, Gretzky, and Lemieux ruled the NHL and where allowed to shine and entertain the crowed. Now the NHL is ruled by the rats like Matthew Tkachuk and Bennett who are allowed to slow the skilled players down. Guess who brought in the Instigator penalty that allowed this?
Bettman has done a great job for the NHL on the business side, but in his time the product on the ice has diminished.
KevJam: The instigator rule was not implemented by Bettman. It came into effect in 1992, before he was named NHL commissioner.
As far as “rats” go, the NHL has had its share for a long time, well before Tkachuk and Bennett came into the league. In the 1980s alone, when you remember Bossy, Gretzky, and Lemieux ruling the NHL, the notable cheapshot artists included Dave Brown, Claude Lemieux, Ulf Samuelsson, Ken Linesman, and Dale Hunter.
Sorry, I thought the instigator was one of the first things Bettman brought in when he got the job.
Yes, I know there have always been the rat players, but unlike Tkachuck and Bennett, they were never the top players on their teams.
1985/84 Claude Lemieux Canadians team was headed by Mats Naslund, Bobby Smith, Larry Robinson, and Guy Carbonneau.
1995/96 Avalanche had Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy
1999/2000 NJD had Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez, Petr Sykora, Scott Niedermayer, and Martin Brodeur.
1989/90 Dave Brown Oilers had Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, and Grant Fuhr.
1990 to 1992 Ulf Samuelsson’s Pittsburg Penguins had Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Paul Coffey, Mark Recchi, Larry Murphy, and Tom Barrasso
1984-85 Ken Linesman’s Edmonton Oilers had Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffee, and Grant Fuhr
Dale Hunter was never on a team that was good enough to win anything.
Teams back then needed the top skill players to win and the players like Dave Brown, Claude Lemieux, Ulf Samuelsson, Ken Linesman, and Dale Hunter where the support.
Today it seems like players like Barkov and Ekblad are second to Tkachuk and Bennett.
Are you serious Kevjam. Did you watch hockey in the 80s and 90s? The skill is so much higher these days, and Mathew Tkachuk and Bennet are great all-around hockey players IMO. Skilled players are protected more now than they ever were, and I feel like the sport has progressed in a positive way.
Owen, yes I did watch hockey in the 80s and 90s. I also believe that the skill level in todays hockey players is greater than it has been. But because the lesser skilled players, like Tkachuk and Bennett, are allowed to clutch and grab and use the tactics that they are allowed to use to slows them down. Because of that, they aren’t allowed to shine like the star players were back in the 80s.
The skilled players have never been more abused than they are now. Example, Oct. 11th Canucks vs. Oilers, Tyler Myers slashed McDavid in the groin and there was no penalty called even though there was a ref right there. The next day Myers did receive a fine from the NHL. That sort of thing would never of happened in the 80s. This is because Bettman’s influence on the on ice product.
If the NHL called the hooking and grabbing on the star players like the NBA calls fouls their star players, Tkachuk and Bennett would be in the penalty box more than they would be on the ice.
Somehow the diluted product continues to be bigger, faster, stronger as a result of being more diverse.
The pool of available players continues to grow as hockey is played in more countries to higher levels.
There are more stars on more teams than ever before and few if any “bums” on them like there used to be. There are way less goons and cheap shot artists in the league than ever before.
I would add that the level of hockey in the AHL has also improved over time.
Balderdash.
No other words are necessary.