Check out some of the notable names considered to be early-season trade candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli published his first Trade Targets board for 2024-25.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde, and Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen hold the top three positions, with Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Ivan Provorov and Anaheim Ducks winger Frank Vatrano rounding out the top five.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen is the only one not slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. All but Vatrano have frequently surfaced in the rumor mill recently. Vatrano did pop up in media speculation leading up to last season’s trade deadline.

All these players are skating for clubs that aren’t considered playoff contenders, making them among the most likely to be moved by the March 7 trade deadline.

It’s rumored the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are interested in Pettersson. There is no word as to which clubs are calling about the others.

Flyers winger Joel Farabee, Kraken winger Brandon Tanev, Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek, Montreal Canadiens blueliner Mike Matheson and Ducks winger Trevor Zegras fill slots six through 10 on Seravalli’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tanev is a pending UFA while Farabee has three seasons left on his contract. Jiricek, Matheson, and Zegras each have a year left on their deals. Jiricek is on an entry-level contract, Matheson will be UFA-eligible in July 2026 and Zegras is on a bridge deal and will have arbitration rights.

Farabee was occasionally mentioned as a trade candidate during the offseason. His contract (with an average annual value of $5 million) remains a sticking point.

It was thought Tanev might become available because the Kraken had a surplus of forwards. So far, however, they don’t seem to be in any rush to move one.

The emergence of promising defenseman Lane Hutson has some in Montreal suggesting Matheson could become expendable. However, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes could be reluctant to rush the 20-year-old Hutson into the No. 1 defense role this early in his career.

Jiricek was sent to the minors yesterday, sparking rumors that he could become a trade candidate. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reports Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell admitted other teams are calling about the 20-year-old defenseman and he’s willing to listen to trade offers.

However, it doesn’t appear Waddell’s in a hurry to ship out Jiricek, who still projects as a top-four, all-around defenseman. He and head coach Dean Evason want the youngster to treat the demotion as an opportunity to work his way back into the Blue Jackets lineup.

Zegras has constantly popped up in trade chatter since January. He’s offensively off to a slow start this season but his production has picked up recently. Nevertheless, his $5.75 million cap hit and one-dimensional offensive game are stumbling blocks in the path toward a trade.

Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar, Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, San Jose Sharks blueliner Mario Ferraro, Nashville Predators rearguard Alexandre Carrier, and Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier round out the remainder of Seravalli’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar and Olivier are the pending UFAs in that group. Seravalli suggested the play of rookie goalie Dustin Wolf and promising Devin Cooley in their system could make Vladar expendable. He could hit the trade block if the Flames are out of playoff contention by March 7.

Fowler spoke with Ducks management in September about his future with the club, including a trade if he helps him and the Ducks. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $6.5 million and carries a three-team trade list, though he’s said to be willing to expand it to double digits. Playoff contenders seeking more than a rental blueliner could come calling about Fowler by the trade deadline.

Ferraro and Carrier popped up at times in the rumor mill last season. With the Sharks rebuilding, Ferraro might become a trade candidate this season. Like Fowler, he’s got a year left on his contract but at a more affordable $3.25 million.

Carrier is in the first season of a three-year contract but the Predators’ stumbling performance has raised questions about the club’s direction. General manager Barry Trotz remains a buyer but that could change if his club doesn’t improve soon.

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the fallout from the Bruins coaching change, the trade market for Ducks goalie John Gibson, and Commissioner Gary Bettman weighs in on speculation about a higher-than-projected salary cap next season.

FALLOUT FROM THE BRUINS COACHING CHANGE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Boston Bruins want to give interim head coach Joe Sacco a real shot at the job. Sacco was promoted from associate coach after the club fired Jim Montgomery on Tuesday.

LeBrun said the Bruins will give Sacco a legitimate chance at being their head coach. They have no plans to conduct a search for a new bench boss and won’t reach out to any legitimate candidates at this time.

Former Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun and Chris Johnston also said that general manager Don Sweeney deserves some blame for putting the Bruins’ current roster together. They indicated there’s a feeling the players deserve their share as most haven’t played well thus far.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa looked at possible destinations for Montgomery if a new head coaching position arises. He suggested the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those clubs are struggling through their own disappointing performances thus far. There’s a sense in Montreal that the Canadiens won’t replace head coach Martin St. Louis but he could use an experienced assistant coach. Montgomery might not be interested in being anyone’s assistant unless head coaching offers dry up.

SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen included the Bruins among his list of teams that need to consider an early-season trade. The Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators were also on Boylen’s list, published before the Bruins fired Montgomery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those four clubs have frequently surfaced in the rumor mill recently. Their respective general managers are believed to be seeking help for their rosters.

The fact that the Bruins opted to replace their coach probably tells us all we need to know about the caliber of talent currently available in the trade market.

The Bruins could be in the market for a defenseman if they continue to look for a trade. Boston Hockey Now’s Andrew Fantucchio recently observed that Hampus Lindholm’s injury leaves them with a significant hole on the blueline.

THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille looked at other coaches who could be on the hot seats with their respective clubs. They include Derek Lalonde of the Detroit Red Wings, Luke Richardson of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Mike Sullivan of the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gentille listed several others but Lalonde, Richardson and Sullivan seem most in danger of losing their jobs. 

UPDATE ON JOHN GIBSON

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun looked at the market for John Gibson if the Anaheim Ducks were to retain half of the 31-year-old goaltender’s $6.4 million annual cap hit through 2026-27.

LeBrun suggested the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche as potential fits. Both teams are contenders but there are concerns about their goaltending depth.

However, LeBrun reports the Avalanche are okay sticking with their goalies because they currently don’t see any significant improvements in the trade market. He speculates it might be a different story for the Hurricanes if starter Frederik Andersen remains sidelined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have reportedly been unwilling to retain salary to move Gibson. That might change now that he has only two more seasons left on his contract after this one. The rise of young goaltender Lukas Dostal might also feel more receptive toward that notion.

NO BIG INCREASE IN THE SALARY CAP, SAYS BETTMAN

THE SCORE: Josh Gold-Smith reports NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed recent rumors suggesting the league and the NHL Players Association could agree to raise the salary cap for next season well beyond original projections.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman raised eyebrows over the weekend when he reported the two sides would discuss increasing the cap between $7 million and $8 million instead of the originally projected $4.4 million.

“I don’t know where that came from,” said Bettman. “The numbers that were being thrown around were not accurate, and any change would require an agreement between us (the league) and the players’ association in terms of how it’s computed, and we haven’t had those discussions. So somebody, I think, floated something on a slow news day.”

The standard raise to the cap is five percent which would see it rise from $88 million this season to $92.4 million for 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman didn’t rule out the possibility that it could be higher but it sounds like it won’t be near what Friedman suggested.