NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2025

by | Aug 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2025

Check out the latest on Marco Rossi and Mason McTavish in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: cited a report by Michael Russo of The Athletic claiming there’s been “significant progress” toward a potential new contract for Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old Minnesota Wild center is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

Russo speculates an agreement between Rossi and the Wild could be announced in the coming days. He believes it will be a bridge contract.

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited two NHL sources claiming the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken recently revisited their interest in Rossi to see where things stand in his contract talks with the Wild.

Neither source provided specifics as to the Wild’s asking price for Rossi. Both suggested one target could be Kraken winger Jared McCann, who is entering the fourth year of a five-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s been the subject of trade speculation since last season. It was reported that his camp sought a long-term deal between $6 million and $7 million annually, while the Wild reportedly weren’t willing to go much higher than $5 million on a short-term deal.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin never ruled out trading Rossi, but he consistently stated his preference is to sign the young center. Based on Russo’s report, the latter is more likely to happen.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Anaheim Ducks want to re-sign Mason McTavish. Like Rossi, the 22-year-old center is a restricted free agent coming off his ELC and has been the subject of growing trade speculation this summer.

Stephens claims the Ducks intend to keep McTavish, seeing him as an important part of their lineup. He indicated the two sides have gone back and forth on short and long-term proposals. The Ducks may not wish to go to the maximum eight-year deal, but they’re not just looking at a bridge deal.

There’s been lots of speculation about which teams need a second-line center and possible trade destinations for McTavish. Stephens believes teams have asked Ducks GM Verbeek about him.

“You know who else needs a second-line center? Anaheim,” replied Stephens. “And it has one that’s 22 and on the rise with a strong finishing kick to last season.” He believes Verbeek sees McTavish as a core player more than he did former Ducks Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first report I’ve seen this summer from a Ducks beat writer on the status of McTavish’s contract negotiations. All the trade speculation about the young center has come from pundits in other NHL cities.

Stephens pointed out that Verbeek has a reputation as a tough negotiator, which would explain why this situation hasn’t been resolved yet. He also noted that there is still plenty of time for the two sides to get a deal done before training camp opens in mid-September.

We haven’t heard anything from the McTavish camp yet, but that could be because they’d prefer not to discuss those negotiations with the media.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 22, 2025

by | Aug 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 22, 2025

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has high expectations for the coming season, Stars winger Mikko Rantanen could face a fine in his native Finland, the Blackhawks sign Frank Nazar to a lucrative contract extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki acknowledges his rebuilding club faces higher expectations after reaching the playoffs for the first time in four years last season.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

“We all want the same goal at the end of the day – we want to be challenging for the Stanley Cup. So I think from now on, that’s pretty much going to be our goal,” said Suzuki.

The Canadiens captain said his teammates had higher expectations heading into last season than management, the media, and fans.

As captain, Suzuki has set an example by living in Montreal year-round. He and his wife have become part of the community and are involved in several local charities. It is also a big reason why a growing number of his teammates are spending more of their offseason time in the city.

FULL PRESS MEDIA: Jim Biringer believes Suzuki has silenced any lingering doubt about his ability as an elite NHL player. He has steadily improved during his career, establishing himself as the Canadiens’ first-line center. Suzuki also put the club on his back last season, playing a major role in their surge down the stretch to clinch a playoff berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans have known for years what Suzuki was capable of. His consistent improvement was overshadowed by the club’s struggles during the difficult seasons of their rebuild process. He garnered more recognition around the rest of the league when he reached a career-high 89 points last season.

Suzuki has risen to the challenge as captain of the Canadiens. Whatever the result of their rebuild, he will remain their leader and their best all-around forward.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars winger Mikko Rantanen could face a hefty fine for missing mandatory military service in his native Finland.

While a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, Rantanen was supposed to arrive for military service on Apr. 15. However, the Avalanche’s season hadn’t ended yet. He applied to change the start date for his mandatory service, which was approved two days later, but the Finnish military still considers him guilty of an unauthorized absence.

The penalty is a fine of 10 to 15 days’ salary, which at the time would’ve been 85,000 euros or $ 99,000 in US dollars.

Every Finnish man over the age of 18 is required to serve in the military. Rantanen’s teammate, center Roope Hintz, was exempt from his service due to his professional hockey career and a previous injury that prevented him from serving.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen has denied any wrongdoing. His case will be heard in a Finnish court soon.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed forward Frank Nazar to a seven-year, $46.1 million contract extension. His new $6.59 million average annual value will begin in 2026-27 following the completion of his entry-level deal.

Nazar, 21, steadily improved after being called up last December. He also had an impressive performance in the 2025 World Championship, tallying six goals and 12 points to help Team USA win the gold medal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant raise for Nazar, who showed promise during his first full NHL campaign with 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games last season. It’s a bit of a gamble inking him to this lucrative deal before he’s fully developed, but this contract could become a significant bargain if he reaches his full potential.

DNVR AVALANCHE: Logan O’Connor’s recovery from hip surgery has gone well, and the outlook is a positive one. The procedure was not as extensive as expected. He should miss between 10-16 games at the start of this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 29-year-old Avalanche winger underwent surgery in June and was projected to be sidelined for five to six months.

TSN: The Crown has decided not to appeal the acquittals of five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team. Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote had each been charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The five were NHL players when the charges were laid. The league issued a statement following the verdict that it still found their actions “unacceptable”. Those five remain ineligible to play in the NHL pending a review of the case by the league.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2025

by | Aug 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 21, 2025

Suggested trade destinations for Ducks center Mason McTavish, and an update on free-agent forward Jack Roslovic in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently suggested six trade destinations for Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old center is a restricted free agent and a frequent subject of trade speculation.

Dixon noted that McTavish’s contract negotiations with the Ducks could drag into October before an agreement is reached on a new deal. The same thing happened to Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in 2023, but both players were later traded.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)

The Ducks’ depth at center has also stoked the McTavish trade conjecture. It could make them the rare club that would consider moving a promising young center for the right return.

Dixon listed the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Philadelphia Flyers as potential landing spots for McTavish.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has a long friendship and work relationship with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman going back to their playing days. Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka might interest Verbeek if Yzerman is willing to part with him.

The Hurricanes still have around $10 million in cap space and a willingness to make bold moves. However, they could find it difficult to scrape together a suitable trade package.

McTavish could address the Canucks’ need for a reliable, healthy second-line center. They have pieces they could ship out, but cap space would be an issue.

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson might be enticing for the Ducks, provided they’re not on his six-team no-trade list, and he is willing to sign an extension.

Dixon wondered if the Canadiens would part with a projected top-four defenseman like David Reinbacher to bring in McTavish to address their second-line center issue. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Flyers have a recent trade history with the Ducks, having acquired Drysdale and Zegras from Anaheim.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The silence from the Ducks and the McTavish camp regarding the status of their contract talks is fueling trade rumors at a time when there’s little real hockey news. Some observers interpret their silence as a sign that those negotiations are contentious, but it could also be that they’re unwilling to negotiate through the media.

Whatever the reason, the McTavish speculation isn’t going away.

As for the teams on Dixon’s list, the Canadiens, Red Wings, and Flyers could have a better chance at acquiring McTavish, but that depends on their willingness to part with one of their top prospects. The Canadiens are reportedly unwilling to move Reinbacher or young center Michael Hage, which would take them out of the running unless Verbeek lowers his asking price.

The Ducks are hoping to become a playoff contender this season. Verbeek may be reluctant to accept a return of draft picks and prospects unless a promising NHL player is included in the deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance reports the Vancouver Canucks might be cooling off on their rumored pursuit of free-agent forward Jack Roslovic.

Drance noted the Canucks were considering their options on what remained in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market, but they didn’t view those players as the answer to their significant needs at center.

The Canucks believe a healthy Filip Chytil and the late-season emergence of Aatu Raty could give them enough at center to maintain control of the situation in the short term without turning to what’s left in free agency.

Drance claims the Canucks are still in the market for a center, but the trade market is the more likely route to address that need.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2025

by | Aug 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 21, 2025

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews addresses Mitch Marner’s departure, Stuart Skinner believes the Oilers will bounce back more quickly from their Stanley Cup Final loss this time, Patrik Laine hopes to stay in Montreal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews admits that he and his teammates will miss Mitch Marner, who departed for the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade situation on June 30.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

“We’ll miss him,” Matthews said. “He’s a great friend, great teammate. That’s kind of the business side of it that’s tough, but obviously I wish him nothing but the best. We’ll just keep it moving.”

Matthews missed 15 games last season with an undisclosed injury. He said that his health was good and he will be at “100 percent” for the start of the 2025-26 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lot of Leafs fans won’t miss Marner, who became their whipping boy for the club’s poor postseason record over the last nine seasons. However, his departure leaves them thin on right wing. Beyond William Nylander, the level of talent drops significantly.

The addition of playmaker Matias Maccelli should offset some of the missing offense if he regains his 57-point form of 2023-24, but he won’t fully replace Marner’s two-way skills.

THE SCORE: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner believes his club will rebound more quickly from losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers than they did in 2024.

“Going through it the second time, which is obviously devastating, but being able to say you went through this does actually help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could find it a more difficult challenge staging a third straight run to the Cup Final. They still haven’t addressed their inconsistent goaltending, and their limited cap space could make it harder to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.

TVA SPORTS: Patrik Laine would love to remain with the Montreal Canadiens beyond this season. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

“Yes, of course,” Laine told Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports. “I don’t think I need to say more. Yes, I would love to be here.”

Laine spent most of the offseason training in Montreal. He believes the Canadiens are on the right track and expects they’ll be even better this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine’s future in Montreal depends on his performance this season. He struggled through an injury-shortened campaign in 2024-25, but finished with 20 goals in 52 games, drawing praise from Canadiens management for helping them qualify for the playoffs.

Laine recently said that he’s fully healthy approaching training camp. He could have a productive year if his good health carries over into this season, which would improve his chances of getting a contract extension.

RG.ORG: Sergei Fedorov said he felt “a flood of emotions” after being informed that the Detroit Red Wings will retire his No. 91 in January as part of their centennial season celebrations. The ceremony will be held at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Jan. 12, 2026.

Fedorov spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with Detroit before departing as a free agent in 2003. “I was always a Red Wing,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fedorov’s relationship with Red Wings management was never the same following a messy contract holdout in 1997-98. His departure in 2003 left some bad feelings among Wings fans. However, Fedorov has been received more warmly by the organization and the fans in recent years, especially after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Connor Ingram has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to return to the Utah Mammoth. The 28-year-old goaltender entered the program on March 9 to deal with mental health issues.

SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes announced that Jesper Fast will rejoin the organization as a development coach. He announced his retirement in June after missing last season recovering from neck surgery.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators signed forward Brady Martin to a three-year entry-level contract. Martin, 18, was chosen fifth overall in this year’s draft by the Predators.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 20, 2025

by | Aug 20, 2025

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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 20, 2025

by | Aug 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 20, 2025

The 2025 preseason schedule was released, the Red Wings will retire Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91, USA Hockey lists the 44 players invited to their 2026 Winter Olympics orientation camp, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league announced its 2026-26 preseason schedule. The 15-day, 104-game slate begins on Saturday, Sept. 20, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Click the link above for the complete preseason schedule.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings will retire Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 as part of their centennial season celebrations. The ceremony will take place on Jan. 12, 2026, before Detroit’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.

Hall-of-Famer Sergei Fedorov. (NHL.com).

Red Wings governor and CEO Chris Ilitch released a statement on Tuesday announcing the club’s plan to honor Fedorov, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. “His exceptional skill, relentless drive, and last impact, playing a pivotal role in bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit, make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise’s most prestigious honor.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fedorov was among the greatest players in Red Wings history, spending 13 of his 18 NHL seasons in Detroit from 1990-91 to 2002-03. He won the Selke Trophy twice and is the last Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.

Fedorov sits fourth among the Red Wings’ franchise leaders with 400 goals. He’s also sixth with 954 points and seventh with 554 assists.

Interestingly, the Wings chose a home game against Carolina to honor Fedorov. As a restricted free agent in 1997, he staged a contract holdout before signing with the Hurricanes in 1998, a deal that the Wings were forced to match. This changed the relationship between the gifted two-way forward and Wings management, ultimately leading to his departure as an unrestricted free agent in 2003.

USA HOCKEY: Unveiled the 44 players who will attend their 2026 Winter Olympics orientation camp.

The notable stars include goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman, defensemen Quinn and Luke Hughes, Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber, Adam Fox and Jake Sanderson, and forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Patrick Kane, J.T. Miller, Clayton Keller, Tage Thompson and Cole Caufield.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the complete list. Like Canada’s orientation camp, most of the USA players who participated in February’s 4 Nations Face Off are part of this camp and will likely be part of their Olympic roster.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: The Blues have signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Lucic, 37, has not played in the NHL since Oct. 2023 with the Boston Bruins. He played only four games that season until he was sidelined by an ankle injury and placed on indefinite leave following a charge of assault and battery against a family member. The charge was dropped when his wife declined to testify against him.

A rugged power forward with the Bruins earlier in his career, Lucic was seeing fourth-line minutes during his last full season in 2022-23 with the Calgary Flames. He hasn’t had more than 23 points in a season since 2017-18.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford pointed out that Lucic will be jockeying for a roster spot with Mathieu Joseph (28 years old) and Alexandre Texier (25), who are considerably younger and faster. If he plays well enough but fails to earn a roster spot with the Blues, he could draw the interest of another NHL team.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: cited PuckPedia indicating the Avalanche could sign unrestricted free agent forward Victor Olofsson to a one-year contract. The deal has not been officially announced.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Olofsson scored 20-or-more goals three times in six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres from 2018-19 to 2023-24. He had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets have signed Brendan Smith to a PTO contract. A 14-season NHL veteran, the 36-year-old defenseman played a depth role with the Dallas Stars last season, collecting six points in 32 games.