NHL Rumor Mill – October 2, 2025

by | Oct 2, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 2, 2025

The latest Penguins speculation, possible moves by the Devils after re-signing Luke Hughes, and the latest on Carter Hart in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli suggested the Florida Panthers as a trade destination for Evgeni Malkin if the long-time Pittsburgh Penguins center is willing to move by the March trade deadline.

Malkin, 39, is in the final season of his contract and has a full no-movement clause. Seravalli noted that the Panthers are among the league’s most successful teams, and Malkin makes his offseason home in the Miami area.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he intends to wait until the Olympic break in February before talking with Malkin about his future. That will depend on his performance this season.

The Panthers are taking a wait-and-see approach regarding how they’ll replace sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov. They could have younger trade options in mind.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Dubas isn’t against moving veterans like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson.

Some observers felt that may have changed based on recent comments made by Sidney Crosby’s agent, suggesting his client wouldn’t be happy if Rust and Rakell were moved. However, Yohe felt that Dubas would pull the trigger if he received a significant offer that made sense for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So far, the Penguins haven’t received any offers that would tempt Dubas to move any of those players. That could change over the course of the upcoming regular season.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DEVILS AFTER RE-SIGNING LUKE HUGHES?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols looked at the short and long-term questions facing the Devils in the wake of their re-signing defenseman Luke Hughes on Wednesday.

Hughes, 22, inked a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $9 million. That AAV ties him with fellow blueliner Dougie Hamilton as the highest on the team this season.

The Devils are nearly $4 million over the $95.5 million salary cap ($3.983 million) and must become cap-compliant when their regular-season schedule begins next week.

One option is placing sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and his $4 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). They could also put forward Stefan Noesen ($2.75 million) on LTIR for additional cap flexibility. However, the Devils will have to free up cap room when they’re ready to return to action.

Nichols also wondered about Hamilton’s future, pointing to trade speculation that surfaced during the offseason. He recently said that he loves being with the Devils and wants to help them win the Stanley Cup. However, his full no-trade protection has been downgraded to a 10-team trade list.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Chris Johnston also wondered about Hamilton’s future with the Devils in the aftermath of Hughes signing his new contract. They don’t need to trade him now, but could reach the point where they no longer need to carry two $9 million AAV defensemen, especially when only one can run the power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton is signed through 2027-28, and his cap hit could be difficult to move despite the rising salary cap. Having a 10-team trade list significantly narrows the number of potential trade partners. His age (32), performance, and injury history are other factors that could hurt his trade value.

CARTER HART COULD JOIN THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports it is “almost certain” that Carter Hart will be signing with the Vegas Golden Knights. He believes the former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender is close to signing a contract with them.

Hart is among the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in London, Ontario, in 2018. They are now eligible to sign NHL contracts, effective Oct. 15, and can participate in games once their league suspensions expire on Dec. 1.

Johnston also noted recent reports suggesting forward Michael McLeod could sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, a league source claimed that’s no longer certain given the pushback the organization has received since word of their interest leaked to the media.










Devils Sign Luke Hughes to a Seven-Year Contract

by | Oct 1, 2025

Devils Sign Luke Hughes to a Seven-Year Contract

The New Jersey Devils and defenseman Luke Hughes agreed to a seven-year, $63 million contract.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes, 22, will earn an average annual value of $9 million, tying him with fellow blueliner Dougie Hamilton for the highest AAV on the Devils. PuckPedia indicates that the deal also includes a 10-team no-trade list in the final two years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is getting a substantial raise. He’s coming off his entry-level contract with an AAV of $925K.

A skilled puck-moving defenseman, Hughes was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2023-24. He’s missed most of their training camp and could struggle through the early weeks of this season as he tries to get back into game shape.

Nevertheless, the Devils see him as their future No.1 blueliner. If he does well in that role, his annual cap hit could turn into a bargain over the long term.

Hughes’ new contract pushes the Devils above the $95.5 million salary cap by over $3.9 million. In the short term, they can offset that by placing sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and his $4 million AAV on long-term injury reserve to start the season. Forward Stefen Noesen ($2.75 million) could also end up on LTIR.

Kovacevic and Noesen aren’t expected to be out for the season. That means the Devils will have to free up cap room when they return.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

How will Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract affect the free-agent market? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KAPRIZOV’S NEW CONTRACT WILL BE FELT IN THIS SUMMER’S UFA MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston doesn’t believe Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract with the Minnesota Wild will have any effect on Connor McDavid’s negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you missed it, Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Wild. The average annual value is $17 million, and comes with a full no-movement clause throughout.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Johnston believes McDavid isn’t seeking an eight-year deal. If he and the Oilers reach an agreement, it’ll be on a shorter term of two, three, or four years. The Oilers also need some cap flexibility to maintain a winning roster around McDavid.

Pierre LeBrun agrees with Johnston, but noted that Kaprizov’s new deal will affect other players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They include Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas.

Darren Dreger adds Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor to that list. He reports the two sides continue to negotiate, but it has to be a deal that makes sense for both sides.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski believes Kaprizov’s contract leaves McDavid with a tough decision to make.

Does he accept a short-term deal and watch his salary increase with the cap, knowing the injury risks? Or does he take the security of an eight-year deal with a guaranteed $144 million if he pursues the maximum AAV of $20.8 million?

Assuming McDavid agrees to slightly less on his AAV of around $18 million, it still bites deeply into the Oilers’ salary-cap payroll, making it difficult for them to maintain a Stanley Cup contender.

Tychkowski’s colleague, Jim Matheson, doesn’t see McDavid agreeing to the same AAV as Kirill Kaprizov. He believes the Oilers captain could give his club a discount of $18 million annually for two or three years.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t believe the Oilers can afford to go higher than $17 million annually for McDavid, partly because of the expensive contracts of teammates Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV) and Evan Bouchard ($10.5 million). McDavid also wants tangible proof that the Oilers intend to maintain a winning roster over the next several years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he thinks the AAV on McDavid’s next contract will be much lower than people think. How much lower, and for how long, remains to be seen.

If McDavid seeks top dollar, there are only a handful of teams with the cap space who can also be considered Stanley Cup contenders. They are the Dallas Stars (depending on what happens with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley) and New York Rangers (if they can regain their 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy form).

McDavid could join the Toronto Maple Leafs with the intention of leading them to the Stanley Cup. However, that signing would maintain their status as a team top-heavy with star forwards lacking the necessary depth to go deep in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning could be another destination, but McDavid would have a short window with them to win the Cup with their aging roster.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell weighed in on how Kaprizov’s contract might affect Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights.

She cited insiders like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, TSN’s Chris Johnston, and Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli speculating that Eichel’s AAV on his next deal will be between $13 million and $14 million.

That’s a lot of money, but it would only be between 12.5 and 13.46 percent of the $104 million salary cap for 2026-27. Eichel could seek $15 million, and the Golden Knights would probably pay him, but Kirkell believes he’ll come in at around $13.5 million.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli was asked how the Kaprizov contract will affect Martin Necas’ negotiation with the Colorado Avalanche.

Seravalli dismissed rumors suggesting Necas won’t re-sign with Colorado. He believes that Kaprizov’s new deal will push Necas’ asking price higher than the Avalanche would be comfortable with, especially if he has another point-per-game season. His asking price could be north of $10 million annually.

THE LATEST ON THE OILERS

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell wonders if the Edmonton Oilers will make a trade before the regular season begins.

Goaltending depth, the third line right-wing position, and the third-line center position are areas of concern this season.

Mitchell suggested Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth as trade options, pointing out the latter might make sense now that he’s cleared waivers and is in the minors. Free-agent center Evgeny Kuznetsov hopes to return to the NHL, but the Oilers aren’t believed to be linked to him.

Possible trade bait for the Oilers includes defenseman Ty Emberson or Troy Stecher.

SPORTSNET’s Mark Spector believes Chicago Blackhawks winger Lukas Reichel could draw interest from the Oilers. GM Stan Bowman drafted him in Chicago, and the Oilers need to get younger. Spector suggests a fresh start with a new club might help Reichel get his career back on track.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli reported the Blackhawks’ asking price could be a mid-to-late-round draft pick. The Oilers have two fifth-rounders in the 2027 draft.

PREDATORS RISK LOSING ANOTHER YOUNG FORWARD

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty believes the Nashville Predators’ contract standoff with RFA winger Luke Evangelista is a bad look for the franchise.

The two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement. A short-term contract is more likely, but they remain divided on salary.

Evangelista trends as a middle-six forward who can average a steady 15-20 goals per season. Daugherty believes the Predators aren’t in any position to treat young, offensive forwards with such hesitancy, given their lack of depth in their pipeline and among those who are NHL-ready.

Daugherty fears that Evangelista could follow the path of former Predators forwards like Kevin Fiala, Eeli Tolvanen, and Philip Tomasino, who moved on via trades or waivers.










Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Extension

by | Sep 30, 2025

Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Extension

The Minnesota Wild and winger Kirill Kaprizov have agreed to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

It’s a record-setting contract, making the 28-year-old Kaprizov the NHL’s highest-paid player with an average annual value of $17 million.

PuckPedia indicated that Kaprizov has a full no-movement clause throughout the contract, which begins in 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This shouldn’t be surprising. The Wild had no intention of losing their franchise player and the most exciting forward they’ve ever had.

Losing Kaprizov to free agency next summer, or being forced to move him at the March trade deadline if unable to re-sign him by then, would’ve been a huge setback to their hopes of becoming a Stanley Cup contender.

A proven scorer, Kaprizov tallied a career-best 47 goals and 61 assists for 108 points in 2021-22, which is the Wild single-season record. He also tallied 46 goals and 96 points in 2023-24.

Kaprizov’s injury history is a concern, missing 25 games in 2022-23 and 41 games last season. He’ll be 29 when this extension begins, and it’s unlikely this contract will age well during its latter four years.

Nevertheless, when healthy, Kaprizov is the engine that drives the Wild’s offense. Without him, their path toward Stanley Cup contention would be a more difficult one.

It will be interesting to see how Kaprizov’s new contract affects the free-agent market. It’s unlikely that he’ll be the highest-paid player for long, as that honor could go to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, regardless of where he ends up on July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 30, 2025

by | Sep 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 30, 2025

The latest on the Panthers, an update on Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov, the Blackhawks are shopping winger Lukas Reichel, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Florida Panthers will have ample salary-cap flexibility once they place sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on long-term injury reserve to start this season. He expects they’ll look at every option to replace Barkov between now and the March 6 trade deadline.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Barkov underwent knee surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months. The earliest he could return to action is late April.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito is known for his aggressive moves. “You do your projections, and so that just continues,” Zito said. “And if there’s something that we think makes us better as a team, we’ll do it. And if not, we don’t. It’s really no different.”

If Barkov returns sooner than expected, the new postseason salary cap means the Panthers can’t use up his entire $10 million cap hit and then bring him back after the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zito and his staff understand they won’t find anyone available who can suitably replace a leader and three-time Selke Trophy winner like Barkov. Nevertheless, they have a proven record over the last five years for making acquisitions that bolster their club. Even with the new postseason cap constraints, they could land someone who helps their chances for a Stanley Cup three-peat.

UPDATE ON BLUE JACKETS FORWARD YEGOR CHINAKHOV

THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline reported on “X” that Yegor Chinakhov skated on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ fourth line the last two days, and he hadn’t been part of their power-play practices.

The 24-year-old forward refused to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, head coach Dean Evason said they are still evaluating their forward line, noting that Chinakhov worked hard and did the right things during his three preseason games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chinakhov requested a trade through his agent in July, citing “misunderstandings” with Evason. He seemed happy with how things were going with the club after speaking with Evason on the eve of training camp, but he hasn’t rescinded his request.

BLACKHAWKS SHOPPING LUKAS REICHEL

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports the Chicago Blackhawks explored trading Lukas Reichel during the offseason. In the last few days, they’ve let teams know that the 23-year-old winger is available.

Powers believes it’s anyone’s guess where Reichel starts this season. He could be traded, claimed off waivers by another club, demoted to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, or start the season on their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks chose Reichel in the first round (17th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was expected to become a scoring winger, but has struggled to meet expectations. With younger players already in the lineup and others within the Blackhawks’ prospect pool pushing for NHL jobs, Reichel could be running out of time to establish himself.

Earlier this month, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reichel believed that he was going to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers at one point during this summer. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes they could move the young forward, who might welcome the change.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said there will be teams looking at the waiver wire for goaltending depth.

Friedman observed that Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Clay Stevenson of the Washington Capitals could hit the waiver wire this week. He said he’s “really curious” to see if they pass through waivers or get traded beforehand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DiPietro is expected to be the starting goalie for the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, while Stevenson is supposed to fill the starter’s job for the Capitals’ AHL team in Hershey. Neither player is waiver-exempt this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 29, 2025

by | Sep 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 29, 2025

More Connor McDavid contract speculation, the latest on Evgeni Malkin, a report on the Devils contract talks with Jacob Markstrom, an update on Evgeny Kuznetsov, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD CONNOR MCDAVID’S NEXT CONTRACT BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN EXPECTED?

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated that Connor McDavid’s next contract could be less expensive than originally believed.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Friedman said that there was talk during the summer that the average annual value of McDavid’s next deal would be $16 million. “It’s gonna be lower than we thought,” he said.

“I think there are teams hoping McDavid does sign so they can say, ‘Hey, if he comes in, say for argument’s sake at $15.5 million, nobody’s getting more than Connor McDavid.’”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be surprising if McDavid’s AAV is less than $16 million. The Edmonton Oilers will be thrilled to get him signed for that amount. If it is lower than expected, it could be because he’ll be on a one or two-year extension with an eye on a substantial raise in the near future.

However, I expect that number will be between $17 million and $18 million. McDavid remains the NHL’s top player, and he’ll want to be paid accordingly.

THE LATEST EVGENI MALKIN SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski debunked “the bubbling trade rumors” that the Florida Panthers should look carefully at acquiring Penguins center Evgeni Malkin as a replacement for sidelined Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

The rumors are based on misunderstood comments made by Malkin recently when asked whether he’d consider a trade to a contender. He mentioned Brad Marchand going to the Panthers last season as a good story, but said he didn’t know how he would feel if the Penguins wanted to trade him.

Nevertheless, Kingerski wondered if Marc-Andre Fleury’s return to Pittsburgh to say goodbye on his own terms might affect Malkin’s thinking about waiving his no-movement clause. The Panthers might be a good short-term fit, but they don’t have much trade bait in terms of prospects. Kingerski believes young Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich would have to be part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin and the Penguins will let this season unfold and see how things shake out. General manager Kyle Dubas said he’d meet with the 39-year-old center during the Olympic break in February to discuss his future.

As for Malkin going to the Panthers, they could have other targets in mind besides an aging future Hall of Famer whose best seasons are behind him and whose style of play is different from Barkov’s.

EVGENY KUZNETSOV IS STILL HOPING TO SIGN WITH AN NHL TEAM

RG.ORG: Daria Tuboltseva reports Evgeny Kuznetsov hasn’t given up on his desire to return to the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers are reportedly considering the possibility of signing the 33-year-old center.

“Evgeny wants to play in the NHL,” a source told Tuboltseva. “Right now he’s waiting on Toronto’s decision, though Florida is also an option.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent reports out of Toronto claimed the Maple Leafs could move a forward because they have a logjam up front. Unless there has been a change in those plans, Kuznetsov doesn’t appear to be a fit there.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are reportedly looking within their ranks to offset Barkov’s absence for now. They could consider making additions later in the season, but it could take months before they reach that point.

LATEST ON JACOB MARKSTROM’S CONTRACT TALKS WITH THE DEVILS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited a report by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes claiming the Devils offered goaltender Jacob Markstrom an extension with an AAV of around $5 million. It’s unknown what the term would be, or if Markstrom rejected the offer.

Markstrom, 35, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s in the final season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $6 million.

THE LATEST ON THE FLAMES

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports the Calgary Flames are still determining whether Devin Cooley or Ivan Prosvetov will become their backup goaltender this season.

One of them will end up on waivers before being sent to their AHL affiliate. It’s doubtful they would clear, as several teams have expressed an interest in Cooley, and a handful were bidding to sign Prosvetov before he joined the Flames.