NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2024

by | Nov 25, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2024

The latest on the Penguins plus updates on David Jiricek and Kevin Shattenkirk in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes the fate of Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan rests with general manager Kyle Dubas. He wondered how poorly the club has to play before Dubas fires Sullivan but felt the GM and the team ownership would view that move as a last resort.

Yohe and Harman Dayal recently pondered whether Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson would be a good fit with the Vancouver Canucks, who need to improve their second defense pairing.

Pettersson would be an improvement but that doesn’t mean he’d be a perfect fit or the best bang for the buck. It might be useful to see what’s available the closer the season gets to the March 7 trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski believes it’s time for the Penguins to make a coaching change or a major roster move. He believes something has to be done as the fans are starting to tune out and not show up for the games.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (NHL Images).

Kingerski also cited last week’s report by TSN’s Darren Dreger indicating the Penguins have been heavily scouting the Montreal Canadiens. Dreger felt the two clubs could be a fit trade-wise, with perhaps the Canadiens taking on an expiring contract if a sweetener is attached and the Penguins getting a younger player who might not fit into the Canadiens’ long-term plans.

The Penguins have several players on expiring contracts, including Pettersson and forwards Drew O’Connor, Cody Glass, Anthony Beauvillier, Matt Nieto and Jesse Puljujarvi. They could target a young Canadiens defenseman like Justin Barron or Jayden Struble or perhaps struggling forward Kirby Dach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The more the Penguins flounder the more anticipation will grow about a coaching change or a big trade.

Yohe and Kingerski acknowledge that firing Sullivan probably won’t do much to improve the Penguins given their lack of depth. Dubas has already shown a willingness to make trades this season, shipping forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals nearly two weeks ago.

UPDATE ON DAVID JIRICEK

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is in no hurry to trade David Jiricek. The 20-year-old defenseman was demoted to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland, sparking speculation he could be traded.

A team source told Portzline that no official trade offers were on the table as of the middle of last week. However, that could quickly change. The Jackets would seek a player of comparable value to Jiricek, players who are former first-round draft picks and still on entry-level contracts.

Portzline reports that Jiricek has not requested a trade and hasn’t expressed an unwillingness to play for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Waddell can be patient with this situation, keeping Jiricek in the minors until he improves or a rival club makes a tempting trade offer. This could stretch to the trade deadline before there’s a resolution.

KEVIN SHATTENKIRK COULD FACE RETIREMENT

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports free agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk could face retirement after rejecting an offer from a Western Conference team. Brooks believes the offer came from a Western Canadian team like the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shattenkirk could prefer to sign with an Eastern Conference club close to his home in the Hamptons on Long Island. If that’s not possible, it could spell the end of his playing career.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 24, 2024

by | Nov 24, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 24, 2024

Check out the latest on the Blue Jackets, Senators, Maple Leafs and Canucks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

COULD THE BLUE JACKETS MOVE DAVID JIRICEK SOON?

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports a source close to the Columbus Blue Jackets believes David Jiricek will be traded soon. They demoted the 20-year-old defenseman to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland last week.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (NHL Images).

Biringer indicated that Jiricek is the player popping up the most often in Blue Jackets’ trade discussions. He was sent to Cleveland midway through last season and publicly expressed his displeasure over that decision.

The reason behind Jiricek’s current demotion was to allow him to work on his defensive game and garner more playing time. Biringer points out that it’s also a great opportunity for interested teams to scout the 6’3” right-shot defenseman. His source claims the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators are interested in Jiricek, especially the Oilers as they’re looking for a replacement for the departed Philip Broberg.

Biringer noted the Oilers don’t have much in draft capital to offer the Blue Jackets after trading away their 2025 first-rounder to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Predators, on the other hand, have three first-rounders in 2025 plus a plethora of prospects and young forwards to draw on for trade bait.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes teams are making legitimate offers for Jiricek. The Blue Jackets have to decide what they want to do here. He also doesn’t see a match with the Oilers because the Jackets seek a young player of similar potential in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: When Jiricek was sent down last week, I assumed that Waddell and head coach Dean Evason genuinely wanted him to improve and be part of the Jackets’ defense corps.

That might still be the case if they don’t get suitable offers from other clubs. Nevertheless, the rumblings that Jiricek might be traded are growing.

Waddell isn’t going to give away Jiricek for peanuts. It could take a first-rounder or a top prospect to tempt him.

WILL THE SENATORS SHAKE THINGS UP WITH A TRADE?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the slumping Senators will have to do something to shake things up or risk another lost season. He claims league executives say general manager Steve Staios is making calls to see if he can find any upgrades to his roster.

Garrioch rules out team captain Brady Tkachuk or defenseman Thomas Chabot becoming trade candidates, especially the latter as the Senators would have to retain part of his $8 million average annual value.

One source suggested Josh Norris as a trade candidate. The oft-injured center is off to a good start this season and carries a $7.95 million AAV through 2026-27. An internal option could be using Ridly Greig as a third-line center with Norris as his winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltending and the blueline remain problem areas for the Senators. The addition of Linus Ullmark was supposed to improve things between the pipes but he’s been having difficulties lately.

Another lost season will bring significant changes to the Senators roster. They can’t keep going as they have. Those changes could start by the March 7 trade deadline. I consider Tkachuk, Chabot, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson to be their only untouchables.

CENTER OPTIONS FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle recently examined potential trade options for the Toronto Maple Leafs to boost their depth at center.

Two-way options could include Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins, and Radek Faksa of the St. Louis Blues. Higher-end targets could be Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gourde, Frederic and Nelson won’t be going anywhere if their respective clubs remain in the playoff chase. The rest are on struggling teams that will likely be sellers by the trade deadline.

Mirtle also mused about bringing back a former Leaf like Ryan O’Reilly or Nazem Kadri. Their contracts, however, make such a move unlikely. They also seem to be happy with their current clubs.

LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston recently suggested the Vancouver Canucks must improve their blueline, particularly their second defense pairing. He believes they need to add another defenseman who can move the puck.

Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the main name being mentioned in the trade market and he could help the Canucks. Johnston thinks other players who could be a better fit could become available but it could take a while before that happens.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 23, 2024

by | Nov 23, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 23, 2024

The latest on Marco Rossi, Taylor Hall, and John Gibson plus updates on the Bruins and speculation involving the Canadiens and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE WILD TRADE MARCO ROSSI?

THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): Chris Johnston recently published his updated NHL 2024-25 trade board.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link provided to see the full list if you have a subscription. Many of the names like Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, Anaheim Ducks winger Trevor Zegras, and Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen have frequently surfaced in the rumor mill in recent weeks and have been duly noted on this site.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi was on that list. Johnston indicated the Wild aren’t facing pressure to trade the 23-year-old forward, he’s slated to become a restricted free agent next summer. He believes management must decide if they’ll commit long-term “to a diminutive winger with elite offensive instincts and playmaking abilities.” Johnston believes Rossi is a candidate “to be included in a player-for-player swap.”

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited Johnston’s colleague Michael Russo telling the “Worst Seats In The House” podcast that he still believes the Wild will trade Rossi. “I don’t know when. I don’t know if it’s imminent, by the deadline, or next summer,” said Russo. “I just think that they do not feel he’s the player to commit to long-term”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi had 21 goals and 40 points in 82 games as a rookie last season. He has five goals and 15 points in 19 games thus far in his sophomore campaign, putting him on pace to reach 60 points. The Austrian forward has yet to hit his playing prime and should continue to improve.

Rossi will be coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. The only leverage he’ll have is the threat of an offer sheet from a rival club. Missing training camp or the start of next season won’t do his performance any good through 2025-26.

The Wild will have $19.5 million in cap space for 2025-26 if the cap rises as projected to $92.4 million with 15 active roster players under contract. They’ll have plenty of room to re-sign Rossi to a bridge deal or to match an offer from a rival team. However, they must maintain sufficient long-term cap room to re-sign superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July 2026 and could cost $14 million annually to re-sign.

Rossi would be a valuable trade chip if he doesn’t fit into the Wild’s long-term plans. It’s a move that likely occurs next summer but a trade for another good young player is possible before the March 7 deadline.

COULD TAYLOR HALL BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Rob Couch pointed out Taylor Hall was a healthy scratch from a recent Chicago Blackhawks game. He thinks the struggling 33-year-old winger could become a trade candidate. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Adam Proteau suggested four possible trade destinations for Hall. One is his former club, the Boston Bruins. Others include the New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, and St. Louis Blues. All four are low-scoring clubs in need of an offensive boost.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Proteau noted that Hall carries a $6 million cap hit, suggesting the Blackhawks must retain salary for some of these teams to acquire him. Those clubs listed by Proteau might not be buyers if their fortunes haven’t reversed by then.

Given his UFA status next summer, Hall will be a trade chip this season for the rebuilding Blackhawks. He’s struggled to regain his form following the knee surgery that ended his 2023-24 campaign. It could hurt Hall’s trade value if he doesn’t improve by the deadline.

WOULD JOHN GIBSON ACCEPT A TRADE TO THE OILERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney cited The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun recently suggesting the Edmonton Oilers as a dark horse candidate to acquire Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson before the trade deadline.

LeBrun pointed out that Gibson has a modified no-trade clause. However, it’s his understanding that the veteran netminder could consider the Oilers, who came up one win short of winning the Stanley Cup last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The erratic play of goalies Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard could have the Oilers seeking help between the pipes before the trade deadline. However, the cap-strapped club would have to shed some salary and get the Ducks to agree to part of Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit to make it work.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE BRUINS?

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports some NHL executives and scouts were surprised the Bruins made an internal hire replacing fired head coach Jim Montgomery with Joe Sacco. They noted that former NHL coaches Joel Quenneville and Darryl Sutter have better resumes than Sacco.

Murphy also cited one source speculating general manager Don Sweeney could be next on the chopping block if the Bruins fail to improve under Sacco.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa speculated which Bruins players could follow their former coach out the door if the club doesn’t turn things around. Possibilities include Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and pending UFA Brad Marchand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is the Bruins captain and has been a heart-and-soul player for them throughout his 16 NHL seasons. Nevertheless, they could part ways if the ownership decides to go in a different direction. I still believe they want to keep Marchand but the club’s performance thus far and the decline in his play could make his future in Boston murkier.

IS A TRADE COMING SOON BETWEEN THE CANADIENS AND PENGUINS?

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Pittsburgh Penguins have been heavily scouting the Montreal Canadiens recently. He noted the Penguins have “some interesting pieces” at forward. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have certain needs and there have to be long-term benefits.

“If you don’t see the long-term benefits of a player and Pittsburgh has an interest in that player, maybe you take back an expiring contract,” said Dreger. “The Pittsburgh Penguins have some expiring contracts that aren’t going to hurt you for the rest of the year. Maybe you get a sweetener where it makes some sense.”

Dreger said there’s nothing imminent but noted the Canadiens face a roster crunch when Patrik Laine and Rafael Harvey-Pinard return from injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins forwards on expiring contracts include Anthony Beauvillier, Drew O’Connor, Jesse Puljujarvi and Matt Nieto. The Habs could take one of them if they got a nice draft pick or prospect in return but they could have other options in mind with other clubs.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 22, 2024

by | Nov 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 22, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: The latest on Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov, Bruins blueliner Nikita Zadorov, Flyers center Morgan Frost, and more.

RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “INSIDER TRADING” AND “32 THOUGHTS”

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes Ivan Provorov will be the top rental defenseman leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. The 27-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (NHL Images).

Teams are calling the Blue Jackets about Provorov but they’re not ready to move him yet. They want to give their club as much time as possible to be competitive this year. Nevertheless, LeBrun doesn’t see them as a playoff contender, suggesting it’s only a matter of time until they move Provorov.

LeBrun anticipates the asking price will be a first-round pick. He pointed out that blueliners Noah Hanifin and Sean Walker fetched first-rounders when they were traded before last season’s deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Provorov never played up to expectations as a top-pairing left-shot defenseman. Nevertheless, he’s been a reliable 30-plus point producer who can log 20-25 minutes per game. He’ll be very enticing to playoff contenders looking for blueline depth by the deadline.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman wondered if the Vancouver Canucks might try to reacquire Nikita Zadorov. He signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent in July. Friedman believes he was a good fit in Vancouver and the Canucks miss him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman is just musing out loud. He isn’t saying the Canucks want to bring back Zadorov or that the Bruins want to move him, though some of their fans have probably had second thoughts about signing him.

Contenders are scouting for forwards who play “with an edge”. That includes the Bruins’ Trent Frederic, who is slated to become a UFA next July. Friedman also said there was some talk about Morgan Geekie, but speculates that may have been when he was out of the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. The Bruins will likely retain him, especially if Frederic departs next summer.

Friedman suggests Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost might be a good fit with the Chicago Blackhawks, who need depth at the center position. The 25-year-old isn’t complaining but he’s been a healthy scratch in four of the Flyers’ last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz recently speculated whether Frost had a future with the Flyers, suggesting they seem headed for a breakup. However, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco claims they’re not giving up on the center despite his early-season struggles.

The Blackhawks aren’t the only club looking for centers. The Nashville Predators are also in the market. Friedman anticipates the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the clubs that eventually wade into the market.

Yanni Gourde’s production and ice time are down this season but the Seattle Kraken still love him. There is no indication they want to move the pending UFA forward.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 21, 2024

by | Nov 21, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 21, 2024

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.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2024

by | Nov 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2024

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.