NHL Rumor Mill – September 1, 2025

by | Sep 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 1, 2025

Will the Canadiens trade Carey Price’s contract soon? Which teams could they send it to? Find out in the Labor Day edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports sources claim the Montreal Canadiens could trade Carey Price’s contract in the coming days.

Price, 38, has been on LTIR since 2022 as a knee injury ended his career. He’s in the final season of his contract, which carries an average annual value of $10.5 million. However, in actual salary, he’s owed $7.5 million, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (NHL Images).

The Canadiens are over the salary cap by $6 million for this season. They can remain above the cap with Price on LTIR, but they won’t be able to accrue cap space during the season. Trading his contract would give them that flexibility, making it easier to acquire talent if necessary before the March trade deadline.

One source told D’Amico that he has heard Price’s contract has been in play for a while, with speculation that things could shake loose on Sept. 1 or soon afterward.

The Canadiens could attempt to peddle Price’s contract to rebuilding clubs. It would enable one of those teams to remain salary-cap compliant if they ship out veteran players by the trade deadline. With Price now only owed $2 million in actual salary, his contract for this season becomes much more affordable.

Sources claim the San Jose Sharks have been mentioned most as a destination. They’re currently sitting just $5 million over the $70.6 million salary-cap minimum for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation that the Canadiens could trade Price’s contract to a rebuilding club has been percolating in the rumor mill for weeks. Now that his bonus has been paid, we’ll find out soon enough if there is anything to that conjecture.

The Canadiens might have to bundle a mid-range draft pick, perhaps a third-rounder, as a sweetener. Price has a full no-movement clause, but he’s not going to block a move if it happens.

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie also speculated that Price’s contract could be moved as early as Sept. 1. He also suggested it could be part of a larger deal.

Lajoie claimed Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes could be inclined to part with draft picks, particularly in the first round, to acquire a natural center.

The Canadiens have been linked to Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken. So far, nothing has materialized.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The main thing for the Canadiens is clearing Price’s cap hit from their books this season. It will give them greater cap flexibility to pursue a second-line center at any point in the season, though the longer they wait, the more cap space they’ll have by the trade deadline.

It would be a significant move by Hughes if he could land McTavish, but a recent report by Eric Stephens of The Athletic indicated the Ducks intend to re-sign the 22-year-old center.

As for McCann, the Kraken reportedly aren’t moving him. Besides, he’s played on the wing for most of his tenure in Seattle.

RDS.CA: Rebuilding clubs like the Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins could use Price’s contract to ensure they remain cap-compliant if they stage a sell-off before the trade deadline.

For example, the Penguins might be tempted to trade players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell. They could also attempt to trade Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but they would have a say if any of them were to leave Pittsburgh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks are over the cap floor by roughly $6.2 million. Trade candidates would include pending unrestricted free agents such as Nick Foligno ($4.5 million), Jason Dickinson ($4.5 million), Ilya Mikheyev ($4.03 million), Connor Murphy ($4.4 million), and Laurent Brossoit ($3.3 million).

The Sharks could shop UFA-eligible players such as Alexander Wennberg ($5 million), Jeff Skinner ($3 million), Nick Leddy ($4 million), John Klingberg ($4 million), Mario Ferraro ($3.25 million), Timothy Liljegren ($3 million), and Alex Nedeljkovic ($2.5 million).

As for the Penguins, they’re above the cap floor by over $12 million. They could also try to move Kevin Hayes ($3.571 million), Anthony Mantha ($2.5 million), Matt Dumba ($3.5 million), and Connor Clifton ($3.333 million).

It’s unlikely Letang, Malkin, and Crosby will hit the trade block, especially as this season is Malkin’s last with the Penguins and possibly the last of his playing career.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 31, 2025

by | Aug 31, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 31, 2025

Some suggested goalie targets for the Oilers, and a Sabres prospect could be a trade candidate. Details in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle was recently asked if he saw any legitimate goalie trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers this season.

Mirtle admitted the goalie market is thin this season. Many teams are opting for inexperienced options as backups, making it less likely they’ll move a starter. There aren’t a lot of teams carrying two veterans that would be considered potential No. 1 netminders.

The best option could be targeting teams that had hoped for a better season but ended up struggling out of the gate and shed talent aggressively, like the Boston Bruins did last season.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).

Mirtle suggested the Detroit Red Wings could move John Gibson or Cam Talbot if they struggle this season. Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth could become available, but Mirtle questions if they’d be improvements for the Oilers.

Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets could be shopped. However, their significant struggles make them questionable as improvements over the Oilers’ current tandem.

Mirtle believes it will take something unexpected for the Oilers to find a suitable goalie upgrade this season. It could take a good team falling out of the playoff chase early, or the Oilers getting desperate enough to part with prime assets to acquire a premium goalie from a club with a solid two-goalie tandem, like the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: None of those individual options is an upgrade over the Oilers’ current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. As for those two-goalie teams, they’re playoff contenders that are unlikely to risk breaking up their tandems.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Rachel Lenzi was recently asked what might be in store for Sabres prospect Isak Rosen this season. The 22-year-old right winger was their first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Rosen has been productive at the AHL level but not impactful in 15 games over the last two seasons. That’s because he wasn’t used properly during those short stints, where he saw checking-line duty. He might’ve benefited more from playing alongside playmakers.

Lenzi believes the Sabres have a decision to make with Rosen, who will have a difficult time cracking their roster this season. She thinks a trade to a team that needs a young forward who needs a change of scenery could benefit him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rosen isn’t the only first-rounder from the 2021 draft to surface in the rumor mill this summer. Boston Bruins winger Fabian Lysell (21st overall) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (eighth overall) also popped up in recent trade conjecture.

Two others were traded for each other earlier this summer. On July 1, the St. Louis Blues traded winger Zach Bolduc (17th overall) to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux (31st overall).










NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2025

by | Aug 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2025

How much could Kirill Kaprizov receive in his next contract? What moves could the Red Wings make? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WORST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: The Athletic’s Michael Russo believes the Minnesota Wild have offered Kirill Kaprizov “a ton of money,” perhaps more than Russo thought on an eight-year contract.

Kaprizov, 28, is in the final season of his five-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. The high-scoring winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July 1.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

Russo believes the Wild are willing to pay Kaprizov “in the 16 (million) range”. He indicates that the deal hasn’t been done yet, but general manager Bill Guerin remains confident it will get done.

Nevertheless, the next month could be telling. The longer Kaprizov goes without signing an extension, the more questions about whether he wants to stay in Minnesota, especially if the Wild offers him $128 million on an eight-year contract.

Russo believes whatever Kaprizov wants from the Wild, he’ll get it, even if he seeks a five-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last October, Wild owner Craig Leipold stated that no other team could offer Kaprizov more money or more years on his next contract. If Kaprizov wants to be well paid, $16 million annually would make him the second-highest paid player in the league for 2026-27. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is also UFA-eligible next summer and will get much more from the Oilers or another club if he goes to market on July 1.

However, if Kaprizov is hesitant to sign, it will suggest that he doesn’t believe the Wild will be winners over the term of that contract. If so, they would face the prospect of trading him before the March deadline or losing him to free agency for nothing next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman was asked recently if the Detroit Red Wings might make a trade for a top-four defenseman or a top-six winger.

Bultman listed Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell as the most realistic to address the Red Wings’ needs.

However, Bultman’s not holding his breath waiting for any of those players to land in Detroit, citing the high asking price for Rust or Rakell (a first-round pick) and the aging Karlsson’s expensive contract.

Bultman also acknowledged rumors linking the Red Wings to Mason McTavish, but doubts the Anaheim Ducks will part with the 22-year-old center.

Winnipeg Jets winger (and Michigan native) Kyle Connor is UFA-eligible next summer. Bultman doesn’t see the Jets attempting to move him this far out if he remains unsigned. If they do decide to move him, the Red Wings should be among the suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings might make another move or two to improve their roster before the start of the season in October. Based on Bultman’s comments, don’t expect to see Karlsson, Rust, Rakell, McTavish, or Connor donning the Winged Wheel jersey anytime soon.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2025

by | Aug 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 29, 2025

More reaction to Connor McDavid’s comments about his contract status in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston noted how the hockey world sat up and took notice this week when Connor McDavid spoke with so little urgency about signing a new contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

McDavid indicated he’s committed to winning the Stanley Cup this season with the Oilers. However, he said that all options were on the table regarding his contract situation. He intends to take his time evaluating everything, indicating that he is fine either way, whether he signs before this season or not.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Johnston believes the Oilers would re-sign McDavid in an instant for whatever he wants. Nevertheless, the fact that he’s willing to let those discussions drift into the regular season is significant. He thinks the longer it goes, the more interesting the situation becomes.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau took note of McDavid saying he wants the group (referring to himself and his Oilers teammates) to be as dialed in as possible on winning the Cup this season, adding they don’t want distractions.

Proteau believes signing an extension with the Oilers before the start of the upcoming season will remove that distraction. He pointed out how Mitch Marner’s contract status was the subject of speculation throughout last season, and how Igor Shesterkin’s was also the subject of media chatter before he re-signed in December.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Anthony Fantucchio believes Bruins fans shouldn’t get their hopes up about the possibility of signing McDavid if he goes to market next summer. They lack the salary cap space to do so, plus they’re no longer Stanley Cup contenders.

Fantucchio pointed out that only a handful of clubs will be able to provide him with the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. They include Toronto, Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Tampa Bay, and Vegas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston and Proteau are correct. The longer it takes McDavid to re-sign with the Oilers, the more speculation over his future. Even if he and the club refuse to discuss the situation with the media, it will remain a topic of growing conjecture among fans and pundits.

Fantucchio is right about the Bruins having no shot at landing McDavid if he becomes a UFA next summer. Of his list of potential destinations, the most likely are the ones that can afford to pay him top dollar while giving him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Of the teams listed by Fantucchio, Dallas has over $27.9 million in projected cap space (depending on what they do with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley). Tampa Bay will have $27.75 million with Ryan McDonagh their most notable UFA and JJ Moser an RFA.

Colorado will have $26.85 million, with Martin Necas UFA-eligible in 2026 and Cale Makar due a significant raise in 2027-28. Toronto will have $24.845 million, but they’re not a realistic Stanley Cup contender given their questionable depth in goal, on defense, and on their checking lines.

Florida will have $23.1 million to re-sign or replace goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov. As for Vegas, they’ll have $20.375 million plus an extra $8.8 million in cap relief if Alex Pietrangelo remains on LTIR, but Jack Eichel is UFA-eligible next July, and they’re paying Mitch Marner $12 million annually for eight years.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2025

by | Aug 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 28, 2025

Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli believes the New York Rangers will stage a bounce-back performance this season, leading him to assume that they will attempt to sign winger Artemi Panarin to a contract extension.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Panarin, 33, is in the final season of his eight-year contract with an annual average value of $11.642 million. He will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July 1.

Seravalli admits that might be a hot-button issue for Rangers fans given their inability to win the Stanley Cup with Panarin thus far. He acknowledged the possibility that they could shop the winger if they’re out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline.

Nevertheless, Seravalli thinks there could be a deal on the table that makes sense for both sides, depending on how this season pans out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be an interesting season for the Rangers. General manager Chris Drury has made a series of moves since last December to shake up the roster core and try to get them back on track after last season’s disappointing performance. The outcome will determine Panarin’s future in New York City.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo reports Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund believes the upcoming season will be the last for teammate Rasmus Andersson in the Stampede City. The 28-year-old defenseman is in the final season of his contract and UFA-eligible next July.

“Yeah, he’s getting traded. It’s obvious,” Backlund said during the NHL media tour in Europe. “But the team wants value. He wants a big contract. So he wants to play well. The team needs him to play well. So, just go out and play.”

Backlund indicated that he’s spoken to Andersson, saying the blueliner doesn’t want to be a distraction. He doesn’t think the two sides are close to an agreement on a new contract, but didn’t rule out the possibility.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson’s been the subject of trade rumors since extension talks with the Flames broke down in June. He and Flames management have remained cordial, with both sides agreeing that there is no issue with him being in the Flames lineup for the upcoming season.

Andersson may be sincere about not wanting his contract status to become a distraction, but that won’t stop fans and pundits from speculating over where he might end up by the March trade deadline, especially if the Flames are out of playoff contention by then.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2025

by | Aug 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2025

Some speculation over Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks, and potential destinations for Carey Price’s contract in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: A reader recently asked James Mirtle if he saw the New Jersey Devils attempting to acquire Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes to reunite him with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes is signed through 2026-27. Mirtle thinks it would be only natural for the 25-year-old defenseman to wonder about his future in Vancouver if the Canucks can’t break through and win.

The Canucks could surprise with a bounce-back performance this season that convinces Hughes to stay, but Mirtle considers it unlikely. If they don’t, he thinks management will have to consider a blockbuster trade and what the return might look like.

As for the Devils, Mirtle speculated that they might consider making that commitment next summer if Hughes really wants to join his brothers. He observed that they have over $62 million in cap space for 2027-28 before accounting for Luke’s upcoming new contract, leaving plenty of room to sign Quinn to a massive extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season will be crucial in determining Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks. If they struggle this season, it will only stoke the trade rumors. Even if a deal isn’t possible with the Devils, there will be potential contenders with salary-cap space willing to acquire him and sign him to an expensive long-term extension next summer.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont looked at possible trade partners for the Canadiens to move the contract of Carey Price, who has been on permanent long-term injury reserve since 2022.

The Canadiens could retain Price’s contract and use LTIR to exceed the salary cap for the coming season, but they wouldn’t be able to accrue salary-cap space during the season. It would provide them with more cap flexibility if they could find a trade partner to take that contract off their books.

There is a year remaining on Price’s contract. The average annual value is $10.5 million, but he will make $7.5 million in actual salary for 2025-26, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1. That would make his contract palatable for rebuilding teams to remain cap compliant without paying much in actual salary if they move pending UFA players by the March trade deadline.

Dumont suggests the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, and Pittsburgh Penguins as three potential trade partners. The Canadiens would likely have to add “a mediocre draft pick” to the deal to sweeten the pot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks have also been mentioned as a trade partner.

Price has a full no-movement clause, but he won’t use it to block the Canadiens from trading his contract.