NHL Rumor Mill – April 8, 2025

by | Apr 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 8, 2025

Is this Chris Kreider’s final season with the Rangers? Will the Blue Jackets attempt to improve their goaltending in the offseason? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

IS THIS CHRIS KREIDER’S LAST SEASON WITH THE RANGERS?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks thinks this brutal season could bring a sad end to Chris Kreider’s 13 NHL seasons with the Rangers.

Kreider’s had a difficult campaign. The 33-year-old winger’s production has suffered (20 goals and five assists in 63 games), he’s missed time with a nagging lower-back injury, and he was among the trade candidates on general manager Chris Drury’s infamous memo leaked to the media last November.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Brooks believes Kreider’s production and publicly stated lower-back issues likely hurt his trade value among the general managers interested in him. However, he thinks this summer will be different, citing Kreider’s production over the previous three seasons.

Brooks feels the remaining two years of his contract (with an average annual value of $6.5 million) shouldn’t be a hindrance to receiving fair value back in a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The issues that hurt Kreider’s trade value this season could carry over into the offseason. There could be GMs willing to gamble on him regaining his scoring touch but they could squeeze the Rangers to accept a lesser return, retain salary in the deal, or both.

The Rangers have a projected cap space of $9.6 million next season with 18 active roster players under contract and restricted free agents K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle to re-sign.

Drury must free up some cap space to sign Miller and Cuylle. He also needs room to bolster his roster through trades and free agency. Rivals general managers know this, and they will try to take advantage.

Buying out the remainder of Kreider’s contract is another option but it won’t provide as much cap relief as a trade. The Rangers would face a cap hit of $3 million next season and $4 million in 2026-27, dropping to $1.5 million for each of the remaining two years.

BLUE JACKETS MUST ADDRESS THEIR GOALTENDING THIS SUMMER

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes the Columbus Blue Jackets’ priority this summer should be addressing their goaltending.

Starter Elvis Merzlikins is playing better than last season but his performance still hasn’t been good enough. As of Apr. 6, he was ranked 42nd with a save percentage of .890 and 44th with a 3.24 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason has shown little faith in backups Daniil Tarasov and Jet Greaves.

Portzline believes it’s still highly doubtful that Merzlikins is tradeable. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.4 million. However, a contract buyout would cost the Blue Jackets $1.5 million for next season, $2.8 million in 2026-27, dropping to $1.63 million for each of the remaining two seasons of the buyout.

Finding a new starter this summer will be challenging in a thin free-agent goalie market. The notables could include Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames, Ilya Samsonov of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allen, Vladar and Andersen would be short-term upgrades over Merzlikins, assuming they haven’t re-signed with their current clubs before July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

by | Apr 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

Could this season be the latest for Brock Boeser with the Canucks and Nikolaj Ehlers with the Jets? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the next 10 days could be the last for winger Brock Boeser with the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser, 28, is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. The Canucks are poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Boeser amid a season of turmoil for the Canucks. He said he’s trying not to think about the possibility of moving on after this season. Boeser admitted the trade rumors swirling around him before last month’s trade deadline affected his play.

Boeser doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows his improved performance down the stretch will stand him in good stead.

SPORTSNET: Jacob Stoller noted that the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday could be a preview of life without winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who is day-to-day with an injury.

Ehlers, 29, plays a key role on the Jets’ second line, tallying 60-plus points four times. He’s UFA-eligible on July 1 and was the subject of trade speculation last summer. At the time, he was reportedly open to a change of scenery.

If Ehlers departs, it could be difficult to find a replacement. Stoller observed the Jets are not a prime destination for free agents. He suggested general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could parlay a first-round pick for a play-driving top-six winger. However, it’s difficult to determine who could be available in this summer’s trade market and if the Jets first-rounder would be enough.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has Boeser sitting second and Ehlers at seventh on his list of this summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Both players will be in high demand when the UFA market opens on July 1, especially if other notable forwards ahead of them on this list (Toronto’s Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Dallas’ Matt Duchene and Florida’s Sam Bennett) end up re-signing with their current clubs.

Boeser and Ehlers could also decide to stay with their current teams. However, the pull of lucrative long-term contracts could prove irresistible.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 6, 2025

by | Apr 6, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 6, 2025

Check out the latest on the Flyers and Bruins in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE FLYERS COULD SHOP DRAFT PICKS FOR PLAYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere is open to shopping some of their draft capital to acquire young players who can join their roster more quickly.

The Flyers have three first-round picks and four second-rounders in this year’s draft. Some of those picks could be used as trade bait. Briere indicated he’s open to moving one of his first-round picks.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere is following the recent trend to accelerate a roster rebuild or retooling project by stocking up on draft picks and using some of them to acquire young NHL-ready players.

In addition to their pick, the Flyers have the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche’s first-rounders. Holding seven picks in the first two rounds gives Briere the option of packaging some of them together or bundling one or two with a player in a trade offer.

The Flyers’ first-rounder would draw the most attention and fetch the better return. If the draft were held today, they’d have the fourth-overall pick. However, Briere likely prefers retaining that pick and shopping the other two, which are currently 23rd and 25th overall.

THE BRUINS COULD BE BIG SPENDERS THIS SUMMER

DAILY FACEOFF: Ty Anderson of Boston’s sports radio 98.5 The Sports Hub believes the Bruins will spend to the salary cap for next season. He thinks they’ll be very aggressive, though how much could depend on whether they win the draft lottery as they’ll need to ensure sufficient long-term cap space for that player.

Anderson doubts that Bruins ownership wants to engage in a long rebuild or retooling process. He cites their high ticket sales (particularly season tickets) as one factor. They want to give their fans a good reason to come to the games. He believes they’ll try to make a move for a big-time player in free agency.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a projected cap space of $27.1 million next season with 13 active roster players under contract. They have six restricted free agents, with Morgan Geekie the most notable to be re-signed.

They will have sufficient cap room to pursue a big-name player through free agency like Toronto’s Mitch Marner, or second-tier stars like Vancouver’s Brock Boeser, Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers and Florida’s Sam Bennett. They might even have enough left to bring back Brad Marchand.

However, other clubs will compete with the Bruins for those UFA players. They could instead attempt to add a player through the offer-sheet route.

The Bruins have their own picks in the first three rounds of next year’s draft to use as compensation if they want to invest between $6.871 million and $9.161 million on another club’s restricted free agent.

If they want to make a bigger investment, they also have their first-rounders in the next three drafts. That allows them to use two of those picks as compensation (along with their 2026 second and third-round picks) to invest between $9.162 million and $11.452 million into an offer sheet.

What do you think, folks? Should the Bruins try to land a potential UFA like Marner? Or should they chase someone like Minnesota’s Marco Rossi, Toronto’s Matthew Knies or Buffalo’s JJ Peterka with an offer sheet?

 










NHL Rumor Mill – April 5, 2025

by | Apr 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 5, 2025

The latest on the Canucks and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Earlier this week, Patrick Johnston mused on what he called “the most disappointing Vancouver Canuck season in recent memory” as the club’s playoff hopes were all but dashed following their 5-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Johnston wondered what head coach Rick Tocchet’s path forward would be following this trying season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet is in the final season of his contract with the Canucks, but they hold a one-year option on that deal. He’s open to discussing an extension following this season but the club’s difficulties raised speculation that he might move on.

Tocchet’s been linked to the Philadelphia Flyers, who replaced John Tortorella as head coach last week with Brad Shaw on an interim basis. Tocchet spent 11 of his 18-season NHL playing career with the Flyers and remains well-respected and popular among their fan base.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Johnston also wondered how management would address their depth at center. “If they do keep Elias Pettersson, who are they going to find to be the other top-line center?” “Is Pius Suter really the second-line center behind Pettersson?”

If the Canucks trade Pettersson this summer, they’ll likely have to retain part of his $11.6 million average annual value. Finding a suitable replacement will be difficult.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading J.T. Miller in January did little to improve Pettersson’s production. With 45 points in 64 games, he’s having the worst performance of his seven-season NHL career. Since the Miller trade, he has 17 points in 30 games.

Nevertheless, Pettersson had 89 points in 82 games last season and 102 points in 2022-23. The Canucks know what he’s capable of and that there is no one available to replace his production when he’s on top of his game. Unless they intend to tear down the roster and rebuild, trading Pettersson makes no sense.

Even if they trade Pettersson, they won’t get fair value in return. His expensive contract and poor performance this season hurt his value in the trade market. Their best option is retaining Pettersson and hope he has a bounce-back performance.

BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Washington Capitals offer a template for the Boston Bruins to quickly retool their roster.

He suggests the Bruins bring in a younger, less experienced coach who can grow with the team, suggesting former Providence Bruins coach Jay Leach, who is now part of the Seattle Kraken’s coaching staff.

Shinzawa also recommends building around David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy through the trade and free-agent markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston won’t tear things down to the studs with Pastrnak, Swayman and McAvoy in their prime and under long-term contracts. They must build up around those three as quickly as possible while they remain at their peak.

Bruins management has $28.8 million available next season with 11 active roster players under contract. They have the cap space to make additions this summer. The aim could be landing younger, affordable NHL-ready players from cap-strapped clubs or those looking to shake up their rosters.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2025

by | Apr 4, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2025

Will there be more offer-sheet attempts this summer? Could the Devils be among the clubs targeting other clubs’ RFAs? What’s the latest on the Islanders? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THERE BE MORE OFFER-SHEET ATTEMPTS THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Chris Johnston report some NHL executives and general managers bracing for “a summer of offer sheets” during the 2025 offseason.

They cite the rising salary cap, the St. Louis Blues’ bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, and the lack of quality depth among this summer’s unrestricted free-agent class.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).

According to PuckPedia, 88 of 95 potential restricted free agents are eligible to sign offer sheets. They include Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller and forward Will Cullye, New York Islanders blueliners Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov, and Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of those players could be targeted for offer sheets this summer. However, Russo and Johnston also cited several general managers pointing out that the rising cap can make it easier for clubs to match if one of their players signs an offer sheet.

Johnston recently suggested that mid-tier or emerging talent is more vulnerable than established stars. That’s because contending teams want to avoid overpaying those players. Johnston cited Holloway and Broberg as notable examples.

COULD THE DEVILS GO THE OFFER-SHEET ROUTE THIS SUMMER?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Citing The Athletic report on the potential for a rise in offer sheets this summer, James Nichols pondered the possibility for the Devils.

In The Athletic piece, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald seemed to suggest he could be interested in going that route if the opportunity arose.

Nichols believes the Devils need to bolster their forward depth. He suggested Ottawa Senators (and former Devil) winger Fabian Zetterlund, Seattle Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko, and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi as possible options.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils might not have the cap room to sign a rival player to an offer sheet. They have a projected $13.8 million available for 2025-26 with 18 active roster players under contract. Rising star Luke Hughes is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. Re-signing him could eat roughly half of that cap room.

THE LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple believes the harsh public criticism New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy levied on struggling winger Anthony Duclair is a sign of worsening times for the club.

Duclair signed with the Islanders last summer. He played with Roy in the QMJHL so he knew what he was getting into. He started the season well but was sidelined for 29 games by a torn groin and hasn’t been the same since.

Staple believes Duclair will be staying because he has three years left on his contract. Roy has a multi-year extension and isn’t leaving unless he wants to. General manager Lou Lamoriello is likely sticking around for at least one more year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duclair has been granted a leave of absence to reflect following what Roy called a “good conversation” between the two on Thursday morning. Nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see if this incident has any effect on the club’s offseason plans. 










NHL Rumor Mill – April 3, 2025

by | Apr 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 3, 2025

Check out the latest on the Penguins and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports everything is in play for the Pittsburgh Penguins this offseason. He indicated that general manager Kyle Dubas is willing to trade draft picks for young, NHL-ready players hoping to turn the club back more quickly into a playoff contender.

Dubas also doesn’t appear to be against targeting other teams’ restricted free agents with offer sheets. However, Yohe isn’t betting on him using that tactic this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have a projected cap space of $24.5 million for 2025-26 with 18 active roster players under contract, including all their core players. They have the room to acquire established young NHL players this summer.

That includes going the offer-sheet route, but it must be remembered that it takes two to tango. The targeted player must be willing to entertain such offers from rival clubs.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).

This summer’s top RFAs include Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, New Jersey’s Luke Hughes, the New York Islanders’ Noah Dobson, Winnipeg’s Gabriel Vilardi, Toronto’s Matthew Knies, Buffalo’s JJ Peterka, and the New York Rangers’ K’Andre Miller.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel believes Dubas must sort out his goaltending situation before next season.

It feels like the Penguins are headed for a split this summer with the inconsistent Tristan Jarry. Dubas isn’t a contract buyout proponent but that is an option if they can’t find a trade partner. They could also attempt to swap him for another team’s unwanted contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry has three more seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.375 million and a 12-team no-trade list. Dubas could also attempt to retain up to half of Jarry’s cap hit to make him more palatable in the trade market but those three years remaining on his contract could still be a deal-breaker.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dave Molinari reports the Penguins’ one-year investment in Matt Grzelcyk paid off as the 31-year-old defenseman proved to be a good addition. He set career highs this season with 34 assists and 35 points.

Grzelcyk is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Penguins will presumably attempt to re-sign him given their lack of depth among skilled left-shot defensemen within their system.

RED WINGS

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman was recently asked what player in this summer’s UFA market could help the Detroit Red Wings. He thinks Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings would fit well alongside Moritz Seider on their top line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Steve Yzerman could feel pressured to make one or two significant additions this summer if the Red Wings miss the playoffs again. Improving their defensive depth could be a priority with Gavrikov among the targets if he’s available.