NHL Rumor Mill – March 15, 2025

by | Mar 15, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 15, 2025

Updates on the Rangers and Jets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh recently looked ahead at possible offseason moves by the New York Rangers.

The Rangers have a projected $84 million invested in 17 active roster players for 2025-26, leaving them with less than $11 million in cap space. With restricted free agents K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle due for new contracts, it won’t leave much room to take a big swing in the free-agent market this summer.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Baugh believes the Rangers must move players out if they’re going to make substantial roster changes this summer. Chris Kreider is the obvious trade candidate, though moving his $6.5 million cap hit won’t be easy given his 15-team no-trade list and disappointing performance this season.

The Rangers could trade Miller if he proves too expensive to re-sign, but that would risk letting a high-upside player get away. Trading Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin would free up even more cap space, but they have full no-movement clauses.

Baugh also wondered if a rival club with plentiful cap space, like the Chicago Blackhawks, might attempt to sign away someone like Cuylle with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin might draw more interest than Kreider or Zibanejad because he has a year left on his contract. He has a hefty $11.6 million AAV but will earn $8 million in actual salary next season, with $7 million of that a signing bonus.

Panarin’s production is down compared to the last three seasons but he has 69 points in 64 games. He could be of interest to a Cup contender seeking additional scoring punch. Still, he’d have to agree to a trade and the Rangers would probably have to retain part of his cap hit.

So, what say you, Rangers fans? What moves should your team make to free up cap space for meaningful change? Let us know in the comments section below.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Athletic’s Murat Ates discussed Neal Pionk’s future with the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible this summer with 37 points in 65 games this season. His production cooled off lately before he was sidelined by a lower-body injury.

Ates said Pionk is comfortable with the state of negotiations between his agent and Jets management. He expects the Jets want to retain him to keep their second-pairing defense core intact. Pionk skates alongside Dylan Samberg, who’s a restricted free agent this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pionk is completing a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.875 million. It could cost around $7.5 million annually to keep him in Winnipeg. As a right-shot, puck-moving defenseman, he could draw lots of interest if he tests the free-agent market on July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 14, 2025

by | Mar 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 14, 2025

The latest on Brock Boeser, Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Donato plus a look at the Wild’s potential free-agent targets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HURRICANES HAD INTEREST IN BOESER

CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal recently reported the Carolina Hurricanes were believed to have made a pitch for Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser in the hours before last Friday’s trade deadline.

Boeser, 28, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. There’s been no sign of progress in contract extension talks with the Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Dhaliwal said the Hurricanes attempted to flip one of the two first-round picks they received from the Dallas Stars in the Mikko Rantanen trade to the Canucks as part of their offer for Boeser. He also indicated the Canucks made another contract offer to Boeser but it was unclear how much it differed from their original pitch of five years at $8 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser could be heading to free agency on July 1, where the Hurricanes might be willing to sign him after losing out on Mikko Rantanen.

There’s plenty of time for Boeser and the Canucks to reach an agreement and things can change quickly. However, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin saying Boeser didn’t draw attractive offers in the trade market before last Friday’s deadline might not have sat well with the winger’s camp.

WHO WILL THE WILD TARGET THIS SUMMER?

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Michael Russo looked at which free agents might be on the Minnesota Wild’s radar this summer. The buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter drop from a combined $14.7 million to $1.7 million next season, freeing up valuable cap space for general manager Bill Guerin to bolster the roster.

The upcoming UFA class doesn’t contain many game changers. Minnesota native Brock Nelson could extend with the Colorado Avalanche, Mitch Marner will be too expensive, while the rest (John Tavares, Jamie Benn, Claude Giroux) are in their mid-to-late thirties.

Minnesota native Brock Boeser could be available, but Smith and Russo question if it’s worth overpaying for a winger whose value at the recent trade deadline was underwhelming.

Whatever Guerin has in mind must account for Kirill Kaprizov’s future with the Wild. Kaprizov can sign a contract extension on July 1 but Wild management must sell him on their seriousness of building a contender around him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild will be worth monitoring in the offseason. Guerin would make a foray or two into this summer’s UFA market, but he’ll also look at the trade market for suitable additions.

THE LATEST ON PALMIERI AND DONATO

TSN: Pierre LeBrun provided an update on contract extension talks between the New York Islanders and Kyle Palmieri, and the Chicago Blackhawks and Ryan Donato. On July 1, both players are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

The Palmieri negotiations are continuing and could be close to an agreement, though there’s no timeline for announcing the deal. Meanwhile, Donato and the Blackhawks have taken a breather on their extension discussions, but talks could resume soon.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 13, 2025

by | Mar 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 13, 2025

The latest on the Penguins, Devils, and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATES ON RICKARD RAKELL, ERIK KARLSSON AND BRYAN RUST

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently reported there was “heavy interest” in Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell, but they never came close to moving him. They set a high asking price, which no one met.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell (NHL Images)

Yohe believes general manager Kyle Dubas never expected anyone to match that price. “Truth be told, the Penguins never wanted to trade Rakell.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Expect that high price to remain in effect during the offseason.

Yohe believes the Penguins would like to trade Erik Karlsson this summer. He doesn’t sense any urgency but believes it will be discussed with other teams. The 34-year-old puck-moving defenseman still has great value. On a good team, his defensive flaws could be protected while his strengths could be a difference-maker.

Two league sources told Yohe that Dubas could trade Karlsson this summer if he’s willing to retain $3 million of his $10 million annual cap hit through 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That $10 million is the Penguins’ share of his $11.5 million cap hit, with the San Jose Sharks carrying the remaining $1.5 million. With the cap rising significantly, Dubas could try to find a trade without having to retain salary, but it’s more likely he’ll have to retain some of it to move Karlsson.

Teams could contact the Penguins on July 1 when Bryan Rust’s no-movement clause expires. Yohe cited a source claiming the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings are fans of the 32-year-old winger, but Yohe doesn’t believe the Penguins want to move him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust lacks no-trade protection after June 30.

COULD THE DEVILS SHOP ONE OR TWO PROMISING DEFENSEMEN?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the futures of prospect defensemen Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey are in question after the Devils signed Johnathan Kovacevic to a five-year contract extension. Brett Pesce has five years remaining on his contract, while Dougie Hamilton has three years.

That doesn’t leave much room on the right side for Nemec and Casey to earn regular roster minutes. In December, a report emerged claiming Nemec wanted a fresh start elsewhere, but the young Slovakian quickly squashed that speculation. However, that was before his path to become a roster regular became less certain.

Nichols noted the Devils were in the market for an impact scorer before the recent trade deadline. He speculated that they could dangle one or both young blueliners as bait to address that need this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a situation worth monitoring this summer. Fitzgerald tried to swing a major deal before the deadline but came up short. He could find a better market this summer, especially if he’s willing to move one or both of those promising defensemen.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Montreal Canadiens are expected to address their need for a second-line center during the offseason.

Sources claim the market for centers was too expensive at the trade deadline, pointing out healthy scratches were going for third-round picks and borderline NHL players were going for mid-round picks.

Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has a track record for making calculated trades during the summer rather than overpaying at the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s too early to speculate which centers could be available this summer. However, Hughes recently mentioned that he’d been speaking with general managers before the trade deadline about players who weren’t mentioned in media trade rumors.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 12, 2025

by | Mar 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 12, 2025

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin denies requesting a trade plus the latest on the Islanders and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAHLIN DENIES REQUESTING A TRADE

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports Rasmus Dahlin angrily denied comments by TNT hockey analyst Paul Bissonnette claiming the Sabres captain indicated he wanted a trade during a meeting last week with general manager Kevyn Adams.

“I want to be moved? I don’t know what he’s talking about,” said Dahlin. He admitted he’s unhappy with the team’s performance but never told Adams he wanted out.

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin (NHL Images).

Bissonnette made the remarks on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, claiming the story was given to him “by the people who really matter and who move the needle as far as the insiders.” He claimed Dahlin told Adams that “he was gonezos” if things didn’t turn around fast.

“That bugs me, actually,” said Dahlin. “I get pissed off by that. I haven’t even mentioned the word ‘leave”. So yeah, that’s just how it is.”

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn acknowledged Dahlin’s comments. However, he believes Adams and Sabres owner Terry Pegula can’t be naive about the potential for other players getting discouraged with losing so often, especially restricted free agents like JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fairburn pointed out that Dahlin didn’t hide his frustration with the club’s lack of progress. That should worry the front office. Dahlin might not want out now but that could change if this moribund franchise doesn’t snap out of its long playoff drought. Other Sabres could also run out of patience if the losing continues.

LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears reports the Islanders weren’t believed to be shopping Noah Dobson, nor was the 25-year-old defenseman looking to leave. His name appeared in the rumor mill last month after it was reported that he had changed agents.

Dobson indicated he wasn’t concerned about the speculation. He declined to get into the reasons behind the move but pointed out it happened well before it was reported. The blueliner is a restricted free agent on July 1.

Sears also speculated that Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee could surface in this summer’s rumor mill as Islanders’ management attempts to make the roster younger.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports Pageau’s name was never out in the trade market before the deadline. GM Lou Lamoriello said he didn’t want to completely bail on the current roster, preferring to give them a chance to continue competing for a playoff spot.

Pageau and Lee may be shopped during the offseason. They both have a year remaining in their contracts, which could make it easier to move them.

Staple speculated that Pierre Engvall and Scott Mayfield could be bought out of their contracts. Both have five years left on their contracts but Engall would count as $1 million against the cap if bought out while Mayfield would be $1.66 million. That would give the Isles a combined $4.33 million in cap savings per season over the next five years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes will be coming this summer for the Islanders. It remains to be seen whether Lamoriello will be the one making them.

COULD THE CANADIENS SHOP FOR A CENTER THIS SUMMER?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reports that Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes didn’t make a move at the trade deadline to add a second-line center, claiming the trade deadline wasn’t necessarily the best time to fill that spot. He indicated he called other GMs to spitball ideas on several things, including players who didn’t appear in the rumor mill leading up to the trade deadline.

Hughes has put the futures of pending UFA players David Savard, Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak on the back-burner. He’s not worried about the possibility of losing them to free agency in July, adding he felt it was more important to keep them so the younger players can lean on them down the stretch as the club pushes for a playoff spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kirby Dach’s season-ending knee surgery left the Canadiens needing a reliable second-line center. Hughes has plenty of trade capital to draw on with draft picks and prospects to swing a deal for a center this summer.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2025

by | Mar 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 11, 2025

A glimpse at what the offseason could hold for the Flyers, Blackhawks and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reported Philadelphia Flyers fans are still waiting for general manager Daniel Briere to take a big swing at acquiring a major name. That could happen as early as this summer.

That move could take the form of a major trade. However, Briere didn’t dismiss the possibility of wading into free agency, given their ample cap space next season.

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

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the salary cap reaches $95.5 million, the Flyers will have over $27.5 million with four young restricted free agents (Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster, Jakob Pelletier and Cam York) who should be affordable re-signings. That’ll leave sufficient room to make a significant addition via trade or free agency.

The Flyers also have seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, three of them being first-rounders. They also hold two first-rounders in 2027. Some of those picks could be used as trade capital to add immediate help to their roster.

BLACKHAWKS

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Greg Boysen believes Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson has set himself up for a big summer.

During Davidson’s trade deadline press conference, he indicated it’s time to start making “hockey trades” by acquiring more players rather than draft picks and prospects. He didn’t rule out using some of his stockpiled draft capital to pursue some big-name talent this summer, indicating he’ll seek acquisitions that fit the team’s picture going forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Davidson spent the past two seasons acquiring veterans via trades and free agency. However, most of them were past their prime, doing little to improve the Blackhawks or take pressure off franchise player Connor Bedard, who confessed to frustration at times this season about the club’s performance.

Davidson’s trade or free agent targets should be players in their mid to late-twenties in their playing prime, including someone who can play well alongside Bedard.

The Blackhawks have seven picks in the first four rounds of this year’s draft (including two first-rounders), and five picks in the first two rounds of next year’s draft (including two more first-rounders). Some of those picks could be part of a trade package deal that fetches some established young talent this summer.

KRAKEN

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Tim Booth looked ahead to what could be a busy summer for Kraken GM Ron Francis.

Winger Eeli Tolvanen has a career-high 18 goals this season and could be of interest to another club this summer. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak could have been moved at last Friday’s trade deadline and could be a trade target this summer.

Booth wondered if Francis might move a cornerstone player like winger Jared McCann or defenseman Vince Dunn. He also speculated that goaltender Philipp Grubauer and winger Andre Burakovsky could become buyout candidates if no trade partners can be found.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Francis focused on adding younger players to the roster this season, most notably his acquisition of winger Kaapo Kakko from the Rangers in December. He could continue that trend during the summer.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 10, 2025

by | Mar 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 10, 2025

The latest on Mitch Marner plus updates on the Rangers and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LEAFS GM HOPES MARNER REMAINS WITH THE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving addressed reports claiming the club spoke to Mitch Marner about a possible trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, who was later dealt to the Dallas Stars.

The reports stated the Leafs offered prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten, plus two first-round picks to the Hurricanes for Rantanen. The Hurricanes countered by pitching a swap of Rantanen for Marner. Treliving is believed to have told the winger that their priority was to re-sign him, but there was an opportunity to be traded to Carolina if he preferred. Marner is said to have stated he wanted to stay in Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Treliving said he wouldn’t get into questions about contract talks with the Marner camp. However, he claimed they wanted to keep the winger in Toronto for a long time, dismissing the possibility of the trade request becoming a distraction. He also praised Marner for how well he handled this situation.

Marner said he was focused on this season, adding he wants to play for the Leafs. Nevertheless, Koshan believes plenty of teams will line up to sign the 27-year-old winger if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner will seek a substantial raise over his current $10.3 million annual cap hit. He might accept slightly less than Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ team-leading $13.25 million AAV to stay in Toronto, but he could get more than that on the open market.

The reports indicated that Leafs management stressed to Marner that they wanted to re-sign him when they informed him of the trade offer from the Hurricanes. They didn’t ask him to waive his no-movement clause but left it up to him to decide what he wanted to do.

Taken at face value, it doesn’t seem like this situation will adversely affect their contract negotiations. Nevertheless, with the trade deadline having passed, we’ve reached the point where speculation over the future of pending UFA stars like Marner will begin to dominate the rumor mill.

WHAT WILL THE RANGERS DO WITH ZIBANEJAD, PANARIN & KREIDER?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks briefly looked ahead at what could be in store in the offseason for forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Both players surfaced in trade rumors this season.

Zibanejad has a full no-movement clause throughout his contract, which expires in 2029-30. Brooks believes any discussions with the 31-year-old forward will be held this summer and won’t be allowed to carry over into training camp in September. The same goes for any possibility of a trade for Kreider.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple also believes any discussions regarding the futures of Zibanejad and Kreider will be relegated to the offseason. He speculated that Kreider could become a buyout candidate if no one wants to take on his $6.5 million AAV for the next two seasons.

Staple suggested looking into whether Artemi Panarin will waive his NMC. The 33-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin carries an AAV of $11.6 million for next season, but he’s due to earn $8 million in actual salary, of which $7 million will be paid out on July 1 as a signing bonus. That could make him enticing for cost-conscious clubs, assuming he’s willing to accept a trade to one of them.

Zibanejad has an AAV of $8.5 million but has five more years left on this deal. Factor in his age (he turns 32 in April) and declining production, and he won’t be an easy sell in the trade market. The 33-year-old Kreider and his recent injury history could also affect his trade value. Buying out his contract will count as $3 million against the Rangers’ salary cap for 2025-26, $4 million for 2026-27, and $1.5 million annually for the following two seasons. 

LATEST ON THE SABRES

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports the trade of Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators for Josh Norris on Friday wouldn’t have happened if Sabres owner Terry Pegula was planning to fire general manager Kevyn Adams. However, Harrington believes Adams is getting one last chance from Pegula.

Meanwhile, Adams denied there was any truth to a rumored move of pending restricted free agent JJ Peterka to the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are about to extend their league-record playoff drought to 14 seasons. Adams will have a projected $22.4 million in offseason cap space to make additions to his roster.

Adams complained last December of the difficulty he faced last summer trying to attract quality players via free agency or the trade market. If his offseason moves fail to improve the Sabres, he won’t be in his current job by this time next season.