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.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2025

by | Aug 26, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 26, 2025

The latest about Oilers captain Connor McDavid’s contract status and an update on the Canucks search for a second-line center in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During last week’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman offered up his take on Connor McDavid’s contract negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.

McDavid, 28, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. So far, there’s no indication that the two sides are close to getting a contract extension done.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Friedman believes McDavid and the Oilers will get to work on that after Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp (Aug. 26-28) is completed. “I just think everybody wants to get it done. I would expect between the Olympic camp and training camp, they sit down and say, ‘How’s this all going to look?”

The Oilers’ training camp opens in mid-September.

OILERS NATION: Zach Laing cited Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson expressing confidence that McDavid’s contract negotiations shouldn’t take long to complete.

Appearing on “Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet”, Jackson told host Jeff Marek that he believes when McDavid is ready, they’ll have a discussion and get a deal done. He pointed out that the Oilers captain loves the city of Edmonton and the team, adding that he has confidence in general manager Stan Bowman. Jackson stated that Oilers owner Darryl Katz and his family have treated McDavid and his wife very well.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This situation seems similar to Leon Draisaitl’s last summer. Weeks of speculation over his status with the Oilers ended when he signed an eight-year extension before training camp last September.

The same situation could unfold for McDavid over the next three weeks. Jackson has every reason to feel confident about getting McDavid under contract. Before he was the Oilers CEO, he was McDavid’s agent.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the Vancouver Canucks had hoped to add a second-line center during this offseason. So far, however, there’s little indication suggesting they’re close to reaching that goal.

It’s proven difficult to make trades this summer. Meanwhile, Canucks management has little appetite to sign one of the remaining players in the unrestricted free-agent market. That includes Jack Roslovic, who is no longer on their radar.

The only additions to the Canucks thus far are winger Evander Kane and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. As things stand, their internal options for the second-line center position are the oft-injured Filip Chytil and the untested Aatu Raty.

Johnston believes the Canucks would be interested in Mason McTavish if the 22-year-old Anaheim Ducks center becomes available in the trade market. However, he’s also on everyone else’s radar.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s colleague Steve Ewen reported the Canucks were among the teams interested in Marco Rossi. However, the 23-year-old center is off the market after signing a three-year bridge contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Ewen believes the Canucks could head into training camp with their current group of top-six forwards. He also noted that McTavish has surfaced in the rumor mill, pointing out that other teams are also believed to be interested in him. Ewen indicated the Ducks remain keen to re-sign him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That list includes Elias Pettersson centering Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk on the first line, and Chytil centering Kane and Conor Garland on the second line. Raty would center their third line.

Barring any developments during training camp and preseason, the Canucks are likely to start the season with those six forwards on their top two lines. Management may have to wait until later in the season to find a trade for a suitable second-line center.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 25, 2025

by | Aug 25, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 25, 2025

The latest speculation about Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco was asked by a reader which UFA-eligible players might test the market next summer.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

Di Marco replied that he doesn’t think it’s a slam dunk that Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov will re-sign with their respective teams.

Having paid big bucks to land Mitch Marner this summer, Di Marco wonders if they can afford another high-salaried forward. The rising salary cap for next season could see the average annual value on Eichel’s next contract soar above $12.6 million.

Kaprizov is poised to become the league’s highest-paid winger next season, but Di Marco wonders if Wild general manager Bill Guerin is willing to make him that. Guerin played hardball this summer with Marco Rossi before signing the 23-year-old restricted free-agent center to a three-year contract.

Di Marco believes Kaprizov has the opportunity to change the market for NHL wingers in the largest way since Artemi Panarin signed with the New York Rangers in 2019. He might not want to turn that down.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out the possibility of Eichel and Kaprizov testing next summer’s UFA market. Nevertheless, both are likely to remain with their current teams beyond this season.

Eichel’s role as a first-line center makes him invaluable to the Golden Knights. They also have a projected $20.3 million in cap space for 2026-27, and we can add another $8.8 million to that with Alex Pietrangelo on permanent long-term injury reserve. They shouldn’t have much difficulty hanging onto him.

Meanwhile, Wild owner Craig Leipold stated last October that re-signing Kaprizov was their focus. “We plan to re-sign him,” said Leipold. “I will tell you nobody will offer more money than us, or longer years, so all we have to do is prove to him that we want to win.”.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 24, 2025

by | Aug 24, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 24, 2025

A suggested trade for the Maple Leafs and Penguins, and speculation the Kings considered shopping Brandt Clarke in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LEAFS NATION: cited former Toronto Maple Leafs player Jay Rosehill saying he’d welcome a trade that would have the Leafs ship defenseman Morgan Rielly and winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for puck-moving blueliner Erik Karlsson.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

Rosehill made his comments about the mock trade during his Aug. 21 appearance on the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast. He believes they’re trying to move Nick Robertson because he doesn’t think there’s a fit for the winger on their roster. Rosehill also noted that Rielly’s performance has stalled, and he no longer produces as he used to.

Despite the 35-year-old Karlsson’s age, Rosehill believes the former Norris Trophy winner would still have upside quarterbacking the Leafs’ power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can tell we’re still mired in the dog days of a quiet offseason when a mock trade starts making the rounds in the rumor mill.

Thankfully, September is fast approaching, and so is the start of training camp. We should soon start seeing some movement in the trade market, and hopefully some more realistic trade rumors once the pundits all return from their vacations.

As for this mock trade, Pittsburgh would have to retain $3 million of their $10 million share of Karlsson’s $11.5 million average annual value through 2026-27 to make the dollars fit for the Leafs. Regardless, the Penguins likely won’t take on the remaining four years of Rielly’s contract ($7.5 million AAV) just to get the final two years of Karlsson’s deal off their books, especially when it appears Rielly’s performance is declining.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jesse Courville-Lynch cited Michael Russo of The Athletic saying the Los Angeles Kings considered trading defenseman Brandt Clarke.

Russo made those comments during a recent appearance on the “DFO Rundown” podcast. The 22-year-old Clarke had 33 points last season, which was his first full NHL campaign. According to Russo, there were points during this offseason when it felt like the Kings would consider moving Clarke. However, he believes general manager Ken Holland wants to “get his eyes on him” before making a major move like that.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings lost defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the New York Rangers through free agency and traded blueliner Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators. They added Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin via free agency, two moves that were greeted with criticism.

Some observers suggest that Clarke could be traded for a return that bolsters their forward depth. However, moving him could further deplete their blueline, making life miserable for their goaltenders.