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.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 2, 2025

by | Apr 2, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 2, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: a look at possible options for the Maple Leafs if they don’t re-sign Mitch Marner and the latest on the Kraken.

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle look at the Plan B options for the Toronto Maple Leafs if Mitch Marner departs on July 1st as a free agent.

They believe the likelihood of re-signing John Tavares increases if Marner leaves. The Leafs will be reluctant to part with two core players in the same offseason. There also aren’t many suitable options available to replace him.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner’s departure would promote William Nylander to the first-line, leaving the Leafs searching for another top-six winger like Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers or Vancouver’s Brock Boeser if they’re available in this summer’s free-agent market. They could also wait until next summer when better options (Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid) might be available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs will likely re-sign Marner unless his asking price goes ridiculously high. They’re better off with him than without because there’s no one in this summer’s UFA or trade markets to replace him, and as Siegel and Mirtle acknowledged, most of the best players in next summer’s free-agent market will be re-signed by their current clubs.

If Marner proves too expensive or another early playoff exit leads to big roster changes, they’ll definitely search for a reasonable replacement this summer. They could also use the money they intended to pay Marner to add two good, affordable players to boost their roster depth.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kate Shefte looks at what the offseason could hold for the Kraken after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. She cited team CEO Tod Leiweke maintaining that ownership still has faith in general manager Ron Francis. “I don’t think this is a rebuild,” he said.

The Kraken’s goals-per-game average improved over last season’s 2.61 (currently 2.97, sitting 16th overall). However, the goals allowed increased (3.23, sitting as the tenth-highest) while their special teams rank among the league’s bottom third.

Shefte expects the Kraken will have an active summer. They’re set to land a top-five draft pick and they have trade capital to acquire proven scorers – “really do it right this time.”

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton looked ahead at the Kraken’s possible offseason plans. Hutton points out they lack a superstar, making it difficult to succeed in today’s NHL. He acknowledged the difficulty of finding one via free agency as they tend to be homegrown.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect the Kraken to pursue someone like Mitch Marner this summer via free agency. They’ll have to draft and develop a superstar.

Seattle has a projected cap space of $20.8 million next season with 15 active roster players under contract. Notable restricted free agents include Kaapo Kakko, Tye Kartye and Ryker Evans but they should be affordable re-signings. They have no core players eligible for UFA status.

The Kraken have two second-round picks and two fourth-rounders in this year’s draft, two first-rounders, two fourth-rounders and two seventh-round picks in 2026, and two first-round picks and two second-rounders in 2027. They have the cap space and draft capital to draw on for trade bait to add a scorer or an all-around defenseman this summer.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2025

by | Apr 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 1, 2025

The latest Predators speculation, a Sabres forward is suggested as an offer-sheet target, and Cam York’s future with the Flyers in today’s (no foolin’) edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.

WHO SHOULD THE PREDATORS MOVE THIS SUMMER?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli asked Carter Hutton which veteran player he would pick to trade this summer.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

Hutton thinks it should be Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault. Both players were signed to four-year contracts last summer. He doesn’t think they can move away from long-time Predators like Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Hutton also sees them sticking with goaltender Juuse Saros now that Yaroslav Askarov is gone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutton acknowledged moving either player would be tricky.

Stamkos, 35, has a full no-movement clause and an average annual value of $8.5 million on his contract. The 34-year-old Marchessault has a more affordable AAV ($5.5 million) and a 15-team no-trade list. He also carries a no-movement clause that prevents him from being sent to the minors.

The Predators will likely hang onto both players and hope for a bounce-back performance next season. If they attempt to trade one of them, interested clubs could squeeze them to retain some salary in the deal.

COULD SABRES FORWARD JJ PETERKA BECOME AN OFFER-SHEET TARGET?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton discussed which player they would target with an offer sheet this summer.

Seravalli believes JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres would be a prime candidate. The 23-year-old forward is completing a three-year entry-level contract.

Hutton believes Peterka is someone the Sabres will have to pay a significant raise to prevent him from becoming an offer-sheet target.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peterka has steadily improved since his 2022-23 rookie campaign. He had 32 points in 77 games that season, 28 goals and 50 points in 82 games in 2023-24, and 23 goals and 59 points in 68 games this season.

The Sabres have a projected cap space for next season of over $22 million with 17 active roster players under contract. Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker are also restricted free agents.

They should have enough space to sign everyone if they spend to the cap ceiling. Otherwise, things could get interesting if a rival club makes Peterka a tempting offer.

DOES CAM YORK STILL HAVE A FUTURE WITH THE FLYERS?

SPORTSNET: Last week, Elliotte Friedman talked about Cam York’s future with the Philadelphia Flyers following the firing of head coach John Tortorella.

Friedman said Flyers management and York’s representatives discussed a contract extension earlier this season but it didn’t happen. There were times this season when the 24-year-old defenseman came up in trade talks, but Friedman doesn’t believe the Flyers made him available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: York was benched for part of last Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was Tortorella’s final game with the Flyers. He was also benched for Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Interim coach Brad Shaw said the benching for the Canadiens game was for “disciplinary reasons”. It was subsequently reported that there was a heated exchange between York and Tortorella during the Leafs game. The blueliner declined to discuss it, saying he took full responsibility for his actions.

York is part of a young core of players who were supposed to play significant roles for the rebuilding Flyers. However, two of them (Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee) were traded to the Calgary Flames in January, raising questions about his place with the club.

A restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, York has struggled this season with 15 points in 60 games, down significantly from last season’s career-high of 30 points. His situation could be worth monitoring during the offseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 31, 2025

by | Mar 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 31, 2025

Should the Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette and re-sign K’Andre Miller? What should the next contract for Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko look like? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently looked at the case for and against replacing Peter Laviolette as head coach of the New York Rangers.

If the Rangers decide to replace Laviolette, Staple doubts they’ll hire a coach from the amateur ranks like David Carle of the University of Colorado or Cam Abbott of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette (NHL.com).

Staple observed that Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan was on the Rangers’ shortlist two years ago. However, Sullivan said he isn’t ready to leave the Penguins and there’s no certainty he’d want to join the Rangers if he became available.

The league has cleared Joel Quenneville to return to the NHL coaching ranks. However, he comes with considerable baggage.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laviolette’s status will come under scrutiny after this season, especially if the Rangers miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year.

LOHUD.COM: Vincent Z. Mercogliano believes the Rangers are reaching a crossroads with K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1

Miller struggled through injury and inconsistency during the first half of this season. His performance improved after being paired with Will Borgen but his name still surfaced in trade rumors. Despite his inconsistencies, he remains the best left-shot defenseman in the organization.

Finding a suitable replacement for Miller if they trade him won’t be easy. There are limited options in the unrestricted free-agent market. Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings and Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets are older and would cost more to sign.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mercogliano suggests the Rangers sign Miller to a two-year deal to take him up to his UFA eligibility. A better option could be available by then or Miller’s performance might improve enough to earn him a lucrative long-term deal with the Rangers.

What do you think, Rangers fans? Should your club trade Miller or sign him? Should they replace Laviolette or give him another season? Let us know in the comments below.

WHAT COULD THATCHER DEMKO’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma recently observed that Thatcher Demko has a year remaining on his contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Demko’s average annual value of $5 million is below what comparable goalies are making. Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators will earn $8.25 million annually on his new four-year contract starting next season.

The 29-year-old Demko’s strong performance last season made him a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. However, he also has an injury history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzma believes Demko should seek a deal similar to Ullmark’s. The Canucks could lock him up this summer on a four or five-year contract extension. However, his injury concerns could have them wait and see how he performs next season.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 30, 2025

by | Mar 30, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 30, 2025

Check out the latest on the Rangers and the Blackhawks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Rangers general manager Chris Drury made a mistake by letting last summer’s drama regarding his efforts to trade Jacob Trouba carry over into the regular season.

Brooks believes Trouba’s resentment over that situation adversely affected his performance and ability to lead as team captain. He thinks Drury should’ve known having a lame-duck captain would become toxic. The Rangers GM eventually traded Trouba to Anaheim in December.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

According to Brooks, there “certainly is the chance Drury will ask Mika Zibanejad to waive his no-movement clause that extends through the 2029-30 duration of his contract.” If that request is made, the Rangers cannot have a senior player on the team who knows he’s no longer wanted. The situation must be resolved in the offseason and not be allowed to bleed into the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Trouba was easier last year after July 1 because he only had two years left on his contract and his full no-movement clause was reduced to a 15-team no-trade list. Zibanejad has five more seasons left with full no-move protection and an average annual value of $8.5 million.

Zibanejad was rumored to have declined to waive his NMC to be part of the return to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade. He could be more open to a trade this summer, especially if he feels he’s no longer wanted in New York. Zibanejad could also dig in his heels, creating a distracting standoff between himself and Drury.

Chris Kreider could become the more likely offseason trade candidate. He’s got two years left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. His production declined this season partly due to injuries but a playoff contender seeking a scoring left wing might take the chance on a bounce-back performance.

Artemi Panarin could be another option given he only has a year left on his deal. He might be willing to waive his NMC if Drury asks him but his $11.6 million AAV would be a sticking point. The Rangers would have to retain a healthy chunk of his cap hit.

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers thinks some teams might be kicking themselves for not offering the Chicago Blackhawks a first-round pick for Ryan Donato. The 28-year-old center continued to take his career-best season to another level by netting his first NHL hat trick in a 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights last week.

Donato has 28 goals this season, 12 more than his previous best. Time will tell if this is a one-off performance or the start of a new trend for him.

Powers report Donato is sitting on a three-year contract extension offer worth $4 million annually from the Blackhawks. They’re hoping he recognizes that the top-six minutes and power-play time he’s getting wouldn’t be available to him on most teams, especially Stanley Cup contenders.

It’s believed Donato could be intrigued by the Boston Bruins if he goes to free agency on July 1. The Bruins have fallen off this season but still have some pieces.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Donato is a Boston native and began his NHL career with the Bruins. They’re retooling and could seek out younger veterans who can help them stage a quick turnaround.

Powers is right about how Donato’s usage with the Blackhawks has led to his improved stats. He’s said that he’d like to stay in Chicago. It’s believed he’s seeking stability after bouncing from the Bruins to the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken before coming to Chicago two years ago.