NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2025

by | Jun 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 7, 2025

The Panthers defeat the Oilers to tie the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars fire head coach Pete DeBoer, a plethora of other coaching moves, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

PANTHERS DEFEAT OILERS IN GAME 2 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

NHL.COM: A double-overtime goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at a game apiece.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

The goal was Marchand’s second of the game, making the 37-year-old winger the second-oldest player in Stanley Cup playoff history to score in multiple overtime periods. Hall-of-Famer Igor Larionov was 41 when he tallied for the Detroit Red Wings in triple overtime of Game 3 in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 42 shots, Seth Jones had a goal and an assist, and Nate Schmidt and Anton Lundell each collected two assists for the Panthers. Stuart Skinner made 37 saves, Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid each had three points, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist for the Oilers.

This contest was a see-saw battle with the Oilers holding a 3-2 lead after the first period, only to see the Panthers dominate the second period to go up 4-3. The Oilers battled back with Corey Perry sending it to overtime with 18 seconds remaining in the third period, but the Panthers maintained their poise and are heading home having earned a split in Edmonton.

Game 3 is Monday in Florida at 8 pm ET.

HEADLINES

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars fired head coach Pete DeBoer on Friday. The move comes just over a week after they were eliminated from the Western Conference Final for the third straight year, and days after team owner Tom Gagliardi shot down reports from Canada that DeBoer was out. He has a year remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBoer did a fine job coaching the Stars into a Western Conference powerhouse, but failed to guide them past the Conference Finals. He seemed to lose his cool during the final game against the Oilers, creating confusion among his players after pulling goaltender Jake Oettinger early in the game, and blaming his players afterward for the club’s elimination.

Candidates to replace DeBoer are already being floated by pundits, with the usual suspects (John Tortorella, Peter Laviolette, Gerard Gallant, Jay Woodcroft) popping up. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pursue a former NHL bench boss, hire away an assistant coach from another club, promote from within, or bring in a coach from the minor league or junior ranks.

Speaking of coaching moves…

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired former Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Dan Hinote left the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate to join the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach. He was the associate coach of the Colorado Eagles this season. He previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken fired assistant coach Dave Lowry and goaltending coach Steve Briere.

THE PROVINCE: On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks announced the hiring of Kevin Dean, Brett McLean and Scott Young as assistant coaches. They also announced assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky, defensive development coach Sergei Gonchar, and video coach Dylan Crawford won’t be back.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Svejkovsky is reuniting with former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia as part of the Flyers’ coaching staff.

THE DENVER POST: Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor is expected to be sidelined for the next five to six months after undergoing hip surgery for the second time in two years.

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen also underwent hip surgery. There is no timetable for his recovery.

The Rochester Americans are mourning the death of former AHL and NHL winger Scott Metcalfe, who passed away on Friday at age 58.

Metcalfe spent most of his 15-year professional career in the minor leagues. A first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 NHL Draft, he played 19 games over three seasons (1987-88 to 1989-90) with the Oilers and Buffalo Sabres. Metcalfe spent nine seasons with the Americans, winning the Calder Cup in 1996. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2006.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Metcalfe’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Americans’ organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 6, 2025

by | Jun 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 6, 2025

Check out the latest on the Avalanche, Canucks and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE AVALANCHE BE FORCED TO MOVE MARTIN NECAS?

THE DENVER POST: Troy Renck believes the Colorado Avalanche signing Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension puts general manager Chris MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar on notice.

Renck understood the need to retain Nelson to address their long-standing need for a second-line center. However, he believes the cost ($7.5 million annually) has boxed MacFarland into a salary-cap corner, likely forcing him to buy out Miles Wood and trade Ross Colton when his full no-trade clause becomes a limited one on July 1.

Martin Necas is eligible for a contract extension this summer and could ask for $10 million-plus if he reaches 100 points playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon next season. There’s speculation that the Avs could trade Necas, as the 26-year-old winger is reportedly unhappy in Colorado.

Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas (NHL Images).

Necas was the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen trade. Moving him would mean trying to get the same haul all over again, which could leave MacFarland with egg on his face.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deen cited Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos claimed that “there’s a sense” that Necas wasn’t “overly thrilled” in Colorado and could seek other options.

Deen questioned this, citing Necas’ performance with the Avalanche and how well he fit in with his new teammates. However, he’s concerned that the winger is a year away from UFA status and could seek a substantial raise over his current average annual value of $6.5 million. They can’t afford to lose him for nothing next year, and they can’t let this situation linger like they did with Rantanen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas’ asking price will be the deciding factor in his future with the Avalanche. If he seeks $10 million annually, that will be $2 million less than what Rantanen got with the Dallas Stars, and likely won’t sit well with Avs followers, who would’ve preferred hanging onto Rantanen.

COULD THE CANUCKS PEDDLE THATCHER DEMKO?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma noted that the plethora of injuries suffered by Thatcher Demko creates a dilemma for Vancouver Canucks management.

The 29-year-old goaltender is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He can be signed to an extension as early as July 1. When healthy, he’s among the league’s best netminders, but the concerns about his durability will affect their plans for re-signing him.

Kuzma reports Demko wants to remain a Canuck and has put up numbers that warrant an extension. The salary is negotiable, but contract length will be an issue. Demko will seek long-term security, but Canucks management could prefer caution.

Patrick Johnston reports plenty of people have noticed that Demko and center Elias Pettersson don’t appear in the Canucks’ latest marketing imagery.

He suggested Pettersson’s absence could be because he’s on the trade block, or perhaps his image has too much negative connotations for Canucks fans right now. However, Demko’s absence makes Johnston wonder if the goalie is quietly being shopped.

Johnston cited a league source suggesting Demko would be a solid trade chip that would fetch a return that addresses their need for a second-line center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s poor performance in 2024-25, his drama with former teammate J.T. Miller, and hefty $11.6 million AAV through 2031-32 makes him very difficult to move this summer.

Demko, on the other hand, would be easier to peddle in the trade market. Despite his injury history, there’s no question he’s a talented goaltender. The lack of quality netminders available in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets would draw plenty of interest from teams looking to upgrade between the pipes next season.

The Canucks’ goaltending is in decent shape if they wish to move on from Demkov. They signed Kevin Lankinen earlier this season to a four-year contract extension, and they have promising Arturs Silovs in the minors.

WILL THE BLACKHAWKS MAKE A MAJOR OFFSEASON MOVE?

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports there’s an assumption around the league that the Chicago Blackhawks are poised to make a major offseason move. They have plenty of cap space and draft capital, and could be aggressive in the trade and free-agent markets following their recent finishes in the league standings.

GM Kyle Davidson remains determined to continue building through the draft. They could inquire about Mitch Marner if the 28-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs winger goes to market on July 1, but they won’t overpay for him, nor do they consider him or any other player in this year’s UFA market as an essential piece to add.

Powers considers it unlikely they’ll target another club’s restricted free-agent talent with offer sheets. Instead, they could focus on the trade market. Someone like JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres could intrigue them, and they have the trade capital to make such a move.

Turning to their UFAs, Powers indicated the Blackhawks have had contract talks with Ryan Donato. They haven’t reached an agreement yet, and time is getting short, but there’s still a chance he could sign an extension.

Powers also interviewed Davidson, who remains open to trading draft capital for an NHL roster player. The Blackhawks GM is willing to explore every option to help his team, but it has to be the right fit. He also pointed out that acquiring good talent remains difficult because of the competition for the few available.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Davidson brought in veterans over the past two years to help his rebuilding team. The problem was that most of them were past their prime, with several ending up traded to other clubs.

His challenge is finding those in the prime, preferably in their mid-to-late twenties, who will fit well with the Blackhawks’ young core. Marner fits that category, but he’d be too expensive, and he could be unwilling to join a rebuilding club.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 5, 2025

by | Jun 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 5, 2025

The Avalanche need to shed salary after signing Brock Nelson, plus the latest on Rasmus Andersson, Marco Rossi, Nicolas Hague and Jake Allen in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RE-SIGNING NELSON COULD FORCE THE AVALANCHE TO SHED SALARY

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed the Colorado Avalanche’s salary-cap crunch after signing Brock Nelson to a contract extension on Wednesday.

Nelson, 33, agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7.5 million. That leaves the Avalanche with $1.2 million in cap space with 12 forwards, five defensemen and two goaltenders under contract for 2025-26.

Yaremchuk believes the Avalanche must make a cost-cutting move or two to free up cap room. Seravalli suggested defenseman Samuel Girard and forwards Charlie Coyle and Martin Necas as trade candidates.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Girard is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5 million and a nine-team no-list. Coyle was a trade-deadline acquisition from the Boston Bruins. He has a year left with a $5.25 million cap hit, a no-movement clause and a three-team no-trade list.

Necas was part of the return from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade in January. He has a year left at $6.5 million and lacks no-trade protection.

Forwards Ross Colton and Miles Wood surfaced in the rumor mill before the Nelson signing. Colton is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4 million and a modified no-trade clause. Wood has four years left on his contract with a $2.5 million AAV and a six-team no-trade list.

UPDATE ON RASMUS ANDERSSON

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Rasmus Andersson will remain the biggest storyline for the Flames until he’s re-signed, traded, or signs with another club as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

A trade is possible during the draft weekend (June 27-28) as that’s a period when deals get done. There are a few teams with top-10 draft picks who could be in the market for an experienced right-shot defenseman. The Flames aren’t in any rush to move him, but general manager Craig Conroy has a reputation for moving players around this time.

An extension for Andersson remains possible after July 1, which is the earliest the Flames can sign him.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens as possible trade destinations for Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres and Canadiens have the depth in draft picks and prospects to make a tempting offer to the Flames. However, the Habs’ biggest need is a second-line center, so they’ll likely put those assets toward addressing that need. The Sabres are in the market for a right-shot blueliner to pair with Owen Power.

The Stars are expected to shake things up after falling short in the Western Conference Final for the third straight year. They need depth on the right side behind Miro Heiskanen, but must first shed some salary if they intend to pursue someone like Andersson.

Most of the talk about the Hurricanes suggests they’ll pursue big fish via free agency to address their need for an impact player to carry them to the Stanley Cup Final. If there’s enough cap space after landing that player, maybe they’ll look at Andersson.

The Leafs need a puck-moving right-shot defenseman on their top pairing. GM Brad Treliving knows Andersson from his days in the Flames’ front office.

THE LATEST ON MARCO ROSSI

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Michael Russo report league sources claim there was another call between Wild GM Bill Guerin and agent Ian Pulver, who represents Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old center becomes a restricted free agent without arbitration rights on July 1.

Earlier this season, the Rossi camp rejected a five-year, $25 million contract proposal. A shorter bridge deal was pitched last week, but Pulver told Guerin that the recent offer no longer makes sense after he was buried on the fourth line during the playoffs.

The Wild aren’t willing to offer Rossi a deal comparable to teammate Matt Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million contract. It feels like his time with the Wild could be coming to an end.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s future in Minnesota has been the subject of frequent speculation for weeks. His asking price could make him difficult to move, but rumors persist that teams continue to inquire about his availability.

FLYERS INTERESTED IN NICOLAS HAGUE

SPORTSNET 590: Elliotte Friedman reports the Philadelphia Flyers are believed to have contacted the Vegas Golden Knights about Nicolas Hague. The 26-year-old left-shot defenseman completed a three-year contract with an AAV of $2.294 million and is an RFA with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas Hockey Now’s Hannah Kirkell recently observed that the Golden Knights already have Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden McNabb under contract for next season. She suggested that it could make Hague the odd man out.

The Golden Knights could go shopping for a big-ticket UFA this summer. They have $9.6 million in cap space and might be willing to part with Hague in a trade if they have no plans to re-sign him.

JAKE ALLEN HOPES TO REMAIN WITH THE DEVILS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited an NHL.com report indicating Jake Allen hopes to stay in New Jersey. The 34-year-old Devils goaltender is UFA-eligible on July 1.

GM Tom Fitzgerald said they’re trying to figure out what type of salary Allen prefers and whether they can make it work.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2025

by | Jun 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2025

The Oilers draw first blood in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Nikita Kucherov wins the Ted Lindsay Award, the Avalanche re-sign Brock Nelson, the Penguins and Bruins have new head coaches, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

OILERS DEFEAT PANTHERS IN THE OPENING GAME OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl opened and closed the scoring as his club overcame a 3-1 deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Draisaitl scored early in the first period, but the Panthers rallied on goals by Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand midway through the period. Bennett’s second goal of the game early in the second period gave the Panthers a two-goal lead, but a slapshot by Oilers winger Viktor Arvidson quickly cut that lead to one goal.

Connor McDavid set up Mattias Ekholm for the tying goal at 6:33 of the third period. McDavid also picked up the primary assist on Draisaitl’s game-winner on the power play at 19:29 of overtime.

Game 2 is Friday, June 6, in Edmonton at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl tied a Stanley Cup Playoff record with three overtime goals in a single postseason. Teammate Stuart Skinner settled down after giving up three goals, making 24 saves over the rest of the game, including 16 in the second period.

McDavid leads all playoff skaters with 22 assists, holding a one-point lead over Draisaitl (28-27).

Bennett scored his 12th goal to lead all scorers in these playoffs. He also set a franchise record for the most goals in a single postseason. Jesper Boqvist rejoined the Panthers’ lineup for Game 1. He replaced A.J. Greer, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Before this game, Oilers winger Zach Hyman revealed he dislocated and tore ligaments in his right wrist in a collision with Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. He’s out for the remainder of the playoffs, but hopes to be ready for training camp in September.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ekblad told reporters he hopes to remain in Florida after this season. The long-time Panthers defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

“I live and breathe for the Florida Panthers,” said Ekblad. “I bleed for the Florida Panthers. I’ve given my body and everything to this team. I want to keep doing it forever, for as long as they’ll let me keep coming to the rink.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is completing an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The Panthers must also re-sign Bennett, meaning Ekblad might have to accept a significant pay cut on a shorter term to remain in Florida.

HEADLINES

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the 2024-25 winner of the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s MVP, as voted by the membership of the NHL Players’ Association. The team surprised Kucherov with the award during a training session on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov previously won this award in 2018-19, the same season he won the Hart Memorial Trophy. He’s up for that award this season with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Kucherov also took home his first Art Ross Trophy in ’18 -’19 and won it this season for the third time.

THE DENVER POST: The Colorado Avalanche signed Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Acquired from the New York Islanders at the March trade deadline, the 33-year-old center was due to become a UFA on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Nelson addresses the Avalanche’s long-term need for a second-line center. However, it leaves them with $1.2 million in cap space, with 19 active roster players under contract for the 2025-26 season. Expect a cost-cutting trade in the coming weeks.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins named Dan Muse as their new head coach. He served previously as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hiring Muse surprised observers expecting the Penguins to choose a more experienced NHL head coach. Nevertheless, he’s considered a smart bench boss who works well with young players, which should make him a good fit for the rebuilding Penguins.

EISHOCKEY NEWS: The Boston Bruins announced Marco Sturm as their new head coach. “A dream come true,” said Sturm. “I’m proud and super happy that it worked out.” He’s returning to the club that he played for from 2005-06 to 2009-10.  Sturm was the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the past three seasons. He’s the first German-born head coach in NHL history. 

NHL.COM: League commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said collective bargaining discussions between the two sides are going well. They didn’t offer a timetable for when an agreement will be reached, but Bettman felt it should be in place before the current agreement expires in September 2026.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talks are likely to continue throughout the summer.

Bettman said the league has had discussions with parties interested in adding new markets, but insisted there are no plans to expand beyond the current 32 teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation suggests Houston and Atlanta could become the next destinations for NHL expansion clubs. It won’t be surprising if there are new franchises in those markets by the end of this decade.

Bettman also said an All-Star event will be hosted by the New York Islanders in 2027. The franchise was supposed to host the 2026 All-Star Game, but that plan was scuttled by the success of this year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

SPORTSNET: The NHL and NHLPA indicated there will be no changes in the upcoming CBA to address any perceived advantages for teams located in no-tax states.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there are many reasons why a player chooses to play in a certain location, a particular team or a particular coach that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market.

NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey pointed out that clubs in higher-tax states like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston dominated the league between 2008 and 2020. He noted that superstars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara could’ve made more money playing elsewhere, but stayed put because they were playing for contenders, they liked where they lived, and didn’t want to move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to Hainsey for pointing out the blatantly obvious to punch holes in this “issue”.

The notion of teams in no-tax states having an advantage over other clubs has been recently trotted out by critics of the Florida Panthers, insinuating it’s the main reason behind their recent success. It’s the same excuse being used to explain why a Florida-based team has reached the Stanley Cup Final in every season since 2020.

That critique, of course, is nonsense.

The Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning before them, were built by smart general managers and guided by shrewd coaches. To suggest otherwise is insulting to the hard work that those franchises have done to become champions.

THE ATHLETIC: Hainsey confirmed that the league and the PA are working to address the long-term injury reserve loophole in the next CBA. He didn’t get into the details, but said they continue to discuss finding a mechanism to put into place to manage that issue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LTIR is legalized salary-cap circumvention because there is no salary cap during the postseason. Every team has used it at one time or another, but some clubs have used it to bolster their rosters in preparation for the playoffs.

The Panthers are the most recent example. Matthew Tkachuk suffered an injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off that sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular season. The Panthers used the salary-cap savings to acquire Seth Jones and Brad Marchand before the trade deadline. Tkachuk returned to action for the start of this postseason, able to rejoin the roster because the salary cap only applies to the regular season.

The Panthers operated within the rules as laid out in the CBA. They did nothing wrong, and they aren’t the only team to have used LTIR to their advantage. Nevertheless, this loophole allowed them to bolster their roster for the playoffs in a way that they wouldn’t have had if Tkachuk had been healthy.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: T.J. Oshie will make an announcement on Monday, in which he is expected to reveal his intention to retire. The 38-year-old Washington Capitals winger missed all of this season dealing with back issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oshie tallied 302 goals and 393 assists for 695 points in 1,010 games between 2008-09 and 2023-24. He began his career with the St. Louis Blues before being traded to the Capitals in 2015, and helped the latter win the Stanley Cup in 2018. He had 34 goals and 69 points in 106 playoff games.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2025

by | Jun 4, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 4, 2025

The latest on the Senators’ Drake Batherson, the Avalanche’s Samuel Girard, and the Ducks’ Mason McTavish and Trevor Zegras in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the talk around the league is the Senators would like to acquire a proven top-six forward who can score via trade or free agency.

They’re also in the market for a right-shot defenseman because Nick Jensen will require a lengthy recovery from recent hip surgery.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).

Garrioch cited three league executives suggesting to keep an eye on Drake Batherson. It was rumored that the Senators were listening to offers for the 27-year-old winger at the March trade deadline. His name has resurfaced in the rumor mill.

Batherson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $4.975 million. He had 26 goals and 68 points last season, but Garrioch claims some within the Senators’ organization are frustrated with his inconsistency.

However, the Senators will proceed with caution because Batherson’s contributions shouldn’t be ignored. Moving him would free up a top-six forward spot for Fabian Zetterlund.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Julian McKenzie of The Athletic believes the Senators won’t move Batherson unless they’re getting a better scorer in return. The same could apply to their need for a top-four, right-shot blueliner, if the intent is to move Zetterlund up among their top-six forwards.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak observed that Samuel Girard is frequently mentioned as an Avalanche trade candidate. He’s stuck behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews as their No. 3 defenseman. His 5’10”, 170-pound frame and the perception that the Avs need more grit and defensive aptitude on their blueline are other reasons why he comes up in the rumor mill.

However, Masisak believes trading an underrated puck-moving No. 3 blueliner on a team-friendly contract ($5.5 million annual cap hit through 2026-27)is a tough ask for the Avalanche. It would be difficult to find a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Girard trade speculation started about two years ago. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun dismissed those rumors for the same reasons mentioned by Masisak.

Things can change, of course. The Avalanche’s early playoff exits over the past three seasons could spur management to gauge Girard’s value in the trade market. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem like they will consider that move this summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently looked at which players will stay with the Anaheim Ducks this summer and those that might be on the move.

Mason McTavish is on his “Not going anywhere” list. The 22-year-old center has been mentioned as an offer-sheet candidate, but Stephens points out the Ducks can easily match an offer that doesn’t throw off their future salary scale.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks could let McTavish go if a rival club signed him to an offer sheet with an AAV between $7.03 million and $9.36 million. The compensation they’d receive would be a first, a second, and a third-round pick.

However, only 15 clubs have the necessary picks to make that pitch. Of those, the Devils, Predators, Canadiens, Flyers, and Oilers have less than $20 million in cap space and could be reluctant to invest between $7 million and $9 million on an offer sheet for a second-line center.

Nobody’s paying McTavish between $9.36 million and $11.7 million and giving up two firsts, a second, and a third. He’s good, but not in that pay class. And if anyone is dumb enough to offer up over $11.7 million and four first-rounders, they should be fired immediately. 

Stephens acknowledged that Trevor Zegras is a long-time trade candidate whose career with the Ducks has reached a crossroads. However, playing under Joel Quenneville next season might help him finally develop into an elite playmaking forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was plenty of interest in Zegras last summer and lots of speculation suggesting he’d be moved. However, another injury-hampered performance this season has hurt his trade value.

Zegras has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.75 million, becoming an RFA with arbitration rights next July. Unless the Ducks get a terrific trade offer, they’ll likely hang onto Zegras and see how he does playing for Quenneville.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 17, 2025

by | May 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 17, 2025

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

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith speculated the Minnesota Wild could attempt to land Brock Nelson this summer. The 33-year-old Colorado Avalanche center is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

Smith pointed out that Wild general manager Bill Guerin indicated his priority is to improve his club’s depth at center. They could use a second-line center if Guerin decides to trade Marco Rossi.

Agent Ben Hankinson recently told KFAN that his client (a Minnesota native) was intrigued by the idea of playing at home and he could see a fit. However, Hankinson also expected the Colorado Avalanche will attempt to re-sign Nelson.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other center free-agent options could include Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Nelson could be the Wild’s main target if he goes to market on July 1, depending on what happens with Rossi, who’s coming off his entry-level contract.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner believes Minnesota’s Marco Rossi and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi could be offer-sheet targets for the New York Islanders.

The Islanders are currently searching for a new general manager. Rosner believes that GM could attempt to improve the roster while getting younger, suggesting an offer sheet could be a great way to do it.

Rosner suggested offering Rossi a deal similar to the seven-year contract (with a $6.5 million average annual value) that Matt Coronato recently signed with the Calgary Flames. For Vilardi, it could cost just over $7 million annually on a three to five-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming either player would entertain offers from rival clubs once they become restricted free agents on July 1.

Rossi could be the more likely candidate, reportedly rejecting an offer from the Wild earlier this season. The oft-injured Vilardi could prefer the stability he enjoys in Winnipeg, but that will also depend on his contract talks with Jets management.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman believes landing a top-four, big-minute defenseman is among the Detroit Red Wings’ priorities to address this offseason. Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings would be the most intriguing name on the free-agent market.

Bultman was asked if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would consider pitching his first-round pick (13th overall) to acquire prospect Isaac Howard from the Tampa Bay Lightning. He doesn’t think so, suggesting that it would be too much for the Hobey Baker Award winner.

“Howard is still a 5-foot-11 wing who isn’t an explosive skater, “ he wrote, predicting the youngster could become a middle-six NHL winger.