NHL Rumor Mill – April 18, 2025

by | Apr 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 18, 2025

Check out the latest speculation regarding the offseason plans for the Canucks, Penguins and Islanders in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston wondered what the future holds for Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet and first-line center Elias Pettersson.

Tocchet’s contract expires at the end of this season but the Canucks hold a club option for another year. It’s believed they offered a contract extension, but Tocchet has strong bargaining power given his reputation around the league and his 2024 Jack Adams Award.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Management’s plans for next season and beyond will also factor into whether Tocchet stays or goes.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Pettersson had an awful season, prompting Johnston to ponder if management still believes signing him to his long-term contract last year was a good idea. If they decide to move him, they must find a trade partner and a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson has seven seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $11.6 million. If the Canucks intend to move him their best opportunity is before his no-movement clause kicks in on July 1.

Pettersson’s performance this season makes him difficult to move unless the Canucks retain up to half of that cap hit, which they won’t do. They’ll likely hang onto him and hope he has a bounce-back effort next season.

Johnston believes the Canucks must find a suitable second-line center. Filip Chytil is talented but not a full-fledged second-line center, plus he’s frequently sidelined. Pius Suter has shown potential in that role, but Johnston wonders if he can truly fill that spot next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Suter can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Canucks could scour the trade and free-agent markets before then to see if there are obtainable options. They have over $16.7 million in cap space with 17 active roster players under contract for next season.

The Canucks might have to find a scoring right wing if Brock Boeser departs as a free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser recently expressed doubt that he’ll be back with the Canucks. If they don’t re-sign him, it’ll give them more cap space to add that second-line center, likely the more pressing need in management’s eyes.

Team captain (and reigning Norris Trophy winner) Quinn Hughes has two years left on his contract. They can sign him to an extension next summer, but Johnston believes he’ll want to see improvement before he commits to a long-term deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes isn’t going anywhere this summer but the Canucks’ performance next season could determine his future in Vancouver. That will play a role in management’s moves this summer.

PENGUINS

POST-GAZETTE.COM: Matt Vensel had nine questions that will define the offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

One was whether it would be the status quo for next season. Vensel doesn’t think so, suggesting defensemen Erik Karlsson and winger Rickard Rakell as trade candidates this summer.

Winger Bryan Rust’s no-movement clause expires at the end of this season but it would take a significant offer to convince management to part with him. Much-maligned defenseman Ryan Graves and goaltender Tristan Jarry could be shopped this summer, though the latter is no sure thing if they can’t find a suitable replacement.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Josh Yohe of The Athletic believes there’s a real chance Karlsson could be moved if a suitable offer from a team he’s willing to join should emerge, but it would take the Penguins retaining part of his annual cap hit.

As for Jarry, Yohe believes he’ll be back next season, citing his improved performance following his stint in the minors. Of course, the Penguins will listen to offers if a rival club expresses interest in him.

Vensel wondered if the Penguins would make a splash in the trade or free-agent markets this summer. If they do, improving the blueline is the priority. Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov are the top left-handed defensemen potentially available in the UFA market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vensel also mentioned that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner will be the player we hear the most between now and the start of free agency on July 1. He cited Marner’s relationship with Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas during the latter’s tenure as Leafs GM. However, that relationship might not be enough for the rebuilding Penguins to win a bidding war for his services.

ISLANDERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple addressed questions over how the New York Islanders intend to address their crowded blueline during the offseason.

He believes restricted free agents Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov will be re-signed. Dobson’s difficult season could land him a four or five-year contract with an AAV between $7.5 million and $8 million. He suggested a six or seven-year deal for Romanov for between $6.5 million and $7 million.

Dobson and Romanov would receive lots of interest in the trade market, but it would be difficult getting equal value for either guy.

Scott Mayfield seems the main candidate to be moved. He’s got five years left on his contract with a full no-trade clause, but they could attempt to buy him out. Ryan Pulock has five years left with a full NTC for the next two years.

Adam Pelech had four years left on his contract with a 16-team no-trade list. Of those three, he’s the one they could prefer to keep.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 13, 2025

by | Apr 13, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 13, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Islanders and Lightning in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks have some business to take care of when they head into the offseason by the end of this week.

Head coach Rick Tocchet’s contract is up at the end of this season. The Canucks have a club option for one more year but they seem to have cooled on that, preferring to sign him to an extension. Neither side wants this situation to drag on too long into the offseason.

Friedman believes contract term is the big issue regarding Brock Boeser’s contract talks. Last week, the 28-year-old winger said it seemed unlikely that he’ll sign a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Luke Fox doesn’t see the Canucks offering Boeser more than their earlier proposal of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Fox suggested Boeser might fare better on the open market given the rising salary cap and lack of UFA scorers in their twenties. Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner is the biggest name, but once he’s gone, players like Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets will be courted.

The Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames want to rebuild on the fly. The Anaheim Ducks, Utah Hockey Club, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres are under pressure to improve and they have the cap space this summer to do so. The New York Islanders could shake things up this summer to add more scoring punch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet seems more likely to get an extension than Boeser, but there are still over two months to go before the UFA market opens. A lot can happen between now and then.

The current Canucks management returned to the bargaining table with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson when it seemed unlikely but neither player was weeks away from UFA eligibility like Boeser. Still, we can’t dismiss that possibility. We should have get a better idea of where things stand near the start of free agency on July 1.

As Fox pointed out, Boeser won’t lack for suitors if he hits the open market this summer. One of those teams he listed will sign him if the Canucks don’t.

ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders face crucial offseason decisions after missing the playoffs this season.

The biggest is determining the future of head coach Patrick Roy and general manager Lou Lamoriello. Questions surrounded Lamoriello for most of this season but the spotlight shifted to Roy as the Islanders imploded down the stretch. His handling of several players (Pierre Engvall, Samuel Bolduc, Tristan Lennox) prompted speculation of a rift between him and Lamoriello.

Meanwhile, Lamoriello faces criticism for running it back with his aging core once too often. It’s reasonable to ask if he’s the right person to overhaul the roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders fans have been calling for new management but Lamoriello is so entrenched that convincing him to give up the reins won’t be easy.

If Lamoriello gives up the management role he’ll still have considerable influence as president of hockey operations, especially with his son Chris being an assistant GM and a possible candidate to replace him.

LIGHTNING

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina wonders if the Lightning might end up trading top prospect Isaac Howard.

The 21-year-old left wing is the 2025 winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top US college player, but he’s indicated he’s returning to Michigan State University next season as contract talks with the Lightning remain stalled.

Howard becomes eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on Aug. 15, 2026.

The Lightning have a tried-and-true development process involving some service with their AHL affiliate. Current Lightning stars Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brayden Point were products of that process.

Encina believes it’s clear to Howard that he sees no direct path to the NHL with the Lightning, who aren’t interested in bringing him in at this stage of the season to burn a year of his entry-level contract. If the Lightning think he’s unsignable, they could use him as a trade chip this summer or next season to bring more immediate help to their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s still time for both sides to meet and try to sort this out. Nevertheless, this could end up like it did last summer with Rutger McGroarty and the Winnipeg Jets.

McGroarty wanted to join the Jets right away but they wanted him to get some AHL seasoning first with their farm team. He was concerned about what his future in Winnipeg would look like, resulting in his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins last August.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2025

by | Apr 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2025

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

CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre reports Brock Boeser considers it unlikely that he’ll be signing a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.

The 28-year-old right winger is UFA-eligible on July 1. There’s been little traction in negotiations between Canucks management and Boeser’s agent.

“It sucks, it’s unfortunate,” said Boeser. “I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

Boeser indicated he’s not talking to his agent about his contract until after the season has ended.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston also weighed in on Boeser’s comments, pointing out that the winger loves Vancouver and prefers to stay.

Johnston suggests one of the “different things” Boeser referred to was management’s lack of endorsement of him during the season, culminating in the post-trade deadline comments by Canucks GM Patrik Allvin regarding the underwhelming offers he supposedly received for the winger.

Boeser’s claim that a new deal seems “unlikely” could leave the door open for a new contract. Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks made another push to re-sign him before July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ management had seemingly difficult contract extension talks with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson before re-signing them. Still, those players weren’t less than three months away from UFA eligibility.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance looked at the Canucks offseason “to-do” list. Among them was what to do with Elias Pettersson.

The 27-year-old center is coming off a disappointing performance in the first season of his eight-year contract with an AAV of $11.6 million. His no-movement clause goes into effect on July 1.

Pettersson was taken off the trade block after J.T. Miller was traded in January. However, Drance indicates there’s plenty of skepticism in the market toward the Canucks center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks know what Pettersson is capable of when he’s on top of his game. They reportedly weren’t happy with his conditioning and preparation for this season.

They could make inquiries to gauge Pettersson’s trade value. However, his poor play and hefty contract will make it tough to move him before his NMC kicks in this summer.

A trade is possible but the Canucks are more likely to retain Pettersson in the hope that he’ll be better-prepared and determined to prove himself next season.

LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes Mitch Marner faces a basic choice this offseason: spend the rest of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, or depart as a free agent on July 1 and take his chances elsewhere.

Marner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 while Knies becomes a restricted free agent. Simmons believes the latter will be re-signed first to avoid the threat of an offer sheet. He also thinks the better Knies plays, the easier for the Leafs to bid farewell to Marner if he intends to go to market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston considers a new contract for Knies to be a priority for the Leafs. However, he doesn’t think there’s much chance the young winger will sign an offer sheet, citing the Leafs’ plentiful cap space and Knies’ disinterest in signing an offer from a rival club.

As for Marner, it could also come down to how the Leafs fare in the playoffs. Another early exit could lead to changes in the front office (no new contract for team president Brendan Shanahan) and on the roster, especially if the 27-year-old winger doesn’t perform well in this postseason. They could decide the $13 or $14 million per season investment in Marner could be better spent elsewhere.

BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked at what changes might be in store for the Boston Bruins roster this summer.

Shinzawa doesn’t see the Bruins including their draft picks in any trade proposals because of their shallow prospect pool. He believes free agency is the route to restock their roster although he acknowledged it didn’t work out well last summer when they invested in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Shinzawa also suggested targeting a cap-strapped team with an offer sheet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a projected cap space of $26.2 million with 14 active roster players under contract.

They should have enough to sign a notable player or two in the unrestricted free-agent market. If they won’t include draft picks in trade offers, they’re unlikely to go the offer-sheet route as a successful signing costs them draft picks as compensation.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

by | Apr 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 7, 2025

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

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

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 6, 2025

by | Apr 6, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 6, 2025

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

THE FLYERS COULD SHOP DRAFT PICKS FOR PLAYERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BRUINS COULD BE BIG SPENDERS THIS SUMMER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 










NHL Rumor Mill – April 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.