NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – May 16, 2025
How likely is it that Evan Bouchard and Matthew Knies get offer sheets? Who are three possible offer-sheet targets for the Devils? What’s the latest Flyers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DON’T EXPECT OFFER SHEETS FOR BOUCHARD AND KNIES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau explains why few high-end restricted free agents, like Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard and Toronto’s Matthew Knies, receive offer sheets.
Those players are crucial to their team’s future, and opposing teams don’t often have the combinations of salary-cap space and compensatory draft picks.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).
Proteau points out that a team would have to surrender two first-round picks, a second-rounder, and a third-rounder if they successfully sign Bouchard or Knies to an offer sheet with an average annual value between $9.36 million and $11.7 million.
Teams offering either player a deal between $7 million and $9.36 million annually would have to pony up a first-round pick, a second-rounder, and a third-rounder.
Proteau contrasted those with what it cost the St. Louis Blues to sign away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Oilers last August. The Blues gave up a second-rounder as compensation for Broberg and a third-rounder for Holloway.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues wouldn’t have gotten Broberg or Holloway if they’d offered a second or a third-rounder in a trade pitch. It was an affordable move by St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong to sign up two promising young players with bright futures with their new club.
Those are the type of offer-sheet signings we’re more likely to see. Teams will zero in on cap-strapped clubs with promising talent that they can sign to cost-effective contracts without giving up much in compensation.
We can’t fully dismiss the possibility of Bouchard or Knies signing an offer sheet. It’s just hard to see which team would have the necessary cap space and the appropriate number of their own draft picks to make it happen.
THREE PROPOSED OFFER-SHEET TARGETS FOR THE DEVILS
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols proposed three bold offer-sheet targets for the Devils if they want to build up their roster aggressively this summer.
Nichols suggests forward JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres, Wild and Ducks all possess sufficient cap space to match any offer sheet for those players.
Doing so could still create a salary-cap headache for the Sabres and Wild, but they could work around it with a cost-cutting trade.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have over $38 million in projected cap space. Even if they don’t spend to the cap, they have plenty to match an offer for McTavish and still have enough to re-sign or add key players.
LATEST ON THE FLYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Earlier this week, Kevin Kurz was asked which player he thinks the Flyers might pursue if they were offered up their first-round pick (sixth overall) in this year’s draft. He rules out Anaheim’s Mason McTavish as he’s crucial for the Ducks’ playoff hopes next season. Kurz suggested Seattle’s Matty Beniers, Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston, or San Jose’s Will Smith.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They would all be worthwhile targets if the Flyers were willing to dangle their first-rounder. However, it’s unlikely any of them would be available.
Kurz was also asked which Flyers winger might become trade bait if management goes shopping for a center this summer. He suggested Bobby Brink, whose stock should be rising after his 41-point performance this season.