NHL Rumor Mill – April 5, 2025

by | Apr 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 5, 2025

The latest on the Canucks and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Earlier this week, Patrick Johnston mused on what he called “the most disappointing Vancouver Canuck season in recent memory” as the club’s playoff hopes were all but dashed following their 5-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Johnston wondered what head coach Rick Tocchet’s path forward would be following this trying season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet is in the final season of his contract with the Canucks, but they hold a one-year option on that deal. He’s open to discussing an extension following this season but the club’s difficulties raised speculation that he might move on.

Tocchet’s been linked to the Philadelphia Flyers, who replaced John Tortorella as head coach last week with Brad Shaw on an interim basis. Tocchet spent 11 of his 18-season NHL playing career with the Flyers and remains well-respected and popular among their fan base.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Johnston also wondered how management would address their depth at center. “If they do keep Elias Pettersson, who are they going to find to be the other top-line center?” “Is Pius Suter really the second-line center behind Pettersson?”

If the Canucks trade Pettersson this summer, they’ll likely have to retain part of his $11.6 million average annual value. Finding a suitable replacement will be difficult.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading J.T. Miller in January did little to improve Pettersson’s production. With 45 points in 64 games, he’s having the worst performance of his seven-season NHL career. Since the Miller trade, he has 17 points in 30 games.

Nevertheless, Pettersson had 89 points in 82 games last season and 102 points in 2022-23. The Canucks know what he’s capable of and that there is no one available to replace his production when he’s on top of his game. Unless they intend to tear down the roster and rebuild, trading Pettersson makes no sense.

Even if they trade Pettersson, they won’t get fair value in return. His expensive contract and poor performance this season hurt his value in the trade market. Their best option is retaining Pettersson and hope he has a bounce-back performance.

BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Washington Capitals offer a template for the Boston Bruins to quickly retool their roster.

He suggests the Bruins bring in a younger, less experienced coach who can grow with the team, suggesting former Providence Bruins coach Jay Leach, who is now part of the Seattle Kraken’s coaching staff.

Shinzawa also recommends building around David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy through the trade and free-agent markets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston won’t tear things down to the studs with Pastrnak, Swayman and McAvoy in their prime and under long-term contracts. They must build up around those three as quickly as possible while they remain at their peak.

Bruins management has $28.8 million available next season with 11 active roster players under contract. They have the cap space to make additions this summer. The aim could be landing younger, affordable NHL-ready players from cap-strapped clubs or those looking to shake up their rosters.










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.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 27, 2025

by | Mar 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 27, 2025

Could this season be John Tortorella’s last behind the Flyers bench? What’s the latest on the Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THIS BE TORTORELLA’S LAST SEASON COACHING THE FLYERS?

**UPDATE** The Philadelphia Flyers have relieved John Tortorella of his coaching duties. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This occurred mere minutes after I published the original post. You can read it below and laugh at how mistaken I was that they might keep him for another season. Cheers!

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently cited Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella taking responsibility for his club’s 7-2 loss on Tuesday to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tortorella also expressed frustration over the Flyers’ current losing skid.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella (NHL.com).

James believes Tortorella’s comments signal the beginning of the end of Tortorella’s tenure behind the Flyers bench. While the long-time NHL coach has a year left on his contract, his frustration over the rebuilding team’s struggles could suggest he’s not up to another season.

If this season is Tortorella’s last coaching the Flyers, James believes his replacement should be David Carle of the University of Denver if he’s willing to make the jump to the NHL coaching ranks.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes Tortorella sounds a lot like he did when he “walked the plank” in Vancouver after his dismal one-year reign of error coaching the Canucks in 2013-14.

Kuzma wonders if the Flyers might try to woo Canucks current head coach Rick Tocchet, who is in the final year of his current contract, though there’s a club option for next season. It could give Tocchet leverage in his contract talks with the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation over the fates of coaches on losing teams always arises at this point in the season. Tortorella’s future in Philadelphia likely rests with him. For the most part, he’s done a good job in keeping the rebuilding Flyers competitive since last season. The front office could keep him in place for next season to see how things shake out.

Tortorella cannot be faulted for the Flyers’ weak goaltending or management’s decision to trade away a leader like Scott Laughton or long-time Flyers like Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. Those are among the key factors contributing to their current slide.

LATEST ON THE BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Boston Bruins will need more speed in their lineup if they hope to improve next season. He cited several recent examples of how their inability to get to pucks and places quickly enough remains a problem.

The return of healthy puck-moving defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm will help next season. The blueline could undergo additional makeovers if management decides to add more speed. The Bruins also have only five forwards under contract for next year, giving management more flexibility in that area to address the issue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins will have nearly $28 million in cap space for next season with 12 active roster players under contract. The most notable player to re-sign is restricted free-agent winger Morgan Geekie. They could have sufficient room this offseason to add faster players.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Bruins are among a handful of teams interested in signing Cornell University forward Dalton Bancroft.

Bancroft, 24, is a 6’3”, 207-pound right wing in his third season with Cornell. He leads them with 15 goals and is second in points with 26 in 34 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning are also believed to be interested in the big power forward.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 23, 2025

by | Mar 23, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 23, 2025

The latest coaching speculation plus updates on the Wild and Sharks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

FOUR COACHES COULD BE ON THE HOT SEAT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes four current NHL head coaches could be searching for new jobs in the offseason.

Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators could be among the job hunters following his club’s disappointing performance after a summer of notable free-agent additions like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Barry Trotz deserves some of the blame, as he’s the one who made those big signings last summer. Nevertheless, the coach suffers for management’s mistakes and Brunette could take the fall here.

Lindy Ruff’s return to the Buffalo Sabres failed to reverse their fortunes. The Sabres are poised to extend their league-record playoff drought to 14 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bringing back Ruff was a mistake. His style isn’t suited for the type of team the Sabres have constructed.

Joe Sacco took over as Boston Bruins head coach on an interim basis following the firing of Jim Montgomery last November. The Bruins continued to slide on Sacco’s watch and are five points out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe also believes Sacco will be replaced as head coach. He expects he’ll be retained as part of the coaching staff if ownership retains Don Sweeney as general manager and Cam Neely as team president.

Mike Sullivan has been the bench boss of the Pittsburgh Penguins for a decade. However, they could decide to part ways with Mike Sullivan as they continue retooling their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sullivan has done the best he can with the rosters Dubas and his predecessor have given him. However, the Penguins are transitioning toward younger talent and Dubas could decide to shake things up behind the bench.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette could be added to this list. He guided the Blueshirts to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 but has sometimes looked lost seeking solutions for this season’s on-ice woes. It hasn’t helped that management has been shaking up the roster in the trade market since December. Nevertheless, they could decide that a coaching change is in order.

WILL THE WILD BE BIG SPENDERS THIS SUMMER?

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen reports Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin has his eyes on the offseason and what could be available to his club once the buyout charges for Ryan Suter and Zach Parise go down.

The combined cost of buying out Suter and Parise is over $14.7 million against the Wild’s cap. However, that cost drops to $1.66 million annually for the next three seasons, giving them a projected cap space of $21.8 million for 2025-26.

Rosen warns that doesn’t mean the opening of the 2025 free-agent market on July 1 will be like Christmas Day for the Wild. They must keep in mind the significant raise required to re-sign superstar Kirill Kaprizov before his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status next year. Young center Marco Rossi is a restricted free agent and will seek a significant raise coming off his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin could make a cost-cutting move to free up extra cap space if he wants to go big-game hunting this summer. If not, he could content himself with affordable depth signings to improve his club’s chances of a deep playoff run next year.

SHARKS MUST ADDRESS GOALIE DEPTH THIS SUMMER

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka observed the San Jose Sharks must improve their goaltending depth and defensive play. They have the league’s worst goals-against per game (3.64 as of March 23) while their .890 save percentage is 30th.

Rookie goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is the only Sharks goalie under contract next season. Veteran Alexandar Georgiev is UFA-eligible this summer and has been inconsistent this season, though he cannot bear sole responsibility for the Sharks’ defensive woes. Rookie Georgi Romanov is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pickings for goalies are slim in this summer’s free-agent market. The notables include New Jersey’s Jake Allen, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, former Sharks netminder Vitek Vanecek, Calgary’s Dan Vladar, Detroit’s Alex Lyon and Los Angeles’ David Rittich.

Trade options aren’t much better. John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks is the most noteworthy having frequently surfaced in trade rumors over the last two years. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million. Gibson also has a 10-team no-trade list, which could put the Sharks out of the running.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 17, 2025

by | Mar 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 17, 2025

Check out the latest Mitch Marner speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner didn’t immediately respond when asked about waiving his no-movement clause to go to the Carolina Hurricanes. Instead, he slept on it before declining the invitation to be dealt to the Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

Simmons believes this is indicative that Marner’s actions don’t match his words about wanting to remain a Maple Leaf. The 28-year-old winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1 but has declined to discuss extending his contract during this season. That’s why the Leafs explored the possibility of acquiring Rantanen when the opportunity presented itself.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Simmons also believes the Hurricanes leaked the story that they and the Leafs were discussing a Marner-Rantanen swap before the trade deadline. He also cited a hockey insider claiming Marner is tired of being the public pinata of the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I forewarned everyone that we’d start seeing more speculation about Marner’s future after Rantanen was traded to Dallas, where the latter signed an eight-year contract extension. That made the Leafs winger the biggest name in this summer’s free-agent market.

It was reported the Leafs told Marner their priority was signing him when they approached him about the Hurricanes’ offer. If he was uncertain about signing, they let him know there was an opportunity to go to Carolina.

Marner and his agent are the only ones who know what he intends to do and they’re keeping silent on the matter as is their right. Rejecting the chance to go to Carolina suggests he wants to remain in Toronto. Then again, maybe they weren’t the right fit.

Whether Marner remains a Leaf beyond this season depends on two things: the club’s performance in the upcoming playoffs, and how much it’ll cost to keep him in Toronto. Everything else is irrelevant.

THE ATHLETIC: A reader asked Josh Yohe if the Pittsburgh Penguins will attempt to sign Marner if he tests the free-agent market on July 1.

Yohe acknowledged the connection between Marner and Penguins general manager (and former Leafs GM) Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ plentiful cap space next season, the winger’s friendship with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and how Marner would fit into the Pens’ desire to add younger talent to their aging roster.

However, Yohe doesn’t see Marner coming to Pittsburgh. He cites sources suggesting Dubas doesn’t intend to make a major move until next summer. It’s also unlikely that Marner will want to sign with a rebuilding team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stranger things have happened, but Yohe is correct in his assessment that it is unlikely that Marner will end up with the Penguins this summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa suggested Marner could be an ideal candidate to fill the No. 2 right-wing position on the Boston Bruins. He also suggested Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets would be the ideal candidate for the left-wing position on their second line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably have a better chance of landing Ehlers than Marner, who’ll likely want to join a playoff contender where he’ll see first-line minutes, something he won’t get on the Bruins with David Pastrnak in that role.

Besides, the Bruins would have to pay Marner more than what they’re paying Pastrnak ($11.25 million), and we know they’re not doing that for a second-line right wing.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2025

by | Mar 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2025

Recaps of Tuesday’s games include a milestone for Sidney Crosby, the latest in the Mikko Rantanen trade drama, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Erik Karlsson tallied in overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins upset the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2. Tristan Jarry stopped 35 shots and Rickard Rakell had two assists for the Penguins. Pavel Dorofeyev and Noah Hanifin each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights as they sit first in the Pacific Division with 83 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby became the first player in league history to have multi-goal games against 31 different NHL franchises. Penguins defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph missed this game as they’re week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Forward Tommy Novak is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas tallied his first NHL hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Alex Ovechkin collected three assists and Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who have won five straight games and hold first place in the overall standings with 94 points. Frank Vatrano, Pavel Mintyukov and Drew Helleson each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a disappointing season with the Los Angeles Kings, Dubois has rediscovered his scoring touch with the Capitals. He has 57 points in 65 games, putting him on track to exceed his career-best 63-point performance with the Winnipeg Jets in 2022-23. He considers playing with Ovechkin in his quest to break the all-time goal record on a team that looks like a Stanley Cup contender the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Winnipeg Jets kept pace with the Capitals atop the overall standings with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers. Vladislav Namestnikov and Gabe Vilardi scored and Cole Perfetti added two assists for the Jets (94 points). Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers (68 points), who sit two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals sit ahead of the Jets with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Jets defenseman Luke Schenn admitted feeling a little overwhelmed after being traded twice within a day and a half. On March 5, he was acquired from the Nashville Predators by the Penguins, who flipped him to the Jets.

Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they dropped a 5-3 decision to the New Jersey Devils. Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists, while Luke Hughes and Cody Glass each collected two points for the Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points. Mathieu Olivier scored twice for the Blue Jackets (70 points).

The Ottawa Senators opened up a little breathing room between themselves and the Blue Jackets by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Brady Tkachuk scored his 400th NHL point while Dylan Cozens scored to pick up his third straight point since joining the Senators at the trade deadline. The Senators have won four straight and hold the first Eastern wild card with 73 points. Jamie Drysdale and Rodrigo Abois replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cozens seems rejuvenated since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres, providing a welcome jolt of energy to the Senators’ lineup.

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist and Sam Montembeault made 29 saves for the Canadiens, who sit two points behind the Blue Jackets. Filip Hronek had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (69 points), who remain one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Canucks captain Quinn Hughes remained sidelined with a lower-body injury but could return to action for Wednesday’s game against the Flames in Calgary.

The Boston Bruins also sit two points behind the Blue Jackets after rallying to nip the Florida Panthers 3-2. Dmitry Kulikov and Mackie Samoskevich scored for the Panthers but the Bruins replied with third-period goals by David Pastrnak, Mason Lohrei and Pavel Zacha. The Panthers hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Bruins captain Brad Marchand skated with the Panthers during their gameday skate but remains week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Panthers acquired Marchand at the trade deadline.

Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield scored for the fourth straight game in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 33 shots for the Kings, who’ve won three straight and sit third in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Anders Lee scored for the Islanders (65 points) as they remain five points behind the Blue Jackets.

The Carolina Hurricanes got their fifth straight win by downing the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. Seth Jarvis scored to extend his goal streak to three games and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points. Gage Goncalves scored for the Lightning, who are third in the Atlantic Division with 78 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov left this game near the end of the second period with an undisclosed ailment.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves to nip the Colorado Avalanche 2-1, ending the latter’s six-game win streak. Mats Zuccarello scored in regulation and the shootout, while teammate Matt Boldy tallied the winning goal. Joel Kiviranta replied for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild hold the first Western wild card with 78 points, while the Avalanche is third in the Central Division with 81 points.

The Nashville Predators picked up their fourth straight win with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist and Kieffer Bellows tallied the game-winner for the Predators. Patrick Giles and Collin Graf scored for the Sharks.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE SCORE: Mikko Rantanen’s agent refuted the claim by Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour that the superstar winger didn’t want to play in Carolina.

Andy Scott said Brind’Amour was “completely misinformed”, claiming his client had an open mind when he arrived in Carolina but later felt that the Hurricanes weren’t a good fit “from a style-of-play standpoint.” Scott said it was “nothing personal” on Rantanen’s part, adding that his client respected Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes’ players.

The Hurricanes acquired Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in January. After failing to agree to a contract extension, they shipped him to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline. He signed an eight-year extension with the Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever the reason behind that situation, Hurricanes management did not ensure Rantanen was open to a contract extension before acquiring him from the Avalanche. They brought him in to improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup, but ended up trading him to the Stars for a return that helps them long-term but won’t move them closer to the Cup this season.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Speaking of the Stars, forward Roope Hintz avoided a facial fracture when a puck struck him in the face during a weekend game against the Edmonton Oilers. However, he’ll be sidelined for five to seven days.

ROTOWIRE: Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. His status for Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings remains uncertain.

SPORTSNET: Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson underwent heart surgery during the 4 Nations Face-Off break in the NHL schedule. Born with a heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot, he had surgery to replace a pulmonary valve after it had stopped working properly by inserting a new valve into the one already in his heart.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Davidson for a swift recovery.