NHL Rumor Mill – June 28, 2025

by | Jun 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 28, 2025

Are the Canadiens seeking another trade after acquiring Noah Dobson? What’s the latest on the Penguins? What’s going on with Rasmus Andersson, Bowen Byram, Darnell Nurse, and more? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANADIENS NOT DONE DEALING AFTER ACQUIRING DOBSON?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens aren’t done making trades after acquiring Noah Dobson on Friday from the New York Islanders. They want to add to their top-six forwards.

The Canadiens seek a second-line center, but are also open to adding a winger. LeBrun said they’re among several teams interested in Jordan Kyrou. The 27-year-old right winger has six years left on his contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $8.125 million.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (NHL Images).

Teams aren’t certain how serious Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is about moving Kyrou, whose no-trade clause begins on July 1.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports Armstrong declined to comment on the Kyrou speculation. He noted that the Blues are in the market for a center, but those options are dwindling with John Tavares and Sam Bennett off the free-agent market and the Avalanche trading Charlie Coyle to Columbus.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The asking price for Kyrou is likely a top-six center, but the Canadiens are also in the market for a similar player. It’s doubtful there’s a fit there.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels speculates the Canadiens’ acquisition of Dobson could make puck-moving blueliner Mike Matheson available. The 31-year-old has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.875 million and an eight-team no-trade list.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont also suggested Matheson as a trade chip in the Canadiens’ efforts to land a center. He also thinks they’ll try to move Carey Price’s contract ($10.5 million AAV for 2025-26) to a rebuilding team attempting to reach the $70.2 million salary-cap floor.

THE LATEST PENGUINS RUMORS

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman cited Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas telling NHL.com that there was no truth to a rumor that appeared on Friday suggesting Sidney Crosby was being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, also weighed in to shoot down the speculation, calling the chatter “baseless rumors”. Meanwhile, Avalanche center and Crosby’s friend Nathan MacKinnon tweeted the rumor was “fake news”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Someone suggested months ago that Crosby should take one more run at a Stanley Cup by joining his buddy MacKinnon in Colorado and it keeps resurfacing for some stupid reason. They can’t seem to grasp that the long-time Penguins superstar intends to finish his career in Pittsburgh.

Crosby signed a two-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 last September. If he truly wanted another shot at the Stanley Cup, he’d be going to market on Tuesday instead of sticking with the rebuilding Penguins.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying there was trade talk between Pittsburgh and the Buffalo Sabres regarding Penguins winger Bryan Rust. The 33-year-old forward has a no-trade clause until July 1.

Kingerski also indicated some Western Conference clubs have an interest in Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. He suggested keeping an eye on the Los Angeles Kings, who looked into Rakell’s availability at the March trade deadline.

TEAMS REMAIN INTERESTED IN RASMUS ANDERSSON AND BOWEN BYRAM

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Calgary Flames aren’t feeling pressure to move Rasmus Andersson. The Buffalo Sabres feel the same way about Bowen Byram.

Nevertheless, there are teams interested in the two defensemen. They include the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings. Dreger also thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs could be in the mix.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Columbus Blue Jackets lost out to the Montreal Canadiens for Noah Dobson. However, they still want a top-four right-shot defenseman and remain interested in Rasmus Andersson.

THE LATEST ON DARNELL NURSE, K’ANDRE MILLER AND JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU

TSN: Ryan Rishaug reported there was nothing to recent speculation over the future of Darnell Nurse with the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old defenseman is signed through 2029-30 with an AAV of $9.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have been shedding salary to free up cap space to re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard and to improve their goaltending. The Nurse rumor was probably based on the wishful thinking of an Oilers follower hoping his club would ditch that hefty contract.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports that the uncertainty over the trade status of K’Andre Miller could complicate the Rangers’ offseason plans. The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights who has been a fixture in the rumor mill for months.

Walker noted that the Rangers have been tied to Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who is UFA-eligible on July 1. It could cost an annual average value between $7 million to $8 million to sign him. It would be challenging to fit Gavrikov and Miller within their salary cap without making other moves.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith report the New York Islanders have informed teams they don’t intend to trade Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The 32-year-old center has a year left on his contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2025

by | Jun 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 27, 2025

The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday evening. Check out the latest trade speculation on Noah Dobson, Bowen Byram, Rasmus Andersson, K’Andre Miller, Vladislav Gavrikov and more in today’s Rumor Mill.

ISLANDERS ENTERTAINING OFFERS FOR NOAH DOBSON

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports the New York Islanders are listening to trade offers for Noah Dobson. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights seeking a significant raise over the $4 million average annual value (AAV) of his previous contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dobson could become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next summer if he gets a new contract via arbitration this summer. Rumor has it his camp wants an AAV between $10 million and $11 million. Any club interested in acquiring him will want assurances that he’ll sign an extension.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (NHL Images).

Johnston claims the Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues are among the teams that have spoken to the Islanders about Dobson. The blueliner is also eligible to sign an offer sheet if he’s still unsigned on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team signing Dobson to a deal with an AAV between $10 million and $11.7 million would have to part with two first-round picks, a second-round pick and a third-rounder as compensation to the Islanders. Anything over $11.7 million costs four first-rounders.

The Canadiens could use an experienced top-four, right-shot defenseman to take some pressure off Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The Blues have Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk on the right side, but the former is 32 and the latter 33.

The Isles are gauging the market, but it doesn’t mean they’re actively shopping Dobson. If they don’t get any intriguing offers, they’ll continue negotiating a new contract with the blueliner.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias weighed in on the Dobson speculation. He believes Montreal makes little sense as a trade destination for the type of return the Isles would want for Dobson. He felt the Blues and San Jose Sharks might make the most sense, as could the Utah Mammoth if Sean Durzi and the 2025 fourth-overall picks were part of the return.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reports Canadiens executive VP of hockey ops Jeff Gorton maintained his club intends to stick with their rebuilding plan. “This is a big weekend for us, and it’s a big summer for us, but we’re not going to do anything that’s stupid.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Taking on Dobson at $11 million annually could be a stupid thing, especially when the priority remains adding a top-six forward, preferably a second-line center. Dobson is a talented puck-moving defenseman entering his playing prime, but he’s currently not an $11 million AAV player. 

IS BOWEN BYRAM NEXT ON THE SABRES’ TRADE BLOCK?

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there’s a lot of interest in Bowen Byram. Like Dobson, the 24-year-old is an RFA defenseman with arbitration rights. The Sabres could look at avoiding a potential contract snarl by trading him, like they did earlier this week with winger JJ Peterka by sending him to the Utah Mammoth.

Dreger believes the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and perhaps the Toronton Maple Leafs could be interested in Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A left-shot defenseman, Byram was acquired by the Sabres from the Avalanche. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams prefers player-for-player swaps because his club already has a well-stocked prospect pool. The asking price for Byram could be a top-six forward.

THE LATEST ON ANDERSSON, MILLER, GAVRIKOV AND ARVIDSSON

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports Flames GM Craig Conroy confirmed he’d spoken with Rasmus Andersson, saying things were “all good” between them. The 28-year-old defenseman has been the subject of frequent trade rumors. “If he’s a Calgary Flame in September, he’s a Calgary Flame”, said Conroy.

However, Gilbertson believes there’s no guarantee that Andersson will still be around by then. He’s a year away from UFA eligibility and there are contending teams interested in the right-shot rearguard.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes the rest of the Rangers’ offseason plans depend on what they do with K’Andre Miller. Like Dobson and Byram, the 25-year-old left-side defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights who has been the subject of trade conjecture for weeks.

TSN: Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland said he increased the contract offer his predecessor made to pending UFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. So far, however, there’s still no deal in place. It’s projected he could get a long-term deal with an AAV of $7.5 million on the open market.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson speculates the Oilers could “sweeten the pot” to move Viktor Arvidsson in a cost-cutting trade. He proposed packaging the 32-year-old winger with the 2025 fourth-round pick they received from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this week in the Evander Kane trade.

LATEST ON THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell looked at some recent rumors regarding the Golden Knights.

She doesn’t believe they have any intention of moving forwards William Karlsson and Tomas Hertl. Kirkell also doesn’t buy into the rumors linking them to Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram because he doesn’t fit their preference for physical blueliners.

Kirkell also pointed out the Golden Knights’ limited cap space has shrunk with the re-signing of Reilly Smith (one year, $2 million) and could deplete further with the anticipated re-signing of Brandon Saad.

UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Vancouver Canucks hope to make more moves this week. Acquiring a center is on their priority list. One move that could be off the table is trading Thatcher Demko. The 29-year-old goaltender is a year away from UFA eligibility.

SEVERAL FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN PLAY

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Pittsburgh Penguins hold picks No. 11 and 12 in the first round. They’re willing to move one of them for a good, young NHL player. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens could move the No. 16 or 17 pick for a top-six forward.

The Philadelphia Flyers are holding onto their first-rounder (sixth overall) but are willing to entertain offers for picks No. 22 and 31. The Nashville Predators hold picks 5, 23 and 26 and are considering their options.

With the seventh-overall pick, the Boston Bruins haven’t ruled out moving that selection for a return that would provide immediate improvement to their roster.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 26, 2025

by | Jun 26, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 26, 2025

What’s next for the Sabres following the Peterka trade and the Oilers after the Kane trade? What’s the latest on Erik Karlsson, Jordan Kyrou, Rasmus Andersson, Aaron Ekblad and more? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SABRES AND OILERS

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington believes the Sabres must have bigger moves in store after the “flimsy return” they received in the JJ Peterka trade. They shipped Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan.

With defenseman Bowen Byram expected to be the next trade candidate, Harrington thinks they have to be getting back a top-six forward to replace Peterka.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll have our answer in the next several days as trade activity picks up before the start of the unrestricted free-agent market on July 1. Byram’s been a fixture in trade rumors for months, with the expectation that he’d fetch a top-six forward.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers aren’t done making cost-cutting moves after trading Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks. They must re-sign restricted free agent (RFA) defenseman Evan Bouchard, and Leon Draisaitl’s new contract kicks in on July 1.

LeBrun believes Viktor Arvidsson will be next on the trade block. The 32-year-old winger has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $4.4 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, but he met with Oilers management and both sides agree it would be best if he moved on. His agent is working with the Oilers to find a suitable trade partner, and LeBrun thinks a deal could occur within the next two to three weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Kane leaves the Oilers with $16.2 million in cap space with 19 active roster players under contract. That’ll go up to $20.6 million if Arvidsson is traded, leaving enough room to re-sign Bouchard and address other roster needs.

THE LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is believed to be open to waiving his no-movement clause to go to a contender. However, the Penguins might have to retain some salary to reduce his cap hit to $7.5 million per season.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

Karlsson, 35, is signed through 2026-27 with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value (AAV). He’s also entitled to a $5 million bonus on July 1. Other teams could prefer waiting until that’s paid, but the Penguins could be less inclined to trade him after that date unless they get an extra asset in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s contract, coupled with his declining performance, will make it difficult for the Penguins to find a trade partner this summer. It’s not impossible, but those factors will make it difficult.

Meanwhile, LeBrun’s colleague Scott Wheeler reports the Penguins are aggressively trying to move up in the first round of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. They spoke to the Chicago Blackhawks about the third-overall pick. He believes they really like prospect winger Porter Martone and centers James Hagens and Roger McQueen.

ARE THE BLUES PEDDLING JORDAN KYROU?

STLTODAY.COM: Matthew DeFranks was asked about the recent trade speculation involving Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. He cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli placing the 27-year-old winger at No. 2 on his latest trade targets list.

DeFranks said he hasn’t heard much on the Blues’ end, but they’re usually tight-lipped about these things. He noted that Kyrou has been the subject of trade rumors in the past. He’s a young, cost-controlled scorer who has improved his defensive deficiencies.

However, Kyrou’s trade value has never been higher. The Blues are deep in wingers and need help at center. They could also use another young defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou completed the second season of his eight-year contract. His salary-cap hit is expensive ($8.125 million), and he has a no-trade clause that begins on July 1. If the Blues are shopping him, they could be eyeing a trade before next Tuesday; otherwise, they’ll need Kyrou’s approval.

UPDATE ON RASMUS ANDERSSON

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Calgary Flames are taking trade calls on Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old defenseman is a year away from UFA eligibility. Contract extension talks last week reportedly didn’t go well.

D’Amico cited a source claiming the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins have looked into Andersson. One source believed the Blue Jackets make a lot of sense, given their $40.4 million in cap space and depth in draft picks and prospects to use as trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico cited another source claiming the Ottawa Senators were pursuing Andersson. However, recent reports claim they’re on his six-team no-trade list.

IS AARON EKBLAD HEADED TO THE UFA MARKET?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun considers Aaron Ekblad likely headed to the UFA market next Tuesday. The long-time Florida Panthers defenseman reportedly hasn’t had any contract extension talks with management since last summer, though he expects the Panthers will make an offer before July 1.

Contract term was the issue in last summer’s discussion. LeBrun thinks that will still be a factor as the Panthers could be reluctant to invest too long in the 29-year-old Ekblad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Panthers. It’s believed he’ll take a pay cut from his current $7.5 million. If the term remains the issue, he might have to accept a three-year deal to remain in Florida. We’ll know for sure by July 1.

COULD THE KINGS PART WITH ALEX TURCOTTE?

MAYOR’S MANOR: There’s plenty of chatter suggesting the Los Angeles Kings could move Jordan Spence and/or Trevor Moore this week. However, Alex Turcotte could also be worth watching. Multiple teams are said to be interested in the 24-year-old winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Turcotte is entering the second season of his three-year contract with an AAV of $775,000. He’s battled injuries in recent years but played a career-high 65 games this season, netting 23 points. The former first-round pick (fifth overall, 2019) could be part of a bigger trade package.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 21, 2025

by | Jun 21, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 21, 2025

Check out the latest on Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, Rasmus Andersson, JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Noah Dobson and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT COULD CONNOR MCDAVID’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman speculated on what Connor McDavid’s next contract will look like. The 28-year-old Edmonton Oilers superstar is a year away from unrestricted free-agent (UFA) eligibility, with an average annual value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

Friedman doesn’t believe McDavid intends to leave Edmonton, but he thinks the Oilers captain might pursue a two-year contract instead of the maximum eight years. That would ensure the Oilers remain sharpest in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. He also thinks the AAV could be between $15 million and $17 million, but not as high as it could be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman stressed that this is only his opinion as to what McDavid might do. I agree with him that McDavid is unlikely to leave the Oilers, but could opt for a short-term deal to give himself some wiggle room in case the club falls out of contention over the next several years.

COULD RASMUS ANDERSON LEAVE THE FLAMES?

Friedman reports that the feeling around the league is that Rasmus Andersson is ready for something new. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is a year away from UFA status. The Flames are willing to move him, but only at the right price.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Flames general manager Craig Conroy said he’s had talks with Andersson’s agent. He indicated they have some clarity on where things are headed, but didn’t elaborate about the direction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames could still re-sign Andersson. If not, they could hang onto him for the coming season and perhaps shop him at the trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then. They could trade him this summer and avoid the unnecessary distraction of speculation about his future hanging over him and the club next season.

NO SHORT-TERM DEAL FOR MITCH MARNER?

Friedman said he received pushback on his suggestion that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner could opt for a four-year contract via free agency. However, he said a few teams had heard about it.

The Marner camp is expected to meet with teams (probably virtually unless they come to Toronto) on July 1, and then he could meet with a team or two before reaching a decision. However, that plan could backfire if he takes too long, as interested clubs could become impatient and make other plans.

Friedman thinks the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will be among Marner’s suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are better-positioned cap-wise than the Golden Knights to make a lucrative offer. Vegas will have to shed considerable salary to make it happen, and that could hurt their overall depth.

Friedman again mentioned the possibility of Alex Pietrangelo starting the season on long-term injury reserve (LTIR), which would free up the cap room to pursue Marner. However, the Golden Knights already have an elite playmaker (Jack Eichel). What they need is a sniper, something Marner isn’t.

THE LATEST ON THE PANTHERS

Friedman reports the brakes are being pumped on the Sam Bennett extension talk. The 29-year-old Conn Smythe Trophy winner raised eyebrows by telling partygoers on Thursday that he wasn’t leaving the Florida Panthers. Friedman thinks Bennett wouldn’t have made that public declaration without knowing where the talks are going, but there hasn’t been an agreement yet.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards cited Panthers GM Bill Zito saying he’d like to bring everybody back, referring to his UFAs like Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Nate Schmidt.

Bennett is the priority, with Richards speculating his next contract could be in the range of $7.5 million and $8 million annually. He might get more on the open market, but he wants to remain with the Panthers.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space for 2025-26. Richards considers it unlikely that Zito can pull it off without making some cost-cutting moves.

SPORTSNET: Brad Marchand is open to re-signing with the Panthers. “Give me a contract,” he said with a laugh when talking to reporters.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett will be re-signed. Ekblad could be if he agrees to a pay cut. Schmidt should also be an affordable re-signing.

Marchand reportedly wants a raise on a short-term deal, which is understandable because he was underpaid throughout his current contract. Unless he has a change of mind or Zito makes a cost-cutting trade, he’ll hit the open market on July 1

UPDATE ON THE SABRES

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn reported that trade rumors are getting louder regarding JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that the 23-year-old winger isn’t happy in Buffalo and the Sabres are fielding calls from other clubs.

Peterka is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. Fairburn said the Sabres aren’t keen on trading him. However, given the interest and demand, they need to hear what’s out there. Any return for Peterka must include pieces that can help the Sabres end their playoff drought next season.

Fairburn and colleague Shayna Goldman pondered the possibility of the Sabres trading Bowen Byram. They acquired the 24-year-old defenseman before the 2024 trade deadline. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights seeking a raise over his current AAV of $3.85 million.

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks were interested in Peterka.

CANUCKS ARMY: Tyler Kuehl cited Seravalli also saying the Canucks had some interest in Byram.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s also speculation Peterka and/or Byram could become offer-sheet targets if the Sabres fail to sign one or both before July 1. However, the Sabres have over $23 million in cap space, giving them plenty of room to match any offers.

The Sabres could trade one of them, but it won’t be for picks and prospects. As with the deal that brought Byram to Buffalo last year, it could be a player-for-player swap.

ISLANDERS LISTENING TO OFFERS FOR NOAH DOBSON

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias cited Elliotte Friedman, saying that the Islanders are quietly testing the trade market for Noah Dobson during his Friday podcast. The 25-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights.

This comes in the wake of Frank Seravalli claiming the Dobson camp sought a long-term deal with an $11 million AAV. Friedman indicated nothing’s set in stone, suggesting three options. They could sign him long term and perhaps trade him later if it doesn’t work out, risk a potentially contentious arbitration process, or trade him now.

Macias believes the Islanders will want a significant return. He noted Seravalli linked them to Buffalo’s JJ Peterka.

Friedman also mentioned the trade rumors about Isles blueliner Alexander Romanov, but he thinks they’ve set a high asking price for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Dobson camp is seeking far more than what their client is worth. He deserves a raise over the $4 million AAV he earned this season, and has a promising 70-point season in 2023-24 on his resume. However, the decline in his production this season to 39 points makes it difficult to justify $11 million annually. A raise to between $8 million and $9 million would be reasonable.

This situation is an interesting early test for new GM Mathieu Darche. How he handles it will be a significant indicator of which direction he intends to take the Islanders in the coming years.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2025

by | Jun 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2025

Which players could be traded this summer? Could Wild center Marco Rossi, Stars winger Jason Robertson, Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Kings defenseman Jordan Spence be among them? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH PLAYERS COULD BE TRADED THIS SUMMER?

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary recently listed 10 players he believes could be traded during the NHL off-season.

William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights topped his list, though he subsequently cited reports indicating they’re not shopping the 29-year-old center this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson made the list because of recent media speculation over which players the Golden Knights might trade in a cost-cutting deal.

Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues and Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild were next on O’Leary’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheen seemed a potential trade candidate after he surfaced in the rumor mill leading up to the March deadline. His full no-trade clause drops to a modified NTC on July 1. However, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic recently indicated the Blues’ biggest need was adding depth at center. As a result, they could hang onto him for next season.

Rossi completed his entry-level contract, making him a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He and the Wild are believed to be at an impasse in negotiations. The 23-year-old center is reportedly seeking a contract comparable to teammate Matt Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million deal, putting him at risk of becoming a trade or offer-sheet candidate.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

However, The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe trading Rossi wouldn’t be in the Wild’s best interest.

The best replacement for him via free agency was Brock Nelson, and he recently signed an extension with the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto’s John Tavares, Florida’s Sam Bennett, and Ottawa’s Claude Giroux all hope to re-sign with their current clubs. Jonathan Toews is 37 and mounting a comeback, while the Wild aren’t believed to be interested in Matt Duchene.

Pickings are also slim in the trade market. It’s believed the Vancouver Canucks want to retain Elias Pettersson, the New York Islanders aren’t interested in moving Bo Horvat or Mathew Barzal, and the Seattle Kraken will likely hang onto Jared McCann. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad and the Calgary Flames’ Nazem Kadri have full no-movement clauses.

Unless something changes in either market, the Wild will have to continue working with the Rossi camp to hammer out some kind of deal before July 1 to avoid a rival club tempting him with an offer sheet.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and winger JJ Peterka were fourth and fifth on the list. Both are restricted free agents, with Byram carrying arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabre management is reluctant to part with either player, but it’s believed they would trade Byram if he’d fetch a scoring forward or a top-four, right-shot defenseman.

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault are sixth and seventh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson and the Flames reportedly started contract talks this week. The 28-year-old blueliner is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, and can sign an extension with the Flames as early as July 1.

The Flames could move Andersson if he proves too expensive to retain. However, they don’t have to rush into doing so, and could retain him for next season if they don’t find any suitable trade offers during the summer.

Marchessault is said to be open to a trade after a disappointing season with the Predators. However, his age (34) and the remaining four years on his contract (with an average annual value of $5.5 million) could make him a tough sell.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, and Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Morgan Rielly round out this list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s production has dropped off over the past two seasons. The Penguins will have to retain a big chunk of their share ($10 million) of his $11.5 million AAV to facilitate a trade for the 34-year-old.

Gibson’s been a fixture in the rumor mill over the past two offseasons. He has two years left on his deal with an AAV of $6.4 million. Maybe the Ducks retain half of that cap hit to entice a rival club to take the 31-year-old netminder off their hands.

Rielly’s performance as a puck-moving defenseman noticeably declined this season. He’s got a full no-movement clause with five years left on his contract at an AAV of $7.5 million. Good luck moving him.

THE LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON, ELIAS PETTERSSON, MARTIN NECAS AND JORDAN SPENCE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes everything that was reported about the possibility of the Dallas Stars being willing to listen to trade offers for Jason Robertson was true. However, a source recently told him that they were “dialing this back a little.”

Part of the reason for the trade speculation surrounding Robertson was attributable to the Stars’ shock over their loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final, particularly in the final game. Friedman believes they let it be known that they would be considering some options.

If Robertson gets traded, Friedman thinks it’ll be for a “great player” or to recoup what they gave up to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Dallas Morning News reports the Stars aren’t prioritizing trading Robertson, adding that the reports were “completely overblown”.

Friedman believed Robertson’s future with the Stars could depend on what he seeks in his next contract. The 25-year-old winger is a year away from becoming an RFA with arbitration rights, and would be UFA-eligible in 2027 unless signed to a long-term deal.

Friedman believes the Vancouver Canucks will only trade Elias Pettersson if it addresses their problem at center. The 26-year-old Pettersson’s no-movement clause begins on July 1. He also noted that the center returned from Sweden to meet with new head coach Adam Foote, which was appreciated by Canucks management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s hefty contract (signed through 2031-32, $11.6 million AAV) and the troubling decline in his performance last season will likely ensure he remains with the Canucks even if they were willing to move him.

Recent Colorado Avalanche speculation suggests they could consider trading Martin Necas to free up some cap space. However, Friedman dismissed the idea, saying he doesn’t believe they necessarily have to free up cap room, and isn’t sure the Avs feel they need to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have $1.2 million available for 2025-26 with 19 active roster players under contract. However, Logan O’Connor ($2.5 million AAV) is out for at least five months following hip surgery. He’s likely headed for long-term injury reserve to start the season.

Friedman speculated that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence could be someone worth watching in the trade market. He thinks the Kings don’t feel that there is room for Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side of their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Spence has a year left on his contract worth an affordable $1.2 million. Given the need for right-shot defensemen around the league, the 24-year-old could be a valuable trade chip for the Kings.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2025

by | Jun 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2025

What’s next for the Rangers and Ducks following the Kreider trade? Should the Golden Knights pursue Mitch Marner? What’s the latest on the Sabres and Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RANGERS AND DUCKS?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes the New York Rangers will attempt to improve their roster by addition this summer after trading Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. He considers it very likely that they’ll trade defenseman K’Andre Miller, and also noted there is speculation they could pursue Vladislav Gavrikov if the Los Angeles Kings blueliner becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

RG.ORG: Daria Tuboltseva reports a source claiming the Rangers are looking at the possibility of signing Ivan Provorov. The 28-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is UFA-eligible on July 1.

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (NHL Images).

It was reported that Provorov’s agent, Mark Gandler, met with Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell during the NHL Draft Combine last week. However, it’s unclear if any progress was made between the two sides.

Provorov is completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6.75 million.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens looked at what the Anaheim Ducks might have in store this summer following the acquisition of Kreider. He pointed out that general manager Pat Verbeek faces pressure from Ducks fans who’ve had their patience tested by poor seasons, trade-deadline selloffs, the slow development of prospects, and a general lack of material progress.

The Ducks have nearly $39 million in salary-cap space, and team owner Henry Samueli is willing to invest wisely to improve the roster this summer. It’s rumored they could get into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger hits the open market this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers and Ducks aren’t done making moves this summer.

Trading Kreider cleared his $6.5 million AAV through 2026-27 off the Rangers’ books. With nearly $15 million in cap space, GM Chris Drury has the room to re-sign Will Cuylle and have enough to make a significant addition via free agency, especially if they opt to trade Miller instead of re-signing him.

The Ducks showed signs of improvement last season, reaching 80 points for the first time since 2018-19. They’re loaded with good young talent that will only keep getting better, and the addition of Kreider brings another measure of veteran experience and leadership. Nevertheless, they must make an addition this summer via trade or free agency that will help them take the next step toward playoff contention.

WILL THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS PURSUE MITCH MARNER?

LAS VEGAS SUN: Case Keefer observed recent speculation around the league suggesting the Vegas Golden Knights could pursue Mitch Marner. However, Keefer believes they should think twice if they’re considering that option.

Keefer points out the Golden Knights have limited cap space (nearly $10 million) this season. Signing Marner would require shedding salary that would deplete their roster depth.

Daily Faceoff suggested a sign-and-trade scenario whereby Marner is shipped to Vegas in exchange for a combination of Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. However, Stone has a full no-movement clause while Theodore and Karlsson are on team-friendly contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve become accustomed to the Golden Knights making major acquisitions via the trade and free-agent markets. However, Keefer is correct that signing Marner would sacrifice any semblance of depth on their roster.

The only scenario in which this works for Vegas is if defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and his $8.8 million AAV wind up on long-term injury reserve for the remaining two years of his contract. Some pundits wonder about the 35-year-old defenseman’s health after he skipped the 4 Nations Face Off tournament to prepare for the playoffs. There is no word from Pietrangelo or the Golden Knights regarding his status.

THE LATEST ON THE SABRES AND BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn believes that the idea of the Buffalo Sabres trading their first-round pick should be on the table. However, several other clubs are also willing to consider moving their first-rounders, plus there aren’t many teams committed to collecting draft picks and rebuilding.

Teams are continuing to call the Sabres about restricted free agent winger JJ Peterka, but he’s not a player they’re eager to trade. RFA defenseman Bowen Byram is also generating interest, but the Sabres remain high on him.

Fairburn noted the possibility of Peterka signing an offer sheet this summer. However, he pointed out that it could backfire on the winger if he wants out of Buffalo if the Sabres match, especially if it’s a long-term offer. They have the cap room to match any aggressive offer.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that multiple sources claim the Boston Bruins are actively entertaining offers for their first-round pick (seventh overall) in this year’s draft. It’s believed GM Don Sweeney would like to move up into the top five in the draft order. Failing that, he could include that pick in a trade package for a player who could help their roster right away.