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.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 27, 2025

by | May 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 27, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at this summer’s notable potential offer sheet candidates, and which ones might be targeted by the Canucks and Mammoth.

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary looked at this year’s top offer-sheet candidates.

O’Leary starts by reminding us that teams can only surrender their own draft picks as compensation, that any restricted free agent who files for arbitration by the July 5 deadline is ineligible to sign an offer sheet, and that teams have seven days to match an offer signed by their player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We must also remember that an RFA player must be willing to sign an offer from a rival club. Just because a player may be considered an offer-sheet candidate by fans and pundits doesn’t mean he’s interested in signing one.

Arbitration-eligible players sometimes file simply to avoid getting offers from rival clubs, preferring to focus on re-signing with their current team before their arbitration hearing dates.

O’Leary also put up the compensation tiers for the offseason (which you can see by following the link above).

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).

In the “Pipe Dream” category are winger Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers. O’Leary noted that Knies last week scoffed at the notion of signing an offer sheet. Meanwhile, Bouchard is likely reluctant to leave a contender while less than half the league has adequate draft picks to offer the Oilers the second-highest compensation level (two first-rounders, a second and a third).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team would have to offer up a salary between $9.36 million and $11.7 million to Bouchard to tempt him, which is the second-highest salary tier. I’ve speculated that it’ll cost the Oilers around $10 million annually to sign him. It’s worth noting that Bouchard is eligible for arbitration.

O’Leary has Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi and Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka among his “Long shots who might be worth a try”. Others include Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal or center Mason McTavish, and New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming those players aren’t re-signed before July 1. Vilardi, Dostal and Dobson are arbitraiton-eligible.

One significant factor is that all those teams have plenty of salary-cap space to match an offer sheet. Unless the goal is forcing a team to spend more than they intended to re-sign the player, it’s a waste of time going that route.

As one NHL general manager pointed out (see below), it can backfire on the team making the offer, putting them in a vulnerable position for a future retaliatory offer sheet to one of their RFAs when they have limited cap space.

Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Will Cuylle of the New York Rangers fall under O’Leary’s “Cheap-value targets”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’re the most likely on O’Leary’s list to receive offer sheets this summer. Both are coming off entry-level contracts and lack arbitration rights. They would also be more affordable, falling within the third-tier compensation level (a first and a second-round pick) if they receive offers between $4.68 million and $7.020 million.

The Wild have over $16 million in cap space. They can afford to match an offer for Rossi, but there have been questions about his role and his future in Minnesota. They must also ensure they have sufficient cap room beyond next season to re-sign superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov. Rossi could be traded before July 1.

Cap space is a bigger issue for the Rangers, with $8.42 million available with 19 active roster players under contract. They could move a high-priced veteran this summer to free up room to re-sign Cuylle and perhaps add a player via trade or free agency.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal looked at possible offer-sheet targets for the Vancouver Canucks. Among the players on their list was Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram is also arbitration-eligible. The Sabres are reportedly gauging his value in the trade market, which suggests he could be under contract with a new club before July 1.

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Belle Fraser wondered if the Utah Mammoth might go the offer-sheet route this summer.

General manager Bill Armstrong seemed a bit hesitant when questioned about it last month. “People have to realize that when you put an offer sheet in, it has to work, it has to make sense”, said Armstrong. “It just can’t aggravate the other team because they’re going to come after you at some point in time and run up your salaries.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If you’re going to sign a player to an offer sheet, you must be sure that you will be successful, as the St. Louis Blues were last summer by signing away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the cap-strapped Edmonton Oilers.

Otherwise, you get a situation as in 2019, when the Carolina Hurricanes matched an offer from the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastian Aho. Two years later, the Hurricanes successfully signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens.

I expect Armstrong will make a significant addition to his roster this summer, but it’ll be through a trade or by signing an unrestricted free agent.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 22, 2025

by | May 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 22, 2025

Check out the latest on Rangers winger Chris Kreider, Wild center Marco Rossi, Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT WILL THE RANGERS DO WITH CHRIS KREIDER?

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh was recently asked what the New York Rangers intend to do with Chris Kreider. The 33-year-old winger was the frequent topic of trade speculation during the regular season.

The Rangers are facing a salary-cap crunch next season. Trading Kreider and his $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27 is one route to creating cap space.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Kreider carries a 15-team no-trade list. He could make it difficult for the Rangers to move him by eliminating teams with the cap space to take on his salary. That would force the Blueshirts to retain him, put him on waivers, retain salary in a trade or buy him out. The last option would leave a cap hit of $3 million for 2025-26, $4 million in 2026-27, and $1.5 million in each of the following two seasons.

Baugh doesn’t expect the Rangers to bring in any big-name replacements for Kreider. They might have enough room to add a depth player or two. Doing more would require another cost-cutting trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Baugh believes the Rangers and Kreider could work together to find a suitable trade partner if the winger is open to a change. His injuries this season likely prevented the Rangers from finding a suitable deal, but he still managed to reach the 20-goal plateau for the 10th time in his NHL career. A contender seeking an experienced scoring winger could take a chance on a healthy Kreider reaching 30 goals again.

WHAT KIND OF RETURN WOULD MARCO ROSSI FETCH THE WILD?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith were recently asked what a realistic trade for Marco Rossi would look like. The 23-year-old center finished second this season among Minnesota Wild scorers. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1, but faces an uncertain future in Minnesota.

Smith believes there should be a good market for Rossi despite his 5’9”, 192-pound frame. He thinks the Wild could look at what the young center would fetch in compensation if he signed an offer sheet between $4.6 million and $7.02 million AAV (a first and a third-round pick). However, that would feel like an underwhelming return. Smith speculates that Rossi could be part of a larger deal to bring in a larger winger or center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s been mentioned as a trade target for several clubs, including the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks. It’ll be interesting to see if the Wild attempt to move him during next month’s draft weekend (June 27-28) in Los Angeles.

SABRES GAUGING BOWEN BYRAM’S MARKET VALUE

SPORTSNET/THE SCORE: Elliotte Friedman reports the Buffalo Sabres are gauging Bowen Byram’s value in the trade market. He said there is “no doubt” that the 23-year-old defenseman’s name is out there, adding “there is definitely noise around the Byram names and the Buffalo Sabres.

Byram is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. He’s coming off a career-best 38-point performance in 82 games. The Sabres have over $21 million in cap space for 2025-26 but must also re-sign RFA forwards JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn. They’re also expected to spend on outside help after missing the playoffs for the 14th straight year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports out of Buffalo earlier this month suggested the Sabres would prioritize re-signing Peterka, Quinn, Alex Tuch and Ryan McLeod. They also believed Byram could be used as trade bait to bolster their depth elsewhere, perhaps to acquire a veteran right-shot defenseman to pair with left-shot blueliner Owen Power.

Byram has an injury history but he’s a terrific all-around defenseman when healthy. He should have plenty of value in this summer’s trade market.

SENATORS TO SEEK A RIGHT-SHOT DEFENSEMAN

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Steve Staios will likely pursue another right-shot defenseman after veteran Nick Jensen underwent surgery on Monday for a lower-body injury.

There is no timetable for Jensen’s recovery. It’s believed he had the procedure on a hip or a knee.

Garrioch claimed the Senators were among the teams that looked into acquiring Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames blueliner has a year remaining on his contract and his future is to be determined. It’s assumed he’ll get an AAV of around $8 million on his next contract, which is why the Flames could move him this summer to get something in return.

The Senators would need assurances that Anderson would agree to an extension before acquiring him, and that could mean the return would have to be high.

Another option could be Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Toronto Maple Leafs tried to acquire him at the trade deadline but were rebuffed. Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers could be available in this summer’s UFA market, but would be an expensive signing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames GM Craig Conroy said he’s hoping to meet with Andersson and his agent in the coming weeks to discuss a contract extension. Nevertheless, the blueliner could be traded if he and Conroy can’t agree on a new deal. The Flames GM probably doesn’t want to repeat what he went through with Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin two years ago.

Ristolainen underwent surgery on March 26 to repair a ruptured triceps tendon. He will reportedly be sidelined for six months and will miss training camp.

COULD MAXIME COMTOIS RETURN WITH THE RED WINGS?

RG.ORG: Daria Tuboltseva cited sources claiming Maxime Comtois could make his return to the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old forward spent this season with KHL club Dynamo Moscow, collecting 50 points in 62 games and leading them in playoff scoring with 13 points.

“I’ve always said I wanted to return to the NHL, and this season I did everything possible to make that happen,” said Comtois. He also reportedly has a contract offer from the Boston Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Comtois was a once-promising forward with the Anaheim Ducks from 2018-19 to 2022-23, but he never reached expectations. He could become an affordable reclamation project for the Wings, Bruins or another NHL club.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 18, 2025

by | May 18, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 18, 2025

Who could the Bruins target with an offer sheet? Should the Flyers attempt to acquire Bowen Byram? What could be in store for the Kings under new GM Ken Holland? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

98.5 THE SPORTS HUB: Ty Anderson alphabetically listed seven restricted free agents that he felt the Boston Bruins could target with an offer sheet.

The list includes wingers Will Cuyelle of the New York Rangers, Luke Evangelista of the Nashville Predators, and Kaapo Kakko of the Seattle Kraken, centers Ryan McLeod of the Buffalo Sabres and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, winger Dmitri Voronkov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect the Bruins (or anyone else) to offer up more than $7 million annually to these players listed by Anderson. The compensation for a successful signing between $4.68 million and $7 million is a first and a third-round pick. Anything between $7.020 million and $9.36 million would cost a first, a second, and a third-rounder, plus the risk of overpaying any of those players.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (NHL Images)

Scratch McTavish and Helleson from this list. Anaheim has a projected cap space of $36.8 million and can easily match offers for those two.

The same goes for Voronkov, as the Jackets have over $41 million in projected cap space. The 24-year-old winger is with a good group of young players in Columbus and unlikely to consider moving on.

Kakko’s career was rejuvenated after being traded to the Kraken in December. He might not be interested in moving to another club. They have the cap room ($21.7 million) to match.

The Predators have over $17 million in cap room and 21 active roster players under contract for next season. Evangelista has some difficulties this season, but the Preds will be reluctant to part with one of their younger players unless someone overpays to get him.

McLeod could be pried away from the Sabres if they use a big chunk of their $21 million cap space re-signing JJ Peterka and Bowen Byram. However, if they trade Byram, they’ll have plenty of room to match an offer for McLeod.

Cuyelle is the most likely on this list to get an offer sheet if he’s willing to sign one. The Rangers have a projected $8.4 million of cap space with 19 active roster players under contract and defenseman K’Andre Miller is also a restricted free agent. They would have a difficult time matching an offer sheet unless they make a cost-cutting trade before July 1.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently suggested the Flyers should attempt to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres.

James cited the 24-year-old defenseman’s youth, offensive skills and special team play as factors that would make him a good fit alongside Travis Sanheim on the Flyers’ top defense pairing. He acknowledged Byram’s injury history but felt he’d be worth the risk.

James suggested the Flyers offer up left wing Owen Tippett in return. The 26-year-old is still young, has top-six potential, and has an intriguing skill set. They also have the cap space to take on his $6.2 million average annual value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers need skilled blueline depth while the Sabres seek more offense. If the latter were to trade Byram, they’d likely want an established young scoring forward in return.

Tippett production slipped a bit this season with 20 goals and 43 points, but that could be attributed more to the Flyers’ overall struggles. He reached a career best of 28 goals and 53 points last season. However, they could find his cap hit too expensive for their liking.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens looked at what might be in store for the Los Angeles Kings under new general manager Ken Holland.

A front-burner issue is whether to re-sign UFA-eligible defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. In March, former Kings GM Rob Blake expressed confidence in signing Gavrikov to an extension, but that could change under Holland.

Stephens pondered if Holland might make a trade to shake up the roster. He noted that winger Adrian Kempe is a year away from UFA status, Kevin Fiala has a full no-movement clause until July 2026, Phillip Danault has a 10-team no-trade clause, and Trevor Moore lacks no-trade protection.

He also wondered if Holland would consider moving defenseman Drew Doughty. He has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $11 million and must submit a seven-team list of preferred trade destinations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what Holland has in mind for the roster. He could keep the roster intact for the most part to get a better handle on its performance and needs. Gavrikov might be the only significant change if the two sides fail to agree to an extension.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 3, 2025

by | May 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 3, 2025

The Sabres could shop for a defense partner for Owen Power, plus the latest on the Kings and Lightning in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SABRES TO SHOP FOR A DEFENSE PARTNER FOR OWEN POWER

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski believes the Sabres must find a steady, veteran right-hand defenseman to partner with Owen Power. The 22-year-old blueliner was the first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had 242 NHL games under his belt, but his defensive play remains inconsistent.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

Lysowski listed several potential options in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market, including Brent Burns, Aaron Ekblad, Cody Ceci and Dante Fabbro. However, he also suggested using left-shot defenseman Bowen Byram as a trade chip to acquire a right-shot rearguard to mentor Power.

Byram, 23, is a restricted free agent on July 1 with arbitration rights. He’ll be expensive to re-sign, and the Sabres would prefer using their salary-cap space elsewhere, with forwards Alex Tuch, JJ Peterka and Ryan McLeod being candidates for contract extensions.

Trade targets could including Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders, Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights, Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets, Erik Gudbranson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Sam Malinski of the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres would have to part with Byram to acquire Dobson or Andersson, provided those two are available. They wouldn’t have to part with him to land Whitecloud, Schenn, Gudbranson or Malinski.

Byram could also be used as trade bait to add scoring forward like a second-line center.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KINGS AND LIGHTNING?

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered where the Los Angeles Kings go from here following an inexcusable early playoff exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Kings entered that series as the favorites, finishing this season ahead of the Oilers in the regular-season standings. However, blown leads and bad coaching decisions proved to be their undoing.

Stephens wondered if there could be a front-office shakeup. General manager Rob Blake’s contract is up and he has no playoff series wins to show for it. Team president Luc Robitaille also deserves his share of the blame.

The Kings responded well to head coach Jim Hiller this season, tying franchise bests with 48 wins and 105 points. However, he made questionable decisions during the playoffs, including stubbornly leaning on nine forwards and four defensemen that ultimately took their toll as the series went on.

Tearing down the core and rebuilding isn’t an option with veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty signed for next season and are uninterested in being part of a rebuild. They also have several other key players under long-term commitments.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes in the front office and perhaps behind the bench appear more likely than any significant roster changes.

Stephens also observed that more roster tinkering around their core doesn’t feel like the answer. If they’re unwilling to tear things down and rebuild, tinkering could be the only option.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina listed the three biggest topics facing the Lightning that came out of GM Julien BriseBois’ end-of-season press conference.

The first was BriseBois squashing a rumor claiming head coach Jon Cooper was heading to the Utah Hockey Club, which is owned by Cooper’s good friend Ryan Smyth. He confirmed the long-time Lightning bench boss will return next season.

BriseBois admitted the odds are small that all his pending unrestricted free agents will return next season. They include centers Yanni Gourde and Luke Glendening, defenseman Nick Perbix, winger Cam Atkinson and goaltender Jonas Johansson.

Promising prospect Isaac Howard’s NHL future might not be with the Lightning. BriseBois said he appreciated the young forward’s honesty. He pointed out that the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner values the opportunity to choose where he wants to sign.

BriseBois said he won’t speak for Howard, but feels that it’s unlikely they’ll sign him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have until next August to sign Howard. That gives them time to try to convince the promising youngster to sign with them. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if BriseBois uses Howard as a trade chip this summer to acquire another high-quality prospect or to add a good young NHL player to his roster.