NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2025

by | Dec 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2025

Check out the latest Quinn Hughes speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils have had contact regarding Quinn Hughes going back to last summer, but he wonders how far they are in actual trade talks.

Kypreos claimed New Jersey defenseman Simon Nemec is “out there”, along with center Dawson Mercer, and any of the Devils’ first-round draft picks over the next three years have to be in play.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

According to Kypreos, the Canucks believe there are teams open to the idea of acquiring Hughes without any assurances of signing him to a contract extension once his current deal expires in 2027. He wondered if the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks might get involved in the bidding.

The Canucks seek four or five pieces for Hughes, including roster players, prospects, and draft picks. They want the first-round picks to be unprotected.

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek wondered if Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would attempt to make a major move by acquiring Hughes.

Marek noted that Yzerman has a reputation for being patient, but pointed out that they have lots of salary cap space and won’t have a franchise player to spend it on in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. He argued that it might be time for Yzerman to start drawing on some of his promising prospects as trade bait to add an impact player now.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted the Devils aren’t believed to be the only team to have called the Canucks about Hughes. He noted the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins have also been linked to the superstar defenseman.

Nichols considers the Red Wings as the only real threat to the Devils’ chances of landing Hughes. He noted that they have more assets to tempt the Canucks, including at center with Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson as players of potential interest.

However, Nichols questioned whether the Wings and other clubs would trade away assets if Hughes isn’t interested in signing an extension with them. He pointed out that the opportunity for Hughes to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey gives the Devils an edge.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Kypreos, some teams might not have an issue with trading away assets to get Hughes as a two-year playoff rental. Nevertheless, Nichols makes a good point that not everyone will want to give up a king’s ransom for a player they’ll lose to free agency in 2027.

The Red Wings have another advantage over the Devils, and that is in salary-cap space.

For this season, the Wings currently have over $17 million in available cap space, while the Devils are pressed for cap room. If the Devils intend to acquire Hughes this season, they must shed considerable salary to make room for his $7.85 million average annual value

For 2026-27, the final season of Hughes’ contract, the Red Wings have a projected $41.8 million, while the Devils have $10.35 million. Even if we factor in the cost of re-signing players, the Wings would still have a significant edge.

For the 2027-28 season, the Devils have over $47 million, but we can expect that number to drop significantly by next season as players are re-signed and new ones are added via trades and free agency. The same applies to the Red Wings and their projected $77.2 million, but even then, they still have the advantage.

Hughes could accept a trade to another club like the Wings, decline to sign an extension, and hit the UFA market in 2027. However, the Devils must still clear considerable cap space if they want to reunite Quinn with Jack and Luke.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2025

by | Dec 9, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2025

The latest on Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and winger Kiefer Sherwood in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Darren Dreger said that the Vancouver Canucks got calls from rival clubs after they sent out their memo indicating they were willing to entertain offers for their pending unrestricted free agents. Some of those teams, such as the New Jersey Devils, also inquired about their non-UFAs like Quinn Hughes, but not much more than that.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Pierre LeBrun believes the big decision facing the Canucks is whether to move Hughes before the March 6 trade deadline, or wait until the offseason and attempt to re-sign the 26-year-old superstar defenseman, or peddle him at the draft.

LeBrun thinks it would be a cleaner process for the Canucks to move Hughes before the trade deadline. That means the blueliner’s agent doesn’t have to get involved, and they wouldn’t have the Hughes camp basically picking their team in July. A selling point in moving him by the trade deadline is that a team would have him for two playoff runs.

Chris Johnston said the Canucks don’t want to trade Hughes. However, their struggles this season will make it difficult for them to convince him to stay. With the standings compressed, there’s still time to save their season, but that means trying to bolster their roster.

SPORTSNET: During his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he believed the Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings discussed Hughes. He thinks that there could be a deal to be made if they want to do one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of these clubs seemed to be conducting due diligence regarding Hughes. The Canucks don’t appear to be shopping him at this point, and it doesn’t seem like they’re open to offers for him.

That could change later in the season if the Canucks fail to improve and Hughes is noncommittal about signing an extension next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Meanwhile, Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported the Minnesota Wild have “significant interest” in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Canucks winger is UFA-eligible in July.

The Wild reportedly offered the Canucks a good young prospect to suit their asking price, but the cost has been raised. They now want a good roster player and are also seeking a first-round pick.

It’s rumored the Canucks remain interested in sidelined Wild center Marco Rossi, but Russo and Smith don’t see them trading Rossi for Sherwood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A roster player and a first-rounder is a high price for Sherwood. It’s doubtful that any club will pony up that much to get him.

The Canucks were interested in Rossi during the offseason. During his podcast on Monday, Elliotte Friedman said the Wild asked about Aatu Raty, but the Canucks didn’t want to move him because they wanted to give him a chance.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Canucks asked the Philadelphia Flyers about Owen Tippett in a return for Sherwood. However, he thinks the Flyers want to hang on to the 26-year-old winger. The trade rumors may have bothered Tippett, and Friedman thinks they’re trying to tell the winger that it’s not their doing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett’s been the subject of trade conjecture since the summer. However, the Flyers believe the three-time 20-goal scorer has 30-goal potential. He’s got another six seasons remaining on his contract, so they think he can elevate his game to another level.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 8, 2025

by | Dec 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 8, 2025

The latest trade speculation about Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and Kings center Phillip Danault has become a trade target.

THE LATEST QUINN HUGHES CONJECTURE

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma believes trade speculation about superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes will ramp up as the Vancouver Canucks face the Detroit Red Wings on Monday and the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 14. Trade rumors linked both clubs to the 26-year-old Canucks captain.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Kuzma noted that the Canucks need a center in a possible trade package for Hughes. He spotlighted Red Wings rookie Nate Danielson and indicated that the Canucks also like Marco Kasper. As for the Devils, Kuzma suggested center Dawson Mercer and young blueliner Simon Nemec as possible trade options.

THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal believes the Canucks have considerable leverage in a Hughes trade situation.

Hughes lacks no-trade protection, giving the Canucks a broad field of possible trade partners. They’re also under no obligation to ship him to any of his preferred destinations. Their priority will be maximizing his trade value.

The Canucks superstar has another season left on his contract at an affordable $7.85 million. Whoever owns his rights next summer will have a better chance of signing him to a long-term deal for significantly more money than he’d get elsewhere.

Citing former Florida Panthers assistant general manager Steve Werier, Hayal stated that there is a window that runs through Sept. 15, 2026, allowing players to sign extensions under the old CBA rules. That means Hughes could ink an eight-year deal next summer instead of a seven-year one as per the new rules.

Dayal also looked at the potential cost for the Devils to acquire Hughes. They’re already pressed for cap space and have over $37 million invested in their blueline. He noted that some mock trade proposals suggest the Devils include Dougie Hamilton in the return to the Canucks. However, he has a 10-team trade list and might not want to go to Vancouver, plus the Canucks would be taking on a 32-year-old blueliner with an AAV of $9 million through 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it’s between the Red Wings and the Devils for Hughes, the former is in a better position, cap-wise.

The Red Wings currently have over $17 million in available cap space, with a projected $52.7 million in trade deadline cap space. The Wings also have over $41.8 million in projected cap room for 2026-27 with 15 active roster players under contract.

Meanwhile, the Devils are already over the cap with defenseman Brett Pesce ($5.5 million) on long-term injury reserve, with just over $2.8 million in potential trade deadline cap room. They have a projected $10.9 million in cap space 2026-27 with 18 active roster players under contract.

IS PHILLIP DANAULT AVAILABLE?

NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Saturday that sources said trade chatter was picking up around Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault. He said that multiple teams have contacted the King about Danault’s availability.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli cited the thin trade market for centers as the reason behind the interest in Danault. The 32-year-old center is seeing third-line duty with the Kings. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.5 million and has a 10-team no-trade list.

Danault reached a career-high 54 points in 2022-23, followed by 47 points in 2023-24 and 43 points last season. He has only five points in 28 games this season.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 7, 2025

by | Dec 7, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 7, 2025

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the Devils reportedly spoke to the Canucks about Quinn Hughes, and the Oilers could be interested in Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the New Jersey Devils are looking around to see what’s in the trade market.

Friedman believes they had a conversation with the Vancouver Canucks about Quinn Hughes soon after the Canucks informed the rest of the league that they’re open for business. He doesn’t believe that anything is imminent or how far those discussions went, but thinks that there was a conversation about where things stand and where they might be going.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes’ contract expires at the end of next season. The 26-year-old defenseman has been the subject of conjecture suggesting he could be reunited with his brothers, Jack and Luke, who both play for the Devils.

Hughes was asked about the report following the Canucks’ win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. He said that he wasn’t part of a call involving Canucks president Jim Rutherford and Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, but stated that he was aware that things like that might happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils may have been conducting due diligence regarding Hughes, such as asking the Canucks to keep them in mind if they decide to trade the superstar blueliner. He’s reportedly not among the players the Canucks are willing to move before the March 6 trade deadline, focusing more on those who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July.

Nevertheless, this is only going to stoke speculation that Hughes will be traded if he remains noncommittal about signing a contract extension next summer. He lacks no-trade protection, giving the Canucks a broad field of potential trade partners.

The move could take place during the summer, when teams have more cap space and a willingness to make blockbuster deals. However, as we saw with Mikko Rantanen last season, we can’t dismiss the possibility of a major move occurring before the March trade deadline.

Two of their trade targets also include Nashville Predators forwards Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly. Stamkos, 35, has a full no-movement clause. The 34-year-old O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but Friedman said the veteran center has been promised verbally by Predators management that he will have a say.

The Devils are pressed against the salary cap. Friedman believes any move they make will have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out situation, meaning they must move salary in any deal they make. He also has nothing from the New Jersey side about what it would take to get Hughes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is a superstar, and that means parting with multiple assets. The Canucks will likely want a multiplayer return, including promising blueliner Simon Nemec, at least one of their top prospects, and a couple of draft picks (including a first-rounder).

They won’t have to part with as much for aging stars like Stamkos or O’Reilly. Nevertheless, it will mean moving a salaried player as part of the return. And no, that doesn’t mean Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, or Luke Hughes would be moved. Dougie Hamilton surfaced during the summer in the rumor mill, but he has a 10-team trade list and insists he wants to stay in New Jersey.

Friedman believes there is legitimate interest by the Edmonton Oilers in Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. However, it would be extremely complicated and might not be possible.

Jarry is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.375 million. However, the Penguins will not retain salary, and the Oilers are cap-strapped and would have to shed salary. It would not be a Jarry for Stuart Skinner situation, as they’d prefer to pair Jarry with Skinner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That sounds like a move that might have to happen during the offseason, when the Oilers will have more cap room to work with. However, by that point, the situation could change. Jarry could struggle again, or a better goalie might become available.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 7, 2025

by | Dec 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 7, 2025

Nathan MacKinnon ties the Avalanche goals record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Colorado Avalanche nipped the New York Rangers 3-2. Martin Necas collected three assists as the league-leading Avalanche (46 points) became the first team to reach the 20-win plateau (20-2-6). Igor Shesterkin kicked out 39 shots while Conor Sheary and Artemi Panarin replied for the 15-13-3 Rangers.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads the league with 24 goals and 48 points. He also reached 391 career NHL regular-season goals, tying Joe Sakic for the most goals in Avalanche history. Sakic remains the overall franchise leader (Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques) with 625.

The Florida Panthers overcame 4-1 and 6-4 deficits to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-6 on an overtime goal by Sam Bennett, who also collected three assists. Brad Marchand also had a goal and three assists, and Carter Verhaeghe tallied twice and picked up an assist for the Panthers, who snapped a four-game losing skid and improved to 13-12-2. Dmitri Voronkov, Miles Wood, Cole Sillinger, and Isac Lundestrom each had a goal and an assist for the 13-9-6 Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen returned to action after being sidelined since Nov. 15 from burns to his lower body suffered when his propane grill malfunctioned and exploded while he was cooking.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin turned in a 32-save shutout to blank the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0. Calum Ritchie and Casey Cizikas were the goal scorers for the 16-10-3 Islanders. Jonas Johansson stopped 17 of 18 shots for the Lightning (16-10-2), who have lost three straight but remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 34 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning captain Victor Hedman returned to action after missing the last 12 games with an undisclosed injury. Starting goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and winger Nikita Kucherov missed this game and are day-to-day with undisclosed injuries.

A shootout goal by Alexandre Texier lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cole Caufield scored to extend his points streak to 10 games for the Canadiens (15-9-3). Dennis Hildeby made 33 saves, and Scott Laughton scored for the 13-11-4 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Maple Leafs placed starting goalie Joseph Woll (lower body) on injured reserve.

St. Louis Blues netminder Joel Hofer turned aside 41 shots, and Jake Neighbours scored twice to beat the Ottawa Senators by a score of 2-1. Fabian Zetterlund replied for the Senators (13-11-4), who have dropped four of their last five games. The Blues now sit at 10-12-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues winger Jordan Kyrou left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, the Senators played without center Shane Pinto, who suffered a lower-body injury during Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Pinto will be sidelined for at least two weeks.

Vancouver Canucks center Aatu Raty had his first multipoint NHL game with two goals and an assist in a 4-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild. Rookie defenseman Tom Wallinder scored his first NHL goal, and goalie Nikita Tolopilo stopped 28 shots for the Canucks (11-15-3) as they ended a four-game losing skid. Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal and an assist, and goalie Jesper Wallstedt suffered his first regulation loss of the season for the Wild (15-9-5), who’ve dropped three of their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Elias Pettersson left the warmup for this game with an upper-body injury.

The Calgary Flames blanked the Utah Mammoth 2-0. Dustin Wolf made 27 saves for the shutout while Yegor Sharangovich and Connor Zary scored for the 11-15-4 Flames, who are 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Vitek Vanecek stopped 21 of 22 shots for the 14-13-3 Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth center Logan Cooley was a late scratch from this game with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers each had three points in a 6-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Goalie Brandon Bussi made 19 saves for his sixth straight win for the 17-8-2 Hurricanes. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who dropped to 10-14-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi returned to action after missing nine games with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie scored for the 10th time in nine games in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Jeremy Swayman kicked out 29 shots as the Bruins improved to 17-13-0. Timo Meier replied for the Devils (16-12-1), who have lost five straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie sits second among NHL skaters this season with 22 goals.

A four-goal first period carried the Edmonton Oilers over the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 6-2. Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Connor McDavid each had two points for the 13-11-5 Oilers. Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Koepke replied for the Jets (14-13-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid has been rising in the points race lately, sitting second to the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon with 42 points.

A late goal by Patrick Kane gave the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. John Gibson made 24 saves for the win as the Red Wings improved to 15-11-3. Adam Larsson had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-6 Kraken, who have lost five straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is closing in on the 500-goal milestone with 497.

The Los Angeles Kings thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0. Darcy Kuemper turned in a 23-save shutout, and Brandt Clarke scored two goals for the 13-8-7 Kings. Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight made 26 saves as his club dropped to 12-10-6.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars placed forward Tyler Seguin (ACL) on long-term injury reserve and put defenseman Lian Bichsel on injured reserve following surgery on his left leg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For now, the Stars will get just over $3.8 million in cap relief by placing Seguin on LTIR. If it’s determined that he’ll miss the rest of the season (including the playoffs), he’ll be moved to season-ending LTIR, enabling them to exceed the salary cap by the remainder of his $9.8 million cap hit.

Meanwhile, Bichsel is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

ESPN.COM: Former Stars owner Tom Hicks died on Saturday at age 79. He owned the club from 1995 to 2011, during which they won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2000.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Hicks’ family and the Stars organization.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 6, 2025

by | Dec 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 6, 2025

Could the Devils attempt to acquire Predators winger Steven Stamkos? Were the Canucks scouting Canadiens forward Zach Bolduc? What’s the latest on Alex Formenton? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols weighed in on a recent rumor suggesting the Devils may be interested in Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos.

Nichols noted that the Devils were among the few suitors for Stamkos when he went to free agency in July 2024. While his production has declined with the Predators, it could improve playing with the Devils, where he’d have playmakers such as Jesper Bratt and a healthy Jack Hughes to set him up.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Nevertheless, a Stamkos trade would be a risky move. He’s 35, with two years remaining on his contract, which carries an average annual value of $8 million. A potential trade would require the Predators to retain some salary, which means increasing the compensation going to Nashville.

Nichols wondered if a prospect such as Seamus Casey and two second-round draft picks would be enough to land Stamkos.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils have been struggling to score lately, partly because Hughes is sidelined with an injured hand. Once he returns, they could still seek a reliable scorer.

Stamkos probably isn’t the only one they’re considering, assuming he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to New Jersey. Management will likely remain patient and see what other options emerge in the trade market as more teams fall by the wayside in the playoff chase.

TVA SPORTS: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal claimed the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild are two teams with an interest in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July, and the two sides aren’t any closer to a contract extension.

The Canucks recently scouted the Canadiens during their game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. They’re interested in getting a young player in exchange for Sherwood, and Dhaliwal wondered if they might target someone like Canadiens winger Zack Bolduc.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are interested in adding to their forward line, preferably a second-line center. However, giving up the 22-year-old Bolduc (who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues last summer) for the 30-year-old Sherwood goes against the Habs’ habit of bringing in players in their twenties with term remaining on their contracts.

The Canadiens probably prefer to offer up a draft pick or prospect for Sherwood. If the asking price is Bolduc, they might look elsewhere for help at forward.

TSN: Darren Dreger believes Alex Formenton could become an offer-sheet candidate next summer.

The 26-year-old Ottawa Senators forward is a restricted free agent who is now ineligible to play in the NHL this season because he wasn’t signed by the Dec. 1 deadline for an RFA contract.

In September, Senators general manager Steve Staios said Formenton would not be returning to the club, as both sides believed it was best for him to have a fresh start elsewhere. Staios attempted to trade Formenton this fall, but couldn’t find any takers.