Notable NHL Trades and Signings – June 27, 2025

by | Jun 27, 2025

Notable NHL Trades and Signings – June 27, 2025

The Florida Panthers signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $8 million. He was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful anyone’s surprised by this news. Bennett, 29, won the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy, helping Florida win their second straight Stanley Cup. His versatility and agitating two-way style made him an important part of the roster core that turned the Panthers into the NHL’s dominant team over the past two years.

Bennett completed a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million, which is what most observers projected he’d get. He might’ve received a little more on the open market from teams eager to overpay for his services, but he never had any intention of leaving a proven winner, especially when they were keen to pay up to keep him.

The Panthers intend to keep their roster core intact to remain a Cup contender for the foreseeable future. However, Bennett’s gritty style of play could catch up with him over the latter half of his deal, which could make this deal burdensome in its final years.

The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks in this year’s draft and forward Emil Heineman. The Habs also signed the 25-year-old defenseman to an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the biggest move yet by Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. Dobson is a right-shot blueliner who netted a career-best 70 points in 2023-24. His production dropped to 39 points last season, but so did the offensive output of most of the Islanders in 2024-25. There were also rumors that he was clashing with Islanders head coach Patrick Roy.

New York Islanders trade Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens (NHL Images).

Dobson is entering the prime of his career. If he returns to form under Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, it will take considerable pressure off young star Lane Hutson on the right side of the Canadiens’ blueline.

The Islanders didn’t seem to be much in return for Dobson. However, those two first-round picks could be used to make a trade to move up in the round, putting them in position to draft center (and Long Island native) James Hagens.

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign John Tavares to a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.38 million. He also gets a full no-movement clause in the first two years, followed by a five-team trade list for the final two seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was never in doubt. Tavares stated he wanted to stay in Toronto following the Leafs’ second-round playoff exit. He knew he’d have to accept a pay cut from the $11 million AAV of his previous contract. This shows his willingness to remain a Maple Leaf.

The Colorado Avalanche traded center Charlie Coyle and winger Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets for prospect center Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2027 second-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Avalanche. The 33-year-old Coyle is a versatile middle-six forward who can play center or right. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Boston Bruins, he has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $5.25 million. 

Wood frequently surfaced in the rumor mill after struggling through injuries and inconsistency in 2024-25. The 29-year-old checking-line winger is signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $2.5 million. 

Taking into account Brindley’s $775K cap hit, the Avalanche have $8.9 million in cap space with 16 active roster players under contract. They could be planning other moves with that cap room to shore up their depth. 










NHL Rumor Mill – June 7, 2025

by | Jun 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 7, 2025

Check out the latest on Drake Batherson, John Gibson, Charlie Coyle, and Nicolas Hague in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SENATORS MANAGEMENT DISMISS BATHERSON TRADE RUMORS

OTTAWA SUN: Jason Duench reports Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer denied rumors claiming Drake Batherson was on the trade block.

“It’s not right,” said Andlauer. General manager Steve Staios added there was “no truth” to the speculation that he was shopping the 27-year-old winger, adding he’d spoken to Batherson to reassure him.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the Batherson speculation was reported by Duench’s colleague Bruce Garrioch, who claimed earlier this week that there was “no shortage of talk” that the Senators were shopping the winger.

Andlauer and Staios won’t publicly admit to shopping Batherson or anyone else. Nevertheless, the fact that they dismissed the speculation before reporters started asking questions suggests that they wanted to nip this in the bud.

The Batherson trade rumors were puzzling because they would be trading away a reliable scorer carrying a team-friendly contract for the next two seasons. More than one critic felt the Senators had better be getting a significant return if they were serious about moving him.

Staios also indicated that contract extension talks continue with pending unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux and restricted free agent Fabian Zetterlund. He also said the Senators won’t be spending toward the projected $95.5 million cap ceiling for 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have a projected $15 million of cap space with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. Giroux and Zetterlund should be affordable re-signings, but they will eat up at least $5 million of that cap room, leaving $10 million to fill out the remaining roster spots.

Their determination not to spend to the cap means they won’t be pursuing big-ticket talent in this summer’s free-agent market. They could go the trade route, but that could mean a player-for-player swap to manage the dollars, which could explain why Batherson surfaced in the rumor mill in the first place.

MORE SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR JOHN GIBSON

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin proposed five trade destinations for John Gibson. The 32-year-old Anaheim Ducks goaltender has been a fixture in the rumor mill over the past two offseasons.

Larkin suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins as potential landing spots for Gibson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The significant increase of the salary cap, the lack of quality goaltending depth in this summer’s free-agent market, and Gibson having two seasons left on his contract could finally create the right conditions for a much-anticipated trade.

It was rumored the Hurricanes looked at acquiring Gibson last summer before opting to bring back Frederik Andersen on a one-year deal. The Blue Jackets, Flyers and Penguins lack reliable starters, while the Devils could need a replacement for 1B goalie Jake Allen if he hits the open market on July 1.

THE LATEST ON CHARLIE COYLE AND NICOLAS HAGUE

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes the Colorado Avalanche’s re-signing of Brock Nelson likely means Charlie Coyle will return to the trade market. The Avalanche acquired the 33-year-old forward from the Boston Bruins at the March trade deadline. He has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche has only $1.2 million of cap space after re-signing Nelson. They must shed salary to create more room for other signings. Coyle’s cap hit, his no-movement clause, and three-team trade list could make him a tough sell in the trade market.

The Vegas Golden Knights’ limited cap space could force them to move defenseman Nicolas Hague in a cost-cutting deal. Kypreos claims the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are “hot on the trail” to acquire him, potentially.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hague, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The 6’6”, 240-pound left-shot defenseman earned an AAV of $2.294 million on his previous contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 5, 2025

by | Jun 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 5, 2025

The Avalanche need to shed salary after signing Brock Nelson, plus the latest on Rasmus Andersson, Marco Rossi, Nicolas Hague and Jake Allen in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RE-SIGNING NELSON COULD FORCE THE AVALANCHE TO SHED SALARY

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed the Colorado Avalanche’s salary-cap crunch after signing Brock Nelson to a contract extension on Wednesday.

Nelson, 33, agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7.5 million. That leaves the Avalanche with $1.2 million in cap space with 12 forwards, five defensemen and two goaltenders under contract for 2025-26.

Yaremchuk believes the Avalanche must make a cost-cutting move or two to free up cap room. Seravalli suggested defenseman Samuel Girard and forwards Charlie Coyle and Martin Necas as trade candidates.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Girard is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5 million and a nine-team no-list. Coyle was a trade-deadline acquisition from the Boston Bruins. He has a year left with a $5.25 million cap hit, a no-movement clause and a three-team no-trade list.

Necas was part of the return from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade in January. He has a year left at $6.5 million and lacks no-trade protection.

Forwards Ross Colton and Miles Wood surfaced in the rumor mill before the Nelson signing. Colton is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $4 million and a modified no-trade clause. Wood has four years left on his contract with a $2.5 million AAV and a six-team no-trade list.

UPDATE ON RASMUS ANDERSSON

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Rasmus Andersson will remain the biggest storyline for the Flames until he’s re-signed, traded, or signs with another club as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

A trade is possible during the draft weekend (June 27-28) as that’s a period when deals get done. There are a few teams with top-10 draft picks who could be in the market for an experienced right-shot defenseman. The Flames aren’t in any rush to move him, but general manager Craig Conroy has a reputation for moving players around this time.

An extension for Andersson remains possible after July 1, which is the earliest the Flames can sign him.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens as possible trade destinations for Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres and Canadiens have the depth in draft picks and prospects to make a tempting offer to the Flames. However, the Habs’ biggest need is a second-line center, so they’ll likely put those assets toward addressing that need. The Sabres are in the market for a right-shot blueliner to pair with Owen Power.

The Stars are expected to shake things up after falling short in the Western Conference Final for the third straight year. They need depth on the right side behind Miro Heiskanen, but must first shed some salary if they intend to pursue someone like Andersson.

Most of the talk about the Hurricanes suggests they’ll pursue big fish via free agency to address their need for an impact player to carry them to the Stanley Cup Final. If there’s enough cap space after landing that player, maybe they’ll look at Andersson.

The Leafs need a puck-moving right-shot defenseman on their top pairing. GM Brad Treliving knows Andersson from his days in the Flames’ front office.

THE LATEST ON MARCO ROSSI

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Michael Russo report league sources claim there was another call between Wild GM Bill Guerin and agent Ian Pulver, who represents Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old center becomes a restricted free agent without arbitration rights on July 1.

Earlier this season, the Rossi camp rejected a five-year, $25 million contract proposal. A shorter bridge deal was pitched last week, but Pulver told Guerin that the recent offer no longer makes sense after he was buried on the fourth line during the playoffs.

The Wild aren’t willing to offer Rossi a deal comparable to teammate Matt Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million contract. It feels like his time with the Wild could be coming to an end.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s future in Minnesota has been the subject of frequent speculation for weeks. His asking price could make him difficult to move, but rumors persist that teams continue to inquire about his availability.

FLYERS INTERESTED IN NICOLAS HAGUE

SPORTSNET 590: Elliotte Friedman reports the Philadelphia Flyers are believed to have contacted the Vegas Golden Knights about Nicolas Hague. The 26-year-old left-shot defenseman completed a three-year contract with an AAV of $2.294 million and is an RFA with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vegas Hockey Now’s Hannah Kirkell recently observed that the Golden Knights already have Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden McNabb under contract for next season. She suggested that it could make Hague the odd man out.

The Golden Knights could go shopping for a big-ticket UFA this summer. They have $9.6 million in cap space and might be willing to part with Hague in a trade if they have no plans to re-sign him.

JAKE ALLEN HOPES TO REMAIN WITH THE DEVILS

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited an NHL.com report indicating Jake Allen hopes to stay in New Jersey. The 34-year-old Devils goaltender is UFA-eligible on July 1.

GM Tom Fitzgerald said they’re trying to figure out what type of salary Allen prefers and whether they can make it work.










Notable NHL Trades – March 7, 2025

by | Mar 7, 2025

Notable NHL Trades – March 7, 2025

The Boston Bruins traded Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers for a conditional 2027 second-round pick. The Bruins retained half of Marchand’s $6.13 million cap hit.  

Boston Bruins traded Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Fraser Minten and a first-round pick. 

Toronto Maple Leafs trade Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar to the Pittsburgh Penguins. More to follow. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire Luke Kunin from the San Jose Sharks for a 2025 fourth-rounder. 

The Ottawa Senators acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins and a fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Noah Gregor, Zack Ostapchuk and a second-round pick. 

Philadelphia Flyers trade Erik Johnson to the Colorado Avalanche for Givani Smith.

The Buffalo Sabres shipped Henri Jokiharju to the Boston Bruins. Details to follow.  

The Dallas Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Logan Stankoven and two first-round picks. The Stars sign Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $12 million. More details to follow.

New Jersey Devils acquire Cody Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third-round pick.

The Boston Bruins Trade Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, prospect Will Zellers and a second-round pick.

The Detroit Red Wings Acquire Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Joe Veleno.

The Philadelphia Flyers trade Scott Laughton, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-rounder to the Toronto Maple Leafs for prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick.

The Buffalo Sabres trade Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

The Winnipeg Jets acquire Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Jets also acquire Brandon Tanev from the Seattle Kraken for a 2027 second-round pick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Anthony Beauvillier to the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick in 2025.

The Philadelphia Flyers traded Andrei Kuzmenko to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Flyers retain 50 percent of Kuzmenko’s $5.5 million cap hit. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2023

by | Sep 1, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 1, 2023

Patrick Kane provides an update on his status, Phil Kessel hopes to continue his NHL career, Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is prepared for the coming season and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Patrick Kane provided an update on his recovery from his hip resurfacing procedure in June. He said he’s been on the ice about 20 times and is well on track in his four-to-six-month recovery timeline.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Kane, 34, said he’s progressing so well that he’s at the point where he could return to action earlier than projected. However, he intends to stick with the six-month rehab schedule to ensure his complete recovery.

Regarding where he’ll play next, Kane said he’ll remain patient as he expects to receive offers when training camp opens later this month. He indicated he’d be willing to listen if a club made an offer and a situation that he would be excited about.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane probably won’t receive contract offers until later in the fall when clubs have had time to evaluate their rosters and salary-cap situations.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Phil Kessel hopes to land with another NHL team for the coming season and isn’t concerned if he isn’t an everyday player. The 35-year-old winger holds the NHL’s Ironman record of 1,064 consecutive regular-season games.

With 14 goals and 36 points last season, Friedman believes Kessel can still be a factor. He’s also just eight points away from 1,000 career points. He’d also be an affordable signing as he’s now eligible to sign a one-year 35-plus contract for the league minimum salary with bonuses that could slide to next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel could land with an NHL club for this season, especially since there wouldn’t be any pressure about whether or not to scratch him because of his Ironman record. He could be a very affordable addition for a club seeking some experienced depth on the wing.

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis recently reported that Rasmus Andersson is ready to “embrace the chaos” when he returns to Calgary next week to prepare for the start of the Flames training camp later this month. The 26-year-old defenseman is prepared for the barrage of questions he and his teammates will get from the local media over the club’s offseason changes and moves.

“You can’t hide from it,” said Andersson. “You’ve just got to embrace it and stick with it, and believe in guys in management.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson’s role as a team leader and his willingness to face the press has some observers calling him a candidate to be the club’s next captain. That role has been vacant since Mark Giordano was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.

THE SCORE: Charlie Coyle is looking forward to the challenge of taking on a larger role with the Boston Bruins following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

During a recent appearance on WEEI’s “The Gresh & Fauria Show,” Coyle acknowledged that he and his teammates will miss Bergeron and Krejci. “We all wish they could play,” he said. “But those are job opportunities right now, right? That gets me fired up, it only gets our team fired up.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyle is saying all the right things as his club faces the daunting task of overcoming the absence of their top two centers. He’s under no illusions that this season will be more difficult for the Bruins, admitting that they will have to work harder this season. We’ll find out in the coming months whether he and his teammates are up to the challenge.

TSN: The Seattle Kraken signed forward Devin Shore to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K at the NHL level. Shore, 29, spent the past three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

Speaking of former Oilers, the Anaheim Ducks signed forward Zack Kassian to a professional tryout offer.

CAROLINA HOCKEY NOW: The Hurricanes announced the addition of Daniel Bochner as a development coach. He spent five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with SKA St. Petersburg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2023

by | Aug 29, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 29, 2023

The Bruins’ plan to fill their top-two center roles this season, front office changes for the Sabres and Capitals, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery is very confident that Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle can fill the club’s top-two center positions. Those roles became areas of concern following the recent retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha. (NHL Images)

Montgomery believes Zacha is ready to handle the first-line center role, saying the 26-year-old still has a high ceiling after his career-best performance (21 goals, 57 points) last season.

The Bruins were rumored to be interested in Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm and Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele earlier in the offseason. One NHL source claimed they would circle back on Lindholm if he became available before the start of this season.

They were also said to be prepared to move Linus Ullmark. However, it appears the asking price for the desired center was too high and the return too low for Ullmark.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins probably have no choice but to go with Zacha and Coyle to start this season. It’s believed they lack sufficient trade capital to outbid other clubs that could have an interest in Lindholm. That probably holds true as well for Scheifele.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Terry Pegula has taken over as the Sabres team president. Pegula Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, is being dissolved and separating resources, with each club focusing on their respective efforts.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals also made some front-office changes, naming general manager Brian MacLellan as president of hockey operations. They also promoted Chris Patrick to assistant general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers suggest this move lays the groundwork for Patrick to eventually take over as general manager, allowing MacLellan to focus solely on his role as hockey ops president.

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers formally announced they’ve signed forwards Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter to professional tryout agreements.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here. It was previously reported in the Edmonton media that Gagner and Sutter would get professional tryout offers.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of PTOs, the Avalanche signed former Dallas Stars forward Joel Kiviranta.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs added some size to their blueline yesterday, signing former Simon Benoit to a one-year, $775K contract. The 6’3”, 203-pound defenseman spent the past three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.