NHL Rumor Mill – January 12, 2026

by | Jan 12, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 12, 2026

The latest Canucks speculation, plus updates on Bruins forward Pavel Zacha and Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston suggested it wasn’t impossible for the Vancouver Canucks to trade Elias Pettersson. Teams are reportedly interested in him, and while he’s not scoring like he used to, he remains a solid defensive player.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

The Carolina Hurricanes were interested in Pettersson before, and they’re trying to find a new home for struggling center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Johnston thinks a team that needs a top-notch center, one close to elite but not an out-and-out No. 1 guy, could use Pettersson. He suggested the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, who have young superstars as their first-line centers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Pettersson’s production is an issue, but it wouldn’t be so bad if he weren’t being paid like a first-line center. That $11.6 million AAV through 2032 is too much for a second-line center. He also carries a full no-trade clause, which further limits where the Canucks could send him if they decide it’s time to part company.

Vancouver was in trade talks with Carolina about Pettersson two years ago before re-signing him to his current contract. While the Hurricanes aren’t afraid of bold moves, they could be targeting other options now.

Even if the Canucks agreed to retain up to half of Pettersson’s cap hit, he might not be a fit with the Blackhawks and Sharks. The Blackhawks have promising Frank Nazar as their second-line center. Meanwhile, the Sharks recently re-signed second-line center Alexander Wennberg to a three-year extension, and they’ve got promising Michael Misa in their lineup.

Winger Jake DeBrusk has surfaced in the rumor mill. However, the 29-year-old winger recently told Johnston that he’s not going anywhere, saying he wants to be part of the solution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk is in the second season of his seven-year contract. He also has a full no-movement clause, which explains his confidence about staying in Vancouver.

A source told Johnston that things “are heating up” regarding trade talks between the Canucks and teams interested in Kiefer Sherwood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks reportedly revisited contract talks with Sherwood, but the feeling out of Vancouver is he’ll be on the move by the March 6 trade deadline, if not sooner.

Johnston noted that CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal last week said that the Canucks looked into sending Evander Kane back to the Edmonton Oilers, but they weren’t interested. He also believes defenseman Tyler Myers isn’t going anywhere, citing his no-movement clause and that he and his family are settled in Vancouver.

Depth forwards such as Teddy Blueger and David Kampf won’t fetch much in the trade market, but they could draw interest from playoff contenders.

BRUINS UNLIKELY TO MOVE PAVEL ZACHA

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa considers it unlikely that the Boston Bruins will trade Pavel Zacha. The 28-year-old center has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

Shinzawa pointed out that Zacha has become a dependable long-term member of the Bruins’ secondary tier.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zacha was a fixture in the rumor mill throughout last summer and earlier in this season. However, the Bruins have been more competitive than expected after last season’s disappointing performance, and remain in playoff contention.

Shinzawa expects rival clubs will continue to inquire about Zacha’s availability unless the Bruins climb higher in the standings. However, it’s unlikely they’ll trade him even if they were to tumble in the standings. He’s become a valuable part of their roster core, and they will probably attempt to sign him to a contract extension this summer.

MERZLIKINS’ FUTURE WITH THE BLUE JACKETS REMAINS UNCERTAIN

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger wondered what the future holds for Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

The 31-year-old Merzlikins is in the fourth year of his five-year contract with an AAV of $5.4 million. He’s no longer the Blue Jackets starter, having been relegated to backup duty behind Jet Greaves, and has made only sporadic appearances in goal.

Hedger believes that’s a problem for the Blue Jackets, who opted not to trade or buy out the struggling netminder last summer. His trade value is lower now, and the contract buyout window is six months away. Sending him to the minors would require waivers plus Merzlikins’ willingness to report.

The Blue Jackets can only ride Greaves for so long. Hedger wondered if the Blue Jackets might consider terminating Merzlikin’s contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins’ approval would be required for a mutual termination. Otherwise, the Blue Jackets would have to provide grounds to terminate his contract. If they can’t find a trade partner, they’ll have to wait to buy out the final season of his contract in June.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 6, 2026

by | Jan 6, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 6, 2026

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, the latest on Canucks forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Jake DeBrusk, plus an update on the trade rumors swirling about Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane.

THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma and Patrick Johnston are skeptical that the Vancouver Canucks will re-sign Kiefer Sherwood.

Both pundits took note of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s report on Saturday about the Canucks making another contract offer to the Sherwood camp. The 30-year-old winger is on pace for a career-best season. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

Kuzma stated the prospect of the Canucks re-signing Sherwood is “highly unlikely,” claiming there’s not much appetite on their part to triple his $1.5 million salary. He also suggested that Sherwood could fetch a good return for the rebuilding Canucks, pointing to the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins as possible suitors.

Johnson didn’t rule out the possibility of the Canucks re-signing Sherwood. However, he doesn’t consider it likely after checking with his sources. Like Kuzma, he believes Sherwood will have more value to the Canucks as a trade chip.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks set in motion their rebuilding plans when they traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild last month. That made it all but certain that Sherwood will be moved before the March 6 trade deadline.

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato believes a playoff contender should attempt to acquire Jake DeBrusk from the Canucks.

DeBrusk is struggling in his second season in Vancouver, but the 29-year-old winger’s playoff experience would make him a good middle-six option for a contender seeking scoring depth. He also carries a reasonable annual average value of $5.5 million over the next five seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk has a full no-movement clause until 2027, but he might waive it for an opportunity to go to a contender. He hasn’t surfaced in the rumor mill yet, but the Canucks might be willing to listen to offers, especially if it involves young NHL players or high draft picks.

NO DEAL YET FOR ANDREW MANGIAPANE

EDMONTON JOURNAL: NHL insider Frank Seravalli told Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer that he felt the Oilers aren’t close to getting a trade done for Andrew Mangiapane.

Seravalli believes the Oilers have been in contact with a couple of teams. He thinks the second year of Mangiapane’s contract is a detriment, but they’re trying to work through that.

Mangiapane carries an AAV of $3.6 million on a two-year contract. He also has a full no-trade clause this season, but is reportedly willing to waive it to join a club where he’ll get more playing time.

Seravalli felt the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils are two clubs that need scoring depth. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Saturday that the Anaheim Ducks had been poking around a bit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Journal’s David Staples believes it could take several weeks to get a trade worked out for Mangiapane. He wondered if there could be a swap with the Ducks for center Ryan Strome if the Ducks were willing to retain half of his $5 million cap hit through 2026-27.

I proposed the same thing last week, but that was spitballing on my part. If it were that simple, it would’ve been done by now.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 31, 2025

by | Aug 31, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 31, 2025

An update on Luke Hughes’ contract talks with the Devils, plus the latest on Canadiens defensemen Lane Hutson, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald remains confident of getting Luke Hughes under contract soon.

The 21-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. He is ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival team.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).

With training camp on the horizon, the lack of a new contract for Hughes has raised questions about the status of the negotiations. However, Fitzgerald seems unperturbed by the situation.

“We’ll just continue to talk and present each other with ideas,” Fitzgerald said. “Eventually, this will get done. The 11th hour is training camp, right? A lot of times, a lot of the stuff doesn’t get done until the 11th hour. We’re hoping we can get something done here in quick fashion, and both sides are working at it; that’s for sure.

Fitzgerald acknowledged that both sides hope to avoid a contract standoff like that of Devils’ forward Dawson Mercer last year. That deal wasn’t settled until after training camp began.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy cited NJ.COM’s Ryan Novozinsky reporting the Devils sought a maximum eight-year contract or a two-year bridge deal. However, the Hughes camp prefers a five-year deal that would take him to 2030, making him eligible for UFA status at the same time as his brother and teammate, Jack Hughes.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson said he and his teammates want to elevate their performance this season, especially after exceeding expectations by reaching the playoffs last season.

“We all know that it’s going to be hard, but there’s a lot of work to be done,” Hutson said.

The 5’9”, 162-pound Hutson won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year last season. He’s not concerned about adding weight, saying that he feels good where he is. Hutson indicated he has been trying different things during his offseason training to improve his play, including working on his shot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson said he’s not feeling any additional pressure following his Calder win and the club’s playoff appearance last year. Nevertheless, it will be there for him and his teammates. How they handle it will factor into whether they can build on last season’s promising performance.

THE PROVINCE: Jake DeBrusk found himself in an awkward position during his first season with the Vancouver Canucks, sitting between then-feuding centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller in the dressing room.

DeBrusk admitted Miller’s leave of absence for personal reasons last November was difficult. “That was the most intense. As a guy who had just met him, you hope he’s OK. You don’t know what’s going on. But everything happens for a reason.”

After getting to know and like Miller and Pettersson, DeBrusk sometimes felt like he was almost the middleman. He thinks it was unfortunate that the situation led to Miller’s trade to the New York Rangers in January.

DeBrusk acknowledged the club still hasn’t found a suitable replacement for Miller at center. However, he pointed out they should be stronger defensively with goaltender Thatcher Demko now healthy and an improved blueline.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: The Penguins announced last week that they’re relaunching their Hall of Fame with 10 new members over the next three seasons.

Players Tom Barrasso, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Chris Kunitz, Larry Murphy, and Kevin Stevens, and builders Scotty Bowman, Eddie Johnston, Jim Rutherford, and Ray Shero were selected for the honor.

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin listed the Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets as the five teams that got noticeably weaker during the offseason.

Limited cap space saw the Avalanche shed depth from their roster. The Oilers are shallower than last season after parting ways with several experienced depth players. Blueline depth remains a concern for the Kings with the departures of Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence. The Leafs will feel the loss of all-star right winger Mitch Marner, while the Jets will miss winger Nikolaj Ehlers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

by | Aug 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 1, 2025

The Bruins could play without a captain this season, Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk hopes to build on his career-best goal performance, the latest on the Flames contract talks with Connor Zary, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy doesn’t expect his club will have a team captain for 2025-26.

In an interview with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, McAvoy said he and winger David Pastrnak will be alternate captains for this season, adding that they’re fine with that arrangement.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (NHL Images).

New Bruins head coach Marco Sturm hinted back in June that the club could play this season without a captain. He wants to get to know the players as people before he and management decide which player should have the captaincy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A wise decision by Sturm. The Bruins are retooling the roster for this season. It’s best to identify the leaders in the room and on the ice before naming a captain.

THE PROVINCE: Jake DeBrusk had a career-high 28 goals in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks. However, he needs to be more consistent with his scoring, especially on home ice, where he scored only nine times last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk, 28, has been a streaky scorer through his eight NHL seasons. The Canucks are hoping to rebound from this disappointing performance last season. If they are to reach the playoffs, DeBrusk must find a way to beat the inconsistency that has dogged him throughout his career.

CALGARY SUN: Flames general manager Craig Conroy remains confident he’ll get a deal done this summer with restricted free agent forward Connor Zary.

Zary is coming off his entry-level contract. The Flames reportedly prefer signing him to a short-term contract, while the 23-year-old center seeks something longer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games, Zary was on track to exceed his 34-point rookie performance in 2023-24. However, a knee injury in January sidelined him for six weeks, and another in March ended his season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres signed goaltender Devon Levi to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $812,500. It’s reportedly a one-way deal for both seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi, 23, is expected to spend this season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester. They will continue to work on his game, hoping to develop him into a starting goalie.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Sabres, their home arena will continue to be called the KeyBank Center after the two sides agreed to a 10-year extension of the naming rights on Wednesday.

The deal begins next season and runs through 2035-36.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Mike Brophy received a kidney donation on Thursday. He was the senior writer at The Hockey News for 17 years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Brophy for a full recovery.

MLIVE.COM: Former NHL defenseman John Miszuk died this week at age 84.

Miszuk spent six seasons in the NHL, from 1963-64 to 1969-70, with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Minnesota North Stars, netting 46 points in 237 games. He also spent three seasons in the World Hockey Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Miszuk’s family, friends, and former teammates.










List Of Notable NHL UFA Signings and Trades – July 1, 2024

by | Jul 1, 2024

List Of Notable NHL UFA Signings and Trades – July 1, 2024

NOTE: This list will be updated throughout the day as free-agent signings become official.

Edmonton Oilers sign Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract. 

San Jose Sharks sign Alex Wennberg to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million. 

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. 

Edmonton Oilers signed Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4 million. 

New Jersey Devils signed Brenden Dillon to a three-year deal with an AAV of $4 million. 

Dallas Stars sign Matt Dumba to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. 

Carolina Hurricanes sign Sean Walker to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $3.6 million. 

Nashville Predators re-sign Alexandre Carrier to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3.75 million.

Los Angeles Kings sign Warren Foegele to a three-year deal with an AAV of $3.5 million. 

San Jose Sharks sign Tyler Toffoli to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. 

The New York Rangers acquire Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder. The Penguins also retain 25 percent of Smith’s $5 million cap hit for 2024-25. 

New Jersey Devils sign Brett Pesce to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $5.5 million.

New York Islanders sign Anthony Duclair to a four-year contract with an AAV of $3.5 million. 

Chicago Blackhawks sign Teuvo Teravainen to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million.

Calgary Flames sign Anthony Mantha to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. 

Seattle Kraken signed Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.

Ottawa Senators sign David Perron to a two-year deal with an AAV of $4 million.  

Buffalo Sabres sign Jason Zucker to a one-year contract worth $5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Steven Stamkos to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million. 

Seattle Kraken ink Brandon Montour to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7.14 million

Boston Bruins sign  Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7.75 million. 

Boston Bruins sign Nikita Zadorov to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. 

Nashville Predators sign Brady Skjei to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7 million. 

Vancouver Canucks sign Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million

Columbus Blue Jackets ink Sean Monahan to a five-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million

Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. 

Florida Panthers re-sign Sam Reinhart to an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8.63 million.

Tampa Bay Lightning sign Jake Guentzel to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million

Detroit Red Wings re-sign Patrick Kane to a one-year contract with a base salary of $4 million and $2.5 million in bonuses.

Chicago Blackhawks sign Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million.

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Chris Tanev to a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Max Domi to a four-year deal with an AAV of $3.75 million.

Dallas Stars re-sign Matt Duchene to a one-year, $3 million contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 1, 2024

by | Jul 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 1, 2024

The annual free-agent signing frenzy begins at noon ET today. Check out the latest notable free agent and trade rumors in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli believing part of the reason the Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t officially announced their signing of Jake Guentzel is they still have some hope of working something out with Steven Stamkos.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Signing Guentzel could use up half of the Lightning’s cap space. Stamkos would have to accept a major pay cut to remain in Tampa Bay. His agent said he’s heading to market today and it’s doubtful that his situation has changed.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).

If Stamkos goes to market, Seravalli believes the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, and New Jersey Devils could be among the suitors.

Seravalli also reported Tyler Bertuzzi has come to terms with a Western Conference team. It’s expected to be a four-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million.

The Daily Faceoff pundit believes Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are close to a contract extension. He doesn’t know if the deal will be announced on July 1.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the Rangers shouldn’t overreact after Patrick Kane opted to re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Unless they can land Steven Stamkos, he doesn’t believe the forwards available in the UFA market would make a difference against a team like the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Brooks acknowledged Jonathan Marchessault’s MVP performance against the Panthers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. However, he believes the Rangers need a bigger physical forward.

Today is the day Jacob Trouba’s no-movement clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list. The 31-year-old defenseman’s feelings are hurt over the way the Rangers have handled his situation. However, Brooks believes he shouldn’t stand in the way of the Rangers’ efforts to trade him to the Detroit Red Wings. If he does, the Rangers will trade him somewhere else or place him on waivers.

Mollie Walker also noted the Rangers’ rumored efforts to trade Trouba to Motown. She feels it’s best he returns to the state where he grew up and began playing hockey rather than stay with a team that doesn’t want him.

Walker anticipates the Rangers could be interested in adding a forward via free agency. They could be interested in Stamkos, Bertuzzi or Jake DeBrusk. They could also pursue a defenseman like Nikita Zadorov.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting the Rangers are taking family considerations into account in their efforts to move Trouba. They want to ensure the defenseman ends up in a place that’s best for him and his family.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A Trouba trade could come as early as today based on the recent reporting. It would certainly add some extra spice to what will be a busy day for player movement.

THE BOSTON GLOBE: The Bruins could start free agency with a bang by signing former Vancouver Canucks Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. The 29-year-old Lindholm could give the Bruins a reliable two-way center. Zadorov, 29, enjoyed a solid postseason performance on the Canucks blueline, logging over 20 minutes per game and collecting eight points in 13 playoff games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was linked to the Bruins for months last season before he was traded to the Canucks. There was talk leading up to the deadline of a three-way trade that would’ve sent him to Boston.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Trade talk has linked the Kraken to Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger has yet to be released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Despite his injury history, he could be a high-upside gamble for the low-scoring Kraken without tying them up in a long-term contract. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets can trade Laine while he’s in the player assistance program. However, it was reported over the weekend that interested clubs want to speak with him first.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators and Shane Pinto aren’t close to a long-term contract extension. They were exploring the option of a short-term deal to try to get something done. Pinto’s agent, Lewis Gross, could be looking for an offer sheet from a rival club but that could be a long shot. His client also lacks arbitration rights because he lacks the accrued seasons necessary to qualify.

The Senators could make a pitch for Jake DeBrusk, Tyler Toffoli or Matt Roy via free agency.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch noted a team that successfully signs Pinto to an offer sheet would have to part with a first-round pick and a third-rounder as compensation if the offer is between $4.57 million and $6.7 million. He also noted on “X” that the Senators would match it.

THE ATHLETIC: The Vancouver Canucks could be shopping for a veteran backup goaltender when free agency begins. They had contract extension discussions last week with Casey DeSmith but it appears he’d headed to market. They’ll also be shopping for a top-six forward, a speedy bottom-six forward and a left-shot defenseman.