NHL Rumor Mill – September 8, 2025

by | Sep 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 8, 2025

A roundup of takes on the latest scuttlebutt involving the five notable remaining restricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET’s Luke Fox looked at the latest rumors regarding the remaining notable RFAs.

Fox believes New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is still trying to get defenseman Luke Hughes signed to a team-friendly contract. A good comparable would be Brock Faber’s $8 million average annual value (AAV) on his eight-year contract.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes reportedly prefers a five-year contract taking him up to unrestricted free-agent status by July 2030, the same time as teammate and brother Jack’s contract expires. The Devils prefer locking up Luke to a three-year bridge contract or an eight-year deal.

The Devils have roughly $7 million in cap space remaining, which is why veterans like winger Ondrej Palat and defenseman Dougie Hamilton have surfaced in recent trade rumors.

DAILY FACEOFF: Steven Ellis cited AFP Analytics projecting Hughes could get $8.386 million on a six-year contract or $5.786 million on a three-year deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Devils are under considerable pressure to get Hughes signed before the start of the season. His absence could make the difference between them securing home-ice advantage for the playoffs and being a wild-card team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils must shed salary if they can’t get Hughes signed within their current cap constraints. If he gets over $8 million, expect a cost-cutting trade to follow.

Turning to Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, Fox noted that there has been trade interest from rival teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks. However, it’s believed Ducks GM Pat Verbeek wants to sign him beyond a bridge deal. One comparable could be Quinton Byfield’s five-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, which carries an AAV of $6.25 million.

Ellis considers the 22-year-old McTavish to be the premier forward still chasing a contract this summer. AFP Analytics projects he’ll get $6.772 million on a six-year contract or $3.983 million on a three-year deal.

Proteau believes the Ducks are under a lot of pressure to get McTavish signed. The rebuilding club needs all hands on deck if they’re to push for a playoff berth this season. They can’t afford to have a dynamic young player like McTavish on the sidelines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verbeek has a well-deserved reputation as a tough negotiator who isn’t afraid to let contract negotiations carry over into training camp and preseason. He also won’t trade McTavish if this turns into a standoff unless he gets a comparable player in return.

Fox indicated contract negotiations continue between the Nashville Predators and winger Luke Evangelista. He thinks the approach of training camp will be the true pressure point, suggesting a bridge deal as the path toward a solution.

Ellis cited AFP Analytics projecting a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.513 million for Evangelista. Proteau believes the Predators don’t have to rush into getting the young forward re-signed, noting the clock isn’t ticking as loudly for them as it is for the Devils with Hughes and the Ducks with McTavish.

Turning to Alexander Holtz of the Vegas Golden Knights, Fox cited Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon expressing his belief that his club can help the young forward unlock his untapped potential. A bridge deal or a trade could be the outcome.

Ellis indicated a one-year deal worth $874,125 was projected for Holtz by AFP Analytics. Proteau concurs that he’ll get an affordable short-term deal and believes the Golden Knights are feeling pressured to sign him.

The last RFA on Fox’s list is Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser. He cited Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times indicating that a deal should be worked out before training camp. Fox projected his contract will be three years with an AAV of $2.5 million.

According to Ellis, AFP Analytics projected Kaiser receiving $3.208 million annually on a three-year contract or $5.479 million on a six-year deal. Proteau believes the Blackhawks can afford to take their time getting him under contract.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 7, 2025

by | Sep 7, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 7, 2025

Why shouldn’t we expect a reunion of the Hughes brothers to happen with the Devils anytime soon? Why haven’t the Islanders pursued a contract extension with team captain Anders Lee? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently looked at why we shouldn’t expect a Devils trade for Quinn Hughes to happen sooner.

Speculation persists linking the Vancouver Canucks captain to the Devils and a reunion with brothers Jack and Luke Hughes. In a recent interview with Sportsnet, Quinn left more questions than answers about a contract extension with the Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

“Who knows what we can do and who knows how I’ll be feeling this time next year? It’s still a year away,” Hughes said.

Nichols believes if the Canucks were to trade Hughes now, it would have to mean they’re trading everyone of significance. However, that’s unlikely to happen at this point, as the Canucks re-sign Brock Boeser, Thatcher Demko, and Conor Garland. They have several defensemen signed through 2030, and center Elias Pettersson is in the second season of an eight-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last season was a disappointment for the Canucks after their strong showing in 2023-24. Despite their inconsistent play, the turmoil between Pettersson and J.T. Miller that led to the latter’s trade to New York, and injuries to key players like Demko, the Canucks remained in the playoff race until late in the season.

Management is hoping for a bounce-back performance with a healthier roster this season. They’re also hoping that things go well enough that Hughes will commit to a long-term extension next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche doesn’t plan to pursue a contract extension with team captain Anders Lee just yet.

The 35-year-old left wing is entering the final season of his seven-year contract and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. He’s earned an annual cap hit of $7 million.

Darche told LeBrun that he and Lee have agreed to see how this season plays out. He indicated there is no urgency on either side.

“He’s the captain of our team, and I really like the individual,” Darche said. “But I’m new to the team, right? There’s no one on an expiring contract, that has one year left, that I’ve re-signed. It’s not because I don’t want to, I had enough on my plate this summer. I’ve got a great relationship with Anders.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A sensible decision by Darche. He wants to evaluate his roster before making any decisions on new contracts. Given Lee’s age, he’ll likely get a short-term deal of two or three seasons if Darche decides to re-sign him. The annual cap hit is likely to be lower than his current one. How much lower will depend on his play this season. Nevertheless, the longer Lee goes without a contract, the more speculation about his future with the Islanders. 










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 30, 2025

by | Aug 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 30, 2025

Check out the latest on Oilers winger Zach Hyman, Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, Canadiens center Nick Suzuki, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: Zach Hyman isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for the start of the Edmonton Oilers’ regular season on Oct. 8.

The 33-year-old Edmonton Oilers winger suffered a dislocated wrist in Game 4 of the 2025 Western Conference Final. He underwent surgery in May, spending the past three months recovering.

Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (NHL Images).

“Will I be ready for the start of the season? I don’t know. But I’m on the right track, which is good,” Hyman said. He indicated he’ll have one more meeting soon with his surgeon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman is among the Oilers’ scoring leaders. Having him healthy and productive will be key to their Stanley Cup hopes this season.

NJ.COM: Ryan Novozinsky reports the New Jersey Devils and Luke Hughes remain apart on a new contract. The 21-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival team.

The Devils seek an eight-year contract or a two-year bridge deal. Hughes’ representatives want a five-year contract, ending the same time as Jack Hughes, his brother and teammate, ensuring both would be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status at the end of the 2029-30 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes could also seek an average annual value of over $8 million on his new contract. The Devils currently have just over $6 million in cap space, which would require a cost-cutting trade before the start of the regular season. That would explain why veteran Dougie Hamilton surfaced in the rumor mill this summer.

TVA SPORTS: Team Canada assistant general manager Julien BriseBois explained why Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki wasn’t chosen for Canada’s roster in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

It was speculated that Suzuki was passed over because he didn’t play for Canada in the 2024 World Championship. BriseBois denied this, saying they knew he was a good player and had followed his performance closely last fall.

“We’re here to win, not to play politics,” BriseBois said. “We’re going to select the players who give us the best chance of winning the gold medal.”

Suzuki was among the 42 players invited to attend Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, held last week in Calgary. BriseBois stated that it was because he’s a player whose performance will be highly scrutinized.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Their roster decisions panned out in the 4 Nations. Canada won that tournament with a thrilling overtime victory over the United States in the gold medal game.

RG.ORG: Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell indicated earlier this week that he would be meeting soon with Adam Fantelli’s agent to discuss a contract extension. The 20-year-old center is slated to become a restricted free agent without arbitration rights next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantelli is in the final season of his entry-level contract. He had a promising sophomore campaign in 2024-25, scoring 31 goals and accumulating 54 points. Fantilli also filled in as the Jackets’ first-line center after a wrist injury sidelined Sean Monahan.

Speaking of Monahan, Waddell indicated that he and captain Boone Jenner had fully recovered from last season’s injuries and are ready to go this season.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW/NESN: Panthers CEO Matt Caldwell is leaving the team to become the new CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ chief revenue officer, Shawn Thornton, is departing to join the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks as senior vice president and chief partnership officer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, that’s the same Shawn Thornton who spent 14 seasons in the NHL (2002-03 to 2016-17) as a physical checking-line forward and enforcer.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2025

by | Aug 27, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 27, 2025

Some speculation over Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks, and potential destinations for Carey Price’s contract in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: A reader recently asked James Mirtle if he saw the New Jersey Devils attempting to acquire Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes to reunite him with his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Hughes is signed through 2026-27. Mirtle thinks it would be only natural for the 25-year-old defenseman to wonder about his future in Vancouver if the Canucks can’t break through and win.

The Canucks could surprise with a bounce-back performance this season that convinces Hughes to stay, but Mirtle considers it unlikely. If they don’t, he thinks management will have to consider a blockbuster trade and what the return might look like.

As for the Devils, Mirtle speculated that they might consider making that commitment next summer if Hughes really wants to join his brothers. He observed that they have over $62 million in cap space for 2027-28 before accounting for Luke’s upcoming new contract, leaving plenty of room to sign Quinn to a massive extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season will be crucial in determining Quinn Hughes’ future with the Canucks. If they struggle this season, it will only stoke the trade rumors. Even if a deal isn’t possible with the Devils, there will be potential contenders with salary-cap space willing to acquire him and sign him to an expensive long-term extension next summer.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont looked at possible trade partners for the Canadiens to move the contract of Carey Price, who has been on permanent long-term injury reserve since 2022.

The Canadiens could retain Price’s contract and use LTIR to exceed the salary cap for the coming season, but they wouldn’t be able to accrue salary-cap space during the season. It would provide them with more cap flexibility if they could find a trade partner to take that contract off their books.

There is a year remaining on Price’s contract. The average annual value is $10.5 million, but he will make $7.5 million in actual salary for 2025-26, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1. That would make his contract palatable for rebuilding teams to remain cap compliant without paying much in actual salary if they move pending UFA players by the March trade deadline.

Dumont suggests the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, and Pittsburgh Penguins as three potential trade partners. The Canadiens would likely have to add “a mediocre draft pick” to the deal to sweeten the pot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks have also been mentioned as a trade partner.

Price has a full no-movement clause, but he won’t use it to block the Canadiens from trading his contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 23, 2025

by | Aug 23, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 23, 2025

Could the Kraken trade Jared McCann? Are the Bruins peddling Fabian Lysell? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SEATTLE HOCKEY INSIDER: Rob Simpson recently reported that the New Jersey Devils were at least one team to express an interest in Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken. The Montreal Canadiens were also rumored to have a strong interest in the 29-year-old forward.

However, the Kraken informed Devils management that McCann wasn’t available. He’s led that club in scoring in every season since their expansion campaign in 2021-22. He also carries a reasonable $5 million average annual value on his contract through 2026-27 with a 10-team no-trade list.

Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann (NHL Images).

Simpson believes it would take a hefty offer to tempt the Kraken into trading McCann. The trade talk could increase if they’re out of playoff contention following the American Thanksgiving long weekend in late November.

RG. Org’s Jim Biringer believes the asking price for the Devils could be a first-round pick. If Dawson Mercer is part of the deal, they’ll have to add a top prospect as well. If the Kraken need defense, Biringer suggested they might have to offer up Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McCann’s been a good, reliable scorer for the Kraken, but he could be surpassed on their depth chart by younger forwards like Shane Wright or Kaapo Kakko. That could make it easier for the Kraken to peddle him if necessary later this season.

The Kraken would understandably want to get the best return possible if they decide to trade McCann. However, the suggested asking price of a first-rounder or a top prospect like Nemec or Casey, plus Mercer, would probably be too expensive for the Devils.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio reports the Bruins’ recent influx of youth reportedly has management entertaining the idea of trading Fabian Lysell, whom they chose in the first round (21st overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The 22-year-old Lysell made his NHL debut last season, netting three points in 12 games. Fantucchio singled out the lack of consistency in his defensive game. Entering his fourth professional season, this could be a make-or-break campaign for Lysell.

Fantucchio believes Lysell’s trade stock remains relatively high, but that could change if he has another poor showing this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That might explain the recent speculation suggesting Lysell’s availability in the trade market. The Bruins could attempt to cash in while his stock remains high.

The latest on Lysell linked him to the Edmonton Oilers for Matthew Savoie or Vasily Podkolzin, but David Staples of the Edmonton Journal doesn’t see him as a fit with the Oilers.