NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2025
The latest on the Canucks, Flyers and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BROCK BOESER HEADING TO FREE-AGENCY & QUESTIONS OVER QUINN HUGHES’ FUTURE
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser appears headed to free agency in July. However, management is willing to leave the door open if the 28-year-old winger doesn’t find any suitable offers from other clubs.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
Finding a replacement for Boeser won’t be easy. The Canucks would not be dealing from a position of strength in the free-agent market.
Johnston also cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reporting Canucks president of hockey ops Jim Rutherford won’t be disciplined by the NHL for his quip on Monday about team captain Quinn Hughes hoping to one day play with brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.
Some observers wondered if Rutherford violated the league’s anti-tampering rules. According to Dhaliwal, the league believes Rutherford’s remark was made in jest.
DAILY FACEOFF: Rutherford may have been joking about Hughes’ desire to play with his brothers, but Frank Seravalli believes the possibility could be out of the Canucks’ hands.
Seravalli thinks Hughes’ future in Vancouver could be tied to whatever happens with head coach Rick Tocchet. The club hopes to sign him to a contract extension, as Tocchet is taking some time to consider his options.
Hughes has been vocal about Tocchet being the best coach he’s played for. If he doesn’t return, it could open the door for Hughes’ potential departure when his contract expires in 2027.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given all the drama the Canucks have endured this season, it’s hard to believe they were considered an emerging power in the Western Conference a year ago.
Since then, J.T. Miller has been traded, questions have arisen over Elias Pettersson’s role as their first-line center, Boeser and Tocchet could sign elsewhere, there are growing concerns about oft-injured goaltender Thatcher Demko, and now there are questions about Hughes’ future in Vancouver.
WILL THE FLYERS MAKE BIG MOVES THIS SUMMER?
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at the potential offseason plans of Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.
The Flyers GM wants to add a difference-maker (preferably a top-six center) to his lineup. It’s unlikely he’ll bring in a big-ticket free agent, meaning he’ll have to get creative.
They have seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft to draw on for trade bait. Briere could also go the offer-sheet route.
A goaltending upgrade is also necessary. Barring some sort of blockbuster move, Samuel Ersson will return next season. They’re stuck with Ivan Fedotov, who has a year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $3.75 million.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James suggests Briere target Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks via trade or offer sheet, or attempt to acquire Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken or Elias Pettersson of the Canucks through the trade market.
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco expects the Flyers will be moderate spenders during the offseason. He doesn’t expect they’ll get into the bidding for someone like Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers if he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Instead, he suggested signing Brock Nelson to a three-year contract as a stop-gap solution.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere has made bold moves in the past and could do so again this summer. However, if the intent is to be moderate spenders, that could put the kibosh on pursuing any of James’ suggested targets.
THE LATEST RED WINGS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman recently reported that Patrick Kane indicated that he believes there is mutual interest in returning with the Detroit Red Wings. He intends to discuss his situation with his family, his agents and Wings management, but he has enjoyed his time in Detroit.
Bultman also believes the Red Wings’ biggest offseason question is whether they can add a legit top-four defenseman to skate with Moritz Seider on the top pairing or to lead the second pairing if Simon Edvinsson moves up.
Another priority is finding a top-line winger to skate alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Mitch Marner could be the top player in this summer’s free-agent market, but Bultman doesn’t expect the Wings could win a bidding war for the Toronto Maple Leafs winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings could pursue a UFA winger like Brock Boeser or Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets.
Meanwhile, the market for UFA blueliners is thinner after the Jets re-signed Neal Pionk. Vladislav Gavrikov would be a good option but Bultman noted the Kings are confident they can re-sign him.