NHL Rumor Mill – June 24, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – June 24, 2025
The latest on Brock Boeser plus updates on the Islanders, Oilers and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BRUINS, SENATORS AMONG CLUBS REPORTEDLY INTERESTED IN BROCK BOESER
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that an NHL source claims the Boston Bruins are among multiple teams interested in Brock Boeser. The 28-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is expected to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Boeser has been on the radar of Bruins general manager Don Sweeney going back to last summer. The Bruins made it clear that they want a scoring winger if they can’t find a top-six center.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
The Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are also believed among the other possible suitors for Boeser.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators could also get into the bidding for Boeser. They were 18th in the league in goals last season (243) and want to address that issue.
The Senators have roughly $10.75 million in cap space for 2025-26, which doesn’t leave much room unless they shed some salary. They’re also in the market for a right-shot defenseman.
Garrioch also believes the Bruins, Wild and Kings could be interested in Boeser, and included the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres on his list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser has a bit of an injury history and can be a streaky scorer, but he has netted 20-plus goals six times (including a career-best 40 in 2023-24) and reached or exceeded 45 points in each of his eight NHL seasons.
Boeser might have to wait until Mitch Marner signs his new contract. The soon-to-be former Toronto Maple Leafs winger is expected to take several days fielding offers before reaching a decision.
THE LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears reports that the recent report of Noah Dobson seeking $11 million annually in contract talks with the Islanders has made the 25-year-old defenseman the subject of rampant trade speculation. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
Sears pointed out that Mathieu Darche, the Islanders’ new general manager, has indicated he wants to re-sign Dobson. It’s believed Darche isn’t actively shopping the blueliner, but that doesn’t mean teams aren’t calling or that option isn’t closed off.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov is in the same situation as Dobson and his situation appears equally volatile. The possibility they could select Matthew Schaefer in the upcoming draft would create a logjam of left-shot defensemen, which could result in Romanov or Adam Pelech being considered expendable.
Meanwhile, center Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a year away from UFA eligibility and could become a trade candidate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The threat of an offer sheet is also stoking speculation of Dobson or Romanov getting traded. If that happens, Dobson seems the least likely to get one. Any club willing to pay him $11 million annually would have to cough up two first-rounders, a second and a third. Anything over $11.7 million costs four first-rounders.
CAN THE OILERS FIND A GOALTENDER THIS SUMMER?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited ESPN’s Ray Ferraro pointing out that the Oilers are in a difficult spot in their efforts this summer to find a goaltender.
Jake Allen is available via free agency, but a few teams are competing to sign him. John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks is mentioned in trade rumors, but it would be an expensive trade for both clubs in terms of dollars and assets.
Staples doesn’t want to see the Oilers trade away Skinner, but acknowledged his inconsistency and declining stats. He also pointed out that the Oilers have limited cap space and there are few goalies available this summer.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports it doesn’t appear the Montreal Canadiens will use one or both of their two first-round picks (16th and 17th overall) in this year’s draft to bolster their top-six forwards.
The problem is that there is only one genuine seller (the Pittsburgh Penguins) in the trade market, with most clubs now hoping to be buyers.
An executive told Engels that nearly every team wants to acquire players this summer, but none really want to sell the ones they have. The executive believes there will be some trades now, “some hockey deals”, but the trade market could be quieter than expected.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a seller’s market this summer, meaning the Canadiens will have difficulty acquiring a good, established NHL center or winger from a rebuilding club looking to stock up on draft picks and prospects. The reference to “hockey deals” usually means a player-for-player swap.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka speculated over the possibility of the San Jose Sharks using their salary-cap leverage to pick up an asset.
He suggested a scenario where the Canadiens trade the contract of permanently sidelined goalie Carey Price ($10.5 million AAV for 2025-26) to the Sharks. The move would increase the Canadiens’ cap space to over $16.5 million for next season, while enabling the Sharks to reach the $70.6 million salary-cap floor.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could be the most notable trade the Canadiens make this summer if the Sharks are willing to do it. The Habs would have to include a draft pick or a prospect in the deal, but it would give them sufficient cap room for other possible additions throughout the offseason or leading up to next year’s trade deadline. It would also allow them to accrue cap space throughout the season, something they usually can’t do with Price on LTIR.