NHL Rumor Mill – April 17, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – April 17, 2025
Check out the latest about the possible offseason plans for the Rangers, Blackhawks and Flames in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BIG CHANGES COMING FOR THE RANGERS THIS SUMMER?
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh reported the New York Rangers have fallen behind younger Eastern Conference rivals like the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Rangers carry an older roster that fell from being considered a Stanley Cup contender a year ago to missing the playoffs, raising concerns about their future. They have a middle-of-the-pack prospect pool and gave up one of their next two first-round picks acquiring J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).
Baugh expects general manager Chris Drury will fire head coach Peter Laviolette. He’ll likely try to keep reworking the roster as he did during this season. However, the Rangers only have $9.672 million in cap space for next season. Most of that will have to go to re-signing restricted free agents Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller, though the latter could become a trade candidate this summer.
Chris Kreider is the most obvious cost-cutting candidate. However, the 33-year-old winger had a disappointing performance this season. He also has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. Drury could also try moving Mika Zibanejad, but his full no-movement clause gives him complete control over his situation.
RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports the Rangers face a massive roster overhaul after missing the playoffs this season.
Teams called about Zibanejad and Kreider last fall when Drury let it be known they were looking to make changes. Biringer wondered if they could be moved this summer. He also wondered if Artemi Panarin could be shopped. He’s in the final year of his contract. Like Baugh, Biringer suggested Miller could become a trade candidate.
The Rangers could also decide to make a coaching change. Biringer also cited a source suggesting a management change might be in order.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider and Miller have frequently surfaced in this season’s rumor mill, with Kreider considered the leading trade candidate.
Like Zibanejad, Panarin has a full NMC and controls his fate. That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t accept a trade, but their preferred destinations would be limited.
Laviolette seems all but certain to be relieved of his coaching duties. As for Drury, he’s not going anywhere. He wouldn’t have made the moves he did in this season’s trade market without the blessing of team ownership.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BLACKHAWKS?
THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers wondered who would become the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.
They believe interim bench boss Anders Sorensen will probably get an interview. University of Denver coach David Carle is the hottest name among this year’s NHL coaching candidates, but there’s no guarantee he’ll leave Denver.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: RG.Org’s James Murphy cited a league source claiming the Blackhawks want Carle badly and are willing to “show him the money if the situation presents itself.” However, they’re not the only NHL club hoping to pry him away from his current job. Another source told Murphy to keep an eye on the Seattle Kraken and the Utah Hockey Club.
The Blackhawks would love to re-sign UFA-eligible forward Ryan Donato. There is a three-year offer worth an AAV of $4 million on the table but the 28-year-old hasn’t accepted it. Donato’s coming off a career-best performance of 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 points.
Lazerus and Powers believe the Blackhawks would be first in line if Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner hits the open market on July 1. They have the cap space to offer him an AAV of between $12 million and $14 million.
The Blackhawks could also get creative by going the offer-sheet route. “The Rangers’ Will Cuylle could be a target, or maybe Dallas’ Mavrik Bourque.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks have the cap space and tradeable assets to improve their roster through trades, the unrestricted free-agent market, and offer sheets. Whether they can land the talent they need could be easier said than done.
Signing Marner would be a major acquisition by the Blackhawks that could accelerate their rebuild process if he clicks with franchise player Connor Bedard. However, he could prefer signing with a playoff contender if he goes to market.
THE LATEST ON THE FLAMES
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the Calgary Flames must improve an offense ranked 30th overall this season.
GM Craig Conroy knows a team can’t be built through free agency, but he isn’t ruling out finding assets that could improve their roster in the UFA market. He’s also looking at adding young players from within their system.
The Flames’ top need is a right-shot center. They were interested in Dylan Cozens before the Buffalo Sabres traded him to the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline.
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports the Flames must decide on Rasmus Andersson’s future with the club. The 28-year-old defenseman is a year away from UFA eligibility. He could be traded away if he’s not signed to a contract extension this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Blackhawks, the Flames have a lot of cap space for next season ($34.2 million) and tradeable assets like draft picks and prospects. Some cap room will go toward new contracts for Matt Coronato, Connor Zary, Adam Klapka, Morgan Frost and Kevin Bahl. However, there should be enough to add that elusive right-shot center if one can be found this summer.
Andersson indicated that he loves living and playing in Calgary and wants to stay. Whether he and the Flames can find the right deal remains to be seen.