In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, I attempt to answer some of the lingering offseason questions for the 32 NHL clubs.

SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen recently listed one lingering offseason question for each NHL team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will be a two-parter for me. Today, I’ll provide my answers for the first 16 teams on Boylen’s list, followed by the remaining 16 on Sunday.

Starting with the Anaheim Ducks, Boylen wondered how they would free up sufficient salary-cap space to re-sign scoring winger Cutter Gauthier. He speculated that a winger such as Frank Vatrano or Alex Killorn could become a cost-cutting trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatrano seems the more likely trade option largely because of his reduced role with the Ducks and his seven-team no-trade list.

The Boston Bruins must decide whether to re-sign or trade Pavel Zacha. He’ll be UFA-eligible next July. Boylen cited colleague Elliotte Friedman, who claimed the Bruins had spoken with other teams about the versatile 29-year-old forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of what I’ve read and heard out of Boston suggests the Bruins want to re-sign him. We’ll see if that pans out over the course of this summer.

Boylen wondered whether last season’s improvement by the Buffalo Sabres could help them land an impact player. He noted that Elliotte Friedman recently said that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebucyk was willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to Buffalo. He also felt Vincent Trocheck had been open to going there before he was traded last week to the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible, though the likelihood could fade over the course of the summer. Still, there’s no doubt the Sabres are a more desirable destination than they once were. If they pick up from where they left off last season, they shouldn’t have much difficulty finding significant additions in the trade market, provided they have the cap space to acquire them.

Zach Whitecloud has been a terrific addition to the Calgary Flames, but he’s also been the subject of trade rumors. Boylen mused over whether the 29-year-old defenseman could be moved this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whitecloud will draw attention from contenders seeking an affordable, experienced defenseman. He’s got two years remaining on his contract, so the Flames aren’t in any hurry to move him.

The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t made a big play yet, prompting Boylen to ponder if they might have something up their sleeve. He noted Friedman saying they were thinking of signing a player to an offer sheet and then attempting to trade them to another club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated this week that a team that matches an offer sheet cannot trade the player for one year, but the team that successfully signs away a player from another club has no restrictions on moving them. The Hurricanes could go that route, but after the Carlsson offer sheet, they could find it more difficult now to sign away another club’s restricted free agents.

Boylen pondered what Connor Bedard’s next contract with the Chicago Blackhawks would look like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One rumor has Bedard seeking a long-term deal worth $17 million. Take it for what it’s worth.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

“Will Cale Makar become the highest-paid player in the NHL?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes. The league’s maximum salary for 2027-28 is $22.6 million. The Colorado Avalanche superstar’s next AAV will be close to that.

Boylen wondered what was next for Columbus Blue Jackets’ forwards Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli. He also asked, “Is the Zach Werenski saga truly over?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said they aren’t trading Marchenko despite his camp’s claim that their client isn’t interested in signing a contract extension. Fantilli has been mentioned as an offer-sheet candidate by the Philadelphia Flyers after their failed attempt to sign Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, but reports out of Philadelphia claim they won’t shift their sights to the young Blue Jackets center.

As for Werenski, he claims he wants to stay in Columbus after vetoing a trade to the Dallas Stars last week. However, he could change his mind about staying if the Blue Jackets fail to improve this season.

“How will the Jason Robertson situation be resolved?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson could get a one-year, $13 million contract through arbitration, setting the stage for his departure from the Dallas Stars via free agency next summer.

Boylen mused over whether the Detroit Red Wings will honor Dylan Larkin’s trade request this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not as long as Larkin insists on a short list of trade destinations. He recently expanded it to four teams by including the Dallas Stars, but Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants more options. Yzerman has set a high asking price for Larkin, seeking Wyatt Johnston from the Stars and Matt Boldy from the Minnesota Wild, which are pretty much deal-breakers for those teams.

The Edmonton Oilers have a lot of cap space remaining, prompting Boylen to ask how they intend to use it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could still try to add to their roster before next season. Some Oilers observers believe they could use a second-line winger, with some suggesting UFA Vladimir Tarasenko as an option.

Boylen wondered if the Florida Panthers might have any more surprises up their sleeves regarding their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything’s possible, but they’re probably done after acquiring winger Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They don’t have much tempting trade bait left, and they’re not parting with two-way center Anton Lundell.

The Los Angeles Kings could use more blueline depth. Boylen cited Elliotte Friedman, who recently suggested they could use another puck-moving rearguard. Given their limited cap space, it would have to be a money-in, money-out move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means they won’t be looking at the free-agent market, where the pickings were slim to begin with. They could have better odds through a trade, but there don’t seem to be any expendable assets on their roster that they could move to address that need. This could be an issue that carries over into the regular season.

Boylen wondered if Quinn Hughes would sign with the Minnesota Wild and for how much.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes said he was open to a contract extension, and Wild owner Craig Leipold recently insisted that his club would re-sign the 27-year-old superstar defenseman. However, that was before the Leo Carlsson offer-sheet saga set a new benchmark for superstar talent. It could cost them between $18 million and $20 million to get Hughes under contract.

The Montreal Canadiens still need a top-six forward. Boylen pondered over whether they might find one this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ biggest need is for a second-line center. However, the rumors linking them to Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets suggest that they believe they stand a better chance of adding a young top-six winger. They have the tradeable assets to make a tempting offer, but their search could continue into the regular season before a suitable option is found.

For the Nashville Predators, the question is where they can find more skill. Elliotte Friedman believes they’re going to try to add more to their blue line to help team captain Roman Josi.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s very little help left in the free-agent market, so it’s off to the trade market. Alexander Nikishin could be an option, as the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly willing to move the 24-year-old RFA blueliner.