NHL Rumor Mill – April 12, 2025

by | Apr 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – April 12, 2025

With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, here’s the latest on the Rangers and Islanders in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun recently looked at what could be in store for the New York Rangers if they miss the playoffs.

The club is staying tight-lipped about its offseason plans. However, there is speculation around the league that head coach Peter Laviolette could get fired. He has a year left on his contract, but the body language and performance of the players over the past month suggest a change could be required.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larry Brooks of the New York Post shares that opinion. He believes Laviolette didn’t do enough to keep his players focused and motivated, which could cost him his job.

LeBrun and Brooks don’t solely blame Laviolette for the Rangers’ collapse this season, pointing out that management deserves its fair share. They also believe several core players bear some responsibility. Nevertheless, a coaching change seems more likely than a shakeup in the front office.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes distinct changes are necessary as the Rangers bury this lost season. She believes everything about the club’s “epic implosion” must be analyzed and action taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (NHL Images).

Some of this falls on management and the coaching staff for doing a poor job navigating through the issues that derailed this season. Nevertheless, there could be roster decisions that otherwise wouldn’t have been made if the season had gone the other way.

Walker believes that means determining if restricted free-agent defenseman K’Andre Miller has a future with the Rangers. They could have a conversation with center Mika Zibanejad about waiving his no-movement clause. It could also mean attempting to move Chris Kreider or Alexis Lafreniere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller, Zibanejad and Kreider frequently surfaced in the rumor mill as general manager Chris Drury attempted to remake his roster in this season’s trade market. Lafreniere didn’t pop up as much in the media trade chatter but his disappointing play could have Drury rethinking his long-term commitment to the 23-year-old winger.

At least one of those players mentioned by Walker probably won’t be in the Rangers starting lineup for next season. Kreider and Miller seem the more likely to be moved.

Kreider has two years left on his contract with a 15-team no-trade list and could still be enticing for clubs seeking an experienced scoring winger. Miller struggled this season but he’s still young and his potential upside will draw interest in the trade market.

Zibanejad reportedly declined to waive his NMC to go to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return in the J.T. Miller trade in January. He could agree to accept a trade elsewhere this summer but he’ll likely have a short list of destinations. His age (31), cap hit ($8.5 million through 2029-30) and declining production could also hurt his value in the trade market.

Lafreniere would also draw lots of attention if he hit the trade block. However, Drury could keep him in the hope he’d regain his form and meet his full potential on a retooled roster.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears examined the plethora of options facing the Islanders and Noah Dobson during their contract negotiations after this season.

The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He’s completing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $4 million.

He could go for long-term stability or pursue a shorter deal bringing him up to unrestricted free-agent eligibility and the opportunity for a more lucrative contract as the salary cap keeps rising. Meanwhile, the Islanders could try to lock him up long-term as a core piece of their roster or prefer a shorter term after his production dropped this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sears also pointed out that the threat of a possible offer sheet for Dobson hangs over his negotiations. The blueliner hasn’t revealed if he’s willing to entertain that option but it should be kept in mind if his negotiations stall should he forego arbitration.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 31, 2025

by | Mar 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – March 31, 2025

Should the Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette and re-sign K’Andre Miller? What should the next contract for Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko look like? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently looked at the case for and against replacing Peter Laviolette as head coach of the New York Rangers.

If the Rangers decide to replace Laviolette, Staple doubts they’ll hire a coach from the amateur ranks like David Carle of the University of Colorado or Cam Abbott of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette (NHL.com).

Staple observed that Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan was on the Rangers’ shortlist two years ago. However, Sullivan said he isn’t ready to leave the Penguins and there’s no certainty he’d want to join the Rangers if he became available.

The league has cleared Joel Quenneville to return to the NHL coaching ranks. However, he comes with considerable baggage.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laviolette’s status will come under scrutiny after this season, especially if the Rangers miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year.

LOHUD.COM: Vincent Z. Mercogliano believes the Rangers are reaching a crossroads with K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1

Miller struggled through injury and inconsistency during the first half of this season. His performance improved after being paired with Will Borgen but his name still surfaced in trade rumors. Despite his inconsistencies, he remains the best left-shot defenseman in the organization.

Finding a suitable replacement for Miller if they trade him won’t be easy. There are limited options in the unrestricted free-agent market. Vladislav Gavrikov of the Los Angeles Kings and Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets are older and would cost more to sign.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mercogliano suggests the Rangers sign Miller to a two-year deal to take him up to his UFA eligibility. A better option could be available by then or Miller’s performance might improve enough to earn him a lucrative long-term deal with the Rangers.

What do you think, Rangers fans? Should your club trade Miller or sign him? Should they replace Laviolette or give him another season? Let us know in the comments below.

WHAT COULD THATCHER DEMKO’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE?

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma recently observed that Thatcher Demko has a year remaining on his contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Demko’s average annual value of $5 million is below what comparable goalies are making. Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators will earn $8.25 million annually on his new four-year contract starting next season.

The 29-year-old Demko’s strong performance last season made him a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. However, he also has an injury history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzma believes Demko should seek a deal similar to Ullmark’s. The Canucks could lock him up this summer on a four or five-year contract extension. However, his injury concerns could have them wait and see how he performs next season.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2024

by | Dec 4, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2024

Is a coaching change coming for the Rangers? Are the Avalanche done dealing? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports there is no credibility to a rumor that appeared on social media over the weekend linking the Rangers to former NHL coach Joel Quenneville. “There has been no contact between the parties and there will be no contact between the parties.”

Brooks adds the Rangers aren’t going to fire head coach Peter Laviolette. He claims they’re “committed” to Laviolette and won’t bum-rush him out of New York.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers may be committed to Laviolette now but that could change if they don’t snap out of their funk soon. Nevertheless, Brooks’ sources within the organization seem adamant that Quenneville won’t be his successor.

Brooks also spoke with Chris Kreider, who was one of two Rangers (Jacob Trouba being the other) mentioned in the infamous “memo” circulated around the league by general manager Chris Drury. The 33-year-old winger dismissed the notion that the trade rumors and outside noise have affected the club’s performance, saying he and his teammates put plenty of pressure on themselves to play better.

Kreider insisted he and his teammates must work through their current slump and come out better on the other side.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Few observers believe the Rangers can move Kreider or Trouba at this stage in the season, and certainly not for a return that immediately improves their roster.

Kreider may believe Drury’s “memo” hasn’t put extra pressure on the Rangers. As Brooks points out, it hasn’t sat well with the players.

COULD THE AVALANCHE HAVE MORE MOVES IN STORE?

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Colby Cohen believe the Colorado Avalanche might not be done dealing after shipping goaltender Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for backup Scott Wedgewood on Saturday.

Cohen pointed out that the Avalanche are a “win now” team. He thinks they could be in the market for a centerman and doubts they’ll continue with Ivan Ivan and Parker Kelly as their third and fourth-line centers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche won’t be the only club in the market for a center. The Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators have made no secret that they’re looking for one while the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks need help at that position. The Toronto Maple Leafs could end up in the market for a third-line center before the March 7 trade deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2023

by | Jun 14, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 14, 2023

The Vegas Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, the Senators move closer to having a new owner, the Rangers have a new head coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS ARE THE 2023 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights thumped the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to become the 2023 champions. The Golden Knights take the series four games to one.

Vegas Golden Knights – 2023 Stanley Cup Champions (NHL.com).

Vegas captain Mark Stone tallied a hat trick, Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore each had three assists and Reilly Smith scored what proved to be the winning goal. Adin Hill stopped 32 shots for the win.

Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He was tied for first among this year’s postseason scorers with 13 goals and was second in points with 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first Stanley Cup championship in the Golden Knights’ six-year history. This game had a sense of inevitability after they took a 2-0 into the second period. The Panthers cut the lead in half early in the second but that only seemed to spark the Golden Knights. They dominated the rest of that period with four unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy started five of the six remaining original Golden Knights – Marchessault, Smith, Theodore, William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb – for Game 5. They, along with William Carrier, were the first Golden Knights to hoist the Stanley Cup following the game after Stone received it from league commissioner Gary Bettman.

Stone is just the third player in NHL history to tally a hat trick in a Cup-clinching game, joining Jack Darragh of the 1920 Ottawa Senators and Babe Dye of the 1922 Toronto St. Pats.

The Golden Knights earned this championship after missing the playoffs last season and trading scorer Max Pacioretty to Carolina last summer in a cost-cutting deal.

They began the season with starting goaltender Robin Lehner out for the season recovering from hip surgery. They played with five goalies this season, with Hill taking over midway through their second-round series against Edmonton after Laurent Brossoit was sidelined.

Stone missed part of this season to his second back surgery in less than a year. There were questions about Eichel’s effectiveness after missing most of last season recovering from neck surgery.

For Cassidy, this is sweet redemption after being fired a year ago by the Boston Bruins. The Bruins set records this season for wins (65) and points (135) but were upset by the Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs.

Team owner Bill Foley’s 2016 prediction of his club winning the Stanley Cup in their sixth season came true. “I’m going to relax and think about my next asinine statement,” said Foley with a big smile following the game.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Despite their disappointing finish to the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers had an extraordinary postseason run. They squeaked into the playoffs, upset the record-setting Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the second-overall Carolina Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have a solid core of talent led by Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad to remain a playoff contender next season. However, they couldn’t match the Golden Knights’ roster depth in the Final. Expect management to get to work on addressing that issue this summer.

SPORTSNET: The Panthers paid a heavy physical price in this postseason. Following Game 5, head coach Paul Maurice revealed Tkachuk suffered a fractured sternum in Game 3. Tkachuk played a limited role in Game 4 and couldn’t play in Game 5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One report indicated Tkachuk needed help from his brother Brady to get out of bed following his pregame nap before Game 4. He was their leading scorer in this postseason. Tkachuk’s feisty style at times drew criticism from fans but no one can say he didn’t give his all.

Maurice also revealed Ekblad suffered a broken foot, dislocated his shoulder twice, and tore his oblique during the Panthers’ playoff run. He missed only one game. He said blueliner Radko Gudas played with a high-ankle sprain that should’ve sidelined him for six weeks. He missed one period.

The Panthers coach didn’t reveal any more details on his injured players. However, he admitted that multiple players will require surgeries, with some facing recovery periods of four-to-six months. Most of those injuries occurred during their first-round series with the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We should learn more details in the coming days. Some of those players could end up missing the opening weeks of the 2023-24 season.

IN OTHER NEWS…

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators have an agreement in principle with Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer to purchase the club. His bid is believed to be worth $950 million. A part-owner of the Montreal Canadiens, Andlauer must now sell his share of that team.

The agreement will go before NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who will present it to the Board of Governors meeting later this month in New York. It requires a two-thirds majority for approval.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will still take several weeks for the sale to close and for Andlauer to take over the Senators. Barring the unforeseen, however, it’s expected he’ll become their new owner.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers have hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach. He received a three-year contract worth slightly less than $5 million per season.

TSN: Patrick Roy officially stepped down as head coach of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. When asked if any NHL clubs had reached out to him regarding a coaching position, Roy said “absolutely none”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some fans think it’s more than a coincidence that Roy made this announcement on the same day that the Senators reached an agreement in principle with Andlauer. However, he indicated at the start of this season that he would be stepping down as Remparts coach.

SPORTSNET: Patrick Sharp is returning to where his NHL career began by joining the Philadelphia Flyers as a special advisor to hockey operations.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Derek Ryan to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $900K.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Changes are coming to the Canadiens’ medical staff after the club finished with the most man-games lost to injury for the second straight year. They fired head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend and head physiotherapist Donald Balmforth on Tuesday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2023

by | Jun 13, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2023

The latest on the Golden Knights and Panthers on the eve of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, Flames name Ryan Huska as head coach, Rangers to reportedly hire Peter Laviolette as their new bench boss, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP FINAL NEWS

FLA HOCKEY NOW: The Florida Panthers return to Las Vegas hoping to bounce back from the 3-2 loss in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Vegas Golden Knights hold a 3-1 lead in the series and can win the Cup tonight in Game 5.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Panthers forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Nick Cousins, and defensemen Brandon Montour and Radko Gudas skipped practice on Monday. Head coach Paul Maurice offered no updates on their conditions heading into Game 5 but said he would provide an update on Tuesday.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those four would have to be seriously injured to miss Game 5 with the Stanley Cup on the line. I wouldn’t be surprised if they play but how effective they’ll be depends on how banged up they are.

All eyes will be on Tkachuk. The Panthers’ leading scorer was clearly hampered in Game 4 by what appeared to be a shoulder injury. Montour’s performance will also be worth monitoring as he’s been their top defenseman in this postseason.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Jack Eichel provided context to his recent meeting with former NBA great and TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley. In an interview on Hockey Night in Canada during Game 4, Barkley said Eichel didn’t seem to know who he was when he approached the Golden Knights center in a hotel to wish him good luck in the series.

Eichel insisted he knew who Barkley was but was engaged in conversation with someone else when Barkley approached him. He said Barkley was polite and didn’t want to interrupt him but wanted to meet him. “That was the extent of it,” said Eichel, adding he was a big fan of Barkley but felt the encounter was taken a bit out of context.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reports Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will not face supplemental discipline for leaving the penalty box for joining a scrum at the end of Game 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: During his 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the league looked into the incident and decided against a suspension. Pietrangelo was released from the penalty box at the end of the period and was not the aggressor in the scrum.

THE TORONTO STAR: Kevin McGran cited Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean wondering if NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would break with tradition and award the Stanley Cup to Golden Knights owner Bill Foley instead of team captain Mark Stone if Vegas wins the Cup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGran noted that MacLean was merely musing but he hopes that doesn’t come to pass. “Who wants to see an owner be first to hoist the Cup?” writes McGran. “It would be a bit of an emotional letdown”.

I don’t expect Bettman will break the longtime tradition of awarding the Cup to the team captain. If he does, the reaction from fans and pundits will be swift and furious.

IN OTHER NEWS…

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: As expected, the Flames formally announced Ryan Huska has become their new head coach. Huska had been an assistant coach with the Flames for the past five years. He replaces Darryl Sutter, who was fired last month.

DAILY FACEOFF: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tweeting that it appears Peter Laviolette will become the new head coach of the New York Rangers. The former Washington Capitals bench boss would replace Gerard Gallant, who was fired on May 6.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson isn’t considering retirement, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Johnson is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’d like to return with the Avs but if not, he will hit the open market.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong said he guarantees the Chicago Blackhawks will get inquiries about their willingness to part with the first-overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would take one hell of an offer to tempt Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson into trading that pick. The prize is generational center Connor Bedard, who’s been compared to Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.

Some fans and pundits are dreaming up trade scenarios that would see the Blackhawks part with that pick. Don’t expect any of them to take place. The Hawks will retain that pick and select Bedard as expected.

THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline cites multiple sources indicating former NHL goaltender Niklas Backstrom will be named as the new goalie coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the sale of the Senators could be days away. He writes that the estate of the club’s late owner Eugene Melnyk is closing in on selling the team to a preferred bidder. Once an agreement in principle is reached, it will require approval from the league.

Three suitors remain in the bidding. Toronto billionaires Michael Andlauer and the Kimel brothers are believed to be the finalists. Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks remains in the pictures.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The recent departure of billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos from the bidding might have sped up the evaluation process. He reportedly made the biggest bid ($1 billion USD) but withdrew over the weekend as he was apparently frustrated by the slowness of the process.

**UPDATE** The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch cites sources this morning saying Andlauer is to become the Senators’ new owner**

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Valerie Camillo is leaving her posts as president and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers. She was also the club’s alternate governor.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 17, 2023

by | May 17, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 17, 2023

Coyotes’ arena proposal rejected by Tempe voters, Connor McDavid believes it’s “Cup or bust” for the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Arizona Coyotes face an uncertain future after Tempe voters rejected a proposal for a privately-funded sports and entertainment district that would’ve featured a 16,000-seat arena.

Arizona Coyotes (NHL.com).

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez released statements expressing their disappointment over the results of the public vote. Both indicated they will be examining options for the club going forward.

The Coyotes are currently playing at the 5,000-seat Mullett Arena at Arizona State University.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reaction on social media was a mixture of sympathy for Coyotes fans and speculation over the franchise’s future. After over 25 years in Arizona, relocation could be in the cards if no other viable option can be found.

This is also a significant blow for Bettman. He’s been the driving force in keeping the Coyotes in Arizona despite multiple ownership changes and the club’s mounting debt. The commissioner’s next step could be trying to find a new owner in a new city.

A lot of fans (me included) would love to see the Coyotes relocate to Quebec City where they would pack the 18,000-seat Videotron Centre. However, Houston could be the more likely destination.

Houston is the fourth-largest US city in population and can easily support an NHL franchise. It has a suitable arena (Toyota Center) that can hold 17,800 fans for hockey and a possible buyer in Tilman Fertitta, owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Moving the Coyotes to Houston ensures the franchise remains in the Western Conference.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Connor McDavid believes it’s “Cup or bust” for his Oilers. Speaking in his exit interview with the media on Tuesday, the Oilers captain said that his club still has time to win the Cup. Despite the Oilers’ second-round elimination, he still feels they’re making progress and were a better team this season compared to 2021-22.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid isn’t wrong about his club’s progress. Their 109 points this season was the fourth-highest in franchise history.

Speaking of the Oilers, TSN 1260’s Jason Gregor reported winger Warren Foegele played since February with a wrist injury. He’s undergone an MRI and will see if surgery is required.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights will be starting Adin Hill in goal with Jonathan Quick as his backup when their Western Conference Finals series with the Dallas Stars begins on Friday. Laurent Brossoit remains sidelined by a lower-body injury suffered during Game 3 of their second-round series with the Oilers.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander and defenseman Timothy Liljegren are reportedly set to join Sweden for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will serve as an in-studio guest analyst for TNT during their coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals.

LA KINGS INSIDER: The Kings have promoted longtime goaltending coach Bill Ranford to Director of Goaltending. This is a new role and a new position within the club’s executive hierarchy as they expand their resources invested in the goalie position.

THE SCORE:The Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly spoken to former NHL coaches Mike Babcock and Peter Laviolette regarding their vacant head-coaching position. They’ve also reportedly interviewed Pascal Vincent, who spent the past two seasons as an associate coach to former Jackets bench boss Brad Larsen.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL great Jaromir Jagr paid tribute to fellow Czech Petr Klima, who was buried on Tuesday after recently passing away on May 4 at age 58. “In terms of talent, he had the most talent of any of our players,” said Jagr. When asked if that also meant himself, Jagr replied, “I think so.”