NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2025

by | Jun 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2025

Which players could be traded this summer? Could Wild center Marco Rossi, Stars winger Jason Robertson, Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Kings defenseman Jordan Spence be among them? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH PLAYERS COULD BE TRADED THIS SUMMER?

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary recently listed 10 players he believes could be traded during the NHL off-season.

William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights topped his list, though he subsequently cited reports indicating they’re not shopping the 29-year-old center this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson made the list because of recent media speculation over which players the Golden Knights might trade in a cost-cutting deal.

Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues and Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild were next on O’Leary’s list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheen seemed a potential trade candidate after he surfaced in the rumor mill leading up to the March deadline. His full no-trade clause drops to a modified NTC on July 1. However, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic recently indicated the Blues’ biggest need was adding depth at center. As a result, they could hang onto him for next season.

Rossi completed his entry-level contract, making him a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He and the Wild are believed to be at an impasse in negotiations. The 23-year-old center is reportedly seeking a contract comparable to teammate Matt Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million deal, putting him at risk of becoming a trade or offer-sheet candidate.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)

However, The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith believe trading Rossi wouldn’t be in the Wild’s best interest.

The best replacement for him via free agency was Brock Nelson, and he recently signed an extension with the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto’s John Tavares, Florida’s Sam Bennett, and Ottawa’s Claude Giroux all hope to re-sign with their current clubs. Jonathan Toews is 37 and mounting a comeback, while the Wild aren’t believed to be interested in Matt Duchene.

Pickings are also slim in the trade market. It’s believed the Vancouver Canucks want to retain Elias Pettersson, the New York Islanders aren’t interested in moving Bo Horvat or Mathew Barzal, and the Seattle Kraken will likely hang onto Jared McCann. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad and the Calgary Flames’ Nazem Kadri have full no-movement clauses.

Unless something changes in either market, the Wild will have to continue working with the Rossi camp to hammer out some kind of deal before July 1 to avoid a rival club tempting him with an offer sheet.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram and winger JJ Peterka were fourth and fifth on the list. Both are restricted free agents, with Byram carrying arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabre management is reluctant to part with either player, but it’s believed they would trade Byram if he’d fetch a scoring forward or a top-four, right-shot defenseman.

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault are sixth and seventh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson and the Flames reportedly started contract talks this week. The 28-year-old blueliner is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, and can sign an extension with the Flames as early as July 1.

The Flames could move Andersson if he proves too expensive to retain. However, they don’t have to rush into doing so, and could retain him for next season if they don’t find any suitable trade offers during the summer.

Marchessault is said to be open to a trade after a disappointing season with the Predators. However, his age (34) and the remaining four years on his contract (with an average annual value of $5.5 million) could make him a tough sell.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, and Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Morgan Rielly round out this list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s production has dropped off over the past two seasons. The Penguins will have to retain a big chunk of their share ($10 million) of his $11.5 million AAV to facilitate a trade for the 34-year-old.

Gibson’s been a fixture in the rumor mill over the past two offseasons. He has two years left on his deal with an AAV of $6.4 million. Maybe the Ducks retain half of that cap hit to entice a rival club to take the 31-year-old netminder off their hands.

Rielly’s performance as a puck-moving defenseman noticeably declined this season. He’s got a full no-movement clause with five years left on his contract at an AAV of $7.5 million. Good luck moving him.

THE LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON, ELIAS PETTERSSON, MARTIN NECAS AND JORDAN SPENCE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes everything that was reported about the possibility of the Dallas Stars being willing to listen to trade offers for Jason Robertson was true. However, a source recently told him that they were “dialing this back a little.”

Part of the reason for the trade speculation surrounding Robertson was attributable to the Stars’ shock over their loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final, particularly in the final game. Friedman believes they let it be known that they would be considering some options.

If Robertson gets traded, Friedman thinks it’ll be for a “great player” or to recoup what they gave up to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Dallas Morning News reports the Stars aren’t prioritizing trading Robertson, adding that the reports were “completely overblown”.

Friedman believed Robertson’s future with the Stars could depend on what he seeks in his next contract. The 25-year-old winger is a year away from becoming an RFA with arbitration rights, and would be UFA-eligible in 2027 unless signed to a long-term deal.

Friedman believes the Vancouver Canucks will only trade Elias Pettersson if it addresses their problem at center. The 26-year-old Pettersson’s no-movement clause begins on July 1. He also noted that the center returned from Sweden to meet with new head coach Adam Foote, which was appreciated by Canucks management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s hefty contract (signed through 2031-32, $11.6 million AAV) and the troubling decline in his performance last season will likely ensure he remains with the Canucks even if they were willing to move him.

Recent Colorado Avalanche speculation suggests they could consider trading Martin Necas to free up some cap space. However, Friedman dismissed the idea, saying he doesn’t believe they necessarily have to free up cap room, and isn’t sure the Avs feel they need to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have $1.2 million available for 2025-26 with 19 active roster players under contract. However, Logan O’Connor ($2.5 million AAV) is out for at least five months following hip surgery. He’s likely headed for long-term injury reserve to start the season.

Friedman speculated that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence could be someone worth watching in the trade market. He thinks the Kings don’t feel that there is room for Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side of their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Spence has a year left on his contract worth an affordable $1.2 million. Given the need for right-shot defensemen around the league, the 24-year-old could be a valuable trade chip for the Kings.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 3, 2025

by | Jun 3, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 3, 2025

Could the Stars trade Jason Robertson? What kind of return could the Predators get for Jonathan Marchessault? What’s the latest on Marco Rossi? The answers to those questions, and an update on the Islanders, in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD JASON ROBERTSON BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek wondered if the Dallas Stars would consider moving Jason Robertson and his $7.75 million cap hit to recoup some draft capital and free up salary-cap space to go “big-game hunting” this summer.

If the Stars were to move the 25-year-old Robertson, Marek suggested the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks as possible destinations. With Robertson’s cap hit off their books, they might get into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger becomes a free agent on July 1.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Lia Assimakopoulos examines the pros and cons of trading Robertson.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

One reason for moving Robertson is that his role has changed since the Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen at the trade deadline. He’s also due to become a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights and will be UFA-eligible the following year unless he signs a long-term extension. Robertson will seek a significant raise on his next contract, and he doesn’t produce at the same rate in the playoffs as he does in the regular season.

Robertson’s offensive consistency in the regular season is one reason why they shouldn’t trade him. He has yet to reach his full potential, and he has matured and improved his defensive game. Trading away a proven scorer could be risky.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson lacks no-trade protection, giving Stars management plenty of potential trade partners if they go that route. Because of his free-agent status next summer, interested parties could prefer a sign-and-trade scenario.

Moving Robertson makes sense if the goal is salary-cap flexibility and restocking their prospect pool. Ditching him to clear cap room for a more expensive veteran like Marner creates a bigger cap headache while doing nothing to improve their prospect pipeline.

PREDATORS WON’T GET MUCH FOR TRADING JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty mentioned the trade rumors swirling around Jonathan Marchessault of late. The 34-year-old winger would reportedly welcome a trade only a year after signing a five-year contract with the Nashville Predators.

Daugherty believes trading Marchessault’s contract, age, and the decline in his production would make him difficult to move this summer. He carries an AAV of $5.5 million and has a full no-movement clause. If he were asked to be traded, he must provide a 15-team no-trade list.

If the Predators trade Marchessault, Daugherty doesn’t expect they’ll get much back. “A late draft pick or a low-end prospect is the most Nashville can expect in return.” He also thinks they might have to bundle Marchessault with a draft pick to sweeten the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators could accept that type of return if their intent is freeing up salary-cap space. However, they wouldn’t have much leverage, and interested clubs could even squeeze them to retain part of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

LATEST ON MARCO ROSSI

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports that Marco Rossi’s demand for a lucrative long-term contract is a roadblock in trade talks with the Minnesota Wild.

It’s believed the Rossi camp seeks a deal comparable to teammate Matthew Boldy’s seven-year, $49 million contract. That’s too expensive for Wild GM Bill Guerin, who is at least taking calls about the 23-year-old center.

Di Marco believes the Philadelphia Flyers have had “lukewarm interest” in Rossi since last year. He clarified his report from last week, saying there’s no indication that the two teams have engaged in trade talks recently. He cited a source claiming Flyers forward Tyson Foerster was a player the Wild were interested in as a return for Rossi. Neither Foerster nor any of the Flyers’ late first-round picks are on the table.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco also acknowledged that Guerin is comfortable retaining Rossi, something he stated to The Athletic’s Michael Russo earlier this week.

An RFA coming off his entry-level contract, Rossi lacks arbitration rights. The only leverage he has is the threat of an offer sheet from another team or withholding his services next season until he gets a suitable deal.

The Rossi camp might be hoping for an offer sheet after July 1. However, there might not be many teams with enough cap space left by that point. Most will have used up their cap space well before then in the trade and the UFA markets. There could be even fewer by then willing to meet his rumored asking price.

UPDATE ON THE ISLANDERS

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears recently looked at the winners and losers from the early days of Mathieu Darche’s tenure as GM of the Islanders.

Sear thinks something has to give with aging blueliners Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. Mayfield has a full no-trade clause, Pulock has a full no-movement clause this season and Pelech has a 16-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been suggested Mayfield could be bought out of the remaining five years of his contract if a trade isn’t possible. It would free up $2.33 million in cap space for the next five years, but the buyout cap hit would be $1.166 million annually for the next 10 years.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau could be their most expendable player. He has a year left on his contract and will be a UFA next summer. Anders Lee is in a similar situation, but as their team captain, there are implications to trading Lee that don’t exist for Pageau.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2025

by | May 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 30, 2025

The latest on the Devils, plus updates on Bryan Rust, Marco Rossi and Rasmus Andersson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE DEVILS

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh reports New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald isn’t expected to move out any of his big-name players this summer. If he wants to shed some salary, he could explore deals for someone like middle-six forward Dawson Mercer, who carries an average annual value of $4 million.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports the Devils were close to signing Jonathan Marchessault before he opted to join the Nashville Predators. With the 34-year-old winger believed to be open to a trade, Nichols wondered if the Devils might revisit their interest.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton believe Jake Allen will be among the most coveted unrestricted free agent goaltenders. The market is thin on quality goalies, putting the 34-year-old Devils netminder in a good position.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fitzgerald wasn’t happy with his club’s offensive depth this season. It’s expected he’ll attempt to remedy that through a trade or a free-agent signing. Mercer could have value as a trade chip to address that issue.

Fitzgerald might revisit his interest in Marchessault, but he could insist the Predators retain part of his $5.5 million AAV in the deal.

BRYAN RUST DRAWING INTEREST IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports teams are calling the Pittsburgh Penguins about a potential trade for Bryan Rust. The 33-year-old winger’s no-movement clause expires on July 1.

Yohe would be surprised if the Penguins move Rust. He’s an alternate captain, Sidney Crosby’s favorite winger, and a terrific player on a very good contract. Rust also has a good reputation for working well with younger players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust has three years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.125 million. He’s consistently exceeded 20 goals and 40 points in each season since 2019-20.

On the one hand, it would make sense for the rebuilding Penguins to move Rust while his value remains high. On the other hand, they’re still trying to be a competitive club by rebuilding on the fly. Unless they get a terrific offer, they’ll likely hang onto him for another season.

THE LATEST ON MARCO ROSSI

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports the Penguins are a potential suitor for Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old Minnesota Wild center fits the young profile they want. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t appear interested in adding players over 30.

Yohe believes the draft picks the Penguins have accumulated give them plenty of ammunition to pursue a trade for Rossi.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild could prefer a player-for-player swap where they get another young forward in return. Then again, they could use whatever draft picks they acquire from the Penguins (or whoever they might send Rossi to) as trade bait to pry a forward away from another club.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco doesn’t think the Philadelphia Flyers would be a fit for Rossi. His sources claim the Wild would want forward Tyson Foerster or one of the Flyers’ late first-round picks in this year’s draft. The Flyers have no interest in either scenario.

Di Marco also reports that Rossi’s contract demands are said to be too expensive for both teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers re-signed the 23-year-old Foerster yesterday to a two-year bridge deal. It doesn’t appear to be a “sign-and-trade” situation, as they very much want to keep him.

Rossi reportedly rejected a contract offer from the Wild earlier this season. There’s no indication yet what type of deal he’s seeking. His situation will be worth monitoring as the calendar flips to June and activity in the trade market resumes.

SENATORS REPORTEDLY ON RASMUS ANDERSSON’S “NO-TRADE” LIST

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco cited a rumor linking the Ottawa Senators to Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. However, a Flames source told Di Marco that the Senators are on the 28-year-old defenseman’s six-team “no-trade” list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Di Marco noted there was speculation suggesting the Flames were gauging the trade market for Andersson. However, he added that a source claimed they’re now considering keeping him.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2025

by | May 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2025

Mitch Marner to the Golden Knights? Jonathan Marchessault to the Canadiens or Golden Knights? Rangers shopping K’Andre Miller? Find the answers to these questions, plus the latest on Marco Rossi and Brock Nelson, in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TORONTO STAR: Gord Stellick believes the Vegas Golden Knights will aggressively pursue Mitch Marner if the Maple Leafs’ winger becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Stellick believes the Golden Knights weren’t pleased with their second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers. They could shed some of their aging players and add some younger talent. They have a history of acquiring big-name talent via trades and free agency.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights have a projected salary-cap space of $9.6 million with 18 active roster players under contract next season. It could cost an average annual value between $13 million and $14 million to sign Marner. They’ll have to make a couple of significant cost-cutting trades to free up enough cap room for Marner and to fill out the rest of the roster.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli saying Jonathan Marchessault is open to a trade. The 34-year-old former Golden Knights winger signed a five-year contract ($5 million AAV) last summer with the Nashville Predators, but his production slipped as the Predators finished 28th overall this season.

Kirkell didn’t rule out a reunion, but she noted that Marchessault’s contract was a point of contention before he left Vegas. The Predators could retain part of his cap hit, but the rebuilding club wants to get younger and the Golden Knights lack suitable trade assets to help them.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited Seravalli claiming the Quebec-born Marchessault might welcome a trade to the Canadiens. The Habs were among the finalists to sign Marchessault last season, but they offered a three-year deal while the Predators offered five.

Dumont doubts the Canadiens will be willing to acquire the remaining four years of the aging Marchessault’s contract. They’re seeking elite talent with size, which Marchessault cannot help them with this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault’s age, the remaining years on his contract, and his 15-team no-trade list are stumbling blocks in the path to a trade. The Predators could retain up to half of his salary and perhaps include a draft pick to sweeten the deal if they just want to get most of his cap hit off their books.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the New York Rangers are testing the trade market on K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.

Friedman said it’s no guarantee that Miller will be traded, but the Rangers want to see what his value will be. Mastey observed that this comes after a season in which the blueliner’s performance declined, sparking doubts about his ultimate potential.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s no surprise that the Rangers are looking into Miller’s trade value. They were among the busiest teams in this season’s trade market as general manager Chris Drury attempts to retool the roster on the fly. This news confirms that Drury will continue to tinker during the offseason.

Miller could become an offer-sheet target. However, the drop in his play this season makes that an unlikely possibility. Rangers forward Will Cuylle is the more likely target, partly because of the Blueshirts’ limited cap space.

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited an NHL executive speculating that Marco Rossi might not be back with the Minnesota Wild next season. The 23-year-old center is due to become an RFA without arbitration rights on July 1.

Rossi has been the topic of trade speculation throughout this season. Murphy cited sources claiming the Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken have expressed interest in the young center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy suggests Rossi could be shopped heading into the 2025 NHL Draft weekend (June 27-28). One of his sources believes the Wild won’t want this situation to carry over into the free-agency period (beginning July 1) when they can’t dictate terms as much.

Meanwhile, Marco D’Amico cited a source claiming the New York Islanders had a deal in place that would’ve sent Brock Nelson to the Winnipeg Jets before the March trade deadline. However, the 33-year-old center declined to waive his no-trade clause.

It’s believed one of the Jets’ top prospects (Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow, or Brayden Yager) would’ve been part of the deal, along with draft picks.

The Islanders instead shipped Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 28, 2025

by | May 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – May 28, 2025

Check out the latest on Jonathan Marchessault, Connor Murphy, Morgan Rielly, Thatcher Demko, Bo Horvat and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli updated his offseason 20-player NHL Trade Targets list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Many of the names are familiar ones (JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Chris Kreider, Marco Rossi) that have frequently appeared in the rumor mill since the end of the regular season. Seravalli provides a useful synopsis of the recent news and rumors for each of those players who have already been noted on this site.

Seravalli has added some new names to his list that are worth examining. Read on…

Jonathan Marchessault of the Nashville Predators sits fifth on this list. Seravalli believes the 34-year-old winger might welcome a trade after a disappointing season with the Predators. He has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun included Marchessault among his list of trade and free-agent targets for the Maple Leafs. Given the winger’s contract, he believes the Predators would have to retain some salary to facilitate a deal. They’d likely have to do the same to send him to other NHL clubs.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy checks in at No. 8. With promising young defensemen Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov patrolling the Chicago blueline, the 32-year-old could be on the move this summer. He has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks could use Murphy as a trade chip to add depth up front. However, his experience and leadership would be of greater value to this youthful defense corps this season. If they attempt to move Murphy, it could be at next year’s trade deadline if he decides to become a UFA next summer.

Morgan Rielly holds the No. 15 spot. Seravalli believes the 31-year-old is no longer an effective puck-moving defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rielly has five years left on his contract with an AAV of $7.5 million. Seravalli wonders if they should try to move Rielly’s contract before it becomes oneous.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see Rielly going anywhere this summer. He has a full no-movement clause until 2027-28. If he’s willing to waive it, the Leafs would probably have to retain a healthy chunk of his cap hit to make a deal happen.

Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie share the No. 16 spot. Seravalli noted that the Bruins are in transition and must decide which players they will keep. Geekie is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who is a year away from UFA eligibility. Zacha has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Seravalli that both would have value in the trade market. Geekie appears the most likely to move if his contract extension talks with the Bruins become difficult.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko sit at No 18. He’s a year away from UFA eligibility. Kevin Lankinen played well filling in for the sidelined Demko this season, earning a five-year extension. Seravalli wonders if the Canucks might consider moving Demko this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks may have tipped their hand by inking Lankinen to that long extension. They could keep the goalie tandem intact for this season to see how things shake out, and peddle Demko at the trade deadline if they can’t re-sign him or if they’re out of playoff contention by then.

DAILY FACEOFF: Seravalli was asked if the idea of New York Islanders center Bo Horvat being available is hot or cold. He considers it “lukewarm”, suggesting they’ll need his experience and skills if they hope to stage a quick turnaround under new GM Mathieu Darche. He also thinks they should be patient to see what he might fetch in a market thin on quality centers this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what Darche has in store for the Islanders. A rebuild seems unlikely with core players like Horvat, Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin under expensive long-term contracts, with RFA defenseman Noah Dobson likely to join them.

We can’t rule anything out, and Darche could be tempted if he receives a substantial offer for Horvat. Nevertheless, the betting here is he’ll consider other moves to shake up his roster before asking Horvat about waiving his full no-trade clause.

TVA SPORTS: Nicolas Cloutier observed that Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau has backstopped their AHL affiliate in Laval into the AHL Conference Finals. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent this summer who’s a year away from UFA eligibility.

Primeau struggled during his tenure with the Canadiens. Despite his strong performance with Laval this season, Cloutier expects he won’t receive a qualifying offer from the Habs, enabling him to become a UFA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens could also attempt to shop Primeau’s rights or include him in a package deal for a center before July 1.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

by | Apr 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

The Jets and Avalanche take the opening games of their respective series, the Rangers and Ducks fire their head coaches, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Kyle Connor scored the winning goal with 1:36 remaining in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-3, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening round series.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

Connor and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and two assists as the Jets scored three unanswered third-period goals to overcome a 3-2 deficit. Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues. Game 2 is Monday, Apr. 21, in Winnipeg starting at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Game 1 was anything to go by, this should be a fast-paced, entertaining series. The Blues set a physical tone, outhitting Winnieg 53-33. However, the Jets adapted and took control of the game in the final period.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist to lead his club to a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round series. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the win in his first-ever NHL playoff game.

Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars to make it 2-1 in the third period before the Avalanche pulled away with three goals. Game 2 is Monday in Dallas at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon was outstanding as usual, but Blackwood was the real star of this one for the Avs, coming up with several big saves to frustrate the Stars.

Avalanche forward Ross Colton left this game in the third period with a lower-body injury. An update on his status is expected Sunday. Meanwhile, sidelined Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen attended Saturday’s morning skate and has been upgraded to day-to-day. He’s been out since undergoing knee surgery in late January.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers fired head coach Peter Laviolette on Friday. Hired in 2023, Laviolatte guided the Blueshirts to the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy, but the club struggled this season and missed the playoffs. They are seeking their fourth head coach since 2021.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks relieved Greg Cronin of his duties as head coach after two seasons. The rebuilding Ducks improved by 21 points over last season but missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Laviolette firing was expected, given his inability to cope with the turmoil within the team as management attempted to remake the roster during this season. However, the Cronin firing was a surprise because of the Ducks’ notable improvement this season.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was a full participant in practice on Saturday as his club prepares for Game 1 of their first-round series with archrival Tampa Bay Lightning. The power forward has been sidelined with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning-Panthers series begins on Tuesday. Barring a setback, expect Tkachuk to return to action in Game 1.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Lightning, winger Oliver Bjorkstrand will miss that series with the Panthers because of a lower-body injury.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe were back in their usual spots on the blueline during Saturday’s practice. Both rearguards had been sidelined with injuries heading into the postseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson revealed he played the final 12 games of the regular season with a broken fibula after blocking a shot during a March 25 game against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson kept playing because he was trying to help his club stay in the playoff race. While those efforts were unsuccessful, his toughness and will to win are among the reasons why management hopes to sign him to a contract extension this summer.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal and goaltender Semyon Varlamov are expected to be ready for training camp in September. Knee surgeries sidelined both players and their absence was partly responsible for the Isles missing the playoffs.

THE SCORE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the start of next season after undergoing arm surgery. His last game of this season was March. 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen’s improved performance before his injury was among the few bright spots for the Flyers this season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Owen Power won’t require surgery on his injured left knee. He’s been told to stay off the ice for two months, which shouldn’t interfere with his offseason training.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Josh Norris revealed a torn oblique muscle limited him to just three games with the club following his March 7 trade from the Ottawa Senators.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault was critical of head coach Andrew Brunette’s offensive system. “Clearly, it didn’t work,” he said, adding that there had to be adjustments before next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators were among this season’s worst offensive teams despite the additions last summer of scoring forwards Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. That inability to score occasionally sparked speculation over Brunette’s job security.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Ty Emberson to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension.