NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2025

by | Sep 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2025

Check out the latest on Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: David Pastrnak rejoined his Boston Bruins teammates in training camp on Monday after taking a week off dealing with tendinitis in his knee.

The 29-year-old winger said he’s been dealing with the issue throughout last season, but he wasn’t concerned about it. He finished fourth among NHL scorers in 2024-25 with 106 points.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

“I spent a lot of time in the summer to make it better, and it did get much better than it was last season,” Pastrnak said. “Obviously it wasn’t perfect (and) it’s not perfect yet, so it was perfect timing to get it even better – it already got better.”

Pastrnak isn’t sure if the issue will bother him during the upcoming season. “I guess (it’s) something that that time will tell,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy Pastrnak is key to the Bruins’ hopes to return to playoff contention after last season’s poor performance.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has set a time limit for reporters to continue asking him about former teammate Mitch Marner.

“You got two more weeks, and then we’re done with these questions,” Matthew said, referring to the start of the Maple Leafs’ regular-season schedule on Oct. 8.

Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer has been a hot topic in Toronto. Matthews acknowledged that he and his teammates knew they would face questions when training camp started, but it appears they’re ready to move on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those questions could resurface if the Leafs struggle early and Marner does well in Vegas.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo isn’t ruling out returning to action.

“Nothing’s really concrete,” Pietrangelo said. “I’m just going to continue taking it day by day and go through the process and see where it goes.”

Pietrangelo, 35, is taking time to deal with a hip injury and is expected to begin this season on long-term injury reserve. He’s not considering surgery at this point, saying he intends to continue with rehabilitation, which is going well so far.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes to the collective bargaining agreement starting this season mean the Golden Knights won’t be able to use Pietrangelo being on LTIR as a way to build up their roster for the playoffs. They can still add to their roster before the March trade deadline, but must ice a cap-compliant roster during the postseason if Pietrangelo returns.

TSN: Evander Kane is looking forward to his first season with his hometown team. The 34-year-old winger was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Vancouver Canucks on June 25.

“It’s definitely cool to be able to put on the Canucks jersey as an NHL player,” Kane said. “The excitement has kind of been a slow build since I got traded. And I think it’ll start bubbling once the first regular-season game is played.”

Kane’s career has spanned 16 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, and the Oilers, netting 321 goals, 291 assists, and 1,091 penalty minutes in 930 regular-season games.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Mario Ferraro is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next summer, but the 27-year-old defenseman hopes to remain with the Sharks. He indicated that there haven’t been any contract extension talks yet with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro is a big-minute blueliner with solid all-around skills. He will draw plenty of attention in this year’s trade market if the rebuilding Sharks decide he doesn’t fit in their long-term plans.

ARIZONA INSIDER: Former Coyotes beat writer Craig Morgan reports Andrea Doan, wife of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, has been named chair of an advisory committee dedicated to bringing the NHL back to the Phoenix area.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin is forming the committee, consisting of political, business, community, and sports leaders.

Shane Doan is currently under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Andrea is representing the family. The committee’s goal is to find a suitable ownership group with deep financial resources and develop a plan to construct an arena in a suitable location.

The Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City in 2024 and were renamed the Utah Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes’ ownership follies have been well-documented. Nevertheless, a stable ownership group capable of paying the expensive expansion fee and a suitable NHL venue near downtown Phoenix would be a strong enticement for the league to try again in Arizona.

The NHL has shown a willingness to return to former markets, starting with Atlanta with the expansion Thrashers in 1999 and that club’s relocation to Winnipeg in 2011. Recent reports suggest Atlanta could be in the running for an expansion franchise.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Bobby Grier, long-time NFL executive and father of San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier, passed away on Monday at age 82. Grier worked with the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, and Miami Dolphins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Mike Grier and his family.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2025

by | Jul 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 7, 2025

Check out the latest on Dougie Hamilton, Darnell Nurse, Evan Rodrigues, Mario Ferraro, and Joonas Korpisalo in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During his season-ending “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episodes, Elliotte Friedman wondered where defenseman Dougie Hamilton fits into the New Jersey Devils’ plans.

Hamilton, 32, is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value (AAV) of $9 million. Friedman noted that his full no-movement clause now contains a 10-team trade list. The Devils also paid Hamilton his bonus on July 1.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).

Friedman thinks there’s a low percentage chance of Hamilton getting traded this summer. However, he said the blueliner’s name was “out there” in the market, adding he’d heard the Devils spoke to a couple of teams about him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols pointed out that, at one point, promising Devils blueliners Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey were mentioned as trade candidates. He noted that moving Hamilton’s contract would free up the cap space needed to bolster their top-six forward lines and also add a third-line center.

Regarding the Edmonton Oilers, Friedman believes management checked with all their players who had a no-trade clause if they would waive them. Among them was Darnell Nurse, whom Friedman believes doesn’t want to leave Edmonton.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: David Staples of the Edmonton Journal believes this is the first credible news about the Oilers having any interest in trading Nurse. The 30-year-old defenseman is signed through 2029-30 with a $9.25 million AAV and a full no-movement clause until 2027.

Staples thinks there could be a trade market for Nurse’s “brutally aggressive style of play.” However, he also suggests that this might push Nurse to address why his performance has suffered in the playoffs and what he can do to fix it.

The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are sitting over the salary cap by $2.95 million. Teams can be above the cap by 10 percent during the offseason but must be cap compliant for their season-opening game.

Friedman said there’s an assumption the Panthers could trade forward Evan Rodrigues, who carries a $3 million AAV through 2026-27. However, he indicated that he was told not to assume anything, as there are several options they could use to free up cap room. For example, they need to figure out if Matthew Tkachuk requires surgery and what his recovery timeline would be.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers general manager Bill Zito surprised everyone by re-signing core players Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Much has been made about their advantage of playing in a no-tax state as a factor in retaining those players.

However, the cost of keeping the core intact remained steep even with their tax advantage. Unless Tkachuk is out of the season on long-term injury reserve, they could indeed face the possibility of giving up a popular, useful depth player like Rodrigues in a cost-cutting trade.

Meanwhile, Friedman reported the Toronto Maple Leafs are among several teams interested in Jack Roslovic. The 28-year-old unrestricted free-agent forward enjoyed a productive season with the Carolina Hurricanes, finishing with 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games.

Friedman suggests Roslovic could be waiting for the Maple Leafs to free up some cap space by moving out a player or two. He indicated the Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres could also be interested.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Roslovic’s inconsistency probably explains why he remains unsigned nearly a week into free agency.

Turning to the San Jose Sharks, Friedman confirmed a report by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period claiming they were looking to shop a defenseman. They recently added veterans Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy and John Klingberg, creating a logjam on the blueline.

Friedman suggested Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren, Henry Thrun or Jack Thompson as trade candidates. Ferraro and Liljegren are UFA-eligible next summer, Thrun will be a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights next July, while Thompson is currently an RFA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reported last week that Sharks GM Mike Grier was hoping to add a top-nine forward this summer. One of those blueliners could be used as trade bait to address that issue. Ferraro would have the most value if he were unwilling to sign a contract extension with the Sharks.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Markus Lehto, the agent for Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, said his client has not requested a trade.

The 31-year-old Korpisalo has been the subject of trade speculation since his end-of-season comments in which he expressed his unhappiness with his limited playing time. The Bruins’ recent signing of Michael DiPietro to a two-year, one-way contract fueled the conjecture.

Lehto stated there was no truth to a rumor that Korpisalo wanted to be traded, claiming his client loves it in Boston.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Korpisalo is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $4 million, though $1 million of that is carried by his former club, the Ottawa Senators. He also has a 10-team no-list.

DiPietro was a depth signing by the Bruins. His $812,500 AAV won’t count against their cap when he’s in the minors.










NHL Rumor Mill (Evening Edition) – March 6, 2025

by | Mar 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill (Evening Edition) – March 6, 2025

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson, Mario Ferraro and more in a special evening edition of the NHL Rumor Mill before the March 7 trade deadline.

NO SIGN & TRADE FOR MIKKO RANTANEN?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t granted teams permission to discuss a contract extension with Mikko Rantanen. A sign-and-trade scenario is off the table for now, but that could change before Friday’s deadline.

Rantanen is expected to be in the Hurricanes lineup for Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

LeBrun followed up this evening claiming the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings have shown interest, among others. He doesn’t see the Hurricanes letting this go late into deadline day before deciding to keep or trade him.

Darren Dreger said teams that are sellers claim the uncertainty over Rantanen is what’s holding up the market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fact the Hurricanes aren’t sitting out Rantanen the day before the trade deadline suggests they haven’t received any tempting offers.

BRUINS STILL GETTING OFFERS FOR BRAD MARCHAND

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Boston Bruins are continuing to discuss a contract extension with team captain Brad Marchand. However, they’re still open to the possibility of trading the 36-year-old winger. Teams are calling about Marchand and aren’t being told “no” right now.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

Johnston followed up by claiming there’s a feeling around the league that Marchand could be moved to a team out west, but there’s no confirmation he’ll be traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney should be open to all options. It’s unlikely he’ll move Marchand, but a club may pitch an irresistible offer.

LATEST LEAFS SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs remain focused on center and defense. He believes they’re still interested in St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn. Other centers potentially available include Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given his salary-cap constraints, Leafs GM Brad Treliving will have to get creative to land Schenn, Nelson or Laughton. That means moving a contract, convincing one of those teams to retain some salary, or swinging a three-team deal to spread the cap dollars around. That’s assuming Treliving can come up with a tempting trade package for one of them.

Placing forward Ryan Reaves on waivers is one way of doing it. If he clears, the Leafs will free up $1.15 million by stashing him in the minors.

UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS REGARDING BROCK NELSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there is no indication the New York Islanders intend to trade Brock Nelson. GM Lou Lamoriello still wants to re-sign the 33-year-old center. The New Jersey Devils, Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets are believed to be among the clubs interested in Nelson.

UPDATE ON THE DEVILS

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the New Jersey Devils still have plenty of cap space to pursue a forward after acquiring defenseman Brian Dumoulin from the Anaheim Ducks. They’re interested in Brock Nelson and Ryan O’Reilly, though it’s unlikely he wants to move on from the Nashville Predators.

LATEST ON THE SHARKS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the San Jose Sharks are listening to offers for defenseman Mario Ferraro. The 26-year-old defenseman has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $3.25 million.

LeBrun indicates it doesn’t mean the Sharks intend to move him. However, with the shrinking number of defensemen in the trade market, they want to gauge his value.

DAILY FACEOFF: cited TSN’s Chris Johnston reporting the Sharks have held center Luke Kunin out of the lineup from Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche for trade-related purposes.

KRAKEN SIT OUT TANEV FOR TRADE-RELATED REASONS

DAILY FACEOFF: cited Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times reporting Kraken winger Brandon Tanev will not be playing tonight against the Nashville Predators for trade-related reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken were reportedly willing to retain up to half of Tanev’s $3.5 million cap hit to facilitate a trade. Tanev, 33, is slated to become a UFA on July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 8, 2025

by | Feb 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – February 8, 2025

Could Mikko Rantanen hit the trade block again? Will the Blues consider moving Pavel Buchenvich, Jordan Kyrou or Brayden Schenn? What’s the latest on the Islanders and Sharks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD RANTANEN HIT THE TRADE BLOCK AGAIN?

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos updated his trade board on Friday, featuring many of the names that frequently surfaced in the rumor mill and on other trade boards this season.

However, one interesting name is Mikko Rantanen, traded two weeks ago by the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster move to the Carolina Hurricanes.

According to Kypreos, Rantanen could hit the trade block again before the March 7 deadline if he and the Hurricanes haven’t agreed to a new contract. The 28-year-old winger slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and carries an annual average value of $9.25 million on his current contract.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

Kypreos believes the Hurricanes will make offers to entice Rantanen to stay but claims some observers think they’ll fall short. They gave up a lot to get him (Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and two draft picks) and they don’t want to risk his departure via free agency on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It doesn’t help that Rantanen has only two points in six games with the Hurricanes while Necas is tearing it up in Colorado with nine points in eight games. That could be attributed to Rantanen adjusting to the shock of getting traded while Necas thrives in a new environment.

Rantanen getting shopped again seems unlikely. However, we didn’t expect the Avalanche to trade him so we shouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility. It’ll be interesting to see what unfolds in Carolina over the next four weeks.

WILL THE BLUES PEDDLE BUCHNEVICH, KYROU OR SCHENN?

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos claims St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong isn’t a happy camper given his club’s lack of improvement this season. He’s looking to change things up which could include Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, or team captain Brayden Schenn.

Kypreos writes that Armstrong wants to shed an $8 million salary and that could include Buchnevich or Kyrou. Buchenvich’s new six-year contract (with an $8 million AAV) begins on July 1, when he’ll be 30 years old. Kyrou, 26, is in the second season of an eight-year deal with an AAV of $8.125 million.

Armstrong isn’t ready yet to shock the Blues fans by trading Schenn but teams are calling about him. He’s 33, carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2027-28 and a full no-trade clause this season.

Kypreos also wonders whether Armstrong will move out one of his defensemen. He mentioned Justin Faulk or Colton Parayko but they and the sidelined Torey Krug all have full no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bunchnevich, Kyrou, and Schenn will draw more interest than Faulk and Parayko in the trade market. However, their expensive contracts could be deal breakers unless the Blues retain some salary or take back a hefty salary. Peddling any of them might have to wait for the offseason when teams have more cap space to work with because of the projected $7.5 million increase for 2025-26.

LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Russ Macias dismissed a recent rumor claiming the Islanders are willing to entertain trade offers for defenseman Noah Dobson.

He pointed out that the 25-year-old Dobson is entering his playing prime and his departure would create a major hole on the Isles blueline. He also cited the risk of getting a poor return akin to what happened five years ago in the Devon Toews trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Macias’ take. It doesn’t mean the Islanders aren’t getting calls about Dobson but it would take a significant offer to tempt GM Lou Lamoriello to part with him. Dobson should be part of whatever the Islanders’ plans will be beyond this season.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears believes the Islanders face a tough decision with their impending logjam on defense heading toward the March trade deadline.

They recently added Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist to offset the absence of sidelined blueliners like Dobson, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield. However, someone will have to move once those three return to action.

Sears believes moving Pulock or Mayfield “would drop a bomb into the dressing room”. Moving Dobson would be admitting they don’t consider him worthy of a long-term commitment.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of the new guys seems more likely to leave via trade or demotion to the minors.

FERRARO RETURNS TO THE RUMOR MILL

THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is resurfacing in the rumor mill ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. It’s believed teams are calling the Sharks about the hardworking 26-year-old blueliner. 

Ferraro considers it a sign that he’s playing well but isn’t paying attention to the speculation. Pashelka pointed out that he’s UFA-eligible in July 2026, meaning the Sharks must decide whether to re-sign or trade him over the next 12-13 months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro’s situation will be worth watching. He could be moved by March 7 if the Sharks get a fantastic offer for him. However, they could wait and see what they might get for him in the offseason, or they could try and re-sign him to a long-term deal to maintain blueline stability for their rebuilding plans.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 19, 2024

by | Dec 19, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 19, 2024

The holiday roster freeze goes into effect at midnight. In today’s NHL Rumor Mill. We look at the latest on the Rangers and Sabres plus four defensemen who could get traded this season.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE RANGERS AND SABRES?

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports NHL executives are wondering what the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres will do to save their sputtering seasons.

Less than two weeks after trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, the Rangers shipped unhappy winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Sabres continue their free-fall in the standings with an 11-game losing skid (0-8-3).

One executive claimed he and his peers are scouting both clubs, waiting to see what happens before the holiday roster freeze (Dec. 20-27) and into the trade deadline. Another executive believes there could be a flurry of activity after the freeze is lifted and before the calendar flips to January.

D’Amico suggests the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February could also motivate teams to consider making deals early in the new year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been more trade activity involving noteworthy NHL players this month compared to recent Decembers. The Rangers’ collapse is a factor. It’s worth noting the Nashville Predators have been very busy in the trade market over the past month.

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (NHL Images)

What’s also interesting is the movement of players who aren’t eligible to become unrestricted free agents at season’s end. Trouba and Cam Fowler both have a year left on their contracts. The anticipated rise of the cap next season to $92.4 million (and possibly higher) likely factored into those trades.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker doesn’t expect Will Borgen and Matt Rempe shouldn’t be seen as saviors for the Rangers. Nevertheless, she believes it’s a start toward reshaping a lineup “whose deficiencies have long been masked, and are now getting majorly exposed.”

Borgen was acquired in the Kakko trade while Rempe was recalled from their AHL affiliate in Hartford.

Walker also reports there’s no indication the Rangers are contemplating a change behind the bench or in the front office.

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen believes the Rangers must work on solidifying their defense rather than add forwards.

Rosen expects Ryan Lindgren is playing his final season with the Rangers. He acknowledged the 26-year-old defenseman has been a safety net for top blueliner Adam Fox. However, he “has a lot of miles, bumps and bruises on him. He’s not mobile. He’s not quick.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindgren is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. General manager Chris Drury could peddle Lindgren at the March 7 trade deadline if the Rangers are out of playoff contention by then. The money he might’ve spent on Lindgren could go toward adding a physical forward who also skates well.

A LOOK AT FOUR BLUELINE TRADE CANDIDATES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau recently looked at four NHL defensemen most likely to be traded at some point by or before the NHL trade deadline.

Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens, and Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks each have one year remaining on their contracts. Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets is UFA-eligible next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Proteau explains why each defenseman could hit the trade block. The following are my two cents on each.

The Flames want to keep Andersson and he could be willing to stay. It’ll come down to term and money. Proteau considers Matheson the least likely to be moved. Nevertheless, we can’t dismiss the possibility if someone pitches the rebuilding Canadiens an offer too good to refuse.

Ferraro regularly surfaced in the rumor mill in 2023-24 but not so much this season. The rebuilding Sharks aren’t in any hurry to move him and he’s given no indication he’d welcome a trade.

Provorov seems the most likely to move but that’s not a certainty. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Tuesday that he and his family love Columbus and he’s open to staying. As with Andersson, money and term will be the determining factors.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 12, 2024

by | Dec 12, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 12, 2024

A look at some intriguing trade candidates and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos released his first trade board of the 2024-25 NHL season. He’s broken his list down into several categories.

Under “Intriguing Names to Watch,” Kypreos includes Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot, San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro, and Nashville Predators blueliner Alexandre Carrier.

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (NHL Images).

Bennett is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Kypreos indicates there’s a risk the Panthers could lose him to the UFA market which isn’t appealing to general manager Bill Zito. From what Kypreos has been told, Zito will listen to offers.

Kypreos believes the Colorado Avalanche would pursue Bennett to fill the void of Gabriel Landeskog’s ongoing absence. He also speculated the Dallas Stars would seek a replacement for sidelined forward Tyler Seguin, wondering if they’d part with Mason Marchment to get Bennett.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Bennett before the March 7 deadline would be a bold move by Zito. However, I don’t see him going that route with his club attempting to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. The return would have to be significant. Marchment might do it but the Stars could be reluctant to part with him.

Kypreos thinks the Senators could make a big trade involving Chabot to shake things up if they’re out of playoff contention by the deadline. He has three years left on his contract with a 10-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A Chabot trade is more likely to occur in the offseason when teams have the cap space to take on his $8 million annual salary-cap hit. The Senators could retain half of it but having $4 million in dead cap space for each of the next three seasons might not appeal to them.

Ferraro surfaced in trade rumors last season and will be present again in 2024-25. The 26-year-old Sharks blueliner has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks could entertain offers for Ferraro if he intends to test the market in 2026.

If the Predators continue to struggled they could be forced to make some changes. Carrier has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $3.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carrier also surfaced in last season’s rumor mill before he signed his current contract with the Predators.

Kypreos also included Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri, New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, Senators center Josh Norris, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider, and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

Those players have frequently appeared here and on other trade boards in recent weeks so there was no point in rehashing their situations.

Kypreos also listed the pending UFAs likely to be trade candidates. They include Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov and forward Mathieu Olivier, Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, Pittsburgh Penguins blueliner Marcus Pettersson, the Islanders’ Brock Nelson, Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall, Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde and winger Brandon Tanev, Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, and Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These players have frequently appeared here and on other trade boards because of their pending UFA status.

The Jets could hang onto Ehlers as an own rental as they attempt to stage a run for the Cup this season. The Islanders could also hang onto Nelson if they’re in playoff contention by the deadline. Kypreos noted that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell downplayed the Olivier rumors and is working on re-signing him.

Kypreos suggested the Kraken could attempt to peddle goaltender Philipp Grubauer. They’ll have to retain part of his $5.9 million AAV that runs through 2026-27. The Kraken could buy him out this summer if they find no takers in the trade market.

The Ducks’ John Gibson was included with Grubauer as two goalies of note in the market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not impossible to move Grubauer or Gibson during the season but such attempts are more likely in the offseason. It’s possible they’re both bought out this summer if there’s no trade market for their services.

Kypreos also listed energy players like the Flyers’ Scott Laughton, the Sharks’ Barclay Goodrow, and the Penguins’ Drew O’Connor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laughton and Goodrow have term left on their contracts which could make it tougher to move them during the season. O’Connor is UFA-eligible and more likely to move.

TORONTO STAR: Kypreos also reports it sounds unlikely the Ducks will attempt to flip recently acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba at the trade deadline. He claims they see him as a big part of their rebuild plus it will provide his wife with wonderful opportunities in the medical field. Kypreos claims the Ducks are exploring signing Trouba to a contract extension on July 1.