NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

by | Jun 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2025

What’s next for the Oilers after another Stanley Cup Final defeat? Has Aaron Ekblad played his final game for the Panthers? What’s the latest on Mitch Marner? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE OILERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Daniel Nugent-Bowman looks ahead at the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason after losing in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.

Team captain Connor McDavid has a year left on his contract and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1. It’s assumed he’d re-sign since his longtime agent, Jeff Jackson, took over the Oilers’ hockey operations in 2023. Teammate and friend Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension last fall heightened those expectations, but nothing has been finalized yet.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, either this summer or before his UFA eligibility next July. It’s doubtful Draisaitl would’ve re-signed if he felt McDavid wouldn’t do the same.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).

Defenseman Evan Bouchard is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who will seek a substantial raise over the $3.9 million average annual value of his recent contract. The Oilers have $12 million in salary cap space next season and Bouchard could take up three-quarters of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some Oilers fans believe Bouchard should be traded given his defensive deficiencies. However, moving him would leave the Oilers lacking offense from the blueline. They’ll likely re-sign Bouchard for between $9 million and $10 million annually, and try to find a suitable stay-at-home defense partner for him.

The Oilers must free up cap space once Bouchard is re-signed. Nugent-Bowman noted that players who could be moved for performance or cap reasons have full no-movement protection (Adam Henrique, Viktor Arvidsson) or partial no-trade clauses (Evander Kane).

Goaltending remains a big question mark. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard each have a year left on their contracts with cheap salary cap hits. However, Nugent-Bowman wondered if management would bring them back. The pickings are slim for replacement goalies in this summer’s free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Journal also wondered about the Oilers’ goaltending, specifically Skinner. He suggested the possibility of an offseason trade exists, but Skinner’s consistency could make him a tough sell. There’s also the question of finding a suitable replacement in the trade market.

HAS AARON EKBLAD PLAYED HIS FINAL GAME WITH THE PANTHERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau observed the Florida Panthers have $19 million in salary cap space with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad UFA-eligible on July 1. They also need a new backup goalie for Sergei Bobrovsky.

Proteau doubts the Panthers can afford to re-sign all three, leaving Ekblad as the odd man out. They acquired right-shot defenseman Seth Jones in March, and he’ll only cost $7 million annually against the Panthers’ cap. They also have blueliner Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, and Dmitry Kulikov under contract next season, making Ekblad a luxury they cannot afford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has frequently said he wants to stay with the Panthers. He might have to accept a pay cut from his current $7.5 million AAV to do so.

THE LATEST ON MITCH MARNER

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Mitch Marner could delay his signing a new contract this summer into the middle of July as he and his representatives review offers and meet with the interested teams.

The 28-year-old winger has not informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that he doesn’t intend to sign with them. They could still be part of the bidding once the UFA market opens on July 1.

Multiple teams appear set to make offers to Marner on July 1. The question remains how much he’ll earn and whether he’ll become the highest-paid player in the league. He’s coming off a six-year contract with an AAV of $10.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl is currently set to become the highest-paid player for 2025-26 when his contract extension begins on July 1. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is second at $13.25 million.

It will be interesting to see how long the Marner camp takes before deciding on a suitable destination. I wouldn’t mind if he takes two or three weeks, as the speculation would help this site’s offseason traffic (hey, I gotta make a living), but I can understand why some fans would prefer he get it done and over with quickly.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2025

by | Jun 16, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 16, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Mitch Marner appears headed to market, the Sabres are entertaining offers for JJ Peterka, and the latest on the Rangers

NO TALKS BETWEEN MITCH MARNER AND THE MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs appear headed for a breakup.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

The 28-year-old right wing is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Friedman claimed the Marner camp has not engaged in contract discussions with the Leafs. He believes the winger will head to market and sign with a new team.

FanDuel Sports Network’s Andy Strickland reported on Friday that Marner wouldn’t return with the Maple Leafs. Friedman didn’t contradict Strickland’s claim, suggesting the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights could be interested in talking to the winger.

Friedman believes Marner could take his time deciding where to sign. He could also decide on a shorter-term deal (perhaps four years) rather than the full seven-year term, enabling him to return to the UFA market while still in his playing prime.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one should be surprised that Marner and the Maple Leafs will part company. It’s been expected for some time. He’s probably had enough of being the scapegoat in Leafs Nation for the club’s recent postseason failures.

The Ducks, Hurricanes and Kings have the cap space to sign Marner this summer to a short-term contract with an average annual value of what could be $14 million. However, the Golden Knights cannot afford him without shedding salary through a cost-cutting trade or if one of their high-salaried players ends up on long-term injury reserve for next season.

How long it takes for Marner to decide where he’ll sign will affect the market for other notable UFA forwards like Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser and perhaps Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand if those two don’t re-sign with the Florida Panthers.

SABRES ENTERTAINING TRADE OFFERS FOR JJ PETERKA

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Buffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka could be on the trade block. The 23-year-old winger is coming off a career-best 68-point performance. He’s a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights.

The Sabres had been rejecting the interest that rival clubs have in Peterka, but they’ve lately begun listening to offers. Friedman believes the young forward is unhappy and wants to play elsewhere. He thinks the Sabres still don’t want to move Peterka, but are now at least considering it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: They won’t give away Peterka or trade him just for the sake of it. They’re well-stocked with prospects, so they don’t want a return of draft picks and prospects. The Sabres will prefer a player-for-player swap, like when they shipped Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for Josh Norris at the March trade deadline, or when they sent Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado in 2024 for Bowen Byram.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reported the Rangers shipping Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks last week cleared his $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27 from their salary-cap payroll. It ensures that general manager Chris Drury has cap flexibility and cost certainty heading into the NHL Draft (June 27-28) and the start of free agency on July 1.

The trade left the Rangers with nearly $15 million in cap space for 2025-26. It ensures they can match any offer sheets from rival clubs, and gives Drury the freedom to explore different options to improve the Rangers for next season.

Walker believes K’Andre Miller won’t be playing for the Rangers next season. He’s an RFA with arbitration rights on July 1. Drury will have to find someone who can replace the minute-munching defenseman.

Walker’s colleague, Larry Brooks, shares her take that Miller could be traded. He also thinks there’s no guarantee Alexis Lafreniere will still be a Ranger when next season begins, as Drury seeks to make multiple moves that change the mix on the ice under new head coach Mike Sullivan.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple believes Drury could consider offer sheets among his offseason options to shake up his roster.

Sabres winger JJ Peterka is among the offer-sheet options. However, the Rangers lack their own 2026 second-rounder, which would be required as part of the compensation to Buffalo if Peterka signed a deal with an annual cap hit between $7 million and $9.3 million.

Any significant offer-sheet signing by the Rangers would include their 2026 first-round pick. That would mean Drury would relinquish the conditional 2025 first-rounder sent to the Vancouver Canucks (and subsequently flipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins) in the JT Miller trade in January.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are in a position to match that type of offer sheet for Peterka, and no one’s going higher than $9.3 million to get him. Drury will have to swing a trade to get him, and the Sabres likely aren’t keen to send him to a nearby Eastern Conference rival.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2025

by | Jun 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 13, 2025

What’s next for the Rangers and Ducks following the Kreider trade? Should the Golden Knights pursue Mitch Marner? What’s the latest on the Sabres and Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RANGERS AND DUCKS?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes the New York Rangers will attempt to improve their roster by addition this summer after trading Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. He considers it very likely that they’ll trade defenseman K’Andre Miller, and also noted there is speculation they could pursue Vladislav Gavrikov if the Los Angeles Kings blueliner becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

RG.ORG: Daria Tuboltseva reports a source claiming the Rangers are looking at the possibility of signing Ivan Provorov. The 28-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is UFA-eligible on July 1.

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (NHL Images).

It was reported that Provorov’s agent, Mark Gandler, met with Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell during the NHL Draft Combine last week. However, it’s unclear if any progress was made between the two sides.

Provorov is completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6.75 million.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens looked at what the Anaheim Ducks might have in store this summer following the acquisition of Kreider. He pointed out that general manager Pat Verbeek faces pressure from Ducks fans who’ve had their patience tested by poor seasons, trade-deadline selloffs, the slow development of prospects, and a general lack of material progress.

The Ducks have nearly $39 million in salary-cap space, and team owner Henry Samueli is willing to invest wisely to improve the roster this summer. It’s rumored they could get into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger hits the open market this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers and Ducks aren’t done making moves this summer.

Trading Kreider cleared his $6.5 million AAV through 2026-27 off the Rangers’ books. With nearly $15 million in cap space, GM Chris Drury has the room to re-sign Will Cuylle and have enough to make a significant addition via free agency, especially if they opt to trade Miller instead of re-signing him.

The Ducks showed signs of improvement last season, reaching 80 points for the first time since 2018-19. They’re loaded with good young talent that will only keep getting better, and the addition of Kreider brings another measure of veteran experience and leadership. Nevertheless, they must make an addition this summer via trade or free agency that will help them take the next step toward playoff contention.

WILL THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS PURSUE MITCH MARNER?

LAS VEGAS SUN: Case Keefer observed recent speculation around the league suggesting the Vegas Golden Knights could pursue Mitch Marner. However, Keefer believes they should think twice if they’re considering that option.

Keefer points out the Golden Knights have limited cap space (nearly $10 million) this season. Signing Marner would require shedding salary that would deplete their roster depth.

Daily Faceoff suggested a sign-and-trade scenario whereby Marner is shipped to Vegas in exchange for a combination of Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. However, Stone has a full no-movement clause while Theodore and Karlsson are on team-friendly contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve become accustomed to the Golden Knights making major acquisitions via the trade and free-agent markets. However, Keefer is correct that signing Marner would sacrifice any semblance of depth on their roster.

The only scenario in which this works for Vegas is if defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and his $8.8 million AAV wind up on long-term injury reserve for the remaining two years of his contract. Some pundits wonder about the 35-year-old defenseman’s health after he skipped the 4 Nations Face Off tournament to prepare for the playoffs. There is no word from Pietrangelo or the Golden Knights regarding his status.

THE LATEST ON THE SABRES AND BRUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn believes that the idea of the Buffalo Sabres trading their first-round pick should be on the table. However, several other clubs are also willing to consider moving their first-rounders, plus there aren’t many teams committed to collecting draft picks and rebuilding.

Teams are continuing to call the Sabres about restricted free agent winger JJ Peterka, but he’s not a player they’re eager to trade. RFA defenseman Bowen Byram is also generating interest, but the Sabres remain high on him.

Fairburn noted the possibility of Peterka signing an offer sheet this summer. However, he pointed out that it could backfire on the winger if he wants out of Buffalo if the Sabres match, especially if it’s a long-term offer. They have the cap room to match any aggressive offer.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports that multiple sources claim the Boston Bruins are actively entertaining offers for their first-round pick (seventh overall) in this year’s draft. It’s believed GM Don Sweeney would like to move up into the top five in the draft order. Failing that, he could include that pick in a trade package for a player who could help their roster right away.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 12, 2025

by | Jun 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 12, 2025

Could Alex Pietrangelo’s injury concerns spark big changes for the Golden Knights? What’s the latest on Kris Letang, Marco Rossi, and Rasmus Andersson? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

IS ALEX PIETRANGELO HEADED TO LTIR?

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s recent remarks implying Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo might not be healthy enough to start the 2025-26 season.

If Pietrangelo is put on long-term injury reserve, it’s rumored the Golden Knights could use the salary cap space to pursue a big-name player like Mitch Marner via free agency.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (NHL Images).

However, Kirkell suggests pumping the brakes on that speculation. She points out they’re already stretched thin on their blueline as they’re shopping restricted free agent defenseman Nicolas Hague. Even if they keep Hague, he’s a left-shot blueliner, and finding a suitable replacement for the right-shot Pietrangelo won’t be easy.

Assuming they place Pietrangelo on LTIR and use the $8.8 million in savings to sign Marner, they’ll have to free up cap room if the blueliner returns to action during next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The only way this works for the Golden Knights is if Pietrangelo is sidelined throughout the 2025-26 regular season. However, there is no word from the defenseman or the Golden Knights that he will be going on LTIR.

If Pietrangelo is out for the season, the Golden Knights could use the savings to add a top-line forward like Marner. However, they would be left with a depleted defense corps, especially if Hague is traded, and that could prove fatal to their Stanley Cup hopes for next season.

COULD THE PENGUINS ATTEMPT TO TRADE KRIS LETANG?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe cited sources on the Pittsburgh Penguins claiming Kris Letang’s play last season was a source of frustration for former head coach Mike Sullivan. The 38-year-old defenseman’s performance deteriorated during the second half of last season.

Yohe examined the possibility of trading Letang, but it won’t be easy. He has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million and carries a full no-trade clause. He hasn’t expressed an unwillingness to waive it, but team sources say he’s “unmovable” even if they wanted to trade him.

Letang’s health, salary, contract length, and declining performance are the reasons why no NHL club has expressed interest in him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe acknowledged previous rumors suggesting Letang might welcome a trade to his hometown of Montreal or Southern California, where he and his wife have a home. However, he pointed out those teams aren’t interested.

UPDATE ON MARCO ROSSI

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are among the teams interested in Marco Rossi.

The 23-year-old Minnesota Wild center is an RFA lacking arbitration rights coming off his entry-level contract.

LeBrun believes the Canucks have the most interest in Rossi. He thinks the Flames have mild interest, but that they would prefer a center with more size.

The Montreal Canadiens are another Canadian team in the market for a second-line center. However, LeBrun believes they don’t have much interest in Rossi.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli believed Rossi could be a good fit in Calgary. However, Flames GM Craig Conroy has said he’s looking for a right-shot center with size. Rossi is a left-handed shot.

Some Canadiens fans could be upset over their club’s apparent lack of interest in Rossi. During their end-of-season press conference, management honchos Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes indicated that they wanted a physical center with size.

Rossi’s rumored contract demands could also be behind the lukewarm interest from the Flames and Canadiens. He reportedly wants a deal comparable to Wild teammate Matt Boldy (seven years, $49 million, $7 million AAV).

COULD THE FLAMES TRADE RASMUS ANDERSSON BEFORE THE DRAFT?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli considers it possible that the Calgary Flames trade Rasmus Andersson by the 2025 NHL Draft (June 27-28). He thinks the 28-year-old defenseman will be “too expensive and too long-term for their liking”.

Anderson is UFA-eligible next July. The Flames can sign him to a contract extension on July 1. He has a cap hit of $4.55 million on his current contract with a six-team no-trade list.

Seravalli also suggested the possibility of hanging onto Andersson for next season and peddling him at the trade deadline when his value could be higher. He also reported that the two sides are expected to commence contract extension talks this week, but believes the Flames have no problem hanging onto him for next season if negotiations stall.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The problem with trading Andersson at the trade deadline is that it puts the Flames in the same situation they were in two years ago with Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin. Their uncertain status was an unwelcome distraction for the team.

If the Flames are in the middle of the playoff race next season, trading Andersson at the deadline could be devastating to their blueline depth and team morale. There’s also the risk of a season-ending injury taking him out of the trade market.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2025

by | Jun 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 11, 2025

Check out the latest on Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux, plus an update on the Blues in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS OR BLUE JACKETS PURSUE MITCH MARNER?

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes the Vegas Golden Knights will be the landing spot for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger goes to free agency on July 1.

Simmons noted that the Golden Knights have been watching Marner closely for years and have a history of making major acquisitions. He acknowledged their lack of salary-cap space, but claimed there are some around the league who think defenseman Alex Pietrangelo could end up on permanent long-term injury reserve. That would free up his $8.8 million annual average value through 2026-27 to put toward signing Marner.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo skipped the 4 Nations Face Off in February, reportedly using that time to heal up for the playoffs. That raised questions about his availability for Canada’s 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey team, but this is the first speculation suggesting Pietrangelo’s playing days could be over.

If Pietrangelo ends up on LTIR for next season, it will provide the Golden Knights with over $18 million in cap room. That’s enough to sign Marner, but it won’t replace Pietrangelo’s absence on the Golden Knights’ blueline.

It’s been suggested the Golden Knights could trade center William Karlsson and his $5.9 million AAV through 2026-27 to free up cap room to pursue Marner. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said what he’s heard around the league is that Karlsson isn’t available.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reported the Columbus Blue Jackets considered signing Marner to an offer sheet in 2019. It’s uncertain how far those discussions with Jackets then-general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and Marner’s agent went before the latter re-signed with the Leafs.

Portzline wondered if current Jackets GM Don Waddell might pursue Marner in this summer’s UFA market. Columbus would provide a less harsh spotlight, proximity to his Toronto family, and the chance to play for a rising young team. They also have the cap space ($40.4 million) to sign him to a lucrative long-term deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be entertaining to see where Marner goes on the open market. My guess is the Carolina Hurricanes, who are an established contender with cap space that had a prior interest in acquiring him.

COULD BRAD MARCHAND SIGN WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS?

YARDBARKER: cited TSN’s Chris Johnston speculating that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a destination for Brad Marchand if the Florida Panthers winger wants to maximize his earnings on his next contract.

Marchand, 37, is slated to become a UFA on July 1. Johnston acknowledged that endorsement money could factor into where he goes, which could make Toronto part of the Leafs’ sales pitch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This wouldn’t be the first time endorsement money could be used as a selling point by the Leafs. It’s rumored that it was part of their pitch to Steven Stamkos in 2016 before he decided to re-sign with the Lightning. They might have better luck with Marchand if he ends up hitting the open market on July 1.

SENATORS CONTINUE CONTRACT TALKS WITH GIROUX

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators have resumed contract extension talks with Claude Giroux. The versatile 37-year-old forward is UFA-eligible on July 1. He’s completing a three-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million.

Garrioch believes the Senators want to sign Giroux to a one-year, “plus-35” contract. The veteran forward is willing to accept a pay reduction, but the main issues are how much of a pay cut he’ll take and the structure of the contract.

The two sides had cordial discussions last week, but there remains a gap to bridge to keep him from testing the market.

BLUES COULD PURSUE A CENTER THIS SUMMER

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reported the St. Louis Blues are looking for a “200-foot offensive player” this summer. He acknowledged big names like Toronto’s Mitch Marner and Florida’s Sam Bennett could be available in the UFA market, but he doubted GM Doug Armstrong would get into the bidding for either one.

Rutherford indicated depth at center is the Blues’ biggest need. If they can land a top-six center via trade or free agency, they could shift team captain Brayden Schenn down to the third line. If they can land a top-nine center, they could move Oskar Sundqvist out of the third-line center role.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Lou Korac believes Bennett could address that issue for the Blues. However, he doesn’t think they should overpay to do so. He recommended a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million AAV) with a no-trade clause as a sweetener.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s a growing sense around the league that Bennett will re-sign with the Panthers. If he doesn’t, he could command over $8.5 million annually on a long-term deal.

Schenn frequently surfaced in the rumor mill leading up to the March trade deadline. However, they’re unlikely to part with him if their concern is bolstering their depth at the center position.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 10, 2025

by | Jun 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 10, 2025

Check out the latest on Mitch Marner, Max Pacioretty, Sam Bennett and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: James Mirtle of The Athletic cited sources claiming the Toronto Maple Leafs discussed a three-team deal to send Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights at the March trade deadline.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

The deal would’ve involved the Carolina Hurricanes, who would’ve sent winger Mikko Rantanen to the Leafs. Mirtle said it was unclear how far the negotiations went and whether Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause, but it’s believed it fell through because the Hurricanes couldn’t reach terms on compensation from the Golden Knights.

Following the trade deadline, it was reported that the Leafs and Hurricanes talked about a swap of Marner for Rantanen, but the Leafs winger declined to waive his NMC.

Mirtle noted the Golden Knights lack the cap space to pursue Marner if he becomes a free agent on July 1. However, he suggested they could free up room by peddling center William Karlsson, who carries an average annual value of $5.9 million for two more seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mirtle also noted that the Golden Knights have been after Marner since last summer. They could attempt to sign the 28-year-old winger on July 1, but they’ll have to do more than move out Karlsson to achieve sufficient cap flexibility.

The Golden Knights currently have a projected cap space of $9.6 million with 18 active roster players under contract for 2025-26. Moving Karlsson to a club not on his 10-team no-trade list would give them $15.5 million. Assuming they sign Marner to a deal with an AAV of $14 million, that would leave them with $1.5 million to fill out the rest of their roster.

Marner may have rejected a move to Carolina at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean he won’t sign with the Hurricanes as a free agent. They have considerably more cap space than Vegas to make a competitive bid. Given their overall roster depth, they appear in a better position as a potential Cup contender than the Golden Knights.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Leafs, Mirtle reports a source said Max Pacioretty is leaning toward returning to the club next season. The 36-year-old completed a one-year, $873K contract this season. Leafs management indicated their interest in bringing back Pacioretty following his productive postseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll likely be another low-cost one-year contract.

THE ATHLETIC: Mirtle indicated that most of the people he’s spoken with around the NHL believe Sam Bennett won’t be available this summer. The versatile, agitating 28-year-old Florida Panthers center is due to become a UFA on July 1.

Bennett wants to stay with the Panthers and the feeling is mutual. Mirtle speculates it could cost an AAV of $8 million to keep him in the fold.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett is among the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as this year’s playoff MVP. It’s doubtful the Panthers will let him walk, and unlikely that he will price himself out of their market.

Mirtle also reported that collective bargaining between the league and the NHL Players’ Association has been going well. It sounds to him like an announcement could come as soon as the Stanley Cup Final wraps up.

The new CBA could run to 2030. Mirtle expects no major changes apart from salary-cap accounting during the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what the league and the PA come up with to address that thorny issue.