NHL Rumor Mill – July 8, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – July 8, 2025
Check out the latest on the Penguins and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TEAMS STILL CALLING ABOUT PENGUINS FORWARDS RUST AND RAKELL
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports that Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell “remain considerable commodities on the trade market.” He cited league and Penguins sources claiming “opposing teams still have heavy interest in both wingers.”
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t feel that he needs to trade either winger. They are talented players who enjoy playing in Pittsburgh, team captain Sidney Crosby enjoys being their linemate, and they’re fairly paid.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust (NHL Images).
Nevertheless, Yohe cited league sources saying they expect one of them to be traded this summer. He also indicated the Carolina Hurricanes were interested in both players, but instead signed winger Nikolaj Ehlers last week.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski suggested the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Seattle Kraken as possible trade destinations for Rakell. He also felt the rebuilding San Jose Sharks could be a wild card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust carries an average annual value of $5.125 million through 2027-28. He had a full no-movement clause until July 1 and now lacks no-trade protection. Rakell is also signed through 2027-28 ($5 million AAV) with an eight-team no-trade list.
Rust seems the easiest to move, but Dubas could give him the choice of potential destinations. We can’t dismiss the possibility of Rakell fetching a better offer from one of the teams not on his no-trade list.
Dubas is trying to rebuild as quickly as possible. His asking price could be a high draft pick or a top prospect bundled with a promising young NHL player.
The Penguins GM can afford to remain patient. If there aren’t any suitable offers for Rust or Rakell this summer, he can try again before the March trade deadline.
CANADIENS ARE STILL SHOPPING IN THE TRADE MARKET
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Montreal Canadiens are still trying to make moves in the trade market. On June 27, they acquired defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, and last week shipped defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for gritty winger Zack Bolduc.
D’Amico cited sources claiming the Canadiens are still looking at Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. While his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1, he remains a hot topic for teams seeking offense.
The Canadiens are also interested in former Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov. They would like to free up some salary cap space before the start of the regular season.
D’Amico also noted some online rumors concerning Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli. However, his no-trade clause began on July 1, and the Lightning have no one to replace him.
Mason McTavish has been the subject of offer-sheet speculation. However, D’Amico reports the 23-year-old center doesn’t want to leave the Anaheim Ducks. He also noted teams are reluctant to part with their 2026 first-round picks, which would be necessary as part of the compensation to the Ducks if McTavish were successfully signed away.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues may be willing to listen to offers for Kyrou, but they’re not believed to be shopping Kyrou. Their asking price will be expensive. It could cost the Canadiens a top prospect like Michael Hage or David Reinbacher, their 2026 first-round pick, and a decent roster player.
Kuznetsov played alongside promising Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov in the KHL last year. However, it’s questionable that the 33-year-old center can adequately fill the role of an NHL second-line center. His performance declined significantly during his final NHL campaign in 2023-24. That’s the reason why he ended up playing in Russia last season.
The Cirelli rumor was wishful-thinking nonsense long before his NTC began. He’s among the top two-way centers in the league and was a finalist for the Selke Trophy last season. The Lightning aren’t trading him.
Idle speculation about McTavish’s role with the Ducks blew up into suggestions that he could be a trade or offer-sheet candidate this summer. Like the Cirelli rumor, it was wishful thinking. The Ducks have no reason to trade McTavish; they have the cap space to match any offer sheet, and it’s doubtful any team will overpay to get him.