NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

by | Nov 20, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2025

Check out the latest on the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, the Flames’ Rasmus Andersson, the Blues’ Brayden Schenn, the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON ARTEMI PANARIN AND RASMUS ANDERSSON

SPORTSNET: New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson top Luke Fox’s list of next summer’s top unrestricted free agents.

Panarin, 34, is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

Fox indicated that Panarin wasn’t willing to accept a pay cut to remain with the Rangers despite his age (34) and declining production. Meanwhile, the Blueshirts aren’t interested in maintaining the status quo with his paychecks into his late thirties.

Fox believes the Rangers could hang onto Panarin for the rest of this season if they’re holding a playoff berth by the March 6 trade deadline. If not, they could ask him to waive his no-movement clause to join a playoff contender.

According to Fox’s colleague, Nick Kypreos, the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild may be interested in acquiring Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes might be interested in Panarin as a rental, given they’re in “win-now” mode. They acquired Mikko Rantanen last season, only to trade him weeks later when he wouldn’t sign an extension. They also attempted to acquire Mitch Marner before last year’s trade deadline.

However, their actions with Rantanen suggest they’d prefer adding a star in his prime who can be part of their lineup beyond this season. Panarin might not fit that profile.

Panarin could skate on the Wild’s second line at left wing, but they could prefer bolstering their depth at center. They could also favor a player who’d be more than a rental.

Andersson is a “talented, minute-munching, edgy right-shot defenseman with leadership skills.” That’s why his value in the trade market is high, and could be even higher if he’s willing to sign a contract extension.

Fox believes that “all signs point to the Vegas Golden Knights” as a trade destination, but he acknowledged they have limited cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights could find a way to make the cap dollars fit, but the real issue is their limited trade assets. They lack a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, and The Athletic ranked their prospect pool among the shallowest in the league, sitting 30th overall. Other clubs could outbid the Golden Knights for Andersson’s services.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman took note of the trade rumors starting to swirl about the St. Louis Blues. Regarding captain Brayden Schenn, he reports that teams that have spoken to the Blues over the past two years claim the price is very high for the 34-year-old center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schenn is signed through 2027-28 with a 15-team no-trade list. If he becomes available, it’ll likely be during the lead-up to the March 6 trade deadline.

Speaking of the Blues, Friedman said there are rumors that Alexandre Texier is considering terminating his contract. The 26-year-old winger is in the second year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.1 million, but has only appeared in one game since Oct. 28. Friedman wondered if he’d be a fit with the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens seek depth at center, but their recent injuries reportedly make them open to adding a winger. Whether Texier would interest them remains to be seen.

Friedman claimed that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov would like to be traded if he’s not going to play. The 21-year-old blueliner was a healthy scratch for their last two games. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, so Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek won’t be rushed into anything.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman considers this situation something worth monitoring. Mintyukov projects to be a talented puck-moving defenseman, so he’s bound to draw interest if he becomes available. The Ducks could seek a good young player in return.

FEW SELLERS IN THE TRADE MARKET THUS FAR

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico indicates the tightly packed standings leave few true sellers in the trade market. Clubs seeking help, especially those looking for centers, would be forced to overpay.

The Calgary Flames are mired at the bottom of the standings. They have several players, such as Andersson and forwards Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman, who have drawn interest in the trade market. However, they’re facing no urgency to move those players unless they get a significant offer.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are listening to offers. No-trade clauses are an issue for the Predators, and the Blues prefer making “hockey trades” rather than selling off talent for draft picks and prospects.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico also considered the San Jose Sharks as a wild card, but they might not be sellers if they’re in the playoff race leading up to the trade deadline. This rebuilding team still has room for improvement (especially defensively), but they’re an increasingly competitive club this season.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 19, 2025

by | Nov 19, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 19, 2025

Could the Canadiens and Devils target the Predators for help in the trade market? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports injuries have forced the Montreal Canadiens into the trade market, joining several other clubs that are searching for forwards.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes would like to add a second-line center. However, Dreger believes he’s also willing to add a winger.

Dreger said the problem is that there are so few sellers and the prices are high. That leaves the Canadiens and other clubs looking for answers internally.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont referenced Jeff Marek’s recent appearance on the Sekeres & Price Show, saying the Canadiens were among the teams that contacted the Nashville Predators to inquire about Steven Stamkos.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

Dumont noted that Stamkos currently plays as a left winger for the Predators, his game has slowed considerably in recent years, and he has two more years on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million. He thinks the Canadiens may be conducting due diligence rather than making a serious inquiry.

Instead, Dumont suggested Predators center Ryan O’Reilly as a better fit for the Canadiens. The 34-year-old is a left-hand shot and has put up decent numbers this season. He’s also more affordable, with a $4.5 million AAV through 2026-27. If the Predators shop him, their asking price could be a first-rounder and a top prospect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos also carries a full no-movement clause, but those factors cited by Dumont are good reasons why he’s not going to land in Montreal.

O’Reilly would be a better option, but Hughes’ trade acquisitions tend to be younger veterans who will fit well within the Canadiens’ long-term plans. He lacks no-trade protection, but the Predators are treating him as though he has it. It’s unlikely he’ll agree to be moved to a Canadian market after opting not to re-sign with Toronto a few years ago.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols referred to The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta’s recent appearance on “The Sheet With Jeff Marek”, where he told the host that he believes the Devils will be in the market for a “big fish” before the March 6 trade deadline.

Pagnotta didn’t speculate which players the Devils might target. Nichols pointed out they need depth at center, suggesting Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames and Ryan O’Reilly of the Predators. He also considered Nick Schmaltz of the Utah Mammoth as an option if he intends to test the free-agent market next summer.

Nichols also spoke with Marek, who suggested Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault of the Predators as two players who could help the Devils. He also suggested O’Reilly as an option.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Such a move by the Devils isn’t likely to happen until closer to March. Nichols observed that they’d have to move out a contract to free up cap space for one of those players, assuming they’re available by then.

Moving players like Forsberg, Kadri, O’Reilly, and Marchessault sound like moves that would take place during the offseason, usually around the NHL Draft in late June or during the opening days of free agency in early July.

Forsberg and Marchessault have full no-movement clauses, while Kadri has a 13-team no-trade list. Forsberg and Kadri also carry expensive contracts with several seasons remaining. As Nichols said, the Devils would have to shed salary to make room for those guys.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 18, 2025

by | Nov 18, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 18, 2025

Are changes coming for the struggling Predators? Could the Canadiens go shopping for a center? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty wondered if changes are coming for the fading Nashville Predators. They have a record of 6-10-4, sitting eighth in the Central Division. He pointed out that they were 6-11-3 after 20 games last year, going on to finish that season with the third-worst record in the league.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Daugherty believes there are only so many changes that general manager Barry Trotz can make. Most of his big contracts, including Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, have no-movement clauses. He frequently supported head coach Andrew Brunette.

Minor changes, such as trading players on expiring contracts (Erik Haula, Michael Bunting), would exacerbate the situation, even if they’re necessary in the long term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daugherty doesn’t expect to see any improvement from the Predators with their current roster this season.

Stamkos and Marchessault have surfaced in the rumor mill. Still, even if they agree to waive their movement clauses, the decline in their production combined with the remaining term of their contracts could make them difficult to move and won’t fetch significant returns.

Ryan O’Reilly has also been mentioned recently as a trade target. The 34-year-old center is second among Predators scorers with 13 points and is still well-regarded for his two-way play. He also carries an affordable $4.5 million annual cap hit through 2026-27 and lacks no-trade protection.

O’Reilly might draw more interest. However, like Stamkos and Marchessault, he won’t have the same value in the trade market that he might have had a couple of years ago.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is scouring the trade market for a center. Canadiens center Kirby Dach and versatile forward Alex Newhook are both sidelined by injuries.

Friedman indicated that Hughes was among the suitors for former Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf before the latter signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman didn’t mention any other potential targets for Hughes. One option could be John Beecher of the Boston Bruins, who was placed on waivers on Monday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 15, 2025

by | Nov 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 15, 2025

The Predators beat the Penguins in the first games of their Global Series, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer makes history with an overtime goal, and the latest injury updates in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Steven Stamkos lifted the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of their two-game Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden. The Predators (6-9-4) overcame a 1-0 deficit as Filip Forsberg scored late in the third period to send the game to overtime. Evgeni Malkin scored for the 9-5-4 Penguins.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).

New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer became the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal (18 years, 70 days) to nip the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin also scored for the Islanders (10-6-2), who picked up their fourth straight win. JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther scored for the 10-7-1 Mammoth, who have dropped four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer sits atop this season’s rookie scoring race with 15 points in 18 games.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Sebastian Aho. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice and collected an assist, and Shayne Gostisbehere picked up three assists as the Hurricanes improved to 12-5-0. Center Elias Pettersson had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (8-9-2), who are winless in their last three contests (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forwards Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi left this game with injuries. Jarvis was accidentally clipped in the eye by Svechnikov’s stick in the first period, but he’s not expected to miss much time. Kotkaniemi left after the first period with a lower-body injury.

Earlier in the day, the Canucks placed goaltender Thatcher Demko (lower body) on injured reserve.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras had two goals and an assist in regulation and tallied the only goal in the shootout in a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Blues. Owen Tippett had a goal and three assists, and Christian Dvorak also had two goals and an assist for the 9-5-3 Flyers. Richard Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Jimmy Snuggerud each had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who dropped to 6-8-4.

INJURY UPDATES

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs recalled goaltender Joseph Woll from his AHL conditioning stint, and placed captain Auston Matthews (lower body) on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW/CBS SPORTS: Devils center Jack Hughes suffered a hand injury during a team dinner on Thursday when he slipped and cut his hand in a fluke accident. He’s not expected to play against the Washington Capitals on Saturday and will continue to be evaluated.

Meanwhile, the Devils placed forward Connor Brown (upper body) on injured reserve.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens winger Alex Newhook underwent surgery on Friday to repair a fractured ankle. He is expected to be sidelined for four months. The Canadiens also announced that defenseman Kaiden Guhle will be out for 8 to 10 weeks with a partially torn adductor muscle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will test the depth of the young Canadiens roster. Newhook was off to a terrific start before this injury with 12 points in 17 games. Guhle’s been out since Oct. 16.

TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings goaltender John Gibson returned to practice on Friday after leaving Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. He revealed he’d left due to a headache after being struck by two shots off his facemask.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed defenseman Troy Stecher on waivers and demoted winger Isaac Howard to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. The moves were made to create room for winger Zach Hyman and blueliner Alec Regula, who are both returning from injuries.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 14, 2025

by | Nov 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 14, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup, there’s a list of potential trade chips for the Predators. Meanwhile, Flames winger Blake Coleman is garnering some interest, and we look at a list of possible destinations for former Leafs center David Kampf.

THE LATEST ON THE PREDATORS

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty suggested some options for the Nashville Predators if general manager Barry Trotz becomes a seller by the March 6 trade deadline.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

He considers Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Nick Perbix, and Matthew Wood as untouchable. He believes center Ryan O’Reilly is their best trade chip, suggesting he might fetch a high pick and a good prospect.

Jonathan Marchessault is among those in Daugherty’s “only if the price is right” category. Forward Steven Stamkos and goaltender Juuse Saros have been oft-mentioned in early-season media trade speculation. Still, Daugherty believes it would be complicated getting them to waive their no-movement clauses.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes Trotz would consider moving Stamkos and Marchessault if the Predators are out of playoff contention by the trade deadline.

Stamkos might be open to a change later in the season. However, it’s more than that he stays put.

It’s LeBrun’s understanding that a few teams have been poking around regarding Marchessault, who carries a more affordable cap hit ($5.5 million) than Stamkos’ $8 million average annual value. However, his contract is a year longer (running through 2028-29), and also has a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection. He’s signed through next season with an affordable AAV of $4.5 million. There was some interest in him last season, but the Predators treated O’Reilly as though he had a no-trade clause, leaving the final decision up to him. If that’s still the case, he might not be going anywhere.

It will be interesting to see how many teams would consider acquiring Stamkos and Marchessault. The respective performances of those aging stars will determine their value in the trade market, provided they’re willing to waive their no-movement clauses. 

FLAMES FORWARD BLAKE COLEMAN COULD BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun noted the early-season trade speculation swirling around Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson. However, he wouldn’t be surprised if Blake Coleman was drawing more interest from rival clubs.

LeBrun said the Flames aren’t shopping the versatile 33-year-old winger. Nevertheless, he claimed that some teams have told general manager Craig Conroy that they would be interested in Coleman if he became available by the March 6 trade deadline.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period saying he believes that the Devils have also expressed interest in Coleman, who began his NHL career in New Jersey before getting traded to Tampa Bay during the 2019-20 season.

Nichols noted the Flames and Devils have a trade history, with Tyler Toffoli and Jacob Markstrom moving from Calgary to New Jersey in recent years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun indicated that Coleman has a modified no-trade clause (10-team approved trade list), giving him some control over the situation. He’s also signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $4.9 million.

LATEST ON DAVID KAMPF

TSN: Darren Dreger observed that the Toronto Maple Leafs will terminate the contract of David Kampf. The 30-year-old center will become a free agent on Friday once he clears unconditional waivers.

Dreger anticipates that there will be a long list of suitors for Kampf among teams in the market for centers. He said the Pittsburgh Penguins seem to have some interest. The Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks could also be among them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas brought Kampf to Toronto as a free agent in 2021 while GM of the Maple Leafs.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2025

by | Nov 12, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2025

The latest speculation on the Blues, Oilers, Rangers, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford confirmed a recent report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli claiming that St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has told his peers that he’s “open for business.” However, Rutherford points out that Armstrong has done that in previous seasons and made no significant subtractions from his roster.

A league source told Rutherford that one NHL club contacted the Blues about Jordan Kyrou after the winger was a healthy scratch against the Buffalo Sabres last week. It’s not known if the Blues are shopping the 28-year-old Kyrou, who was the subject of trade speculation last summer before his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1.

St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn (NHL Images)

Rutherford suggested Brayden Schenn as another trade possibility. He drew plenty of interest leading up to last season’s trade deadline, but told the Blues he wanted to stay. However, he might reconsider given the way this season is going.

Finding a suitable trade partner will be difficult at this stage of the season because most clubs are still settling into the season and aren’t sure what type of deals they want to make.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t expect Kyrou will be the first player out the door if the Blues become sellers. He believes it’ll be Schenn, based on the limited number of available centers in the trade market and the interest in the 34-year-old Blues captain at last season’s trade deadline.

Seravalli believes the Blues should bolster their defense corps if they make a foray into the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong is willing to listen to offers, but it’s still too early to consider him a seller. He’s seen this club dig itself out of deep holes in the standings before with many of the current players, and he’ll likely allow them to do so again. They’re only four points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

However, if the Blues continue to struggle and fall further out of contention, Armstrong could become more motivated to shake things up. Schenn could be easier to move than Kyrou, given the latter has full no-trade protection while the former has a 15-team no-trade list.

LATEST ON THE OILERS, RANGERS, AND MAPLE LEAFS

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli wondered how the Edmonton Oilers would improve their goaltending given their limited salary-cap space and trade capital. He noted that some observers have suggested that they attempt to acquire Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators.

However, Seravalli doesn’t consider Saros the answer for the Oilers. He pointed out that the 30-year-old Predators goalie carries an eight-year contract to age 38, his stats haven’t been good, and his size and ability to win in the playoffs remain a big question.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Saros suggestion is coming from some desperate Oilers followers. Some of them are the same group that thought Connor Ingram was the answer to their goaltending woes.

Seravalli made good points about why Saros is unattainable for the Oilers and why he’s not much of an improvement over their current starter Stuart Skinner. What’s overlooked is the fact that Saros has a full no-movement clause, which he probably doesn’t want to waive because he wants to stay in Nashville. He wouldn’t have signed that eight-year deal if he didn’t.

Seravalli believes the New York Rangers’ poor early-season home record is merely an aberration, pointing out that they have a strong road record. He indicated how much their defense has improved in front of goaltender Igor Shesterkin and believes they could become a Stanley Cup contender if they can boost their scoring and improve their depth among their bottom-six forwards.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a long season, and the Rangers are still adjusting to the system of new head coach Mike Sullivan. General manager Chris Drury has been tinkering with his roster since last December. He could become a buyer if the Rangers move up among the top-four clubs in the Eastern Conference when January rolls around.

Seravalli reports that David Kampf continues to evaluate his options. The Toronto Maple Leafs have given the 30-year-old center permission to seek a trade, terminate his contract to seek a deal with another NHL team, or terminate his deal and head to Europe.