NHL Rumor Mill – November 13, 2025

by | Nov 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 13, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, the Sabres are reportedly getting calls from teams interested in acquiring Tage Thompson, plus the latest on the Penguins and Senators.

SABRES GETTING CALLS ABOUT TAGE THOMPSON

RG. ORG: Marco D’Amico reports teams are calling the Buffalo Sabres about Tage Thompson. However, general manager Kevyn Adams insisted that the star forward isn’t available.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson (NHL Images).

The Sabres are once again struggling in the standings. That has prompted some teams in the market for depth at center, such as the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens, to inquire about Thompson’s availability.

Part of the reason for the Sabres’ struggles is that several key players are sidelined by injuries (Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson) or illness (Jason Zucker). Meanwhile, defenseman and team captain Rasmus Dahlin is on a leave of absence for personal reasons.

However, the organization is holding off on making major roster changes, turning instead to younger players in the hope of sparking a turnaround.

TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie claimed the Canadiens never contacted the Sabres to see if Thompson was available. He considers Thompson and Dahlin as the club’s foundation players, “the cream of the crop”, adding that they weren’t going anywhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams is under pressure to end the Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought. However, he’s not going to rush into things and make a panic deal. Besides, there are few sellers currently in the trade market, so there’s not much available that could help the Sabres at this time.

Thompson has a five-team no-trade list, giving Adams a lot of leeway in the trade market if he wanted to move the high-scoring forward. Nevertheless, the Sabres GM won’t move Thompson unless he wants out, or a rival club makes a substantial offer that would significantly improve his club.

THE LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently wondered if the Pittsburgh Penguins’ surprisingly solid start to this season has affected their trade plans for Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell.

As long as the Penguins are playing well, those veterans won’t be moved. It’s unlikely that general manager Kyle Dubas would spoil an opportunity for Sidney Crosby to participate in the postseason again.

Yohe also doesn’t see the Penguins being big buyers at the March 6 trade deadline if they’re in playoff contention by that point. Dubas doesn’t want to lose sight of his ultimate goal of turning the Penguins into a championship contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas stated earlier this season that the goal was to continue retooling the roster with younger talent, but also to remain competitive. If the Penguins are in playoff contention by March, Karlsson, Rust, and Rakell will be staying put.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported Senators GM Steve Staios continues working the phones in search of an impact player, but that’s easier said than done at this early stage of the season.

The Senators are also trying to trade the rights of winger Alex Formenton, who was among the five players on the 2018 World Junior Team that were found not guilty of sexual assault in July in London, Ontario.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 27, 2025

by | Oct 27, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 27, 2025

The Devils and Mammoth keep winning, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini continues his offensive tear, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored twice, including the winning goal in overtime, to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3. Simon Nemec collected three assists as the Devils have won eight straight games (8-1-0), sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 16 points. Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brock Nelson replied for the 5-1-4 Avalanche, who are winless in their last four (0-1-3).

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is tied for the league lead in goals (eight) with Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets and Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators. Devils defenseman Brett Pesce left the game with an upper-body injury and won’t travel with the club for their upcoming four-game road trip.

The Utah Mammoth nipped the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 to pick up their seventh straight victory. Dylan Guenther snapped a 2-2 tie, and Vitek Vanecek stopped 28 shots for the Mammoth (8-2-0), who are in first place in the Western Conference with 16 points. Dylan DeMelo and Mark Scheifele tallied for the Jets, who are 6-3-0 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth are off to a red-hot start. After several years rebuilding their roster, they appear to be having a breakout performance this season.

An overtime goal by Macklin Celebrini lifted the San Jose Sharks to a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Wild. Celebrini also collected two assists, linemate William Eklund scored twice and set up another, and rookie Michael Misa scored his first NHL goal for the 2-5-2 Sharks. Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber each had three assists for the struggling Wild (3-5-2), who have dropped six of their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini has 10 points in his last four games. The 19-year-old sophomore center sits third among NHL scorers with 15 points. Meanwhile, Sharks forward Adam Gaudette left this game with an upper-body injury, while Marcus Foligno of the Wild missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, to down the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Brock Boeser had a goal and two assists and Thatcher Demko made 26 saves for the Canucks, who snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 5-5-0. Leon Draisaitl scored two goals for the 4-4-2 Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Quinn Hughes missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Teammate Victor Mancini left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury.

The Calgary Flames ended an eight-game losing skid with a 5-1 win over the New York Rangers. Blake Coleman scored twice, Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf stopped 30 shots for the 2-7-1 Flames. Rangers rookie Noah Laba scored his first NHL goal as his club slipped to 3-5-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers were without Vincent Trocheck and Matt Rempe. Both forwards missed this road trip due to injuries.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala scored the go-ahead goal in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Laferriere and Joel Armia also scored for the 4-3-3 Kings. Connor Bedard tallied for the Blackhawks, who slipped to 4-3-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Warren Foegele left the game in the first period with an apparent shoulder injury. Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

The Dallas Stars overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Oskar Back, Wyatt Johnston, and Miro Heiskanen were the goal scorers as the Stars improved their record to 5-3-1. Jonathan Marchessault and Spencer Stastney scored for the 4-4-2 Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz missed this contest with an undisclosed injury.

An overtime goal by Nikita Kucherov lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Brandon Hagel also scored for the 3-4-2 Lightning. William Karlsson replied for the Golden Knights, who are 5-1-3 on the season.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: The Washington Capitals have relieved goaltending coach Mitch Love of his duties. This move comes after the NHL suspended him for the remainder of the season following its investigation into alleged domestic abuse.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins winger Rickard Rakell will miss the next eight weeks following surgery on his left hand on Sunday. Rakell suffered the injury during Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins placed defenseman Hampus Lindholm on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He’s already missed seven games this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 26, 2025

by | Oct 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 26, 2025

Milestone games for the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, the Kraken’s Brandon Montour makes an emotional return to action, the Red Wings stage a big comeback, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played in his 1,500th career regular-season NHL game, but the Ottawa Senators spoiled the party with a 7-1 victory. Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson each had two goals and an assist for the Senators as they improved to 4-4-1. Trevor van Riemsdyk scored for the 6-3-0 Capitals, who also lost center Dylan Strome to a lower-body injury in the first period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is the 24th player in league history to reach 1,500 regular-season games. Only seven players missed fewer games on their way to that milestone, and the eighth to do so with one team. The Capitals superstar remains one goal away from becoming the first player in NHL history to score 900 regular-season goals. Meanwhile, Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois returned to the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Nikita Kucherov became the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000 regular-season points as the Tampa Bay Lightning nipped the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Kucherov collected two assists, including the primary one on Anthony Cirelli’s game-winning goal. Cirelli and Jake Guentzel each scored twice, and Lightning captain Victor Hedman had two assists to reach the 800-point milestone. Troy Terry had a goal and an assist for the 4-3-1 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steven Stamkos is the Lightning’s franchise points leader with 1,137. Hedman sits fifth among their all-time points leaders with 801. The Lightning (2-4-2) snapped a four-game winless skid (0-2-2). Meanwhile, Ducks center Mikael Granlund left this game with a lower-body injury.

The Seattle Kraken (5-2-2) got two goals from Jordan Eberle to hold off the Edmonton Oilers 3-2, tying them with the first-place Vegas Golden Knights (12 points) in the Pacific Division. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots, and Matty Beniers collected two assists for the Kraken. Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse replied for the 4-4-1 Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour logged over 23 minutes in his return to action from a leave of absence on Oct. 18 to be with his family. His brother, Cameron, passed away due to ALS (otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) two days later. “I’m very, very happy to be his brother,” an emotional Montour said. “He’s probably smiling and chirping me up there, for crying.” My condolences to Montour and his family.

Earlier in the day, the Kraken placed sidelined winger Jared McCann (lower body) on injured reserve.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson scored the winning and insurance goals as his club overcame a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 upset of the St. Louis Blues. Jonatan Berggren and J.T. Compher each had a goal and an assist for the 6-3-0 Red Wings. Jake Neighbours tallied two goals for the Blues (3-4-1), who’ve gone 1-3-1 in their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues center Robert Thomas left this game in the third period with an upper-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares’ 499th career regular-season goal came in overtime to lift his club over the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Tavares also picked up an assist while winger Matthew Knies had two helpers as the Leafs improved to 4-4-1. Tage Thompson tallied twice for the 4-4-1 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander missed this game due to an injury suffered on Friday night against the Sabres. Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly returned to the lineup after missing Friday’s contest with an undisclosed injury.

The Montreal Canadiens got a three-point performance from Ivan Demidov as they overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Demidov scored the game-winner and collected two assists, while Nick Suzuki scored to extend his points streak to nine games as the Canadiens (7-3-0) sit atop the Atlantic Division with 14 points. Center Elias Pettersson had a goal and two assists for the 4-5-0 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Canadiens announced winger Patrik Laine will be sidelined three to four months after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly scored two goals and collected an assist, and Ozzy Wiesblatt scored the game-winner in a shootout to nip the Los Angeles Kings 5-4. Juuse Saros kicked out 36 shots in regulation and overtime as the Predators improved to 4-3-2. Joel Armia had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who fell to 3-3-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings captain Anze Kopitar was held scoreless in his return from a foot injury suffered on Oct. 17. Meanwhile, Predators captain Roman Josi missed this game as he’s listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves for a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, snapping a six-game losing streak. Morgan Geekie scored the game-winner while Mason Lohrei collected three assists for the 4-6-0 Bruins. Artturi Lehkonen tallied both goals for the Avalanche (5-1-3), who are winless in their last three (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sidelined Bruins defenseman Jordan Harris is reportedly considering surgery for a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blew a 4-2 lead but emerged with a 5-4 shootout win on a goal by Kirill Marchenko. Dmitri Voronkov tallied twice for the Blue Jackets, who improved to 4-4-0. Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha collected two points, and Arturs Silovs made 37 saves for the 6-2-1 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Rickard Rakell left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Penguins announced defenseman Caleb Jones will be sidelined for eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras netted his first two goals of the season, and Matvei Michkov scored the shootout winner to down the New York Islanders 4-3. Zegras finished the game with three points as the Flyers improved to 4-3-1. Defenseman Marshall Warren collected two assists in his NHL debut as his Islanders sit at 4-3-1.

The Florida Panthers got a 17-save shutout from Sergei Bobrovsky to blank the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0, handing the latter their first regulation loss. Sam Reinhart, Cole Schwindt, and A.J. Greer scored for the Panthers, who improved to 5-5-0. Akira Schmid made 23 saves for the 5-1-2 Golden Knights.

Utah Mammoth forwards Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz each scored two goals in a 6-2 rout of the Minnesota Wild. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 32 shots for the 7-2-0 Mammoth, who extended their win streak to six games and hold first place in the Central Division with 14 points. Marcus Johansson scored both goals for the struggling Wild, who fell to 3-5-1.

The Dallas Stars got two goals from Miro Heiskanen to rally past the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves as the (4-3-1) Stars snapped a four-game losing streak. Jackson Blake and Sebastian Aho tallied for the 6-2-0 Hurricanes.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2025

by | Oct 25, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 25, 2025

Check out the latest on the Flames and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE FLAMES SOON PEDDLE KADRI AND ANDERSSON?

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco looked at whether Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson would be trade casualties if the Calgary Flames fail to turn their season around.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Di Marco cited TSN’s Chris Johnston indicating Andersson was open to an eight-year contract extension with the Flames. However, management wanted to see how the season unfolded before committing.

The 28-year-old defenseman has been the subject of trade rumors since the summer. He was linked to the Vegas Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson sits atop Johnston’s list of early NHL trade candidates. He believes the blueliner is the Flames’ biggest trade chip.

The Golden Knights could squeeze the remainder of Andersson’s $4.55 million cap hit within their limited cap payroll by the March 6 trade deadline. However, they have limited trade capital, which could hurt their efforts to outbid rival clubs.

Kadri, meanwhile, is signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million. The 35-year-old center also had a 13-team no-trade list. Di Marco targeted the Montreal Canadiens as a landing spot, but two NHL executives he spoke with felt that the Vancouver Canucks were an ideal fit given their need for a reliable No. 2 center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming Montreal and Vancouver aren’t on his no-trade list.

THE LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted that the Penguins’ surprisingly strong start to this season puts them in a more powerful position when it comes to their trade chips. The Penguins are considered a confirmed seller, with forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson considered the players most likely to be moved.

Kingerski listed the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs as potential trade partners for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski’s column appeared before the Canucks acquired forward Luka Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Nevertheless, they could return to the trade market if Reichel fails to pan out.

The Hurricanes are believed to be interested in making a big addition this season. A few observers wondered if they might take a swing at acquiring Karlsson, but Kingerski suggested that Rust or Rakell might be more enticing to them.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have been auditioning Easton Cowan, Nick Robertson, and Max Domi as first-line wingers with little success. However, the Leafs lack sufficient trade capital in draft picks and prospects, and are unlikely to part with the promising Cowan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are in a much better position than the Leafs in terms of cap space and trade assets to make a big addition to their roster. Whether they’ll pursue Rust or Rakell remains to be seen.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they’ve been linked to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov. He’d be a more affordable option than Rust or Rakell, but his inconsistent play suggests he wouldn’t be much of an upgrade.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau noted Justin Brazeau’s strong start to this season. He has 5 goals and 8 points in his first eight games.

Proteau wondered if the Penguins view the 27-year-old forward as a long-term fit or if general manager Kyle Dubas might try to capitalize on his improving trade value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brazeau had 22 points in 76 games last season between the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins. He’s in the first year of a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.5 million.

Dubas probably isn’t in any rush to shop Brazeau, but he could be open to offers if he continues playing well. Given his age, however, he could be a player that the Penguins GM prefers to retain.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 2, 2025

by | Oct 2, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 2, 2025

The latest Penguins speculation, possible moves by the Devils after re-signing Luke Hughes, and the latest on Carter Hart in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli suggested the Florida Panthers as a trade destination for Evgeni Malkin if the long-time Pittsburgh Penguins center is willing to move by the March trade deadline.

Malkin, 39, is in the final season of his contract and has a full no-movement clause. Seravalli noted that the Panthers are among the league’s most successful teams, and Malkin makes his offseason home in the Miami area.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he intends to wait until the Olympic break in February before talking with Malkin about his future. That will depend on his performance this season.

The Panthers are taking a wait-and-see approach regarding how they’ll replace sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov. They could have younger trade options in mind.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Dubas isn’t against moving veterans like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson.

Some observers felt that may have changed based on recent comments made by Sidney Crosby’s agent, suggesting his client wouldn’t be happy if Rust and Rakell were moved. However, Yohe felt that Dubas would pull the trigger if he received a significant offer that made sense for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So far, the Penguins haven’t received any offers that would tempt Dubas to move any of those players. That could change over the course of the upcoming regular season.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DEVILS AFTER RE-SIGNING LUKE HUGHES?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols looked at the short and long-term questions facing the Devils in the wake of their re-signing defenseman Luke Hughes on Wednesday.

Hughes, 22, inked a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $9 million. That AAV ties him with fellow blueliner Dougie Hamilton as the highest on the team this season.

The Devils are nearly $4 million over the $95.5 million salary cap ($3.983 million) and must become cap-compliant when their regular-season schedule begins next week.

One option is placing sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and his $4 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). They could also put forward Stefan Noesen ($2.75 million) on LTIR for additional cap flexibility. However, the Devils will have to free up cap room when they’re ready to return to action.

Nichols also wondered about Hamilton’s future, pointing to trade speculation that surfaced during the offseason. He recently said that he loves being with the Devils and wants to help them win the Stanley Cup. However, his full no-trade protection has been downgraded to a 10-team trade list.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Chris Johnston also wondered about Hamilton’s future with the Devils in the aftermath of Hughes signing his new contract. They don’t need to trade him now, but could reach the point where they no longer need to carry two $9 million AAV defensemen, especially when only one can run the power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton is signed through 2027-28, and his cap hit could be difficult to move despite the rising salary cap. Having a 10-team trade list significantly narrows the number of potential trade partners. His age (32), performance, and injury history are other factors that could hurt his trade value.

CARTER HART COULD JOIN THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports it is “almost certain” that Carter Hart will be signing with the Vegas Golden Knights. He believes the former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender is close to signing a contract with them.

Hart is among the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in London, Ontario, in 2018. They are now eligible to sign NHL contracts, effective Oct. 15, and can participate in games once their league suspensions expire on Dec. 1.

Johnston also noted recent reports suggesting forward Michael McLeod could sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, a league source claimed that’s no longer certain given the pushback the organization has received since word of their interest leaked to the media.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2025

by | Sep 16, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2025

An update on Kirill Kaprizov’s contract negotiations with the Wild, and the latest on the Penguins, Canadiens, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said he doesn’t think Kirill Kaprizov has informed the Minnesota Wild about a contract number he’d consider acceptable.

Last week, the 28-year-old winger rejected an eight-year, $128 million contract proposal from the Wild, with an average annual value of $16 million.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

Friedman said there’s some sense that there’s “no magic number” for Kaprizov. He pointed to Wild owner Craig Leipold’s comments last fall, where he said no other team could pay the winger the type of years and salary that they could.

That has Friedman wondering if the Kaprizov camp is waiting to see how far they can push this, and how comfortable the Wild will be with his final number. While some might think Kaprizov isn’t a $17 million or $18 million player, he could be worth that much to the Wild because of how valuable he is to the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leipold’s public comments may have put his club at a disadvantage in negotiations with Kaprizov’s representatives. However, given the winger’s value to the Wild, they may have taken this stance even if Leipold had said nothing.

Kaprizov is the most exciting player in Wild history. He set the single-season franchise records for goals (47), assists (61), and points (108) in 2021-22, and had 46 goals and 96 points in 2023-24. The game-breaking winger is crucial to their efforts to become a Stanley Cup contender within the next five years.

Signing Kaprizov to an eight-year contract with an AAV between $17 million and $18 million is expensive, and the deal might not age well if injuries and age catch up with him in the final half of the deal. However, if the Wild were willing to pay him $16 million, they should be willing to come up another million or two, especially with the salary cap projected to rise significantly.

If the Wild isn’t willing to do that, trading Kaprizov at the trade deadline or watching him depart as a free agent next July could be disastrous for a franchise that has only won four playoff rounds in 24 years. It sends the wrong message to their fans, creating the perception that Minnesota, the “State of Hockey”, isn’t a desirable location for the league’s best players.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel wondered how much longer forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust will remain with the Penguins.

Both forwards are signed through 2027-28, but they’ve been the subjects of frequent trade speculation throughout the offseason. It’s believed Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has set a high asking price for both, which would explain why they haven’t moved yet.

Vensel expects one or both could be moved at some point between now and the March 2026 trade deadline, or at some point down the road.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas isn’t going to just move Rust and Rakell for the sake of making a trade. He’s hoping to get the best return possible, which means a first-round pick and a top prospect or a young NHL-ready player. With both players under contract beyond this season, he can afford to be patient.

THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu reports Montreal Canadiens management is happy with the club’s progress, especially with its roster core. However, they know that more work must be done.

They want to surround that young core with the right complementary pieces. GM Kent Hughes didn’t rule out overpaying to get a specific player who is important for the team’s future. Asked if the priority was pursuing a young player or a veteran in his 30s, Hughes said he’d answer that question by midseason.

Basu believes the Canadiens will focus on the start of this season to see which teams get off to a slow start and begin shopping veteran players in an effort to improve their chances of winning the 2026 draft lottery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Finding a reliable second-line center remains the Canadiens’ priority. They will likely start the season looking internally, with Kirby Dach filling that role if he’s returned from season-ending knee surgery. However, they will keep their focus on the trade market.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reported that TSN’s Darren Dreger said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Maple Leafs attempted to sign Dillon Dube.

The 27-year-old winger was among the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault charges last month. Dube played for Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving during their days with the Calgary Flames.

Dreger felt Dube might help the Leafs as a possible top-six forward. However, Hornby believes the club would weigh that with the backlash they could face from fans and pundits. He doubted that Dube would dislodge one of the Leafs’ current top-six forwards after a year and a half away from the NHL.