Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 2, 2025

by | Mar 2, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 2, 2025

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Schenn, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Evander Kane and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON MIKKO RANTANEN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes it’s unlikely Mikko Rantanen will decide about re-signing with the Carolina Hurricanes by the March 7 trade deadline. He doesn’t think it has anything to do with the Hurricanes’ contract offer to the 28-year-old winger. Instead, he’s found it’s been “too much of a whirlwind” adjusting to getting traded and the lack of time he’s spent in Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

Friedman said it’s now up to Hurricanes management to decide if they’ll retain Rantanen for the rest of the season or flip him to another club before Friday. That decision could come within the next couple of days. He also indicated that the Hurricanes are the only team that can offer him the maximum eight-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated that only the team that has Rantanen at the trade deadline can offer up the maximum term. If the Hurricanes trade him before then, the acquiring team will become the only club that can give him an eight-year deal.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston cited a source claiming the Vancouver Canucks were interested in Rantanen, while another source doubted the Hurricanes will move him.

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited a source suggesting the Los Angeles Kings as a suitor for Rantanen. Another source noted the Hurricanes are building up their defense corps and could be interested in Kings blueliner Jordan Spence.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent speculation suggested the Hurricanes could hang onto Rantanen for a run at the Stanley Cup this season. It would also buy more time to allow him to become acclimated to his new teammates and surroundings.

Rantanen could be moved again, especially if the Hurricanes are willing to retain half of their share ($4.625 million) of his cap hit. However, if he’s having difficulty dealing with “the whirlwind” since getting traded on Jan. 24, how well will he adjust to another move?

MAPLE LEAFS LOOKING AT CENTERS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have a list of centers they’re looking at in the trade market. One player they’re considering is Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, but they’re not the only club interested in the 33-year-old center. Friedman suggested the Vegas Golden Knights could also be looking at him.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving isn’t tipping his hand about his trade deadline plans. However, he downplayed speculation suggesting that he could attempt a major acquisition like Schenn or Rantanen.

“It’s not, to me, about taking big swings”, said Treliving. “It’s where do you think you can help your team the most. Historically, these attention-grabbing deadline deals, look back at how many really pay dividends.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving sounds like he’s trying to temper the expectations of Leafs fans. He might take a big swing and acquire someone like Schenn or Rantanen. However, he could also make more affordable depth additions based on his cap space and available trade assets.

UPDATE ON THE CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Canucks are looking to add to their forward group either now or later. He doesn’t expect they’ll attempt to move struggling center Elias Pettersson.

Brock Boeser’s situation remains up in the air. A report last week claimed he’d been offered a five-year contract with an AAV of $8 million. Friedman believes that pitch was made earlier in the season. He thinks Boeser and the Canucks are expecting all options to be open.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes the Canucks haven’t given up on Pettersson. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if they decide he needs a fresh start elsewhere and trade him at the deadline or during the draft in Los Angeles in June.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anything can happen but it will take a significant offer to tempt the Canucks into moving Pettersson. His $11.6 million cap hit through 2031-32 is a hefty amount to absorb, even with the salary cap rising significantly in the coming years.

OILERS LOOKING AT MARKET FOR EVANDER KANE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said Evander Kane’s full no-trade clause reverted to a 16-team approved trade list. He indicated the Edmonton Oilers are going through those teams to see what the market could be for the 33-year-old winger.

Kane remains sidelined as he rehabs from recent surgery and there’s not a firm timetable for his return. However, they could open up more cap space if they decide to move him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane won’t be easy to move. He has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.125 million. He’s missed the entire season due to injury and it will take him time to return to game shape once he’s cleared for action.

The Oilers have few tradeable assets to bundle with Kane to make him more enticing. They might have to retain half his cap hit to make him palatable in the trade market.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE RANGERS?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes any deal made by the Rangers between now and the trade deadline will not involve making a run for a wild-card berth at the expense of acquiring future assets in exchange for expiring contracts. Brooks suggests impending free-agent winger Reilly Smith could fetch tangible value from a Stanley Cup contender.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple also believes Smith is the next likely to be moved. Larger trade options on the roster, like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, probably won’t be happening this week, given Zibanejad’s recent improvement and Kreider’s ongoing injury issues.

K’Andre Miller has been the subject of trade speculation but doesn’t seem to be on the trade block. Staple also believes the Rangers will be targeted buyers seeking players with term on their contracts

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of GM Chris Drury’s trades this season brought back returns that can help the team now and in the future.

DEVILS EXPECTED TO BE “ALL-IN” AT THE DEADLINE

RG.ORG: James Murphy cited an NHL executive suggesting the New Jersey Devils could attempt to make an impact move by March 7. They’d like to add a rugged, scoring playoff-type performer into their top-six forwards and bring more depth to their defense corps.

The Devils would also like to add a middle-six forward. They’ve been linked to Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens. The Devils have $1.4 million in cap space, so any deal would involve moving a player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dawson Mercer recently surfaced as a trade candidate. He’s struggled this season under head coach Sheldon Keefe. The 23-year-old forward carries an AAV of $4 million through 2026-27.

WHAT ARE THE LIGHTNING’S TRADE TARGETS?

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina reports the Lightning have just over $6 million in projected trade deadline cap space. He’s expected to target forward depth to take some pressure off his top scorers. Encina suggested that Montreal’s Jake Evans or Buffalo’s Alex Tuch are players who’ve stood out to them over the years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have some trade capital, including two second-rounders and two fourth-rounders in this year’s draft. They also have all their 2026 draft picks. The Bolts also have prospects like Conor Geekie, Isaac Howard, and Ethan Gauthier to draw on for trade bait.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2025

by | Feb 28, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2025

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson, Dylan Cozens, Jake Evans and many more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE HURRICANES TRADE OR RETAIN MIKKO RANTANEN?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli cited sources saying the Carolina Hurricanes remain in active conversation with the representatives for Mikko Rantanen. The 28-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Seravalli said the Hurricanes put a “franchise-record” deal on the table for Rantanen. He indicated they had permission from the Colorado Avalanche to speak with the winger before acquiring him and knew what he was seeking in his next contract.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

The Hurricanes haven’t gotten an answer from Rantanen yet. If the answer is a hard no, they will very much consider keeping him for the remainder of the season. To deal him, they’d have to get a return that improves their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Rantanen camp is expected to let Hurricanes management know where they stand within the next several days, possibly by the end of this weekend. The Canes have also spoken with several teams, telling them they don’t intend to trade Rantanen but will circle back if that changes.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports that if Rantanen remains on the Hurricanes roster after the trade deadline, they’re the only team that can offer him an eight-year contract. He doesn’t believe they’ve offered the winger $14 million annually or close to it. He thinks the total amount is slightly over $100 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slightly over $100 million could put the average annual value between $12.5 million and $13 million.

Friedman wouldn’t say the Rantanen situation is holding up the trade market, but he thinks some teams would regret missing the opportunity to acquire him because they’d already traded away their best assets. He also wondered if a non-contender, like the Anaheim Ducks, might try to acquire him if they could speak to him beforehand to find out if they could sign him.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos points out that Carolina’s offer falls far short of the deal Leon Draisaitl signed last year with the Edmonton Oilers ($14 million AAV over eight years) that reset the market. He also speculates the offer was heavily back-loaded with deferred payments, something most players and agents aren’t comfortable with.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky gave up a scoring forward (Martin Necas), a checking-line forward (Jack Drury) and two draft picks for Rantanen, confident that he could re-sign him. Instead, he’s facing the possibility of Rantanen becoming another costly rental player who departs on July 1.

Tulsky could listen to offers before the March 7 trade deadline if Rantanen doesn’t want to re-sign. However, it’s doubtful he’ll get a return that improves the Hurricanes’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup. He’ll probably keep him and hope for the best in the postseason.

If the Hurricanes win the Cup, it’ll be a worthwhile move by Tulsky. If they don’t, it will be poor asset management on his part, which might not sit well with team owner Tom Dundon.

Kypreos believes the Maple Leafs could be among the suitors if Rantanen becomes available in the trade market. He noted that the Hurricanes only carry half of the winger’s $9.25 million AAV ($4.625 million), making it possible for the Hurricanes or another team to do the same again if he hits the trade block before the March 7 deadline.

Rantanen could become the perfect rental player for the Leafs if they can meet the Hurricanes’ asking price. Kypreos suggested a package of a top prospect like Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan, winger Bobby McMann, and a draft pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding Rantanen won’t address the Leafs’ pressing need for a third-line center. That’s why Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues is reportedly their primary trade target. If Rantanen did become available, Kypreos’ trade proposal wouldn’t be enough to land him.

LATEST ON THE BRUINS

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple NHL sources claim Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney isn’t shopping captain Brad Marchand, but he’s keeping his options open. He’s telling interested teams that his first choice is to re-sign the 36-year-old winger, but he’s not ruling anything out.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos dismissed the notion of the Bruins trading Marchand. He’s indicated that his focus is to stay in Boston and believes everything will work itself out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides stated they intend to get a deal done. Even if it’s not completed by March 7, they’ll likely keeping negotiating for something that ensures Marchand finishes his career as a Bruin.

TSN: Chris Johnston noted Bruins forward Trent Frederic is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The 26-year-old is UFA-eligible and garnered interest in the trade market before his injury. Some teams want to know how many weeks Frederic could be out. It’s not believed to be a season-ending injury and the Bruins believe he’s a player they could still move if it comes to that by next Friday.

ISLANDERS STILL HOPE TO RE-SIGN BROCK NELSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there’s still no indication that the New York Islanders will make Brock Nelson available in the trade market. He believes they’re still hoping to re-sign the 33-year-old center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s clear to everyone except Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello that it’s time to rebuild. If Nelson remain uncertain about staying, then it’s time to open the phone lines and entertain serious offers.

UPDATES ON THE SABRES

TSN: Chris Johnston reports there remains interest in Buffalo Sabres forwards Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams hasn’t received any suitable offers for them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those offers are likely lowballs hoping to steal one of them away for pennies on the dollar. Adams is interested in a hockey trade, similar to the one he made last year when he sent Casey Mittelstadt to the Avalanche for Byram. If you’re not offering something comparable to that, he won’t take your calls.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Sabres are trying to re-sign Jordan Greenway.

CANADIENS SEEK MORE THAN DRAFT PICKS FOR THEIR TRADE BAIT

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that a sizeable gap remains in contract talks between Montreal Canadiens management and center Jake Evans. He and linemate Joel Armia are the two Canadiens gaining the most traction in the trade market.

LeBrun believes Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, New Jersey and Minnesota are among the clubs calling about Evans and/or Armia. However, the Canadiens are telling teams that they’re prepared to keep both players if they don’t receive serious offers, saying they’ve got plenty of draft picks already.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Canadiens are holding out for at least a second-rounder for Evans.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like Canadiens GM Kent Hughes would like a good young prospect or an NHL player who fits within their rebuilding plans. There’s speculation that Hughes could bundle Evans and Armia with a draft pick if it would fetch a return that helps them now and in the future.

RUMORS OF NOTE FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman cited FanDuel Sports Network’s Andy Strickland reporting the Hurricanes will work to retain pending UFA winger Taylor Hall.

St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich’s full no-trade clause, which was negotiated into his extension that begins on July 1, is already in effect. As per the CBA (Section 11.8b), a player eligible for this clause can have it added to a current contract.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov recently changed agents. However, the Kings remain optimistic they can re-sign him and aren’t setting March 7 as the deadline to get a contract done.

The New Jersey Devils’ priority is to acquire a center.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2025

by | Feb 25, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2025

The latest on Mikko Rantanen, Jordan Binnington, Brock Boeser, Erik Karlsson, Matias Maccelli and Jake Evans in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON MIKKO RANTANEN

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun isn’t buying into the recent speculation suggesting the Carolina Hurricanes could trade Mikko Rantanen if he hasn’t re-signed by the March 7 trade deadline.

He acknowledged that the Hurricanes still hope to re-sign Rantanen and didn’t rule out the possibility of him getting shopped if he doesn’t sign. However, he believes they could keep him as a rental player to take their shot this season in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

LeBrun doesn’t believe the Hurricanes are telling teams that Rantanen could become available by the deadline. He thinks some teams are calling to inquire what they might do if he doesn’t sign.

YARDBARKER: cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting the Hurricanes made an offer north of $13 million annually to the Rantanen camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen is reportedly taking time to think things over following a hectic several weeks settling in and adjusting to his new teammates and surroundings. Money isn’t the issue. Instead, he’s trying to determine if a long-term commitment with the Hurricanes is the best thing for his future.

WILL THE BLUES SHOP JORDAN BINNINGTON?

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman and Jeremy Rutherford examined whether the St. Louis Blues should try to capitalize on goaltender Jordan Binnington’s success at the 4 Nations Face-Off by trading him.

The Blues are retooling their roster and could consider shopping Binnington if his trade value improved because of his 4 Nations performance. He has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million and an 18-team no-trade list.

St. Louis Blue goaltender Jordan Binnington (NHL Images)

Binnington’s inconsistent play with the Blues and his contract could make it difficult to move him. Goldman and Rutherford suggest that long-shot playoff teams like the Utah Hockey Club and Philadelphia Flyers could consider a change in net.

They also mentioned contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers. There are concerns over the durability of Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen and backup Pyotr Kochetkov’s playoff experience and the reliability of the Oilers’ tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited TSN’s Darren Dreger musing over whether Binnington might be a fit with the Oilers. However, he also cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming they’re not planning to change their goaltending amid uncertainty over whether Evander Kane will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is reportedly open to exploring the trade value of some of his core players. Binnington’s 4 Nations play may have improved his trade value but he’s unlikely to draw as much interest as two-way center Brayden Schenn and scoring forwards Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich.

TRADE RUMORS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” PODCAST

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said contract term remains a big issue between the Vancouver Canucks and Brock Boeser. However, he pointed out how their contracts for J.T. Miller and Kevin Lankinen came out of nowhere, so he doesn’t rule out a new deal for Boeser.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman’s colleague Courtney Jacobsen listed the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and the Utah Hockey Club as potential trade destinations for Boeser. With the trade deadline fast approaching, we won’t have to wait long to find out the Canucks’ intentions.

Friedman cited Erik Karlsson’s strong performance for Sweden during the 4 Nations Face-Off. He thinks the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman would be a great fit with the Dallas Stars but stressed that was just a theory, adding he wasn’t sure if it could happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson turns 35 on May 31 and is signed through 2026-27, with the Penguins carrying $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV. He also still has a full no-movement clause.

Karlsson might be receptive to a trade to the Stars if they were interested. However, a lot will depend on whether top blueliner Miro Heiskanen goes on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the regular season.

Taking on Karlsson’s cap hit would bite deeply into their cap space over the next two years. It could complicate their efforts to re-sign Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston this summer and Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley and Logan Stankoven in 2026.

Friedman also noted that Utah HC forward Matias Maccelli has been a frequent healthy scratch lately. He suggested the 24-year-old winger could be worth watching.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli enjoyed a career-high performance last season, tallying 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points for third in team scoring. He’s struggling this season, with 18 points in 52 games. Maccelli is in the second year of a three-year contract with an affordable AAV of $3.425 million. He could be a cost-effective gamble for clubs seeking a playmaking forward.

UPDATE ON JAKE EVANS

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports that Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans continues to draw interest in the trade market. One source claims multiple teams are calling about the 28-year-old center.

D’Amico listed the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators as possible suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Evans is a solid checking-line forward with a decent scoring touch slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit this season. Evans would be an attractive rental option to cap-strapped playoff contenders and a potential long-term addition to rebuilding clubs with the cap space to re-sign him.

TVA SPORTS: cited a report in The Athletic suggesting the Canadiens could consider bundling Evans with linemate Joel Armia to garner a more attractive return. Meanwhile, Renaud Lavoie speculates the Evans camp wants a deal between three and five years from the Canadiens. Lavoie still believes there’s a pathway to a deal between the two sides.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 23, 2025

by | Feb 23, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 23, 2025

Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Schenn, Seth Jones, Brock Boeser and Karel Vejmelka in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT WILL THE HURRICANES DO WITH MIKKO RANTANEN?

SPORTSNET: Elliott Friedman reports Mikko Rantanen could potentially become the biggest name leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Rantanen last month from the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster three-team trade. The 28-year-old winger is in the final season of his contract with a $9.25 million cap hit, of which the Hurricanes hold half ($4.625 million) and the Chicago Blackhawks the other half as part of the terms of the three-team deal. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Hurricanes management met with Rantanen’s representatives. Friedman believes the Canes made an offer “into the nine digits” (over $10 million annually). Rantanen has yet to decide as he’s still processing the trade from the Avalanche and everything else since then. It shouldn’t be taken one way or the other.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

If Rantanen becomes available, interested teams want to ensure they have their best trade assets ready. Friedman also wondered if the Hurricanes are confident they can get Rantanen under contract after March 7 if they’ll keep him and attempt a Stanley Cup run.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wonder if Rantanen is a good fit with the Hurricanes, citing his lack of production since joining the club.

Mark Lazerus of The Athletic disputes this, as does Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky. They point to his solid overall analytic numbers, and while his shooting percentage is down, it’s only a matter of time until that improves. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is also pleased with Rantanen’s performance.

The Hurricanes obviously want to retain Rantanen, hence the rumored offer of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $14 million. However, he’s still trying to adjust to a significant change in his life that he wasn’t expecting, or at least, wasn’t expecting so soon.

TEAMS COULD TRY TO UNITE THE SCHENN BROTHERS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman observed there’s been much recent trade talk about Brayden Schenn. Last week, the St. Louis Blues captain said he hasn’t been approached by management about waiving his no-trade clause and is trying not to think about it.

Friedman thinks there are teams talking about uniting Brayden with his brother Luke Schenn (who plays for the Nashville Predators) in separate trades. They previously played together with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2016.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be an expensive acquisition. Brayden has three more seasons after this one with an AAV of $6.5 million while Luke has a year left on his deal with an AAV of $2.75 million.

The rising cap for next season would make it easier to take on over $9 million in combined salary. However, it won’t be easy to do leading up to this year’s trade deadline when only nine teams currently have over $10 million in cap space.

LATEST ON SETH JONES, BROCK BOESER AND KAREL VEJMELKA

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman followed up on Seth Jones’ recent comments about his openness toward the possibility of a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. He doesn’t believe the 30-year-old defenseman has given them a list of destinations but if he does go, he wants it to be to a contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap space would be an issue. Jones carries an AAV of $9.5 million for the next five seasons. A deadline deal is possible if the Blackhawks retain up to half of his annual cap hit. Otherwise, it might be an offseason trade when teams have more cap room.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports contract talks remain at an impasse between the Vancouver Canucks and winger Brock Boeser. He considers it hard to imagine the Canucks not moving him before the March trade deadline since teams are willing to pay for a proven playoff performer.

THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance believes the Canucks could retain Boeser as an “own rental” for the playoffs unless they stumble in the standings leading up to March 7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks will seek a solid return for Boeser. Their preference could be for a good young NHL forward plus a draft pick and/or a prospect.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there are ongoing contract talks between the Utah Hockey Club and goaltender Karel Vejmelka. He suggested recent contract extensions for goaltenders could be used as comparables. “Depending on the progress of negotiations, Vejmelka is potentially an interesting trade target.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those comparables include Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen (five years, $4.5 million AAV) and Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood (five years, $5.25 million AAV).










NHL Rumor Mill – February 22, 2025

by | Feb 22, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – February 22, 2025

Mikko Rantanen is the subject of trade speculation again plus the latest on the Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Carolina Hurricanes could put winger Mikko Rantanen on the trade block if unable to re-sign him before the March 7 trade deadline.

The Hurricanes acquired the 28-year-old Rantanen last month in a multi-player three-team trade involving the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. Carolina gave up Martin Necas and Jack Drury to the Avalanche for Rantanen.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).

Friedman believes there were some contract discussions between Hurricanes management and the Rantanen camp. If he becomes a pure rental, there could be a long lineup of teams for him, opening it up for anyone to pursue him.

The Blackhawks retained 50 percent of his salary, leaving Carolina with a cap hit of $4.625 million. They have three salary retention spots, enabling them to retain up to half ($2.312 million) of their share of his cap hit in a trade.

Friedman speculated that teams like Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa, and Toronto might be interested. That could drive up Carolina’s asking price.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are rumored to be willing to pay Rantanen an average annual value of $14 million but it could come down to whether he thinks they’re a good fit.

The Hurricanes could retain Rantanen for the playoffs. However, they gave up a lot to get him with the intention of making him a long-term addition to their roster.

Team owner Tom Dundon doesn’t want to repeat last year’s situation involving Jake Guentzel. They acquired Guentzel from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline hoping to re-sign him, only to end up trading his rights to Tampa Bay after he informed them he was going to market on July 1.

Rantanen’s scoring ability ensures he’ll draw plenty of interest if the Hurricanes shop him before the March 7 trade deadline. Retaining half of their share of his cap hit will make him more attractive and fetch a better return.

The teams mentioned by Friedman could become suitors for Rantanen but they could pass if he doesn’t address their pressing roster needs. For example, the Jets need a second-line center, the Leafs are looking for a third-line center, and the Panthers must shore up their blueline.

Not every club will have sufficient assets to win a bidding war Of the teams Friedman mentioned, the Jets are the only one with a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Some lack promising young assets after earlier trades drained the depth of their prospect pools.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vegas Golden Knights could be a team to watch leading up to March 7. They have a history of making big moves before the deadline and GM Kelly McCrimmon is expected to have his eyes peeling on the trade market.

The Golden Knights have limited salary-cap space, no first-round picks until 2027, and a questionable prospect pool. However, they could garner some cap relief if defenseman Shea Theodore ends up on long-term injury reserve until the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Theodore suffered an upper-body injury playing for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He has an AAV of $5.2 million.

Frank Seravalli believes the Golden Knights have likely made trade inquiries around the league. If Mikko Rantanen becomes available and the Hurricanes are willing to retain salary, he could fit within their cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights might not need Theodore to be on LTIR to acquire Rantanen in a salary-retention deal. They’re projected to have over $3.4 million of cap space at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, their short supply of trade capital puts them at a disadvantage trying to outbid other teams for someone like Rantanen or any other notable player they might have an eye on.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 11, 2025

by | Feb 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 11, 2025

The three stars of the week, updates on Sidney Crosby and Mikko Rantanen ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, and Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 9, 2025.

Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby (NHL.com).

  TSN: Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby declared himself good to go for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The status of the 37-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins center was in question after he suffered an upper-body injury last week. He was skating on a line with Mark Stone and Nathan MacKinnon during Canada’s practice on Monday.

SPORTSNET: Finland forward Mikko Rantanen is joining his compatriots in Montreal for the upcoming tournament. The 28-year-old Carolina Hurricanes winger missed Saturday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club with a lower-body injury.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was centering a line with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel and New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes during Team USA’s practice on Monday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jesse Puljujarvi signed a tryout agreement with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Puljujarvi cleared unconditional waivers and agreed with the Penguins to terminate his NHL contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Checkers are the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Whether this tryout leads to him landing a role with the defending Stanley Cup champions remains to be seen.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators claimed Andreas Englund off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

SPORTSNET: Loui Eriksson announced his retirement on Monday. The winger spent 16 NHL seasons with the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Arizona Coyotes from 2006-07 to 2021-22, tallying 253 goals and 360 assists for 613 points in 1,050 regular-season games and 14 points in 44 postseason contests. His best performances were with the Stars, exceeding 70 points in three straight seasons from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former Toronto Maple Leafs PA announcer Paul Morris passed away at age 86. He was with the Leafs from 1961 to 1999, calling 1,585 consecutive games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Morris’ low-key announcing style was an iconic part of the experience at Maple Leaf Gardens – my condolences to his family, friends, and the Leafs organization.