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 20, 2025

by | Sep 20, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 20, 2025

The latest Penguins speculation and an update on Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Mark Madden wondered what Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas would do if the opportunity to trade Sidney Crosby presented itself.

It would have to be the deal of a lifetime to trade the Penguins captain, but Madden thinks Dubas would do it. He thinks the 38-year-old Penguins captain would fetch a king’s ransom of at least a first-round draft pick, a top prospect, and an NHL-ready top-six forward or top-four defenseman.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Madden claims the Montreal Canadiens would reportedly overpay to get him, believing the asking price must include promising winger Ivan Demidov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas would set a high asking price. Whether he’d get that full king’s ransom is another story. Crosby at 38 doesn’t hold the same value as he would’ve if he were five years younger and had more than two years left on his contract.

The Penguins would still get a significant return for Crosby. However, finding one that would match what Madden suggests would be difficult, especially with Crosby’s no-movement clause giving him full control over where he could be dealt.

As for the Canadiens overpaying to get Crosby, most of that speculation flies in the face of what they have been building over the past three years. If the Habs were to make a pitch for Crosby, Demidov won’t be part of it. And if Dubas said no, they’d have no problem moving on to other trade targets.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reports Evgeni Malkin doesn’t want to leave the Penguins and isn’t anxious to be traded to a Stanley Cup contender. Nevertheless, he said he didn’t know how he’d react if he were asked to waive his no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin has said he prefers to retire as a Penguin, but that would depend on whether the club wants to keep him. Maybe he would consider it if Dubas approaches him, saying a Cup contender is interested in acquiring him. Maybe not.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel reports Bryan Rust laughed off questions about hearing his name in trade rumors during the offseason. However, he realizes there’s a real possibility that he could be moved this season.

Rust’s no-trade clause expired on July 1, meaning the Penguins can trade him anywhere. However, he’s hopeful they’ll hang onto him. “Yeah, I plan on playing here until I’m 40,” said the 33-year-old Rust.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rust is also signed through 2027-28, which would also make him enticing for a contender seeking a top-six winger with cost certainty. Given his contributions to the Penguins, Dubas might give him a choice on where he could be traded. However, he’ll most likely move him to the club with the best offer.

THE HOCKEY WRITERS’ Mark Scheig reports Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov is open to staying with the team. He reiterated his love of the city and the fans, adding that he and head coach Dean Evason “understand each other” after talking recently.

SPECTOR’S NOTE Chinakhov, 24, requested a trade through his agent this summer, citing “misunderstandings” with Evason stemming from a reduction in playing time last season after returning from a back injury. It appears they’ve cleared the air, but this situation could still bear scrutiny depending on his performance to start the season.










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.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 5, 2025

by | Sep 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 5, 2025

The latest on the Penguins and a recent update on the status of Connor Zary’s contract talks with the Flames in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe is surprised that Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson remain on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster as training camp approaches.

General manager Kyle Dubas has been free to trade Rust and Rakell for some time. Karlsson is apparently willing to waive his no-movement clause for certain teams.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

Trading Rust and Rakell would fetch significant returns of prospects, draft picks, or young NHL players. Moving all three would also make the Penguins worse for the coming season, improving their chances of winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penn State winger Gavin McKenna is considered the top player among the 2026 prospect class. Observers consider him a generational talent.

Two of those three players must be traded soon, even if Dubas doesn’t get the massive return he wants. Moving them would also increase the Penguins’ projected cap space for 2026-27. They currently have over $53 million available, giving them an enormous amount to invest in their roster starting next summer.

Yohe followed up by citing team sources saying Dubas is content to enter this season with his current roster. However, it doesn’t mean he won’t try to make a deal or two.

He still believes Karlsson has the greatest chance to move but is also more difficult to trade than Rust or Rakell because of his $10 million cap hit, his disappointing performances over the last two seasons, and his NMC.

Yohe said some teams remain interested in Karlsson, but not his cap hit. Whether the Penguins will retain a considerable chunk would depend on the return. A potential change in Penguins ownership could also affect efforts to trade Karlsson, though management still thinks moving him is for the best.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Considering how much cap space the Penguins already have for next season with Karlsson, Rust, and Rakell currently on their books, retaining part of his $10 million AAV shouldn’t be much of a sticking point, especially since they’re rebuilding even if they won’t publicly admit it. Nevertheless, the potential change in ownership could be what’s holding up that possibility.

CALGARY SUN: Kent Wilson recently looked at what might be holding up a new contract for Connor Zary. The 23-year-old Calgary Flames forward is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

Injuries and inconsistent play have made it difficult for the promising Zary to lock down a defined role. Drafted as a center, he’s spent most of his time with the Flames as a winger, bouncing around all four lines.

Zary might prefer a long-term contract, while the Flames might prefer a bridge deal. With training camp approaching, Wilson suspects Zary will sign a short-term contract worth around $3 million annually.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 1, 2025

by | Sep 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 1, 2025

Will the Canadiens trade Carey Price’s contract soon? Which teams could they send it to? Find out in the Labor Day edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports sources claim the Montreal Canadiens could trade Carey Price’s contract in the coming days.

Price, 38, has been on LTIR since 2022 as a knee injury ended his career. He’s in the final season of his contract, which carries an average annual value of $10.5 million. However, in actual salary, he’s owed $7.5 million, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (NHL Images).

The Canadiens are over the salary cap by $6 million for this season. They can remain above the cap with Price on LTIR, but they won’t be able to accrue cap space during the season. Trading his contract would give them that flexibility, making it easier to acquire talent if necessary before the March trade deadline.

One source told D’Amico that he has heard Price’s contract has been in play for a while, with speculation that things could shake loose on Sept. 1 or soon afterward.

The Canadiens could attempt to peddle Price’s contract to rebuilding clubs. It would enable one of those teams to remain salary-cap compliant if they ship out veteran players by the trade deadline. With Price now only owed $2 million in actual salary, his contract for this season becomes much more affordable.

Sources claim the San Jose Sharks have been mentioned most as a destination. They’re currently sitting just $5 million over the $70.6 million salary-cap minimum for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation that the Canadiens could trade Price’s contract to a rebuilding club has been percolating in the rumor mill for weeks. Now that his bonus has been paid, we’ll find out soon enough if there is anything to that conjecture.

The Canadiens might have to bundle a mid-range draft pick, perhaps a third-rounder, as a sweetener. Price has a full no-movement clause, but he’s not going to block a move if it happens.

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie also speculated that Price’s contract could be moved as early as Sept. 1. He also suggested it could be part of a larger deal.

Lajoie claimed Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes could be inclined to part with draft picks, particularly in the first round, to acquire a natural center.

The Canadiens have been linked to Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken. So far, nothing has materialized.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The main thing for the Canadiens is clearing Price’s cap hit from their books this season. It will give them greater cap flexibility to pursue a second-line center at any point in the season, though the longer they wait, the more cap space they’ll have by the trade deadline.

It would be a significant move by Hughes if he could land McTavish, but a recent report by Eric Stephens of The Athletic indicated the Ducks intend to re-sign the 22-year-old center.

As for McCann, the Kraken reportedly aren’t moving him. Besides, he’s played on the wing for most of his tenure in Seattle.

RDS.CA: Rebuilding clubs like the Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins could use Price’s contract to ensure they remain cap-compliant if they stage a sell-off before the trade deadline.

For example, the Penguins might be tempted to trade players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell. They could also attempt to trade Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but they would have a say if any of them were to leave Pittsburgh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks are over the cap floor by roughly $6.2 million. Trade candidates would include pending unrestricted free agents such as Nick Foligno ($4.5 million), Jason Dickinson ($4.5 million), Ilya Mikheyev ($4.03 million), Connor Murphy ($4.4 million), and Laurent Brossoit ($3.3 million).

The Sharks could shop UFA-eligible players such as Alexander Wennberg ($5 million), Jeff Skinner ($3 million), Nick Leddy ($4 million), John Klingberg ($4 million), Mario Ferraro ($3.25 million), Timothy Liljegren ($3 million), and Alex Nedeljkovic ($2.5 million).

As for the Penguins, they’re above the cap floor by over $12 million. They could also try to move Kevin Hayes ($3.571 million), Anthony Mantha ($2.5 million), Matt Dumba ($3.5 million), and Connor Clifton ($3.333 million).

It’s unlikely Letang, Malkin, and Crosby will hit the trade block, especially as this season is Malkin’s last with the Penguins and possibly the last of his playing career.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2025

by | Aug 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – August 30, 2025

How much could Kirill Kaprizov receive in his next contract? What moves could the Red Wings make? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WORST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: The Athletic’s Michael Russo believes the Minnesota Wild have offered Kirill Kaprizov “a ton of money,” perhaps more than Russo thought on an eight-year contract.

Kaprizov, 28, is in the final season of his five-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. The high-scoring winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July 1.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

Russo believes the Wild are willing to pay Kaprizov “in the 16 (million) range”. He indicates that the deal hasn’t been done yet, but general manager Bill Guerin remains confident it will get done.

Nevertheless, the next month could be telling. The longer Kaprizov goes without signing an extension, the more questions about whether he wants to stay in Minnesota, especially if the Wild offers him $128 million on an eight-year contract.

Russo believes whatever Kaprizov wants from the Wild, he’ll get it, even if he seeks a five-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last October, Wild owner Craig Leipold stated that no other team could offer Kaprizov more money or more years on his next contract. If Kaprizov wants to be well paid, $16 million annually would make him the second-highest paid player in the league for 2026-27. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is also UFA-eligible next summer and will get much more from the Oilers or another club if he goes to market on July 1.

However, if Kaprizov is hesitant to sign, it will suggest that he doesn’t believe the Wild will be winners over the term of that contract. If so, they would face the prospect of trading him before the March deadline or losing him to free agency for nothing next summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Max Bultman was asked recently if the Detroit Red Wings might make a trade for a top-four defenseman or a top-six winger.

Bultman listed Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell as the most realistic to address the Red Wings’ needs.

However, Bultman’s not holding his breath waiting for any of those players to land in Detroit, citing the high asking price for Rust or Rakell (a first-round pick) and the aging Karlsson’s expensive contract.

Bultman also acknowledged rumors linking the Red Wings to Mason McTavish, but doubts the Anaheim Ducks will part with the 22-year-old center.

Winnipeg Jets winger (and Michigan native) Kyle Connor is UFA-eligible next summer. Bultman doesn’t see the Jets attempting to move him this far out if he remains unsigned. If they do decide to move him, the Red Wings should be among the suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings might make another move or two to improve their roster before the start of the season in October. Based on Bultman’s comments, don’t expect to see Karlsson, Rust, Rakell, McTavish, or Connor donning the Winged Wheel jersey anytime soon.