NHL Rumor Mill – October 16, 2025

by | Oct 16, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 16, 2025

Could the Oilers make a big addition to their roster this season? Will the Flyers end up trading Christian Dvorak? Are the Hurricanes seeking a goalie? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples noted that the rising salary cap and the presence of superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have prompted some Oilers fans to speculate about the club pursuing star players from struggling teams, such as Buffalo’s Alex Tuch.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

However, Staples doesn’t see the Oilers acquiring a top-line forward like Tuch or a No.1 goaltender during this season. He pointed out that the club is up against the $95.5 million salary cap, and they have little to trade other than their 2027 first-round pick.

The only players the Oilers have earning more than $2 million annually who lack no-trade protection are defensemen Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak, and goaltender Stuart Skinner. Bouchard isn’t going anywhere; the Oilers won’t move Skinner if he performs well this season, leaving only Kulak.

Staples believes the earliest the Oilers can make a significant addition to their roster is next summer, when they’ll have more salary cap space to use in the unrestricted free agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could surprise by making a move by the March trade deadline. However, Kulak won’t fetch much in return, and their 2027 first-rounder is likely to be a low pick in that round, which also affects its trade value.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz recently wondered how long Christian Dvorak will be with the Philadelphia Flyers this season. The 29-year-old center signed a one-year, $5.4 million contract this summer as a free agent.

Kurz said the Flyers plan to remain competitive at least through the March 6 trade deadline. If they can’t, Dvorak could become a trade candidate. He’s the type of forward a playoff team covets because of his two-way game and his ability to play center or wing.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli reported the Carolina Hurricanes are monitoring the waiver wire for a goaltender after Pyotr Kochetkov was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes got a win from call-up Brandon Bussi against the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. They could stick with him and starting goalie Frederik Andersen until Kotchetkov is healthy.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

by | Oct 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 16, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, injury updates, the highlights from the latest Board of Governors’ meeting, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres snapped their season-opening three-game losing streak with a convincing 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, and Jack Quinn each tallied twice, and Zach Benson collected four assists in his season debut with the Sabres. Jordan Spence had three assists, and Jake Sanderson scored and set up another for the Senators.

Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (NHL Images

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators played without left wing Brady Tkachuk, who is seeking a second opinion regarding his hand/wrist injury suffered on Monday against the Nashville Predators. If the Senators captain requires surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Justin Danforth left this game with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Lukas Reichel each had three points to lead their club over the St. Louis Blues 8-3. Bedard had three assists, and Reichel scored two goals and picked up an assist as the Blackhawks got their second straight win after going 0-2-1. Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist for the Blues as their win streak ended at two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks announced that team captain Nick Foligno is taking a leave of absence as his daughter undergoes a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. Patrick Kane scored what proved to be the winning goal, and teammate Mason Appleton netted two goals as the Wings picked up their third straight win. Brad Marchand replied for the Panthers, who have dropped two straight after opening the season with three consecutive victories.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Panthers announced defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be sidelined for five months following wrist surgery. As a result, the Panthers claimed blueliner Donovan Sebrango off waivers from the Senators. Kulikov joins Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, left wing Matthew Tkachuk, and winger Tomas Nosek on injured reserve.

The Red Wings played without winger Lucas Raymond, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Utah Mammoth forwards Barrett Hayton, JJ Peterka, and Kevin Stenlund scored to lead their club to a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Rasmus Andersson scored for the Flames, who have lost four straight following their season-opening win. Devin Cooley stopped 29 shots for Calgary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth also revealed their mascot, “Tusky”.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LATEST NHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING.

SPORTSNET: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is concerned about the progress of the two hockey rinks under construction for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.

Bettman made the remarks to reporters following the NHL Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. If the main arena isn’t ready on time, Bettman stated that the International Olympic Committee must deal with it, adding the league has made the IOC aware of its concerns. Bettman also said the NHL Players Association shares those concerns.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

Bettman said expansion was not discussed during the meeting, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and another in Phoenix. Daly stated that expansion is not an initiative that the league is pursuing before 2030.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reason Daly mentioned 2030 is that is when the current CBA will expire. It’s also rumored that the league would seek an expansion fee of $2 billion for each new franchise.

Bettman indicated that no changes are expected for the projected salary-cap numbers for the next two years. The cap is projected to rise from $95.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27 and $113.5 million for 2027-28.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent media speculation suggests that the cap could be higher than expected due to greater-than-anticipated revenue. If that’s the case, we’ll likely have to wait until later in the season for confirmation.

INJURY UPDATES AND MORE

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (upper-body injury) was placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss at least the Rangers’ next seven games.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Matt Duchene is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next two weeks with a lower-body injury. They have recalled netminder Nico Daws from their AHL affiliate.

DAILY FACEOFF: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood is out for at least a week after suffering an eye injury during Monday’s game against the Devils.

THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are day-to-day with injuries.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Derek Forbort on injured reserve.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers defenseman Cam York is expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. They have activated him from injured reserve.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings have reacquired goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Copley was claimed off waivers by the Lightning earlier this month.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 15, 2025

by | Oct 15, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 15, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Adrian Kempe’s contract talks with the Kings, a suggested trade target for the Sabres, what’s next for the Canadiens, and the Nick Robertson trade rumors return.

THE LATEST ON ADRIAN KEMPE’S CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Adrian Kempe wants to remain with the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Friedman said that initial contract discussions between the Kings and Kempe’s camp had been about an average annual salary between $9 million and $10 million. However, the recent signings of notable stars like Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov and Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor could push that price higher.

Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings will have to pony up if they want to keep Kempe in the fold, perhaps between $10.5 million and $11.5 million on a long-term deal. Unless they intend to rebuild, they can’t risk losing their leading scorer, especially with Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of this season.

SHOULD THE SABRES PURSUE RICKARD RAKELL?

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn recently looked at several options for the Buffalo Sabres to replace sidelined center Josh Norris.

The trade route is one option. Fairburn suggested Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins as a trade target. The 32-year-old has spent much of his career as a winger but can play center and could be a decent middle-six addition.

Rakell is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $5 million. He also carries an eight-team no-trade list, which could be a problem for the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rakell doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to leave the Penguins. Given the Sabres’ long-time woes, they’re likely among the teams on his no-trade list.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS AFTER RE-SIGNING LANE HUTSON?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens’ next priority is re-signing Mike Matheson. The 31-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July.

LeBrun said Canadiens management wants to re-sign Matheson, and the veteran blueliner and his agent are interested in having that discussion. The contract term will be the issue, as he doesn’t want a short-term deal. LeBrun speculates the sweet spot could be a four or five-year contract. Finding the right AAV will also be a factor.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and several Habs, including team captain Nick Suzuki, think highly of Matheson’s play. He’s become more comfortable in his role as a big-minute blueliner, especially now that he’s paired with offseason addition Noah Dobson.

Matheson is finishing an eight-year contract with an AAV of $4.875 million. The Canadiens have the cap space to sign him to a four or five-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million to $7 million. Given his value to the Habs, it won’t be surprising if that’s what he gets from them.

THE NICK ROBERTSON TRADE RUMORS HAVE RETURNED

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Nick Robertson has resurfaced in the rumor mill. He said that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has recently spoken with clubs that may have some interest in the 24-year-old forward.

Dreger said Robertson is pushing for a larger role with the Maple Leafs. However, the club’s depth has put him in a tough spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve heard the same thing about Robertson for the past two years. Either the Maple Leafs have set an unreasonably high asking price, or the interest in him from some other clubs is lukewarm. We’ll see what happens as the season unfolds.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2025

by | Oct 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 14, 2025

Could the Canucks or Oilers pursue Sabres forward Alex Tuch? Will the Canadiens trade Brendan Gallagher or Jayden Struble? Are the Flames considering adding a backup goaltender? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE CANUCKS OR OILERS PURSUE ALEX TUCH?

SEKERES & PRICE PODCAST: Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek believes the Buffalo Sabres could be an early seller if they have another poor start. He wondered how many players could be asking out by American Thanksgiving (Nov. 27).

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Marek noted that Alex Tuch hasn’t signed a contract extension. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He pointed out that Tuch’s wife is from British Columbia and mused about a possible fit with the Vancouver Canucks, even though he wouldn’t address that club’s need for a second-line center.

The Edmonton Oilers might be another possibility given their cap space after Connor McDavid agreed to accept a discount on a two-year extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has a five-team no-trade list, and one or both teams may be on it. Assuming they’re not, the Canucks and Oilers don’t have a lot of tradeable assets to give up for Tuch. If the Sabres become sellers, they could find better offers from other clubs.

THE LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked if the Canadiens would let Brendan Gallagher finish his contract in Montreal, when it is at the detriment of younger players who deserve to be on the roster.

Cowan doesn’t see Gallagher going anywhere. He pointed out the value the gritty 33-year-old winger continues to have for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher also brings a measure of veteran leadership and gritty two-way play to the up-and-coming Canadiens. His contract expires in 2027, so there’s no need to push him out the door or move him out for cap relief.

Cowan was also asked if Jayden Struble might be a trade chip to address the Canadiens’ roster needs.

While it’s a possibility, they have already traded away three young defensemen. There’s also the big question mark about David Reinbacher after suffering another injury, and the uncertainty over Mike Matheson’s contract situation. He doesn’t see the Canadiens being in a hurry to peddle Struble.

COULD THE FLAMES SEEK ANOTHER BACKUP GOALIE?

SPORTSNET: During the latest episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said the Calgary Flames were talking to other teams about a backup goaltender.

They intend to give Devin Cooley a shot at securing the backup role to starter Dustin Wolf. If they do add another netminder, they would have four on one-way contracts. Friedman said the teams the Flames are talking to want an enticement to take on one of those extra goalies in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cooley is expected to get the start for Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’ll be a big test for the 28-year-old netminder, who has six games of NHL experience.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2025

by | Oct 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2025

Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns to play a milestone game, the Sabres could host the 2028 Winter Classic, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns is one shift away from becoming the 23rd player in NHL history to play 1,500 regular-season games. He’ll join that illustrious group during Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (NHL Images).

Burns, 40, played his first NHL game 22 years ago, making his debut with the Minnesota Wild in 2003-04. He also holds the active Ironman streak (927 games and counting), sitting fourth all-time among NHL skaters.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Burns will also become the eighth defenseman to reach that milestone, joining Zdeno Chara (1,680), Chris Chelios (1,651), Scott Stevens (1,635), Larry Murphy (1,615), Raymond Bourque (1,612), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564), and Ryan Suter (1,526).

The report claimed Burns faced the Avalanche for the first time in his third NHL game. According to NHL.com, it was actually his fourth game. Nevertheless, he did face off against future Hall of Famers Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, and Rob Blake in that game.

ESPN.COM: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there was “a good chance” that the Buffalo Sabres would host the 2028 Winter Classic.

The Sabres hosted the first Winter Classic in 2008. Bettman said discussions are underway about the league staging the 20th anniversary Winter Classic Game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, the new home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, which is scheduled to open next July.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Speaking of the Sabres, they’re awaiting word on the severity of Josh Norris’ upper-body injury suffered during Thursday’s season-opening game against the New York Rangers.

Defenseman Owen Power (illness) and forward Zach Benson (facial laceration) didn’t skate on Friday, but could be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed Jake Walman on injured reserve on Thursday. The move frees up a short-term roster spot for forward Jack Roslovic, who signed a one-year contract with the Oilers on Wednesday.

Walman, 28, missed most of the preseason with an undisclosed injury. He signed a seven-year contract extension with the Oilers on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Walman’s injury isn’t serious, and he could return to action by this time next week.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders winger Jonathan Drouin received a one-game suspension by the league’s department of player safety for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar in the face on Thursday.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators winger Drake Batherson could return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers. He missed Ottawa’s season opener with a pulled muscle suffered during practice on Sept. 24.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was placed on injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury during Thursday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Uvis Balinskis will be his replacement.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs moved up the start time of Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings from 4 pm ET to 2 pm to avoid conflicting with Game 2 of the ALCS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2025

by | Oct 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2025

Check out the latest on Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Sabres forward Alex Tuch, and Avalanche forward Martin Necas in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TSN: With the top of next summer’s free-agent market already thinning out, Pierre LeBrun believes the focus will shift toward New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.

The recent signings of Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel leave Panarin as the biggest name worth monitoring.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin is the oldest among that group of stars, turning 34 on Oct. 30. The play-making winger is coming off a seven-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.642 million.

Panarin won’t get another long-term contract. However, another solid season on his part could ensure he receives at least a three or four-year deal with an AAV close to his current number.

This situation could make things interesting for Panarin’s contract discussions with the Rangers. He reportedly rejected their offseason proposal of a short-term deal with a hometown discount. Both sides are staying silent about the subject as they await the outcome of this season.

LeBrun is also focused on Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas. He believes the recent re-signings have affected the Kempe and Tuch negotiations.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing between Kempe and the Kings, with Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander’s contract ($11.5 million annual average value) brought up in those discussions. Connor’s new contract with the Jets ($12 million AAV) could also be mentioned, leaving LeBrun to suggest that Kempe’s next contract could be between $11 million and $12 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The case can be made that Kempe isn’t on the same skill level as Nylander and Connor and thus not worth between $11 million and $12 million. However, with the salary cap rising, his camp’s asking price would be less than 12 percent of next season’s $104 million salary cap, which would subsequently decline each year as the cap continues to rise.

LeBrun said there’s been good dialogue between Tuch and the Sabres, but nothing’s imminent. Meanwhile, Necas wanted to start this season and see how it goes, as it’ll be his first full one with the Avalanche. However, he could soon get his agent to open talks with them. LeBrun thinks Necas will eventually re-sign with the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch told reporters last month that he’d love to sign a long-term extension with the Sabres. However, there could be another front-office housecleaning if the Sabres missed the playoffs again, which could leave Tuch facing an uncertain future in Buffalo.

As for Necas, RG.Org’s James Murphy cited an NHL source casting doubt on his finishing the season with the Avalanche, citing the club’s salary-cap crunch and the need to prioritize re-signing superstar defenseman Cale Makar.

Murphy listed the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks as possible playoff-rental destinations. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks could be clubs that trade for him with an extension in place.