NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2025
Check out the latest on Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko and Flyers forward Scott Laughton plus updates on the Penguins and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON TARASENKO AND LAUGHTON
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes the Detroit Red Wings are unlikely to be sellers at the March 7 trade deadline. However, if they get an opportunity to make a “hockey trade”, acquiring a player who can help them now in exchange for a roster player, it’s worth exploring.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently said he’d heard Vladimir Tarasenko had come up in the rumor mill. The 33-year-old winger signed a two-year deal last summer with the Red Wings worth an average annual value of $4.5 million. He’s been the club’s biggest disappointment this season with seven goals and 15 assists in 53 games.

Detroit Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).
Friedman said he’d heard the Florida Panthers as a possible destination as Tarasenko won the Stanley Cup with them last season. The Panthers would have to trim some salary to reacquire him. Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause but could waive it to return to Florida.
Khan believes the Wings must retain half of Tarasenko’s salary to move him. He also doesn’t see them packaging him with a first-round pick or a prospect to get it done. If the Wings can’t find any takers by the trade deadline, Tarasenko could become a buyout candidate in June. It would cost the Wings $1.583 million per season against their cap for the next two years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers’ priority should be shoring up their defense corps. It wouldn’t be shocking if Tarasenko finishes the season in Detroit and is bought out in the offseason.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli saying the Washington Capitals are in the market for a third-line center. He suggested Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers could be a good fit.
Laughton, 30, is a versatile two-way forward signed through next season with an annual cap hit of $3 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers management is reluctant to part with Laughton and reportedly set a first-round pick as an asking price. Nevertheless, he’s believed to be drawing interest from playoff contenders seeking depth at center, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning.
UPDATES ON THE PENGUINS AND CANADIENS
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Venzel recently looked at every player on the Penguins to determine their availability by the March 7 trade deadline.
Pending unrestricted free agents like Matt Grzelcyk and Anthony Beauvillier could draw some interest. However, the Penguins could retain Grzecyk after trading away left-shot blueliner Marcus Pettersson.
They could also move players with a year left on their contracts. Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte, Kevin Hayes and the recently acquired Danton Heinen and Vincent Desharnais would fall into that category.
Vensel believes it will take significant offers to pry away Rickard Rakell or Michael Bunting.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes the Canadiens 1-7-1 slump in their last nine games puts them into “hard sell” position for the trade deadline.
Cowan expects UFA-eligible players like Jake Evans, Joel Armia, David Savard and Christian Dvorak will be traded by March 7. There might be some interest in winger Josh Anderson but they won’t give him away. The 30-year-old Anderson has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.5 million.