NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 17, 2025

by | Jul 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 17, 2025

The full 2025-26 schedule is released, bonus restrictions in the new CBA could hurt Canadian teams, Thomas Vanek joins the Sharks’ front office, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The full 2025-26 regular-season schedule was released on Wednesday. Among the notable games:

The Florida Panthers will raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner during their home opener when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7. It will be part of the league’s season-opener triple-header, as the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to New York to face the Rangers while the Colorado Avalanche will meet the Kings in Los Angeles.

The New York Islanders’ season opener could feature 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer when they face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9.

Speaking of the Penguins, former head coach Mike Sullivan will face his former club from behind the New York Rangers’ bench in Pittsburgh on Oct. 11.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

On Oct. 21, former Bruins winger Brad Marchand returns to Boston for the first time since being traded to the Panthers.

The annual Hall of Fame game takes place on Nov. 8 as the Bruins travel to Toronto to meet the Maple Leafs.

On Nov. 14 and 16, the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Nashville Predators in the two-game NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden.

On Nov. 22, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will meet in their first game since the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

The 2026 Winter Classic featuring the New York Rangers and the Panthers will be held on Jan. 2, 2026, at Miami’s loanDepot Park.

On Jan. 19, former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews returns to Chicago for the first time as a member of another team. He’s staging a comeback this season with the Winnipeg Jets.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner will face his former club in Toronto on Jan. 23 for the first time as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico looked at how some of the changes in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will affect teams around the league.

He observed that changes to bonus restrictions could affect the seven Canadian teams the most. Under the current system, Canadian teams use signing bonuses to attract star talent via free agency. In some cases, those bonuses made up nearly 90 percent of the player’s contract.

This was done because a player in Canada faces higher tax rates compared to some American teams based in no-tax states.

Under the new CBA, signing bonuses will be limited to up to 60 percent of the player’s total salary within the life of the contract. D’Amico cited a source saying that it would have the most impact on Canadian teams and American clubs in higher-tax states like California and New York.

The source also pointed out that there are still other avenues of going about this. D’Amico also cited Jeff Gorton, the Montreal Canadiens’ executive VP of hockey operations, who recently said that there are certain things his club could do to alleviate the tax issue.

D’Amico noted the signing bonuses won’t be going away, but the limitations on them mean they won’t be used as aggressively as in the past.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadian teams pay higher taxes than some American teams (especially those in no-tax states). However, players on Canadian teams have the advantage of being paid in US dollars.

The current exchange rate indicates that the US dollar is worth $1.38 Canadian. As PuckPedia points out, that is a fantastic benefit for players in Canada.

In 2016, Concordia Business Review indicated that a weak Canadian dollar benefits between 25 percent and 50 percent of NHL players. While working in Canada, expenses such as lodging, meals and insurance are all paid with Canadian dollars. Canadians who play for American teams usually maintain their primary residence in Canada and return home during the offseason, thus profiting from the exchange rate.

SPORTSNET: Former NHL player Thomas Vanek is joining the San Jose Sharks as a hockey operations advisor. He spent 14 seasons in the league from 2005-06 to 2018-19 with the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks. In 1,029 games, Vanek had 373 goals and 416 assists for 789 points.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens signed center Joe Veleno to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Veleno doesn’t address the Canadiens’ need for an experienced second-line center. However, he will provide them with a left-handed check-line faceoff specialist who can play center or on the wing.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports that there were multiple teams interested in Logan Mailloux before the Montreal Canadiens traded him to the St. Louis Blues for Zack Bolduc on July 1. The 22-year-old defenseman is looking forward to playing for his new team, but also praised the Canadiens’ organization.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed prospect forward Carter Bear to a three-year entry-level contract. Bear, 18, was chosen 13th overall in this year’s draft by the Red Wings.

TSN: Former NHL goaltender and San Jose Sharks executive Wayne Thomas passed away on Monday at age 77.

Thomas spent eight seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers from 1972-73 to 1980-81. In 243 games, he had a record of 103-93-34 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. He joined the Sharks organization in 1993 and spent 22 seasons with the franchise, retiring as assistant general manager and team vice-president.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Thomas’ family, friends, former teammates and coworkers.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2025

by | Jul 14, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2025

The latest on the top remaining unrestricted free agents and suggested destinations for several of them in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently looked at the latest buzz on some of the top remaining unrestricted free agents.

Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic (NHL Images).

Forward Jack Roslovic tops the list as the best player available. He enjoyed a productive 2024-25 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, netting 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games. Fox cited colleague Elliotte Friedman indicating that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in signing the versatile 28-year-old forward. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals could also take a long look at him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rising salary cap means most NHL clubs remain flush with cap space this summer. However, many of the remaining UFAs (like Roslovic) will likely get low-cost, short-term contracts that are easy to shed if they don’t pan out.

The Score’s Josh Wegman recently suggested the Leafs could be the best fit for Roslovic. While defensively inconsistent and a healthy scratch during the playoffs, he played alongside Leafs captain Auston Matthews in 2014-15 with the US National Team Development Program.

Winger Victor Olofsson is No. 2 on Fox’s list. He’s a power-play specialist with three 20-plus goal seasons on his resume.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman thinks the Boston Bruins would be a good landing spot for Olofsson. Their power play was among the league’s worst last season, finishing 29th overall.

Matt Grzelcyk is an undersized (5’10”, 180 pounds), left-shot defenseman who had a career-best 40 points last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Wegman, the Colorado Avalanche could use a puck-mover like Grzelcyk. They need an experienced No.3 left-shot defenseman.

Ilya Samsonov could be an intriguing option in a thin goalie market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman suggested the Pittsburgh Penguins as a destination. Since he published this piece four days ago, the Penguins acquired Arturs Silovs, making it unlikely that they’ll add a UFA netminder.

Oft-sidelined winger Max Pacioretty is still weighing all his options, including retirement. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving recently said the door remains open for the 35-year-old winger’s return.

Forward Luke Kunin recently changed agents and the physical forward reportedly garnered interest from multiple teams.

Winger Joel Kiviranta reached career highs in games played (79) and goals (16) last season. He could be a good addition to a team seeking depth among their bottom-six forwards.

Former Utah Mammoth Michael Carcone’s speed and edge could make him a cost-effective bottom-six forward.

Jan Rutta’s playoff experience and defensively responsible game could make the blueliner a good addition on a one-year contract.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev suffered a precipitous decline last season. However, Fox believes the workhorse netminder is better than his recent performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman suggests the Edmonton Oilers, who are beating the bushes in search of a goaltending upgrade. However, Georgiev would likely be a desperate last choice for them at this stage.

Wegman’s suggested destinations for other notable UFAs include Joe Veleno to the New York Rangers and James Reimer to the Calgary Flames.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 30, 2025

by | Jun 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 30, 2025

New deals for Matthew Knies, Claude Giroux and Morgan Geekie highlight Sunday’s notable signings, the Golden Knights and Predators swing a multi-player trade, the latest on Mitch Marner, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SUNDAY’S NOTABLE CONTRACT SIGNINGS

TORONTO SUN: Matthew Knies has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old power forward will receive an average annual value of $7.75 million. He was coming off his entry-level contract and was slated to become a restricted free agent (RFA) on July 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That roughly around what Knies was projected to receive. He had a solid sophomore season, with a career-high of 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games. The 6’3”, 227-pound winger has yet to reach his playing prime and will only get better as he skates alongside superstar center Auston Matthews.

Knies had recently rejected any notion of signing an offer sheet with a rival club. Nevertheless, this signing will be a relief for Leafs fans.

The Leafs will likely turn their focus to the start of the unrestricted free agent market on Tuesday to bolster their roster. They have $13.57 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 19 active roster players under contract.

OTTAWA SUN: Claude Giroux signed a one-year, bonus-laden “plus-35” contract with the Senators. The versatile 37-year-old forward will earn a $2 million base salary, with an additional $2.75 million in bonuses.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Giroux really wanted to stay in his hometown. The base salary is a significant pay cut from the $6.75 million average annual value (AAV) he earned on his previous deal. However, he could make $4.75 million in actual salary if he achieves all of his bonuses, one of which includes the Senators winning the Stanley Cup. Follow the link above for the full breakdown.

According to PuckPedia, the Senators now have over $8.1 million in cap space with 18 active roster players signed for 2025-26.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed forward Morgan Geekie to a six-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. They also signed forward Marat Khusnutdinov to a two-year deal ($925,000 AAV) and defenseman Michael Callahan to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie was the notable signing for the Bruins. The 26-year-old forward had a career-best performance in 2024-25, tallying 33 goals and 24 assists for 57 points. Management will be betting that the best is yet to come from Geekie as he plays a bigger role as a first-line left wing.

The Bruins have over $16.6 million remaining with 17 active roster players signed for 2025-26.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Dante Fabbro agreed to a four-year contract with the Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old defenseman will earn an AAV of $4.125 million, leaving the Blue Jackets with over $28.5 million in cap space with 21 active roster players under contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plucked off waivers from Nashville in November, Fabbro had a career-best performance with the Blue Jackets, netting 26 points in 62 games skating alongside Zach Werenski on their top defense pairing. It’s an affordable signing for the Jackets that could pan out well over the next four years.

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS: The Anaheim Ducks signed goaltender Ville Husso to a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.2 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks acquired goalie Petr Mrazek during Saturday’s trade that sent netminder John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. They must also re-sign RFA starter Lukas Dostal, but that shouldn’t be an issue. The Ducks have $35.9 million in cap space with 18 active roster players signed for next season.

Once Dostal is re-signed, Mrazek or Husso could end up on the trade block, but they could hang onto Husso as a third goalie should injuries strike.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS, PREDATORS MAKE MULTI-PLAYER TRADE

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Vegas Golden Knights traded defenseman Nicolas Hague to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and forward Colton Sissons. Hague, 26, agreed to a four-year contract ($5.5 million AAV) with the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators added shutdown size to their defense core with the 6’6”, 240-pound Hague, who was slated to become an RFA with arbitration rights on July 1. Shipping out Lauzon and Sissons gave them the cap flexibility to sign Hague.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS COULD FACE TAMPERING ACCUSATION FROM THE LEAFS

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stating the Maple Leafs could go after the Golden Knights if the latter signs Mitch Marner on July 1 as a UFA.

Marner, 28, spent the past nine seasons with the Maple Leafs. Friedman said the Golden Knights’ interest in the two-way winger goes back to last summer, when the Leafs expressed an interest in Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore.

Friedman said he’s not accusing the Golden Knights of tampering, which is a sensitive issue among general managers. However, he said a couple of GMs claim the league could try to make an example of someone.

Over the weekend, it was reported that the Leafs and Golden Knights were discussing a sign-and-trade scenario involving Marner. If the deal went through, the Leafs would receive forward Nicolas Roy and defenseman Nicolas Hague as part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The accusation could be that the Golden Knights had been in contact with the Marner camp before July 1, which is forbidden under the CBA. Friedman believes the tampering accusation won’t materialize if the sign-and-trade deal is finalized.

It’ll be interesting to see what develops between now and when the free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. Hague was traded to Nashville on Sunday night, so he’s no longer part of any potential deal.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars are reportedly closing in on bringing back Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach. He was their bench boss from 2011-12 to 2012-13 before being fired by Jim Nill in one of his first acts as general manager. Gulutzan recently served as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPORTSNET: Seattle Kraken forward Joe Veleno and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Sheary were placed on unconditional waivers on Sunday. Their contracts will be bought out today.

Veleno had a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $2.275 million. Sheary had a year left with a cap hit of $2 million.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2025

by | Jun 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2025

Check out the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad and Zach Werenski, the Kraken trade Andre Burakovsky to the Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said he will decide over the next several weeks if he’ll require surgery to repair the injuries that sidelined him for the final 25 games of the regular season.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Following the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk admitted he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Surgery could sideline him for the entire training camp period in September and the start of the regular season in October.

“It’s going to take a few weeks to determine if I need it or not,” said Tkachuk. “It’s probably 50-50 right now. I don’t know if I’ll have a normal summer or not. I hope so. I’m not just going to jump into surgery without talking to everybody and going through everything. I have a few weeks here when I can figure it out.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers would miss Tkachuk’s offense and agitating style if he’s sidelined to start next season. They were 13-11-1 during his absence down the stretch in 2024-25.

TSN: Speaking of the Panthers, Aaron Ekblad said contract extension talks with the club have begun. “Conversations have been had,” he said. “Obviously, nothing material yet, but they’ll be working on it. Things seem to come down to the last minute here.”

The 29-year-old defenseman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. He has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Panthers. “It’s home and I expect it to be home,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad is coming off an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million. His performance has declined over the past couple of seasons.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space, with Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand, and blueliner Nate Schmidt also UFA-eligible on July 1. Ekblad might have to accept a pay cut on a shorter-term deal to stay in Florida.

THE ATHLETIC: Coming off a career-best performance, Zach Werenski is hoping to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to bigger and better things.

The 29-year-old joined the league’s elite defensemen this season with an 82-point performance. He was runner-up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy and named to this season’s Second All-Star Team.

Werenski’s efforts helped the Blue Jackets overcome the tragic death of winger Johnny Gaudreau. They exceeded expectations this season, narrowly missing the playoffs. He wants to be part of a winning culture in Columbus and is optimistic about their future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have a core of rising young forwards like Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitry Voronkov, and Kent Johnson. They also have up-and-coming defenseman Denton Mateychuk and a promising goaltender in Jet Greaves. With Werenski now at an elite level, his skills and leadership will be invaluable in helping this club take the next step.

The Jackets also have over $40 million in salary-cap space for 2025-26. Management has the room to make a couple of significant additions that could pay long-term dividends.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW/THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Chicago Blackhawks acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for center Joe Veleno.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Kraken, exchanging Burakovsky’s $5.5 million AAV through 2026-27 for Veleno’s $2.75 million for 2025-26. They have $18.6 million of cap space for 2025-26 with 17 active roster players under contract.

The rebuilding Blackhawks continue to add experienced short-term depth to take pressure off their promising young players.

Injuries hampered Burakovsky during his first two seasons with the Kraken. He played in 79 games this season but managed 39 points, which was a far cry from the career-best 61 points he had with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, which earned him his current contract.

The Kraken now have sufficient room to re-sign restricted free agents (RFAs) Kaapo Kakko and Tye Kartye. They acquired winger Mason Marchment last week from the Dallas Stars and should still have enough cap space to make another substantial addition to their roster.

This is the second time this season that Veleno’s been traded. The Blackhawks acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline. He could provide the Kraken with short-term depth at center for the coming season.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks placed defenseman TJ Brodie on unconditional waivers to buy out his contract.

They signed the 35-year-old defenseman last summer to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.75 million. However, Brodie’s performance noticeably declined and he was a healthy scratch during the final 22 games of the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks won’t get much cap relief for 2025-26. This buyout counts as $3.233 million against their cap next season, dropping to $258,333 for the 2026-27 season.

THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo reports the Minnesota Wild are closing in on hiring former Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin as the new bench boss of their AHL affiliate in Iowa.

RDS: Jesse Puljujarvi scored the overtime winner for the Charlotte Checkers to defeat the Abbotsford Canucks 4-3 in Game 5 of the AHL’s Calder Cup Final. This was the third game in this series that required overtime. Abbotsford holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 9, 2025

by | Jun 9, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – June 9, 2025

Big changes could be coming for the Rangers, the latest on the Penguins, and a list of potential buyout candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RUMBLINGS OF BIG CHANGES FOR THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC’s Arthur Staple reported that the word at the NHL Draft Combine was that the New York Rangers are among the teams looking to shake up their rosters this summer. The others include the Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Seattle Kraken.

Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin are considered the only untouchables on the Rangers roster. Staple believes general manager Chris Drury could attempt to sign Vladislav Gavrikov if the Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks considers it inevitable that the Rangers will trade K’Andre Miller. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and is coming off a disappointing 2024-25 performance.

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (NHL Images).

Several sources told Brooks that they believe Miller will be targeted with an offer sheet if he isn’t moved by July 1. He believes the offer would be around five years with an average annual value between $6 million and $7.012 million, which the Rangers “all but certainly would not match.” They would receive a first and third-round pick as compensation.

Parting with Miller would leave the Rangers without a left-shot defenseman who can skate alongside Fox on their top defenseman pairing. Unless such a blueliner is part of the return in a trade involving Miller, Brooks believes they’ll have to overpay for a UFA like Gavrikov if he’s available.

Brooks also indicated that Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere is “surely available” and was the topic of several conversations at the draft combine, “though it is unclear whether the majority of inquiries were outgoing or incoming.”

If the Rangers can’t move Miller for a defenseman and instead move him for a forward, Brooks believes Drury could use Lafreniere as a trade chip to add a left-shot blueliner.

Brooks pointed out that Vincent Trocheck’s no-trade clause becomes a 12-team no-trade list on July 1. If next season goes sideways, he believes Trocheck could become one of the Rangers’ most attractive trade chips.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury was among the busiest general managers in this season’s trade market. He began tinkering with his roster in December, hoping to stage what would be a quick turnaround in their fortunes within a season or two.

If he’s peddling Miller and Lafreniere, he’ll want good NHL players in their prime in return, not draft picks and prospects, unless he intends to use those as trade bait as well.

PENGUINS COULD SPURN FREE AGENCY FOR THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reported Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said he’s probably not going to be as aggressive in the free-agent market, unless it’s for a younger player “who maybe deserves a little more term.”

Dubas said he’s been getting trade inquiries from other clubs, indicating that some of them are rebuilding clubs looking to take the next step in their development.

Yohe stated the Penguins have “a bushel of draft picks and several veterans they’re willing to trade.” In return, Dubas wants young, talented players who no longer fit with their current teams. He’ll also be watching cap-strapped clubs looking to offload some salary.

Penguins fans could want Dubas to target restricted free agents with offer sheets, like the St. Louis Blues did last summer when they signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers. However, he doesn’t think that’s going to happen much this summer because of the rising salary cap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins could have two first-rounders in this year’s draft if the Rangers agree to send them their 2025 pick as part of the terms of the J.T. Miller trade with the Vancouver Canucks, who included that pick as part of the return to the Penguins for Marcus Pettersson.

They also have three third-rounders and two fifth-rounders in this year’s draft, three second-rounders and two third-rounders in 2026, and two second-rounders, three third-rounders and two fourth-rounders in 2027.

The veterans who they are willing to move could include defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves, goaltender Tristan Jarry, and forward Kevin Hayes. However, rival clubs are likely more interested in top-six forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

POTENTIAL BUYOUT CANDIDATES

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli recently published his list of seven players he believes could be bought out of their contracts this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first buyout window opens the later of June 15 or 48 hours following the completion of the Stanley Cup Final and closes at 5 pm ET on June 30. A team can get a second, 48-hour buyout window if a player files for arbitration and is settled or awarded, beginning three days following the settlement or award.

Defenseman T.J. Brodie of the Chicago Blackhawks tops Seravalli’s list, with forward Pierre Engvall of the New York Islanders and blueliner Matt Dumba of the Dallas Stars sitting second and third, respectively.

Chicago forward Joe Veleno, St. Louis Blues winger Mathieu Joseph, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Justin Holl, and San Jose Sharks blueliner Marc-Edouard Vlasic round out the list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Veleno are over the age of 26, meaning their buyouts are calculated at two-thirds of the remaining value over twice the remaining term. The 25-year-old Veleno’s buyout would be calculated at one-third of the remaining value over twice the remaining term.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2024

by | Oct 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 22, 2024

Check out the latest on the Flames plus an update on Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE FLAMES

SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy said he’s been in the market for a center since trading Elias Lindholm in January.

“When we lost Lindholm, a right-hand center in your top-six, that’s kind of something you’d want to find,” said Conroy. “Is it an easy thing to find? Probably not.”

Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy (NHL.com).

The Flames are using Martin Pospisil at center. While the results have been good so far, Conroy’s plan of finding a center between 23 and 25 with NHL experience hasn’t changed.

Francis cited Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens as an example. He was a costly acquisition for the Canadiens, who gave up a first- and a third-rounder to Chicago.

Conroy said he’d be open to parting with a first-round pick for a right-shot center who would be a long-term acquisition for the Flames.

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson acknowledged Conroy is shopping for a center. However, he doesn’t believe the Flames GM is abandoning or accelerating his club’s long-term plan or trading assets for a quick fix.

Sean Austin believes it would take a significant offer by Conroy to acquire a center that would move the needle for the Flames.

FLAMES NATION: Robert Munnich suggested Utah Hockey Club’s Barrett Hayton, Martin Necas or Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes, or Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks.

He also suggested Dach, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, Peyton Krebs of the Buffalo Sabres, and Joe Veleno of the Detroit Red Wings as honorable mentions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Necas and Dach are left-hand shots. The Hurricanes signed Necas to a two-year contract this summer while Dach is in the third year of a four-year contract. They’re unlikely to be available by the March 7 trade deadline.

As for the lefties, Hayton and Rossi aren’t moving. Zegras surfaced in trade rumors and he’s being used as a winger by the Ducks. However, they’re hoping he has a bounce-back performance this season.

Kotkaniemi is signed through 2029-30 with an annual average value of $4.82 million. He’s struggled with consistency throughout his career.

Krebs and Veleno could be available if their respective clubs become sellers. A change of scenery might improve their performances.

SHOULD THE BLUE JACKETS AND PENGUINS SWAP STARTERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline noted the Pittsburgh Penguins have a struggling goaltender, Tristan Jarry, signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5.375 million. He also pointed out the Columbus Blue Jackets have a struggling starter, Elvis Merzlikins, pulling in $5.4 million annually through 2026-27.

Portzline wondered if the two clubs should swap starters hoping a change of scenery might improve their performances. They’re both around the same age and carry almost identical cap hits.

Jarry has a 12-team no-trade clause while Merzlikins has a 10-team list. It’s unclear which teams are on those lists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Portzline is just musing out loud here, folks. He’s not saying the two sides are discussing his proposed swap.

Portzline’s suggested deal isn’t a bad idea. Stranger things have happened in the NHL trade market. Nevertheless, it probably won’t happen because it’s unlikely either goalie would improve with their new clubs.