Will the Oilers sign McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard to expensive new contracts? What’s the latest on the Rangers and Canadiens? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
OILERS TO SPEND $40 MILLION ON MCDAVID, DRAISAITL AND BOUCHARD?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli predicting the Oilers will invest $40 million in new contracts for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard. Seravalli made those remarks during an appearance with Bob Stauffer on “Oilers Now”.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
Seravalli believes Oilers management has already started contract extension talks with Draisaitl. The 28-year-old forward can become an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires next July.
Bouchard, 24, is a restricted free-agent defenseman this summer with arbitration rights. McDavid’s contract expires in 2026. The earliest the Oilers can re-sign him is next July.
Stauffer asked Servalli if he saw McDavid getting an average annual value of $16 million, Draisaitl $14 million and Bouchard $10 million. “Yup. That’s my projection,” replied Servalli, pointing out that the NHL salary cap will be at $100 million in two years’ time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will take big-money contracts to re-sign McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard. Not because of the location but because the amounts Seravalli cited are what those three will likely get on the open market.
The $100 million cap projection for 2026-27 may seem a little bold but there’s no question the NHL’s hockey-related revenue has significantly grown, raising the salary cap with it. It’ll be in the neighborhood if it doesn’t reach $100 million by then. The higher it goes, the easier it is for teams to re-sign their stars, provided they’re willing to spend to the cap ceiling and have the space to do so.
UPDATE ON THE RANGERS
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes the Rangers must answer some pressing questions during the offseason.
Questions linger about whether the Rangers can win with their current core. “The track record says no, but the team says yes,” writes Walker.
She doesn’t see them blowing things up but she wondered if a big move or two is necessary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been suggested the Rangers consider trading team captain Jacob Trouba or a star forward like Chris Kreider or Mika Zibanejad. Their respective contracts come with financial and no-trade restrictions, complicating attempts to move them.
The return each could fetch is the bigger issue. If you’re not getting something back for one of them that will make them better now and in the long run, they’re better off sticking with those players and trying instead to improve the supporting cast.
Another question is determining how much Igor Shesterkin’s contract extension will cost. “The floor for negotiations appears to be $10.5 million, while the starting point is looking like $12 million.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shesterkin will become the NHL’s highest-paid goaltender starting in July 2025. He’ll likely get between $12 million and $13 million annually on an eight-year deal.
The Rangers recently re-signed winger Kaapo Kakko to a one-year, $2.4 million contract. However, Walker wonders if they’ll be patient with the 23-year-old former first-round pick or peddle him for a regular, impactful skater to replace him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having Kakko under an affordable contract for next season should improve his trade value. Still, the Rangers might not receive suitable offers that can help them right away. It wouldn’t be surprising if Kakko’s in their lineup next season.
THE LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont recently suggested the Canadiens look into moving Carey Price’s contract to free up cap space going forward without relying on long-term injury reserve.
Price is on permanent LTIR due to a knee injury and hasn’t played since 2022. He has two years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $10.5 million.
Teams that use LTIR often cannot accrue cap space during the season leading up to the trade deadline. That affects efforts to add players to their lineup through waivers, trades, or free agency.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Price has a no-movement clause but he’s unlikely to block a trade given that his playing career is over. He’ll still be getting paid regardless of which team owns his contract. Despite the salary cap rising by $4.5 million for next season, finding a club willing to take on his hefty cap hit will be challenging.
TVA SPORTS: Vincent Duquette listed seven young forwards who could become prime trade targets for the Canadiens.
They include Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson, Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell, Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev, New Jersey Devils winger Alexander Holtz, Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti, Detroit Red Wings right wing Jonatan Berggren, and Nashville Predators winger Phil Tomasino.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade rumors have swirling around most of those young forwards at one time or another this season. Whether the Habs can land one of them in the coming weeks remains to be seen.
The Panthers are unlikely to part with “Baby Barkov” Lundell. Perfetti was mentioned a lot in Jets rumors but I think they’ll remain patient with him. The Golden Knights probably won’t part with Dorofeyev unless it’s in a package deal for a big-name player.
Johnson, Berggren, and Tomasino split time this season with their parent clubs and their AHL affiliates. Holtz seemed to struggle under former Devils head coach Lindy Ruff. He’s been mentioned as a possible trade chip if the Devils pursue goalie Jacob Markstrom.