In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, check out the latest on the Rangers, Flyers, and Sabres, plus an update on Morgan Rielly.
WHO COULD THE RANGERS TARGET THIS SUMMER?
THE ATHLETIC: Vincent Z. Mercogliano looked at what players could be available to help the Rangers this summer through trades and free agency.
Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres would be the most appealing option for the Rangers via free agency. Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the top UFA defenseman, but they’re unlikely to splurge on a right-shot power-play quarterback when they already have Adam Fox filling that role.
Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)
The Rangers require a top-four, left-shot defenseman. Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres might be a target option if the Sabres should put him on the block to free up cap room to re-sign Tuch and restricted free agent forwards Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs.
Mercogliano wondered if the Dallas Stars would make Roope Hintz available in a cost-cutting move to free up cap space for Jason Robertson’s next contract. He also mused about the Rangers dangling defenseman Braden Schneider to the San Jose Sharks for a young winger such as William Eklund or one of their promising prospects.
Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues could be available, but the Rangers aren’t likely to pay the high asking price. Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights might be a trade candidate if the Golden Knights become fearful of losing him to an offer sheet.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker also looked at several options for the Rangers to address their needs through trades and free agency this summer.
Affordable free-agent options on defense could include Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, Ryan Shea of the Pittsburgh Penguins, or Jake Bean of the Calgary Flames. Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks or Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres could make good trade targets.
Top-six forward UFA options could include Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, Anthony Mantha of the Pittsburgh Penguins, or Viktor Arvidsson of the Boston Bruins, though the latter would go against their push to get younger. Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets might be a trade option.
Bobby McMann of the Seattle Kraken or Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres could be good additions to the Rangers’ bottom-six forward lines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers general manager Chris Drury is expected to be busy this summer bolstering his roster. He has $26.575 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, which is plenty of room to make a significant addition or two, which could include at least one of the players mentioned by Mercogliano and Walker.
Drury can free up another $5.275 million by trading veteran center Vincent Trocheck. He could use some of the pieces from whatever return he gets from that deal to put toward acquiring another player.
THE LATEST ON MORGAN RIELLY
THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary noted a report by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, in which the latter claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Morgan Rielly are likely to explore trade options this summer.
Rielly, 32, has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. He has a full no-movement clause, but Johnston indicated that he’s softened his stance on waiving it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The decline in Rielly’s performance could hurt his value in this summer’s trade market. It would also prompt teams to request the Maple Leafs retain part of his salary to facilitate a deal.
SUGGESTED OFFER SHEET TARGETS FOR THE FLYERS
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James listed four restricted free agents that he believes could be worthwhile offer sheet targets for the Flyers.
They include Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, and Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikishin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have the cap space to match James’ suggested $10,008 million offer sheet for Fantilli. Ditto the Ducks for the proposed $6.059 million for Mintyukov, and the Hurricanes for the $6.44 million for Nikishin. However, the $8.060 million pitch for Nemec could be difficult for the Devils to match, unless they’re moving out Dougie Hamilton and his $9 million AAV.
**UPDATE** PuckPedia indicates that Nikishin is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. Stick tap to “GP” for pointing that out in the comment section below.
UPDATE ON THE SABRES
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn looked at possible options to upgrade their goaltending via trade or free agency.
Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets could be a trade option given his pointed questions about the Jets’ direction. However, his $8.5 million salary-cap hit would be an issue for the Sabres, who have only $12.9 million in cap space with forwards Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, and Peyton Krebs to re-sign.
Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers is the best option in this summer’s UFA market. The big question is whether he’d come to Buffalo, and there could be teams that could offer him more.
Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild is a more appealing option given his age (23), solid performance this season, and affordable $2.2 million cap hit for next season. However, it’ll take a lot to acquire him, as the Wild have been in the market for a center for some time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck’s questioning of the direction of the Jets was understandable given their collapse this season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year. However, it’s unlikely that he’ll force a trade.
Bobrovsky will probably re-sign with the Panthers. If he does become available, his preference could be playing with a southern NHL team.
Wallstedt would be an excellent fit with the Sabres. However, the Wild won’t part with him until Filip Gustavsson has recovered from his recent hip surgery. If they move Wallstedt, it’ll be in a package deal to acquire an established first-line center, which the Sabres don’t have to part with.