More conjecture about the future of Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and the latest on the Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST SENATORS SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Wayne Scanlan believes the trade rumors dogging power forward Brady Tkachuk will keep swirling until contract extension talks begin with the Ottawa Senators.
The Senators captain has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.205 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
Tkachuk has been the subject of trade rumors since last year, which he dismissed as lies. The conjecture increased following the Olympic break.
Senators general manager Steve Staios called the rumors “nonsense.” Nevertheless, some observers believe Tkachuk could be traded during the offseason.
The earliest the Senators and Tkachuk can discuss a contract extension is next July. Until then, Scanlan expects the speculation will continue.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t believe Tkachuk hates playing in Ottawa or doesn’t care about the Senators. If either case were true, he would’ve forced a trade a long time ago. Watching his postgame reaction to the Senators’ elimination from this postseason, it’s obvious that Tkachuk wants to lead this team on a Stanley Cup run.
With two years left on his contract, Tkachuk isn’t going anywhere this summer unless he tells Staios he wants out, which doesn’t seem likely. However, if the Senators fail to improve next season, he could decide that he has a better chance of winning the Cup elsewhere. If that’s the case, Staios will have to move him for the best return possible rather than lose him for nothing to free agency in 2028.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Staios intends to go shopping for a reliable backup goaltender this summer.
With the league eliminating the emergency backup rule, the Senators can carry three NHL goalies on their roster next season. Staios also didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing back James Reimer as a third goalie.
WHAT CHANGES COULD BE COMING FOR THE KINGS?
MAYOR’S MANOR: John Hoven examined what could be in store for the Los Angeles Kings during the offseason.
Hoven expects team president Luc Robitaille and general manager Ken Holland to return in their respective roles. A roster rebuild isn’t likely to occur, but tinkering around the edges isn’t good enough. They must also decide who their new head coach will be. Hoven indicated that it will not be former Vegas Golden Knights bench boss Bruce Cassidy or David Carle of the University of Denver.
If a contract extension with long-time defenseman Drew Doughty isn’t feasible, it may be time for the two sides to move on. Hoven also believes their defense corps cannot return in its current form. Mikey Anderson, Brandt Clarke, and Cody Ceci seem the least likely to be moved, leaving Doughty, Brian Dumoulin, and Joel Edmundson as the trio to talk about, with two of them having to go.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: At this stage of Doughty’s career, he must accept a short-term offer worth considerably less than the $11 million AAV he’s currently making. Trading him would mean retaining a healthy chunk of that cap hit, while his seven-team trade list is another obstacle.
Dumoulin and Edmundson are the more likely trade candidates. Dumoulin earns $4 million annually and Edmudson $3.85 million, but they’re under contract for two more years with 10-team no-trade lists. It won’t be easy to find teams willing to take those contracts off their hands.
Despite next season’s salary cap increasing to $104 million, Hoven doesn’t expect the Kings to spend up to that total, given they didn’t spend to this year’s $95 million cap. He also believes it’ll be difficult for the Kings to put together a suitable trade package to acquire a replacement for departing center and team captain Anze Kopitar.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have a projected $85.5 million invested in their roster for 2025-26. If they intend to remain under $95 million, they won’t have much to work with to bolster their roster unless they can shed some salary in the offseason. Their chances of landing a first or second-line center seem bleak.
Hoven believes trading Quinton Byfield creates another hole at center that would have to be filled. They could fill their third-line center role by re-signing Scott Laughton, as there is mutual interest in an extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byfield has yet to prove that he’s a reliable first-line center, but the 23-year-old will get his chance next season. The Kings aren’t moving him unless they’re getting a player of equal or better value in return.