Check out the latest speculation on the Canucks, Islanders, Golden Knights, Oilers, and more in Part 2 of today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE CANUCKS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that teams are continuing to check with the Vancouver Canucks regarding center Elias Pettersson. He believes the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings are among those clubs.
However, LeBrun thinks it’s a stretch to expect Pettersson to be moved by Friday’s trade deadline, citing his expensive contract and inconsistent play. The Canucks aren’t feeling any pressure to move him by the deadline.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
The Canucks aren’t willing to retain any part of Pettersson’s $11.6 million average annual value. LeBrun doesn’t think it makes sense to retain any part of it for the next six years and still try to rebuild the team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Six years is a long time to carry dead cap space. Some argue that it shouldn’t be an issue because the salary cap is rising significantly, but it must be remembered that salaries also rise with the cap. That will affect efforts to build and maintain a roster.
LeBrun said Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers and his agent are waiting to see how the trade market unfolds before Friday’s trade deadline.
The Canucks have an offer on the table for Myers from the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old defenseman has a full no-movement clause, so it’s up to him if he’ll agree to waive it to join the Red Wings. LeBrun believes it’s not out of the question that Myers ends up in Detroit.
So far, everyone involved in this has been amicable. The Canucks aren’t pressuring Myers to accept the Red Wings’ offer.
TSN: Farhan Lalji reports Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk hasn’t asked to be traded, but it sounds like he’s not interested in sticking around if the club intends to rebuild.
“Obviously, that is not something I would be okay with or accepting,” DeBrusk said. Lalji also cited Ben Kuzma of The Province, who wrote that the 29-year-old winger believes his game doesn’t fit a rebuild.
“I’ve said it since I’ve been here. I don’t care how I do as long as we’re winning and we haven’t been winning,” DeBrusk said. “I’ve learned a lot more about myself in some ways this year. Lots of ups and downs, and it’s a mental thing. I don’t think anybody in this room thought we’d be in this position. But that’s the reality.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk signed his seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Canucks in the summer of 2024, when the club was coming off its third-best season in franchise history and seemed poised to become a powerhouse in the Western Conference. The club’s rapid decline is not what he signed up for.
DeBrusk has a full no-movement clause, but he could be willing to waive it to join a better team.
UPDATE ON THE ISLANDERS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reports the Canucks and the New York Islanders have been scouting each other ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.
Rosner said the Islanders have previously poked around regarding Canucks winger Conor Garland. The complication with the 29-year-old winger is his new six-year, $36 million contract (with a full no-movement clause), which begins on July 1. He also believes they’re interested in Canucks forward Drew O’Connor.
The Islanders previously were interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson, but that ship has sailed.
Meanwhile, Julian Gaudio reports the Islanders are also rumored to have made inquiries about St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas, with the focus on Kyrou.
According to The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner, the Blues’ asking price for the 27-year-old Kyrou could include prospects Kashawn Aitcheson and Danny Nelson.
Kyrou is in the first season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause. There’s a belief he could be more of an offseason move rather than a deadline deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou hasn’t been mentioned as much in the rumor mill as Thomas, given the latter is a center and there’s a big market for those players. Nevertheless, he’s been linked to the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Kraken in earlier rumors.
WHICH CLUBS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN RASMUS RISTOLAINEN?
THE ATHLETIC: The recent trade rumors swirling around Rasmus Ristolainen prompted Kevin Kurz to speculate about which teams might be interested in the 31-year-old Philadelphia Flyers defenseman.
Kurz listed the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings as potential suitors. He believes the Flyers want a return comparable to what the Boston Bruins received from the Toronto Maple Leafs in last year’s Brandon Carlo trade. That deal fetched the Bruins a promising forward (Fraser Minten), a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen carries a $5.1 million cap hit through next season and lacks no-trade protection.
WHO COULD THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS TARGET IN THE TRADE MARKET?
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster reports the Vegas Golden Knights could use a center to replace the sidelined William Karlsson or a scoring winger. They lack the cap room to pursue top-tier talent such as Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames or Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues. Nevertheless, they have the room to add a second-tier forward.
Webster listed Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks, Evan Rodrigues of the Florida Panthers, Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators, and Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights made their big move when they acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames in January. They have $5.5 million in cap space if Karlsson remains out for the season, as some suspect. That would give them enough room to squeeze one of those players within their limited cap space.
OILERS STILL TRYING TO TRADE ANDREW MANGIAPANE
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers are still trying to find a new home for Andrew Mangiapane. The struggling 29-year-old winger was demoted to their AHL affiliate earlier this week to free up salary-cap space with the trade deadline approaching.
The Oilers are trying to move his contract, which has an average annual value of $3.6 million, through next season. They’re in the market for a top-nine forward, particularly a third-line center.
LeBrun believes Nicolas Roy of the Toronto Maple Leafs could be what the Oilers are looking for. There’s talk that he’s available in the trade market. The 29-year-old Roy is signed through next season with an AAV of $3 million.