Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Bruins Select James Hagens Seventh Overall

at CDT | by 16 Comments

James Hagens is staying in Boston, as the Bruins have selected him with the seventh overall pick. Hagens, 18, put up 11 goals, 26 assists, and 37 points in 37 games last season at Boston College. General manager Don Sweeney and his front office benefit from Hagens sliding slightly down the draft board and keeping him in town. Although Sweeney left open the possibility of trading the No. 7 pick, the team ultimately couldn’t pass on Hagens as they rebuild toward contention.

While many believed at this time last year that Hagens was destined to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft, he slipped to seventh after producing less than expected in the NCAA. Still, Hagens game may be more NHL-ready than any of his peers in this draft class. The Long Island native plays bigger than his 5‑foot‑10, 185‑pound frame and has elite speed and scoring abilities.

In their 2025 NHL Draft Guide, Elite Prospects stated of Hagens:

“Hagens has seemingly been part of the hockey world’s zeitgeist from a young age. A fluid skater who is light on his edges, he leverages full-range wingspan handling, high activity rate crossovers, and a motor to create constant advantages. He layers pucks through tricky seams, hooks and slips feeds around pressure, and improvises on the fly with lightning-quick processing, punching away from threats and funneling play to the inside.” 

For his part, Hagens mentioned he’s glad to stay close to home and won’t have to change area codes.

“I’m so excited to be back in Boston. The Bruins are getting someone who puts his soul and body on the line. I love to win and I’m just so excited to be in Boston,” he said.

Sharks Select Michael Misa With Second Overall Pick

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The San Jose Sharks have added to their young, talented forward group—already headlined by Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith—by selecting Michael Misa with the second overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

By selecting Misa, the Sharks have arguably added the most offensively gifted player in the draft. Playing for the OHL Saginaw Spirit last season, the speedy Misa put up 62 goals, 72 assists, and 134 points in 65 games. He added two goals and an assist in four playoff games. Listed as a center and left wing, Misa is projected to be an impact first-line center at the NHL level. More than just a flashy offensive performer, Misa also draws positive reviews for his defensive capabilities.

In their 2025 NHL Draft Guide, Elite Prospects stated of Misa:

“Capable of speeding past opponents and drawing complex rush patterns in the neutral zone, Misa finds and creates gaps in neutral zone coverages. He drives east-west, under and over teammates’ routes, slows down and accelerates, and slips pucks under sticks, always keeping defenders on their heels. Away from the puck, he’s constantly relocating from pocket to pocket, reloading to the top of the zone, sprinting behind defenders, and playing between them.”

The Sharks selection of Misa ended weeks of suspense as to who would go second overall. While it was widely expected that defender Matthew Schaefer would go first to the New York Islanders, the Sharks were perceived to have multiple options to go with. In the end, they landed Misa, who adds to one of the best young forward groups in the league.

With that young core set to lead the team moving forward, the Sharks and GM Mike Grier can now turn their attention to free agency, where the team has a league-high $40MM in cap flexibility, per PuckPedia. While the club isn’t expected to be a major player for headline free agents on July 1, they could do well by signing veteran depth to support their young core.

Goalie Jake Allen May Command $5MM Annually

at CDT | by 19 Comments

Pending free agent Jake Allen could be the top goalie available in this year’s free agent class, and he’s certainly approaching it as such. According to Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, Allen is believed to be seeking a multi-year deal in the “$5MM AAV range.”

As Di Marco notes, Allen and the New Jersey Devils continue to discuss a potential extension ahead of free agency. However, it appears Allen is seeking at least a two-year deal and a large raise on his previous $3.85MM AAV deal. With the clock ticking and Allen set to be the top available goalie, the Devils will need to act quickly if they hope to retain him.

Allen, 34, is coming off a solid showing during the 2024-25 season. Despite his 13-16-1 record, Allen produced a .906 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average. His save percentage actually exceeded that of starter Jacob Markström, who posted a .900 mark, and the two goalies finished tied with four shutouts each, despite Markström starting 20 more games.

The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun also recently made note of Allen’s strong position given the limited availability at the position in free agency. While Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has expressed interest in re-signing last year’s backup, Allen is already drawing interest from other teams, with the Flyers, Oilers, and Sharks having been linked to the netminder.

While Allen was previously projected to land a two-year deal worth $3.5MM per season on the open market, according to AFP Analytics, both the term and annual value could exceed those expectations as teams scramble to secure his services. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see where Allen ends up next season. With the Devils holding just over $14MM in cap space (per PuckPedia), they may not be inclined to sign Allen for an AAV much higher than his last deal.

If the Devils are unable to come to an agreement with Allen, they could look to pair Markström with Nico Daws next season. While the 24-year-old Daws only appeared in six contests last season with the Devils, he impressed with a .939 save percentage.

Pacific Notes: Kane, Demko, Turcotte

at CDT | by 9 Comments

Although recently traded Evander Kane has just one year remaining on his four-year, $20.5MM contract, the Canucks are eyeing him as a potential long-term asset beyond this season.

Per Thomas Drance of The Athletic, GM Patrik Allvin stated that in his estimation, Kane has matured over the past few years in Edmonton and is a candidate for a long-term deal in Vancouver. NHL.com’s Chris Faber adds that Allvin believes Kane’s physical presence will make the Canucks hard to play against.

“Every team is looking to be harder to play against and for us, with the group we have here, when a player like this comes available [at this] cost, we felt we have a chance to upgrade our top-nine [and] middle-six, and become a harder team to play against,” said Allvin.

The 33-year-old winger put up 24 goals, 44 points, and a staggering 250 hits in 77 games for the Oilers last season. He currently ranks 20th all-time with 2,216 career hits.

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

  • The Canucks are interested in extending goalie Thatcher Demko, and TSN’s Darren Dreger said on Toronto 1050’s Overdrive that he believes an extension is more likely than a trade at this point. While Demko is coming off his worst NHL season (due in large part to injuries), posting an .889 save percentage in 23 games, he carries a career .910 save percentage and is still on the right side of 30. Demko has one year remaining on his $5MM AAV deal and is set for unrestricted free agency next year. While the Canucks extended goalie Kevin Lankinen to a five year, $22.5MM deal, Dreger believes the team is still interested in getting a deal done with Demko. “It made sense until recently that they would have to consider trading Demko. But I was told by a couple teams today that Demko is more or less off the market,” he said. While Dreger said he wouldn’t call a deal close or imminent, he does feel both sides are getting closer on a multi-year extension.
  • Multiple teams are interested in trading for Los Angeles Kings’ forward Alex Turcotte, per Mayors Manor. While speculation has been ramping up surrounding defender Jordan Spence and forward Trevor Moore, Turcotte is an interesting name to monitor. While Turcotte, a former first-round pick, has underperformed so far in his career, he’s coming off a career-high 68 games played and 25 points, and he’s still just 24. The fifth-overall selection in the 2019 draft could benefit from a change of scenery.

 

Pacific Notes: Elias Pettersson, Marner, Eklund

at CDT | by 9 Comments

While the trade rumors don’t seem to subside related to the Vancouver Canucks’ forward Elias Pettersson, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun doesn’t believe the star forward will be dealt.

Rumors surrounding Petterson have been circulating since the trade deadline. At that time, the team was struggling, and Pettersson and J.T. Miller were at the forefront of trade speculation. While Miller was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers, Pettersson remained with the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Despite a difficult 2024-25 season, Pettersson is still just 26 years old and already has five seasons with 27 or more goals to his name, and is two seasons removed from a 102-point campaign.

If the team does intend to move Petterson, they’ll have to do so before his full no-move clause kicks in July 1.

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

  • The Athletic’s Chris Johnston noted on TSN 1050 that he believes the San Jose Sharks will make a run at pending free agent star Mitch Marner. While the Sharks have more than enough cap space to make the signing, with over $40 million available according to PuckPedia, and boast young talent like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, Johnston noted that he doesn’t view San Jose as a great fit for Marner. As Johnston said, “I would be surprised if he went to a place coming off a rebuild. I think he’s going to go to one of the better teams in the league.”
  • Sharks GM Mike Grier said he is not focused on signing winger William Eklund to an extension and is instead concerned with Eklund’s health above all else, per Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. Eklund is eligible to sign a contract extension as of July 1st, and Grier previously seemed committed to getting a deal done, noting that he had met with Eklund’s agent to get an early sense of what the asking price might be. Eklund took his game to the next level last season, posting career highs in goals (17), assists (41), and points (58). However, at the World Championships, he was involved in a scary incident when he was cut on the wrist by a skate. Although he was reported to be in stable condition afterward, the long-term effects remain uncertain.

Central Notes: Marchessault, Predators, Dobson

at CDT | by 12 Comments

Despite ample trade rumors, Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz has shut down speculation surrounding veteran forward Jonathan Marchessault. Per John Glennon of the Nashville Post, Trotz stated today that there is no truth to the rumors related to Marchessault’s availability.

Trotz admitted the speculation around Marchessault reached a point where he felt compelled to call the forward’s agent, Pat Brisson, to ensure the rumors weren’t true. As Trotz was quoted, “There’s nothing happening. I didn’t know if anything was happening, so I just double-checked with him that maybe I missed something. I didn’t miss anything.”

Just last offseason, Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5MM free agent deal with the Predators. In 78 games, the 34-year-old posted 21 goals and 56 points, marking the eighth time he has eclipsed the 20-goal plateau. However, his goal total was half of what he produced in his final season with the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Preds finished with the third-worst record in the league. Moreover, Marchessault had the second-worst plus/minus rating on the team (minus-29), behind only fellow veteran Steven Stamkos. These factors have sparked speculation that Marchessault could draw significant trade interest, but Trotz’s comments today appear to put those rumors to rest.

Elsewhere in the Central:

  • Trotz also expressed confidence in the Predators’ roster, stating his belief that the team is built to compete in the near future. Per team reporter Brooks Bratten, Trotz noted, “We still have enough good players that if we go in the right direction, yes [we can win and compete].” Despite the team’s offensive struggles last season (finishing second-to-last in the league with 212 goals), the Preds do have pedigree at the top of their lineup with the likes of Marchessault, Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, as well as defensemen Brady Skjei and Roman Josi. Holding the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft, the team is also expected to add an impact prospect to its pipeline.
  • The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta appeared on “The Sheet with Jeff Marek” and shared his belief that the St. Louis Blues have at least some level of interest in acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old defender posted 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games this past season while averaging just north of 23 minutes per night. While Dobson didn’t replicate his 70-point 2023-24 campaign—due in part to injuries—he should still command a significant return if the Islanders decide to move him.

Metropolitan Notes: Devils, Allen, Lemaire

at CDT | by 5 Comments

The Devils were among a myriad of teams interested in signing Jonathan Toews, and GM Tom Fitzgerald is still in the market for top-six forwards, per The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun. Lebrun notes that Fitzgerald may be monitoring situations like the one Jason Robertson is currently facing with the Dallas Stars, and added, “Fitzgerald has been active fleshing out the forward market.” While Toews recently agreed to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets, Robertson has been rumored to be available via trade.

While the Devils are led by young stars like Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, and Nico Hischier, they were the only players on the team to record more than 55 points last season. The Devils finished 20th in the league last season with 240 goals in the regular season and managed just 11 goals over five playoff games before being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes. If they hope to contend with the Eastern Conference’s top teams, they’ll need to boost their offensive production.

Elsewhere in the Metro:

  • Lebrun also notes that Devils’ pending unrestricted free agent goalie Jake Allen is in a strong position, given the limited depth available at the position in this year’s free agency market. As LeBrun notes, Allen led all soon-to-be free agent goalies with a .906 save percentage last season. While Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has expressed interest in re-signing last year’s backup, Allen is expected to draw substantial interest on the open market. Notably, the Flyers, Oilers, and Sharks have already been linked to Allen.
  • Jacques Lemaire, who has been serving as the New York Islanders’ special assignments coach since 2018, is no longer with the organization, per NHL.com reporter Stefen Rosner. His departure from the Isles makes sense considering he was brought to the team by former GM Lou Lamoriello. Lemaire, 79, enjoyed a Hall of Fame playing career, recording 835 points in 853 NHL games. In 2017, he was named to the league’s “100 Greatest Players” list. He later transitioned to coaching, serving as an NHL head coach for 17 seasons, most notably leading the Devils to a Stanley Cup title in the 1994-95 season.

Sabres Notes: Peterka, Byram, Samuelsson

at CDT | by 9 Comments

While NHL teams are preparing for the start of free agency, the Buffalo Sabres are actively working the phones on a few key potential trades, according to The Fourth Period.

The expectation is that general manager Kevyn Adams will be busy this week, with forward JJ Peterka at the top of the trade block rumor mill. Despite his youth, potential, and the fact that he seemingly fits perfectly into Buffalo’s long-term plans, Peterka is also considered an ideal candidate for a change of scenery.

While the Sabres appear to have hesitancy toward trading Peterka, the list of teams interested in his services continues to grow. And as Peterka nears restricted free agency, the Sabres are now more open to listening to offers for the 23-year-old, amidst the belief that Peterka’s preference would be to move on. Peterka set career highs this past season with 68 points, finishing tied for second on the team with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, just behind forward Tage Thompson. The 23-year-old has increased his point total by 18 points in each of the last two seasons, and his stock is rising as he looks for his first long-term deal.

Elsewhere with the Sabres:

  • The league also appears to have significant interest in defender Bowen Byram, who originally joined the Sabres at the 2024 Trade Deadline in a one-for-one swap that sent center Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche. Byram was a staple in the Sabres’ top four during the 2024-25 season, playing all 82 games and averaging over 22 minutes per night. He also set career highs with 38 points and 116 blocked shots. While Byram has had some struggles in the defensive zone, his offensive upside and age make him an attractive option for teams looking to bolster their defensive core. Like Peterka, Byram is believed to be seeking a fresh start. Per The Fourth Period, the Sabres are not interested in moving either player for future assets and would prefer to receive NHL-ready talent in return.
  • The Fourth Period also notes that the Sabres are actively shopping defender Mattias Samuelsson, who put up 14 points in 62 games. The 25-year-old was selected by the Sabres in the second round of the 2018 draft and has played 212 games for the team over the course of five seasons. The 6’4″, 220-pound lefty has brought a physical presence to the Sabres over that span, posting more than 100 hits in each of the last four seasons, despite never playing more than the 62 games he suited up for last year. Samuelsson is entering the third year of a seven-year deal that carries a $4.285MM AAV.

Ducks Interested In Tavares, Boeser As Marner Backup

at CDT | by 2 Comments

While the Anaheim Ducks may be prepared to offer pending free agent Mitch Marner a record-breaking offer, the team is interested in several other additions if Marner signs elsewhere. This list includes veterans John Tavares and Brock Boeser, per The Fourth Period.

Anaheim holds more than $30MM in cap space (per PuckPedia), and ownership recently discussed the desire to build a Stanley Cup-caliber team as soon as possible, setting off speculation that they’ll aggressively pursue Marner. Yet with only one winner in that sweepstakes, the Ducks are also eyeing pending free agents like Tavares and Boeser to bolster their offense.

While Marner appears almost certain to leave Toronto, Tavares remains optimistic about re-signing with the Leafs. Still, at 36, he may view Anaheim’s cap-rich, rebuilding opportunity as perhaps his final shot at a big payday. After posting 38 goals last season (his most since the 2018-19 season), Tavares proved he still has a lot left in the tank. Although his next contract won’t match his current $11MM AAV, Tavares could still land a significant multi‑year deal if he tests the open market.

Anaheim is also among a host of teams reportedly tied to Boeser. As David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reported, Boeser is a “longshot” to return to Vancouver, setting the stage for the 28-year-old sniper to hit the open market. While the interest in Boeser’s services appears lengthy, the type of deal he’ll command is a bit murkier than other pending free agents. Unlike Tavares, Boeser didn’t set the world on fire in his contract year. His goal total dropped from 40 during the 2023-24 season to just 25 last season. His points also fell by 23, and his plus/minus dropped from plus-23 to minus-25 year over year. Still, Boeser posted his sixth career season with at least 23 goals and remains on the right side of 30. The limited options in this free agent class also work to his advantage.

Heeding the turnaround desire from ownership, the Ducks have already had a busy offseason, including the hire of Joel Quenneville as head coach, trading for veteran forward Chris Kreider, and resigning pending restricted free agent Nikita Nesterenko. The team also faces a tough decision regarding goalie John Gibson, who has long been rumored to be on the trade block. Through it all, it’s expected that the Ducks will seek to add offensive firepower in free agency, with Tavares and/or Boeser potentially serving as solid backup options if they miss out on Marner.

Conn Smythe Voting Results Revealed

at CDT | by 9 Comments

While Sam Bennett took home the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy after a historic postseason run that included 15 goals, the voting was closer than many might expect. The Professional Hockey Writers Association released the voting results, with Bennett receiving 76 points and teammate Brad Marchand close behind with 68.

Bennett and Marchand were the only players to receive first- and second-place votes, making them the clear-cut choices among the 18 writers. Others receiving votes included Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Gustav Forsling, and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. Points were awarded on a 5-3-1 basis, and the deadline to submit ballots to the NHL occurred with 10 minutes remaining in Game 6.

From the start of the playoffs, Bennett established himself as a force. While he was one of five Panthers to record at least 22 points during the playoffs, his 15 goals led the team by a margin of four. He also became just the fourth active player to score at least 15 goals in a single postseason, joining Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Zach Hyman. He also joins an elite list of centers to accomplish the feat, including Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Joe Sakic.

Marchand posted 10 goals and 20 points during the playoffs, but shone brightest in the finals, where he scored six goals, including Game 2’s overtime winner. After going without a goal in the Panthers’ opening series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Marchand went on to produce 10 goals in the team’s final 18 games. Acquired at the trade deadline from the rival Boston Bruins, Marchand is one of the most pivotal deadline additions in recent memory.

Bobrovsky finished a distant third in voting with 10 points. He delivered his usual steady performance in goal, posting a .914 save percentage and three shutouts over 23 playoff games. He arguably saved his best for last, turning aside 28 of Edmonton’s 29 shots in the cup-clincher. Bobrovsky finished fourth Conn Smythe voting last season.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top