Headlines

  • 2025 NHL Training Camp Rosters
  • Flames Sign Mikael Backlund To Two-Year Extension
  • Mammoth Intend To Waive Connor Ingram
  • Maple Leafs To Hire Mark Giordano
  • Blackhawks Sign Matt Grzelcyk To PTO
  • Rangers Name J.T. Miller Captain
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • MLB/NBA/NFL
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Panthers Rumors

Panthers Re-Sign Frank Vatrano

June 29, 2018 at 12:38 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

The Panthers have signed their trade deadline acquisition to a new deal, announcing that they’ve signed winger Frank Vatrano to a one-year, one-way contract.  Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the contract is worth $925K, a nice little bump over his qualifying offer which checked in at just over $787K.  He would have been eligible for salary arbitration.

The 24-year-old was acquired in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick and fit in quite nicely with his new team.  After putting up just two goals in 25 games with Boston, Vatrano picked up five goals and three assists in just 16 games with Florida.  In his career between the Bruins and Panthers, he has 25 goals and 14 assists in 124 games.

Vatrano played in a middle-six role in Florida down the stretch and should do so again in 2018-19 even with their earlier acquisition of Mike Hoffman.  As things stand, he likely slots in on their third line left wing.

With the signing, the Panthers now have three remaining restricted free agents from their NHL roster to re-sign in center Jared McCann as well as defenseman Alexander Petrovic and MacKenzie Weegar.

Florida Panthers| Transactions Frank Vatrano

1 comment

Toronto Maple Leafs Make Changes To Scouting, Development Staff

June 28, 2018 at 4:28 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Toronto Maple Leafs were bound to go through a transition after turning over the keys to Kyle Dubas as General Manager, and today we got some clarity over all the moves. According to James Mirtle of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs have let Jacques Lemaire, Jacques Caron, Nikolai Ladygin, Evgeny Namestnikov and Tommy Albelin go from their respective positions, while the team has announced promotions for several others. Dave Morrison is now the team’s Director of Player Personnel, Troy Bodie is the Director of Pro Scouting, and Wes Clark is an Assistant Director of Player Personnel.

Clark may be the most interesting name on the list at the moment, as he had been working for the Florida Panthers since leaving the Maple Leafs in 2016 but is known to have a close relationship with John Tavares, among other players. He also has a very good relationship with Dubas from their days together with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and was one of the young GM’s first hires when he was brought in as an Assistant General Manager a few years ago.

Lemaire and Caron are obviously big names as well, but both were special coaching consultants with deep ties to Lou Lamoriello. Whether they’ll move on to the New York Islanders is unclear, but it isn’t surprising that they won’t be with the Maple Leafs going forward.

Florida Panthers| Lou Lamoriello| New York Islanders| Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds| Toronto Maple Leafs

0 comments

Red Wings Seeking To Fill Familiar Roles

June 26, 2018 at 8:04 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 12 Comments

According to The Athletic’s Craig Custance, the Detroit Red Wings have special interest in four unrestricted free agents: goaltender Robin Lehner, center Valtteri Filppula, winger Thomas Vanek, and defenseman Mike Green. What all four of these players have in common is that the Red Wings have a very specific role in mind for each player. Detroit is seeking to replace, or in some case retain, players who had success in a certain organizational role.

Lehner, 26, appears to be a priority for the Red Wings. The former Buffalo Sabres starter reportedly visited Detroit today to meet with the Red Wings’ front office and coaching staff. Custance points out that Lehner is still young enough that he could get his game back on track and step into the starter role if and when 34-year-old Jimmy Howard leaves when his contract expires after next season. This was the exact role that the team had planned for Petr Mrazek, ironically the other big-name non-qualified goaltender. Mrazek was ahead of schedule and took Howard’s job for much of 2015-16 and 2016-17, but a drop-off in his performance eventually ran him out of town. The Wings seem to now see Lehner as a second chance at their plan, replacing Mrazek in hopes of landing a young heir apparent behind Howard.

Filppula is a name that Red Wings’ fans are familiar with. The veteran pivot was drafted by the team back in 2002 and spent eight seasons in Detroit. Who better than a wise, capable long-time Red Wing to replace a wise, capable long-time Red Wing? Custance writes that Detroit is worried that injuries may keep Henrik Zetterberg from returning this season and pursuing Fippula gives them a back-up option if their seasoned leader isn’t around. Both players are versatile, two-way centermen who can help the team in many ways. Even if Zetterberg is healthy, Filppula’s return to Detroit could help to groom some of their younger talent.

Vanek and Green are interesting targets in that the Red Wings want them back to avoid having to find another way to replace them. Vanek scored 38 points in 48 games with Detroit in 2016-17, but was traded to the Florida Panthers at the deadline. Almost immediately it was rumored that the Red Wings hoped to bring him back as a free agent. Instead, Vanek signed with the Vancouver Canucks and again was a deadline acquisition, this time by the Columbus Blue Jackets. While Vanek registered 56 points in 80 games, Detroit struggled to make up his production. They are now back in the running for his services this off-season in hopes that he can again provide a spark on offense. They are also trying to avoid losing Green and, like Vanek, immediately regretting the loss due to a difficulty in replacing his ability. Green is the lone high-end offensive defenseman on the free agent market and Detroit is far from the only team in the running. Custance reports that they are willing to match salary, but won’t seem to budge on a maximum two-year term. If the Red Wings were to lose Green to free agency, they would surely have a hard time making up his 30+ points and more than 22 minutes of ice time per game over the past two seasons.

The Red Wings have not been a strong team for the past few years, but there have been some facets of their game play that have worked out well. Detroit is hoping to continue, replace, or revive those successful pieces in hopes of finally returning to a complete, competitive team. Are Lehner, Filppula, Vanek, and Green the right moves? Or should the Red Wings forget about past successes and move on to a new, younger strategy?

Buffalo Sabres| Columbus Blue Jackets| Detroit Red Wings| Florida Panthers| Free Agency| Ken Holland| Vancouver Canucks Henrik Zetterberg| Jimmy Howard| Mike Green| Petr Mrazek

12 comments

2018 Draft Results By Team

June 23, 2018 at 6:10 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 4 Comments

The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did with accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:

Anaheim Ducks

1-23.  F Isac Lundestrom, Lulea (SHL)
2-54. F Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3-79. F Blake McLaughlin, Chicago Steel (USHL)
3-84. G Lukas Dostal, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Republic-Jr.)
4-116. F Jack Perbix, Elk River HS (USHS)
5-147. G Roman Durny, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6-178. D Hunter Drew, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Arizona Coyotes

1-5. F Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2-55. D Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
3-65. F Jan Jenik, HC Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic-2)
3-73. D Ty Emberson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-114. G Ivan Prosvetov, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
5-142. D Mitchell Callahan, Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
5-145. D Dennis Busby, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
6-158. G David Tendeck, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7-189. F Liam Kirk, Sheffield Steelers (England)

Boston Bruins

2-57. D Axel Andersson, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
3-77.  F Jakub Lauko, Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic)
4-119. F Curtis Hall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
6-181.  D Dustyn McFaul, Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
7-212. F Pavel Shen, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

Buffalo Sabres

1-1. D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda HC (SHL)
2-32. D Mattias Samuelsson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-94. F Matej Pekar, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
4-117. D Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, Malmo Redhawks (SuperElit)
5-125. D Miska Kuukonen, Ilves (Jr.-Liiga)
7-187. D William Worge Kreu, Linkoping (SuperElit)

Calgary Flames

3-105. F Martin Pospisil, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
3-108. F Demetrios Koumontzis, Edina HS (USHS)
4-122. F Milos Roman, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
6-167. F Mathias Emilio Pettersen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
7-198. F Dmitri Zavgorodny, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Carolina Hurricanes

1-2. F Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
2-42. F Jack Drury, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
4-96. F Luke Henman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
4-104. F Lenni Killinen, Espoo Blues (Jr.-Liiga)
6-166. D Jesper Sellgren, MODO (Allsveskan)
7-197. G Jake Kucharski, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

Chicago Blackhawks

1-8. D Adam Boqvist, Brynas IF Gavle (SHL)
1-27. D Nicolas Beaudin, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3-69. F Jake Wise, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
3-74. F Niklas Nordgren, HIFK Helsinki (Jr.-Liiga)
4-120. F Philipp Kurashev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5-139. F Mikael Hakkarainen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6-162. G Alexis Gravel, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
7-193. F Josiah Slavin, Lincoln Stars (USHL)

Colorado Avalanche

1-16. F Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)
3-64. G Justus Annunen, Karpat (Jr.-Liiga)
3-78. F Sampo Ranta, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4-109. F Tyler Weiss, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-140. F Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
5-146. D Danila Zhuravlyov, Irbis Kazan (MHL)
6-171. F Nikolai Kovalenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
7-202. G Shamil Shmakov, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)Read more

Columbus Blue Jackets

1-18. F Liam Foudy, London Knights (OHL)
2-49. F Kirill Marchenko, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)
3-80. F Marcus Karlberg, Leksands IF (SuperElit)
6-159. D Tim Berni, Kusnacht (NLB)
6-173. G Veini Vehviläinen, Karpat (Liiga)
7-204. F Trey Fix-Wolansky, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Dallas Stars

1-13. F Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
2-44. F Albin Eriksson, Skelleftea AIK (SuperElit)
3-75. F Oscar Back, Farjestad BK (SuperElit)
4-100. F Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
4-106. F Curtis Douglas, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
5-137. F Riley Damiani, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
6-168. D Dawson Barteaux, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
7-199. F Jermaine Loewen, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Detroit Red Wings

1-6. F Filip Zadina, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
1-30. F Joe Veleno, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
2-33. F Jonatan Berggren, Skelleftea AIK (SuperElit)
2-36. D Jared McIsaac, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3-67. D Alec Regula, London Knights (OHL)
3-81. D Seth Barton, Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
3-84. G Jesper Eliasson, IF Troja-Ljungby (Sweden)
4-98. F Ryan O’Reilly, Madison Capitols (USHL)
6-160. G Victor Brattstrom, Timra IK (SHL)
7-191. F Otto Kivenmäki, Assat (Jr.-Liiga)

Edmonton Oilers

1-10. D Evan Bouchard, London Knights (OHL)
2-40. F Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
2-62. G Olivier Rodrigue, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
6-164. D Michael Kesselring, New Hampton School (USHS)
7-195. F Patrik Siikanen, Espoo Blues (Jr.-Liiga)

Florida Panthers

1-15. F Grigori Denisenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
2-34. F Serron Noel, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
3-89. F Logan Hutsko, Boston College (NCAA)
6-170. F Justin Schutz, RB Akademie (Czech Republic-Jr.)
7-201. D Cole Krygier, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
7-207. D Santtu Kinnunen, Pelicans (Jr.-Liiga)

Los Angeles Kings

1-20. F Rasmus Kupari, Karpat (Liiga)
2-51. F Akil Thomas, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)
3-82. F Bulat Shafigullin, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
4-113. F Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
5-144. G David Hrenak, St. Cloud State Univ. (NCAA)
6-165. F Johan Sodergran, Linkoping HC (SuperElit)
6-175. G Jacob Ingham, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Minnesota Wild

1-24. D Filip Johansson, Leksands IF (SuperElit)
3-63. F Jack McBain, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
3-86. F Alexander Khovanov, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
3-92. F Connor Dewar, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5-148. D Simon Johansson, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
5-155. F Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
6-179. F Shawn Boudrias, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
7-210. F Sam Hentges, Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Montreal Canadiens

1-3. F Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Assat (Liiga)
2-35. F Jesse Ylonen, Espoo United (Liiga)
2-38. D Alexander Romanov, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
2-56. F Jacob Olofsson, Timra IK (SHL)
3-66. F Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (OHL)
3-71. D Jordan Harris, Kimball Union (USHS)
4-97. F Allan McShane, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
4-123. F Jack Gorniak, West Salem HS (USHS)
5-128. F Cole Fonstad, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
5-133. F Samuel Houde, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
7-190. F Brett Stapley, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

Nashville Predators

4-111. F Jachym Kondelík, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
5-131. D Spencer Stastney, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-151. D Vladislav Yeryomenko, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
7-213. G Milan Kloucek, HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)

New Jersey Devils

1-17. D Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
4-110. D Xavier Bernard, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
5-136. G Akira Schmid, Langnau (Swiss Jr.)
5-141. F Yegor Sharangovich, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
6-172. F Mitchell Hoelscher, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
7-203. F Eetu Päkkilä, Karpat (Jr.-Liiga)

New York Islanders

1-11. F Oliver Wahlstrom, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
1-12. D Noah Dobson, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
2-41. D Bode Wilde, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
2-43. F Ruslan Iskhakov, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
3-72. G Jakub Skarek, HC Dukla Jihlava (Czech Republic-2)
4-103. F Jacob Pivonka, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-134. F Blade Jenkins, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
7-196. D Christian Krygier, Lincoln Stars (USHL)

New York Rangers

1-9. F Vitaly Kravtsov, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)
1-22. D K’Andre Miller, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
1-28. D Nils Lundkvist, Lulea (SHL)
2-39. G Olof Lindbom, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
3-70. D Jacob Ragnarsson, Altuma IS (Allsvenskan)
3-88. D Joey Keane, Barrie Colts (OHL)
4-101. D Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
5-132. F Lauri Pajuniemi, TPS (Liiga)
6-163. D Simon Kjellberg, Rogle BK (SuperElit)
7-216. F Riley Hughes, St. Sebastian’s School (USHS)

Ottawa Senators

1-4. F Brady Tkachuk, Boston University (NCAA)
1-26. D Jacob Bernard-Docker, Okotoks Oilers  (AJHL)
2-48. D Jonny Tychonick, Pentiction Vees (BCHL)
4-95. F Johnny Gruden, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-126. F Angus Crookshank, Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
6-157. G Kevin Mandolese, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7-188. F Jakov Novak, Janesville Jets (NAHL)
7-194. F Luke Loheit, Minnetonka HS (USHS)

Philadelphia Flyers

1-14. F Joel Farabee, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
1-19. F Jay O’Brien, Thayer Academy (USHS)
2-50. D Adam Ginning, Linkoping HC (SHL)
4-112. D Jack St. Ivany, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
5-127. D Wyatte Wylie, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5-143. G Samuel Ersson, Brynas IF (SuperElit)
6-174. F Gavin Hain, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
7-205. F Marcus Westfalt, Brynas IF (SuperElit)

Pittsburgh Penguins

2-53. D Calen Addison, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
2-58. F Filip Hallander, Timra IK (SHL)
5-129. F Justin Almeida, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
6-177. F Liam Gorman, St. Sebastian’s School (USHS)

San Jose Sharks

1-21. D Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (OHL)
3-87. F Linus Karlsson, Karlskrona HK (SuperElit)
4-102. F Jasper Weatherby, Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)
6-176. G Zacharie Edmond, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
6-182. F John Leonard, Univ. of Massachusetts (NCAA)

St. Louis Blues

1-25. F Dominik Bokk, Vaxjo Lakers (SuperElit)
2-45. D Scott Perunovich, Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
4-107. G Joel Hofer, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
5-138. F Hugh McGing, Western Michigan Univ. (NCAA)
6-169. F Mathias Laferrière, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7-200. D Tyler Tucker, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Tampa Bay Lightning

2-49. F Gabriel Fortier, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
3-90. D Dmitry Smykin, Kapitan Stupino (MHL)
4-121. D Alex Green, Cornell Univ. (NCAA)
5-152. G Magnus Chrona, Nacka (Sweden-Jr.)
6-183. F Cole Coskey, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
7-206. D Radim Salda, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
7-214. G Ty Taylor, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

Toronto Maple Leafs

1-29. D Rasmus Sandin, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2-52. D Sean Durzi, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
3-76. F Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3-83. F Riley Stotts, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
4-118. D Mac Hollowell, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
5-149. D Filip Kral, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
6-156. F Pontus Holmberg, Vasteras HK (Sweden-Jr.)
7-209. G Zachary Bouthillier, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
7-211. F Semyon Kizimov, Ladia Togliatti (MHL)

Vancouver Canucks

1-7. D Quinn Hughes, University of Michigan (NCAA)
2-37. D Jett Woo, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
3-68. F Tyler Madden, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
5-130. D Toni Utunen, LeKi (Mestis)
6-186. F Artyom Manukyan, Avangard Omsk (KHL)
7-192. G Matthew Thiessen, Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)

Vegas Golden Knights

2-61. F Ivan Morozov, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)
4-99. D Slava Demin, Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)
4-115. F Paul Cotter, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
5-135. F Brandon Kruse, Bowling Green State Univ. (NCAA)
5-154. D Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
6-180. D Peter Diliberatore, Salisbury School (USHS)
6-185. D Xavier Bouchard, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
7-208. G Jordan Kooy, London Knights (OHL)

Washington Capitals

1-31. D Alexander Alexeyev, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
2-46. D Martin Fegervary, IK Oskarshamn (SuperElit)
2-47. F Kody Clark, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
3-93. F Riley Sutter, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
4-124. G Mitchell Gibson, Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)
6-161. D Alex Kannock-Leipert, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7-217. F Eric Florchuk, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Winnipeg Jets

2-60. F David Gustavsson, HV71 (SHL)
3-91. F Nathan Smith, Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (USHL)
5-150. D Declan Chisholm, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
5-153. D Giovanni Vallati, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
6-184. F Cole Koepke, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
7-215. F Austin Wong, Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)

Anaheim Ducks| Boston Bruins| Buffalo Sabres| Calgary Flames| Carolina Hurricanes| Chicago Blackhawks| Colorado Avalanche| Columbus Blue Jackets| Dallas Stars| Detroit Red Wings| Edmonton Oilers| Florida Panthers| KHL| London Knights| Los Angeles Kings| Minnesota Wild| Montreal Canadiens| NCAA| NHL| Nashville Predators| New Jersey Devils| New York Islanders| New York Rangers| OHL| Ottawa Senators| Philadelphia Flyers| Pittsburgh Penguins| QMJHL| SHL| San Jose Sharks| St. Louis Blues| Tampa Bay Lightning| Toronto Maple Leafs| Utah Mammoth| Vancouver Canucks| Vegas Golden Knights| WHL| Washington Capitals| Winnipeg Jets Andrei Svechnikov| Bode Wilde| Brady Tkachuk| Filip Zadina| Martin Kaut| Mattias Samuelsson| NHL Entry Draft| Oliver Wahlstrom| Quinn Hughes| Rasmus Dahlin| Riley Sutter| Ryan Merkley

4 comments

San Jose Sharks Flip Mike Hoffman To Florida Panthers

June 19, 2018 at 9:20 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 23 Comments

The San Jose experience didn’t last long for Mike Hoffman, as the Sharks have flipped their newest forward to the Florida Panthers in exchange for 2019 second, 2018 fourth and 2018 fifth round picks. The Sharks will include a 2018 seventh along with Hoffman, who moves from Ottawa to San Jose to Florida in a matter of hours. There is no retained salary in the trade.

Senators’ GM Pierre Dorion is notoriously stingy with trades in-division, which may have led to this opportunity for the Sharks. San Jose finishes the transaction with $4MM more in cap space, and a few extra draft picks to fill out the cupboards. Giving up Boedker would weaken their on-ice performance if his cap space wasn’t used for something else, but the team is expected to take a long run at some top names in free agency this summer. They do have contracts to work out with Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, along with unrestricted free agent Joe Thornton, but should have plenty of space to go after someone like John Tavares or Ilya Kovalchuk to give them some added offensive punch.

That offense was what Hoffman was supposed to bring, something that he’ll now take to Florida instead. The 28-year old winger will move south in the Atlantic Division, and join a relatively young team that already has some outstanding forward talents in players like Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers will add a four-time 20-goal scorer to their group, despite his recent off-ice situations. Because of those troubles between Hoffman and Senators captain Erik Karlsson, Florida has acquired him for an extremely low price. GM Dale Tallon released a statement regarding his newest player:

Mike is a skilled, consistent and hard-working player who has proven himself to be a talented goal scorer in the NHL. His speed, experience and offensive abilities will bolster our top-six group.

Taking a top scoring threat away from a division rival for a handful of picks after the first round is a steal for the Panthers, who are looking to take a run at the playoffs right away. As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet relays, Tallon had spoken with the Senators about Hoffman but thought the asking price was too high. Last night he received a call from the Sharks, and could find a price that worked. The Senators apparently wanted roster players from the Panthers, instead of the draft pick package that the Sharks were after.

The fireworks seem to just be starting in Ottawa, but both San Jose and Florida seem to be in a better position than they started this morning. This deal is a great one for both teams, as long as Hoffman’s off-ice situations are resolved. Draft week has been kicked off with a bang, and there will be plenty of intrigue as we approach Friday’s event.

Florida Panthers| Newsstand| San Jose Sharks Mike Hoffman

23 comments

Minor Transactions: 6/18/18

June 18, 2018 at 6:20 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

Former Dallas Stars defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk won’t wait until July 1st to decide on his future in free agency. The 29-year-old veteran will make his first foray into international play, as EHC Munchen of the German DEL have announced that he is set to join the team. Bodnarchuk has played in 42 games in the NHL over his career, but has largely played a regular role in the AHL with more than 600 games to his credit. Most recently, he spent the entirety of his two-year contract with Dallas as the alternate captain and defensive leader of the Texas Stars, who fought all the way to Game Seven of the Calder Cup Final this year. Bodnarchuk will now take that same leadership and ability on the back end to Munich, where he will join a talented team that already employs several former AHLers like Keith Aulie, Ryan Button, and Derek Joslin on the blue line.

  • Also heading overseas is former top prospect Patrice Cormier. The 28-year-old forward and captain of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose has signed with Barys Astana, per a report from the local Kazakhstan sports news source Shaiba. Cormier is a major addition for Astana, a team that has struggled in recent years and recently watched top scorers Nigel Dawes and Linden Vey depart in free agency. Cormier, a second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2008 and the star prospect in the return for Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010, has never quite reached his lofty expectations. However, in 49 NHL games and another 400+ AHL game, all with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, Cormier has proven to be a capable player in all three zones who can show finesse around the net as well as physicality along the boards. Cormier seems like a player primed to break out in the KHL.
  • Cormier may also be joined by another impressive AHL forward in Curtis Valk. The Florida Panthers restricted free agent is also expected to sign with Barys Astana according to sources at Shaiba. Valk, 25, led the Springfield Thunderbirds with 62 points in 73 games this season and finished among the top ten in the AHL in scoring. Nevertheless, the undersized forward was only given one game at the NHL level to show himself. Perhaps upset with his lack of opportunity despite solid minor league results in his four-year pro career, Valk is eyeing a move of his own and could become a dynamic one-two punch with Cormier up front for Barys.
  • The Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies already lost captain Ben Smith to Europe and aren’t keen to lose any of the other contributors to their title any time soon. The team announced today that they have re-signed veteran forward Colin Greening to a one-year, AHL contract. Greening, 32, was previously acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the return from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Even on a relatively pricey NHL contract, Greening served almost exclusively in the AHL with the Marlies over the past three years. Although some speculated he could challenge for at least a two-way contract this summer, it is expected that on his new deal with Toronto that Greening could be named the new captain of the Marlies and is likely content to remain in Toronto for as long as he can to close out his career.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, the Marlies announced the first AHL contracts for several college players who had joined the team on amateur tryout deals during the stretch run and postseason: Robert Morris’ Brady Ferguson, Holy Cross’ Scott Pooley, Alabama-Huntsville’s Josh Kestner, and Niagara’s Derian Plouffe. They also inked Matt Bradley, an unsigned free agent from the WHL’s Regina Pats, to a one-year AHL deal as well.

AHL| Dallas Stars| Florida Panthers| Free Agency| KHL| Toronto Maple Leafs| Transactions| Winnipeg Jets Ben Smith| Dion Phaneuf| Keith Aulie| Linden Vey

0 comments

Free Agent Focus: Florida Panthers

June 10, 2018 at 6:00 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

Free agency opens exactly three weeks from today and teams are well on their way to evaluating both their own impending free agents and those likely to reach the open market. There are quite a few prominent players expected to be available as unrestricted free agents, while many key restricted free agents will be looking to sign new contracts with their current squads.  Here is a breakdown of the Florida Panthers’ free agent situation.

Key Restricted Free Agents: C Jared McCann – At age 22 and heading into his fourth NHL season, McCann is still a very raw talent. The 2014 first-round pick often thinks the game faster than he plays it and is prone to mistakes. He plays little special teams role for the Panthers and struggles with many of the defensive aspects of the game at the pro level. McCann is also well below average at the face-off dot. With all that said, his offensive upside is still tremendous. McCann set a career-high with 28 points in 68 games this year and for the first time was a plus player in the league. He has great vision, a strong skating game, and a good shot. When he is on his game he can be dominant; when he is off of it, it’s easy to see why the Vancouver Canucks didn’t hesitate to trade him late into his rookie year. McCann needs to find some consistency and pace to his game and he will flourish, but that still may take some time.

So how should Florida handle that contractually? McCann will understandably want a considerable raise from his entry-level contract, but he also has a fair amount of developmental concerns that he continues to deal with. McCann very well could turn out to be a long-term star for the Panthers, but this situation seems far more likely to warrant a short-term bridge deal for “show me” money. McCann needs to display far more of his impressive offensive ability and far fewer mental lapses and disappearing acts if he wants to command greater salary and term.

LW Frank Vatrano – It’s never an easy situation to sort out when a restricted free agent is acquired mid-season. Florida could not have asked for a better start from Vatrano, who came over from the Bruins at the trade deadline after falling out of favor in Boston. After putting up just two points in 25 games with the Bruins, Vatrano posted eight points in the final 16 games with the Panthers and seemed to fit in well in the team’s top six. Vatrano showed in his first pro season that he has a ton of scoring talent: the undrafted UMass product was the goal-scoring champ of the AHL with 36 goals in 36 games, put up another eight goals in 39 games in Boston, and even recorded eight points in ten games with Team USA at the World Championships. However, Vatrano lacks much depth to his game outside of having a knack for finding the back of the net. Injury and inconsistency over the past two years with the Bruins limited his scoring chances and exposed his lack of an all-around game. When playing with Florida’s finest, his scoring ability came back and those flaws faded into the background. However, Florida is now being asked to evaluate him on just those 16 games.

Like McCann, Vatrano has not earned a long-term deal. The Panthers hope that they get the player they saw down the stretch and gave up a third-round pick to acquire, but there is also the risk he will revert to the mistake-prone, one-track-mind player he was in Boston in recent seasons. Vatrano could be an important piece for Florida moving forward but he could also have a ceiling as an elite AHLer and nothing more. Only time will tell, but because of that risk, expect Vatrano to earn a relatively cheap, one-year deal (even if it has to come through arbitration).

Other RFAs: D Alex Petrovic, D MacKenzie Weegar, D Ed Wittchow, F Curtis Valk, F Gregory Chase, D Linus Hultsrom 

Key Unrestricted Free Agents: None. Congratulations to Florida on entering free agency with literally nothing to lose. The team has five impending free agents and one, veteran winger Radim Vrbata, has already announced his retirement. The other four played little role in the successes or failures of the Panthers in 2017-18 and would be unlikely to make much of an impact if they were to be re-signed. Connor Brickley is the most notable name, as he recorded 12 points in 44 games on the team’s fourth line. However, Brickley spent no additional time in the AHL, simply watching from the press box for the much of the season. The 26-year-old forward was a 2010 second-round pick, but seems to have developed into a checking winger with limited offensive upside, the exact type of player that is easy to replace. The loss of fellow 26-year-old forwards Chase Balisy (8 games) and Alexandre Grenier (0 games) would mean even less. Third-string goalie Harri Sateri, 28, returned from Europe to play for the Panthers this year and performed well enough in nine appearances, but with two high-end veteran goalies in the mix, Florida hardly needs to stress over their AHL starter. Young Sam Montembeault will likely be just fine if Sateri is not re-signed.

UFAs: Connor Brickley, Chase Balisy, Alexandre Grenier, Harri Sateri

Projected Cap Space: The trade-off of having no unrestricted free agents to worry about is that you don’t have much salary coming off the books either. When you have your top five forwards, your top four defenseman, and two starting-caliber goalies locked up long-term, things can get expensive. The Florida Panthers got off to a slow start last season and narrowly missed the playoffs, but don’t be fooled: this is a solid team without a ton of holes and their cap situation reflects that. The cap ceiling is expected to rise this off-season to somewhere between $78-$82MM. At the midpoint of $80MM, the Cats will have around $14MM in space to work with. While that is a decent amount, it still puts the team in the bottom third of the league in terms of flexibility.

Assume that McCann gets a substantial pay increase and Vatrano and potentially one or both of Petrovic and Weegar get a fair amount in their new contracts, and the Panthers will likely be operating the free agency market with around $8-$9MM or so in space. Is that enough to add the top-six forward that they desperately want and need? Probably, but they would strapped for cap space after that. Expect Florida to be players on the trade market this summer as a result.

AHL| Arbitration| Boston Bruins| Florida Panthers| Free Agency| Free Agent Focus 2018| Injury| NHL| Players| RFA| Retirement| Team USA| Vancouver Canucks Alexander Petrovic| Chase Balisy| Connor Brickley| Frank Vatrano| Harri Sateri| Jared McCann

0 comments

Draft Day Trade Rumors: O’Reilly, Hoffman, Coyotes, Maple Leafs

June 6, 2018 at 7:11 pm CDT | by Zach Leach Leave a Comment

Given the last-place finish of the Buffalo Sabres and the comments made by veteran leader Ryan O’Reilly at the end of the season, it would come as no surprise if the team was to trade away their best player not named Jack Eichel in an effort to build around Eichel and his fellow promising young players. Earlier today, TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke on the extensive demands that Buffalo GM Jason Botterill has for any return in an O’Reilly deal and, while he admitted that a deal is beginning to seem more likely, felt that it would take a lot of work for any team to make a fair offer in Botterill’s eyes. Dreger’s TSN colleague and The Athletic reporter Pierre LeBrun seems slightly more optimistic about the likelihood of a deal. LeBrun admits that O’Reilly likely wouldn’t mind returning to Buffalo, what with Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin likely in the fold next year and beyond, and the Sabres may not mind keeping him. However, LeBrun opines that if John Tavares re-signs with the New York Islanders prior to the NHL Draft, the top center on the free agent market will be Paul Stastny and many teams would prefer to search the trade market instead, where O’Reilly appears to be the top prize down the middle. Given the Sabres’ desire to add young pieces – picks and prospects – to develop alongside their new, young core, the draft would be the ideal time to strike on an O’Reilly trade. LeBrun goes so far as to say that the Montreal Canadiens have already discussed such a deal.

  • Another player who LeBrun feels is primed to be dealt during or around the upcoming draft is Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman. Hoffman was a frequent member of the rumor mill through the most recent NHL Trade Deadline, but remained in Ottawa, at least for the time being. LeBrun says that those rumors are back in full swing and that he feels Hoffman will be traded at the draft. The Senators are not trending in the right direction and could benefit from both the multi-piece return that Hoffman would command and a reprieve from his $5.18MM salary over the next two seasons. LeBrun notes that the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames were the top suitors for Hoffman at the deadline, but the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers were also among a plethora of teams pursuing a player who has flirted with 30 goals and 60 points for three years in a row.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks have already been rumored to be listening on offers for their top ten picks in the upcoming draft; add the Arizona Coyotes to that list as well. LeBrun states that the team has contemplated offers and would consider moving up or down on draft day, depending on how the picks fall. LeBrun believes that GM John Chayka has already spoken with the Montreal Canadiens about a swap involving picks #3 and #5, in case the Habs feel they can get the top center in the draft, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, later on and if the ’Yotes have a preferred choice between potential second overall picks Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina. He also feels that there is a strong chance that they could trade down, given the depth of defensemen in the first round versus the desire of other teams to move up for top forwards. Look for Arizona to be busy on the draft floor later this month.
  • Another team that could be making moves on draft day are the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a mailbag for The Athletic, Jame Mirtle says to expect new GM Kyle Dubas to trade down, perhaps even multiple times, during the draft. When Dubas ran the draft for the Leafs in 2015 he employed this strategy, seen far more often in the NFL than NHL. Dubas traded down twice in order to collect multiple picks in later rounds. In a draft that many feel has a significant drop-off in talent after the first 20-odd picks to a tier that encompasses the next 60 or so picks, if Toronto feels that they don’t have a surefire option at 25th overall, they could swap with a team who has a specific player in mind and potentially grab multiple player of similar caliber later on.

AHL| Buffalo Sabres| Calgary Flames| Carolina Hurricanes| Florida Panthers| Los Angeles Kings| Montreal Canadiens| New York Islanders| Ottawa Senators| Players| Prospects| St. Louis Blues| Toronto Maple Leafs| Utah Mammoth| Vancouver Canucks Andrei Svechnikov| Casey Mittelstadt| Filip Zadina| Jack Eichel| John Tavares| Mike Hoffman| NHL Entry Draft| Paul Stastny| Trade Rumors

0 comments

Details On Bogdan Kiselevich's Contract

June 3, 2018 at 6:54 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

  • Last week, the Panthers added Russian defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich on a one-year contract. CapFriendly provides the details of that deal, which is worth the league minimum salary of $650K in the NHL and $275K in the minors.  The 28-year-old has yet to play in North America but at this price, the deal carries little risk to Florida if he isn’t able to land a roster spot in training camp.

Boston Bruins| Florida Panthers| New Jersey Devils| Philadelphia Flyers Bogdan Kiselevich| Valtteri Filppula

0 comments

Exclusive Negotiating Rights Of 33 Draft Picks Expire

June 1, 2018 at 4:18 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The deadline for signing draft picks has come and gone, and unless more deals come in after the fact, 33 players—the same total as last year—will see their exclusive negotiating rights expire. With it they will either re-enter the 2018 draft for the final time or become free agents, depending on their age. Adam Mascherin is the highest picked player among those who will be headed back into the draft, selected 38th overall by the Florida Panthers two years ago. Below is the full list of players:

Anaheim Ducks:

F Tyler Soy (7th round, 2016)

Arizona Coyotes:

F Anton Karlsson (3rd round, 2014)
D David Westlund (6th round, 2014)

Buffalo Sabres:

D Vojtech Budik (5th round, 2016)
F Brandon Hagel (6th round, 2016)
D Austin Osmanski (7th round, 2016)

Calgary Flames:

D Adam Ollas Mattsson (6th round, 2014)

Carolina Hurricanes: 

C Hudson Elynuik (3rd round, 2016)
D Noah Carroll (6th round, 2016)

Chicago Blackhawks:

D Andreas Soderberg (5th round, 2014)

Colorado Avalanche:

G Maximilian Pajpach (6th round, 2014)

Dallas Stars:

D Miro Karjalainen (5th round, 2014)

Detroit Red Wings:

D Jordan Sambrook (5th round, 2016)
F Julius Vahatalo (6th round, 2014)

Florida Panthers:

G Hugo Fagerblom (7th round, 2014)
C Adam Mascherin (2nd round, 2016)

Los Angeles Kings:

D Jacob Friend (7th round, 2016)

Minnesota Wild:

D Pontus Sjalin (6th round, 2014)
D Brayden Chizen (7th round, 2016)

New Jersey Devils:

G Evan Cormier (4th round, 2016)

Philadelphia Flyers:

C Anthony Salinitri (6th round, 2016)

Pittsburgh Penguins:

D Connor Hall (3rd round, 2016)

San Jose Sharks:

D Mark Shoemaker (6th round, 2016)

Tampa Bay Lightning:

C Christopher Paquette (5th round, 2016)

Toronto Maple Leafs:

D Keaton Middleton (4th rond, 2016)
F J.J. Piccinich (4th round, 2014)
D Nicolas Mattinen (6th round, 2016)

Vancouver Canucks:

D Cole Candella (5th round, 2016)
F Jakob Stukel (6th round, 2016)
C Brett McKenzie (7th round, 2016)

Washington Capitals:

F Kevin Elgestal (7th round, 2014)
D Dmitri Zaitsev (7th round, 2016)

Winnipeg Jets:

C Jordan Stallard (5th round, 2016)

Anaheim Ducks| Buffalo Sabres| Calgary Flames| Carolina Hurricanes| Chicago Blackhawks| Colorado Avalanche| Dallas Stars| Detroit Red Wings| Florida Panthers| Los Angeles Kings| Minnesota Wild| New Jersey Devils| Philadelphia Flyers| Pittsburgh Penguins| San Jose Sharks| Tampa Bay Lightning| Toronto Maple Leafs| Utah Mammoth| Vancouver Canucks| Washington Capitals| Winnipeg Jets

0 comments
« Previous Page
Load More Posts
    Top Stories

    2025 NHL Training Camp Rosters

    Flames Sign Mikael Backlund To Two-Year Extension

    Mammoth Intend To Waive Connor Ingram

    Maple Leafs To Hire Mark Giordano

    Blackhawks Sign Matt Grzelcyk To PTO

    Rangers Name J.T. Miller Captain

    Canadiens Discussing Extension For Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton

    Mathew Barzal Ready For Islanders Training Camp

    Flyers Trade Ivan Fedotov To Blue Jackets

    Blackhawks Sign Spencer Knight To Three-Year Extension

    Recent

    Snapshots: Beck, Krug, Robertson

    Atlantic Notes: Lightning Free Agents, Paul, Dach

    Avalanche Notes: Third-Line Center, Landeskog, Malinski, Injuries

    Chicago Blackhawks Sign Wyatt Kaiser

    Pacific Notes: Canucks Updates, Hyman, Walman

    Mammoth Notes: Cooley, O’Brien, Injury Updates

    Metro Notes: Hughes, Panarin, Scheel

    2025 NHL Training Camp Rosters

    Maple Leaf Notes: Stolarz, Top-Six Forward, Domi, Dubé

    Senators Hoping To Move Alex Formenton

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Rasmus Andersson Rumors
    • Erik Karlsson Rumors
    • Rickard Rakell Rumors
    • Bryan Rust Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • PTO Tracker 2025
    • Summer Synopsis Series 2025
    • Training Camp Rosters 2025
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls

     

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    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

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version