BS Meter on Latest NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors

The NHL’s 2024-25 regular season is underway as the 32 teams begin their quest to determine who will earn the right to hoist the Stanley Cup next June.

After a quiet September with no activity in the trade market, a deal took place on October 6 that saw the Colorado Avalanche trade Erik Brännström to the Vancouver Canucks for Tucker Poolman and a 2025 fourth-round pick. Perhaps it’s a sign of more moves coming soon as teams make early-season adjustments to their rosters.

Entering the new season, the media rumor mill is humming with speculation over potential trade candidates. Some of it is focused on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, who emerged last month as a topic of frequent conjecture, earning him the top spot on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board.

Some of the chatter involves Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July unless he and the Rangers agree to a lucrative long-term deal before then.

As always, we’ve got our trusty BS meter to help us determine which rumors are fact or fiction. You can provide your thoughts on this topic in our app comments below.

Timothy Liljegren has been a full-time part of the Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line corps for the past three seasons. However, the 25-year-old defenseman could become the odd man out this season.

On Oct. 4, The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel suggested Liljegren could become a trade candidate. He noted the Leafs were open to trading the blueliner during the offseason before signing him on June 30 to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million.

Liljegren slipped down the Leafs’ blue-line depth chart during preseason. Siegel suggested that he’d make an expensive seventh defenseman.

Siegel wondered how much value Liljegren might have on the trade market. However, he also noted it might not be wise to move him given the Leafs have an older defense corps with some injury concerns.

BS Meter: It’s BS

Liljegren could become a trade candidate at some point, but it’s too early in the season to move him now. They’ll need to keep him as insurance in case injuries sideline a right-shot defenseman like Chris Tanev and Jani Hakanpää for a lengthy period.

The Buffalo Sabres enter 2024-25 hoping to end a 13-season playoff drought. They’re off to a rough start, dropping their first two games of the season to the New Jersey Devils during last week’s NHL 2024 Global Series in Prague, Czechia.

Before the Global Series began, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic wondered if the Sabres might make a significant in-season trade. He pointed out that they have plenty of salary-cap space ($6.3 million) and promising prospects to draw on for trade bait.

Scoring was an issue for the Sabres last season after finishing 23rd with a goals-per-game average of 2.98. That issue persisted during their opening two games against the Devils, scoring only twice while giving up seven goals.

Fairburn reported the Sabres were looking around in this summer’s trade market for a top-six forward. He thinks general manager Kevyn Adams could make a move before the March 7 trade deadline if the Sabres are in playoff contention by that point.

BS Meter: Not BS

Adams could start making calls soon if the Sabres don’t improve their production through the opening weeks of this season. At their recent pace, they won’t be anywhere near the playoffs if Adams waits for the March trade deadline.

As we noted in our intro, the possibility of the Anaheim Ducks trading Cam Fowler this season put the 32-year-old defenseman atop our October NHL Trade Block Big Board. We also looked at potential landing spots for the long-time Ducks blueliner.

Fowler is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $6.5 million. The puck-moving rearguard has a four-team no-trade list, but we noted in our October trade board that he’s expanded that list to double digits.

The Detroit Red Wings were among our potential landing spots for Fowler. He grew up and played hockey in the Detroit area and would be a terrific addition to their defense corps.

Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon shares that view. On Sept. 30, he predicted the Wings would acquire Fowler to continue their push for a playoff berth, suggesting he could fill a second-pairing role alongside promising Simon Edvinsson.

BS Meter: It’s BS…for now.

There’s been no media speculation suggesting the Red Wings are pursuing Fowler nor is there anything suggesting the Ducks are actively shopping him. Nevertheless, we can’t dismiss the possibility, especially if the Wings are pressing for a playoff spot by the March 7 trade deadline.

Kirill Kaprizov isn’t slated to become an unrestricted free agent until July 2026. Nevertheless, there’s already been some speculation over which club might pursue the 27-year-old winger if he and the Minnesota Wild fail to agree to a new contract by then.

During a Sept. 25 episode of The Athletic Hockey Show, Mark Lazerus said it was rumored during the 2024 NHL draft that Kaprizov might be interested in joining the Chicago Blackhawks. He subsequently clarified his remarks, saying it was Chicago that would be interested in the winger adding that Kaprizov wasn’t asking out of Minnesota.

Chicago wouldn’t be the only team interested in Kaprizov if he tests the market in 2026. The three-time 40-plus goal scorer would be in high demand among that summer’s free agents.

Kaprizov is also invaluable to the Wild. On Oct. 1, The Hockey News‘ Dylan Loucks reported team owner Craig Leipold intends to ensure the high-scoring winger stays put. “I will tell you nobody will offer more money than us or longer,” said Leipold, adding it was up to the Wild to prove to Kaprizov that they want to win.

BS Meter: It’s BS

The Wild will open the vault to keep Kaprizov beyond 2026. He’s their top scorer and franchise player. They need him if they intend to build and maintain a winner.

This season is the final one on Igor Shesterkin’s contract with the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. His representatives have been in discussions with Rangers management regarding a contract extension.

Shesterkin is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5.66 million. Winner of the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22, he backstopped the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024, and the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy.

On Sep. 23, The Athletic’s Peter Baugh and Arthur Staple reported Shesterkin’s camp had given the Rangers until their season opener (Oct. 9) to reach an agreement on a new contract. Otherwise, they’d shelve negotiations until the end of the season.

Two weeks earlier, ESPN’s Casey Ditzel reported that Shesterkin’s reps sought a long-term extension with an average annual value of $12 million. That would make their client the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, eclipsing the $10.5 million AAV of Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price.

On Sept. 24, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported the Rangers weren’t concerned about a deadline to get a deal done. Three days later, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman expressed confidence that the Rangers and Shesterkin would agree to a new contract.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported on Oct. 8 that the Rangers offered Shesterkin an eight-year, $88 million contract extension but the offer was rejected. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated negotiations were continuing.

BS Meter: Not BS

Shesterkin is a crucial part of the Rangers’ Stanley Cup hopes for this season and the foreseeable future. They have no one in their system who can replace him nor is there anyone comparable available via trade or next summer’s free-agent market. They’ll make him the highest-paid goaltender.