In today’s NHL rumors rundown, a report that Rasmus Dahlin told the Buffalo Sabres he would leave if things didn’t turn around has been denied. Why did this report surface in the first place? Meanwhile, Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky cleared the air about what really happened with Mikko Rantanen. Finally, could the Edmonton Oilers take a big swing on a Florida Panthers pending UFA?
Dahlin Denies Threatening Sabres with Trade Talk
Paul Bissonnette of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast recently reported that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin met with Buffalo Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams and threatened to request a trade if the team couldn’t find a way to be competitive. While Dahlin said he hates losing and that things need to change in Buffalo, he angrily denied ever telling the Sabres he would leave.
“I’m not happy where we’re at. I don’t want to lose. We have to get better. I never said I want out of here.”
Bissonnette later clarified that he was not an insider but was only repeating what he’d been told. He then asked how long Dahlin would be patient if the Sabres keep missing the playoffs.
It’s important to note that Dahlin has a huge long-term contract with the Sabres. Even if he wanted to move on, he couldn’t just up and go.
Tulsky Spills Beans on the Rantanen Trade Situation
Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky was on The Sheet with Jeff Marek on Daily Faceoff and was asked about the Rantanen and what really happened. Were the Hurricanes told that Rantanen wasn’t going to sign an extension from day one?
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Tulsky admitted that when they first reached out to Colorado about a trade, Rantanen’s camp revealed that the forward wasn’t thinking about signing with anyone because he wanted to work it out with the Avalanche. When that didn’t happen, Tulsky said they had a sense that it could be tough to get a deal done, but they were hopeful. “He came in, he decided it wasn’t for him. That’s been pretty rare for us…”
Rantanen’s agent said there was no list of teams Rantanen was willing to sign with, and he kept an open mind about the Hurricanes, but it wasn’t a fit stylistically. Tulsky added that “Time went by, and he realized that, for whatever reason, it wasn’t the right place for him. I never got the sense that he had any issue with our team or our coaches or anything like that. I think this just didn’t feel like home to him. That’s the sense I got.”
It was also said that Rod Brind’Amour’s statement that Rantanen came in and told everyone he wasn’t going to sign with the Hurricanes was just not true. There were no “four teams” he’d sign with, and it wasn’t a situation where Rantanen knew immediately that he wasn’t staying.
Are the Oilers Going to Chase Sam Bennett?
The Florida Panthers have forward Sam Bennett on an expiring deal and are set to become a UFA. They would like to keep him, but Bennett is likely to test the market. According to Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, the Oilers could try to sign the gritty forward.
Mitchell writes:
“If the team bridges Bouchard (as above) and offloads one or two bloated contracts, there might be room to focus on Sam Bennett in free agency. His range of skills and rugged style make him a perfect fit for the Oilers. He will be 29 on June 20, meaning a long-term deal holds risk.”
source – ‘Six bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers in the next 12 months’ – Allan Mitchell – The Athletic – 03/10/2025
What it would cost to land Bennett isn’t clear. The market for forwards like him hasn’t been set, and with a rising salary cap, it’s tough to predict what he’ll be worth if several teams start making pitches for his services.