NHL Rumors: Red Wings GM, Mantha Speaks, Rielly News, and McDavid to Flyers?

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Detroit Red Wings continue casting a wide net in their GM search, the New Jersey Devils reveal what helped land Anthony Mantha in free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear in no rush to move Morgan Rielly, and a former NHLer has sparked speculation about Connor McDavid potentially trying to jump to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Red Wings Cast Wide Net in GM Search

The Detroit Red Wings are exploring a lengthy list of candidates to replace Steve Yzerman, looking both internally and externally for their next general manager. Names linked to the role include Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff from within, as well as external options like Tom Fitzgerald, Marc Bergevin, Kevyn Adams, Tyler Dellow, Evan Gold, Ryan Martin, and Scott White.

One interesting name is Brendan Shanahan. He’s a legend in Detroit, and reports say he’d still like to be involved in the game as an executive. Would the Red Wings replace the Yzer-plan with the Shana-plan? It would be a polarizing decision, given how things turned out in Toronto.

Mantha Details Why He Chose New Jersey

Anthony Mantha’s decision to join the New Jersey Devils was influenced heavily by the recruitment process. He revealed that a 30-minute Zoom call with GM Sunny Mehta stood out, noting that not every general manager takes that level of personal interest. Mehta’s belief in Mantha’s advanced metrics also helped seal the deal.

Coming off a career-best season, Mantha said he wanted to leave the year as one of the most talked-about players in the NHL. He thinks he got himself mildly in the conversation. He also credited working with a mental coach for his success.

Securing a multi-year contract was also important since he has young kids.

Maple Leafs Not Rushing a Morgan Rielly Trade

Despite ongoing speculation, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t appear eager to move Morgan Rielly this offseason. Analysts suggest that unless he expands his list of preferred destinations, he is likely to remain with the team to start the season. More importantly, Toronto isn’t in a position to trade him without a clear replacement.

Rielly continues to play a significant role, logging important minutes on the blue line. Moving him for futures or cap flexibility alone would leave a gap the Leafs would need to fill. Finding a defenseman capable of handling 17–18 minutes per night isn’t easy, and with so many defensemen now signed, the options are limited. While some fans may push for change, the organization isn’t about to just dump Rielly without a fill-in.

McDavid-to-Flyers Speculation Sparks Buzz

Here’s a fun one for a Friday.

Speculation around Connor McDavid’s future resurfaced after former NHLer Todd Fedoruk suggested he’s heard the Philadelphia Flyers could be a preferred destination. With a rising young core, cap space, and draft capital, the Flyers are positioned to chase elite talent. Their aggressive offer-sheet strategy has already made waves and it’s clear they’re going for it.

Does that mean McDavid is on their radar or that he wants them? Not necessarily.

Fedoruk said:

“He is going to be a player who will be calling teams. His agent is going to be looking for him to go places. There are rumors that Philadelphia is a place that Connor McDavid wants to go.”

Any suggestion of McDavid or his camp reaching out to teams would raise tampering concerns while he remains under contract. The Oilers captain is entering the first year of a short-term extension and is coming off another dominant season. For now, there’s no indication he’s leaving Edmonton. However, if the team falls short again, speculation will only intensify—and Philadelphia could be among the teams ready to make a serious push.