In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Ottawa Senators get some draft relief after the Evgenii Dadonov mistake, the Florida Panthers face uncertainty with Sergei Bobrovsky, the Toronto Maple Leafs may explore William Nylander trades, the Philadelphia Flyers hold onto Rasmus Ristolainen, and the New York Rangers could be moving Vincent Trocheck this offseason.
Today’s rumors rundown is all about mistakes and decisions teams might come to regret. Here’s the latest.
Senators Regain First-Round Pick After Dadonov Penalty Adjustment
The Ottawa Senators will no longer completely lose their 2026 first-round pick following the NHL’s modification of the penalty related to the Evgenii Dadonov trade saga. Originally, Ottawa had forfeited the pick for failing to disclose a 10-team no-trade list during the 2021 deal. Now, the Senators will retain the pick at 32nd overall, but cannot trade it and must pay a $1 million CAD fine.
While this isn’t as valuable as a top selection, it’s a win for Ottawa’s rebuilding plans. The league also clarified that the Senators’ draft lottery odds remain intact, but they cannot “win” the lottery this year. Pierre LeBrun reports:
“The Senators behind the scenes had been lobbying the NHL for quite a while on the forfeited 1st RD pick and as the league said in the statement what got traction was that the Dadonov screw-up happened under former ownership and former management. The more the league thought about it, the more that hit home. A $1M fine is not nothing, but the Sens for sure are satisfied with this result, getting the 32nd overall pick, and happy to put it behind them and move forward.”
Panthers Risk Losing Bobrovsky for Nothing
Veteran netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is a key part of the Florida Panthers, one they ultimately decided not to trade at the deadline. However, contract extension talks are reportedly far apart. The Panthers opted not to trade Bobrovsky at the deadline, aiming instead to negotiate a long-term extension. However, the team appears more willing to offer a shorter deal, likely two to three years, creating a potential disconnect with the 37-year-old goaltender.
Some argue that the Panthers missed an opportunity to maximize his trade value at the deadline, as contenders seeking stability in net could have offered significant assets. GM Bill Zito has indicated he wants to keep Bobrovsky, but there’s a risk he could leave in free agency if no deal is reached.
Maple Leafs Open to Exploring William Nylander Trade
We wrote yesterday about William Nylander’s comments. His body language when talking about the Leafs’ struggles this season spoke volumes to many analysts. Now, reports are that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be reconsidering the status of star winger after a disappointing season. Insider Nick Kypreos reports that Nylander is no longer untouchable and that trade discussions are on the table.
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“He could be the guy that you move off of Knies and focus on what Willy Nylander’s potential would be to bring you back in a trade. I did hear that they were open to have conversations about Willy, and they should. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody; again, they’re one of the worst teams in the league here. So, I would explore everything, including Willy and Auston going into this offseason and seeing what kind of return I can get and how fast I can get this market rejuvenated and have them look forward to something. But you know Willy’s name isn’t a non-starter for the Toronto Maple Leafs anymore, as it shouldn’t be.”
Nylander leads Toronto with 60 points in 48 games and is in the second year of his eight-year, $92 million deal with full no-movement protection. While Matthew Knies remains the most trade-flexible asset, Nylander’s name could emerge in discussions if the Leafs look to rejuvenate their roster this offseason.
Flyers and Rangers Decisions Could Shape Offseason Moves
The Philadelphia Flyers retained defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen at the trade deadline after seeking a first-round pick and prospect for him. GM Daniel Briere confirmed that he was looking for a first-round pick and wasn’t about to move the blueliner if the ask wasn’t met. It wasn’t.
Meanwhile, after opting not to trade him at the deadline (a surprise to many), the New York Rangers may look to move veteran forward Vincent Trocheck this offseason. Coming off an Olympic gold-medal performance with Team USA, Trocheck’s value is arguably at its peak. If the Rangers wait too long, they risk losing out on the potential return.
