James Nichols
It’s funny because I see so many people talking about how Mitch Marner needs to let go of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and yet, he’s never the one who is bringing it up. He’s asked, he answers, and then the finger is pointed at him. But this time he teased he’ll spill the tea if Vegas wins the cup. Fun! That can be found in the links below, plus the New Jersey Devils‘ goaltending reality, ink their former first round pick, and an assessment of their Worlds performances.
Plus, a bunch of trade discussion from Mason McTavish interest to Simon Nemec and Pittsburgh, and an actual trade on Monday.
Devils Trade Rumors & News
New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils’ goaltending—specifically Jacob Markstrom—get tough grades on their brutal goaltending reality and what major moves could be coming next.
The Devils locked up top prospect Anton Silayev with an entry-level contract and the big Russian defenseman is officially NHL-bound.
On Silayev, the internet got into a debate on whether or not Silayev is going to pan out and… that’s just silly right now. Freshly 20 years old out of the KHL, he’s still got plenty of time to develop into the high-ceiling defenseman he was drafted to be. Was it his best season last year? Maybe not. But he’s 20. There’s plenty of time for him to work on himself, and there will certainly be a plan in place as he makes the transition to the NHL. Breathe, folks.
Devils at Worlds delivered standout performances, painful struggles, and mixed results. Here are the grades for their individual performances from our Daniel Amoia.
📺 Devils Rink Report: Despite the debunked trade request rumors, the Devils could still move Nemec this summer—and here’s why we broke down on the latest Devils Rink Report why it might actually make sense for their roster needs.
After missing the playoffs, the Devils are doubling down on Sheldon Keefe—smart continuity or a costly mistake heading into 2026-27? 👇🏼
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NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now
Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators GM Staios has center Mason McTavish—with five years left on a lucrative contract—firmly on his radar as a prime top-six target this summer.
Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers’ serious interest in free agent Alex Tuch isn’t just a quick fix, but it has to align with their long-term roster vision.
Chicago Hockey Now: June 1 served as the cutoff for unsigned 2024 CHL draftees to lock in a college path or jump back into the draft pool. Things got messy fast under the league’s murky new guidelines. The Chicago Blackhawks’ third-round selection from last year ignited a full-blown saga: he walked away from college, refused to ink a deal with Chicago, and was promptly shipped off to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, an unidentified new college has surfaced in the mix, adding another twist to this head-scratching NHL soap opera.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Is Simon Nemec a Pittsburgh Penguins trade target?
Montreal Gazzette: Maybe this is something to keep an eye on. I’ll have to look deeper into it. But on Monday at locker clean out, Brendan Gallagher tearfully admitted he knew his time in Montreal is up despite having a year left on his contract. The veteran forward will be traded this summer.
TSN: Free agency season is heating up, and TSN just dropped its much-anticipated top 30 UFAs hitting the open market on July 1. Rasmus Andersson tops the list at No. 1, while Anthony Mantha cracks the top 10. Talk about underwhelming.
Sportsnet: The guys broke down Mitch Marner’s media day appearance, where he skillfully sidestepped any questions about Toronto. Instead, he dropped a cheeky tease: he’ll only spill the real stories if the Vegas Golden Knights end up winning the Stanley Cup.
NHL.com: After weeks of speculation, the Vancouver Canucks finally made it official. If you went to bed early last night, you missed this one. Manny Malholtra is the 23rd head coach in Canucks history.
