Are the Devils interested in Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller? Could they peddle promising defenseman Simon Nemec? What’s the latest on the Bruins? Will the Sabres trade Jason Zucker? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE DEVILS
THE SCORE: In an interview with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said he’s looking for a center “that can give up that extra oomph and maybe properly slot people to make us a strong four-line team come playoff time.”
League sources told LeBrun that the Devils are already checking on their list of trade targets.
Sean O’Leary mentioned some of the top potential playoff rental players including Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken and Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders. Players with term left on their contracts who’ve come up in the rumor mill include Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers and J.T. Miller of the Vancouver Canucks.
Could the New Jersey Devils pursue Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller? (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection but the Predators are treating him like he has a full no-movement clause. LeBrun’s colleague Kevin Kurz recently cited a Flyers source claiming the club has little interest in moving Laughton.
Miller’s situation has dominated the rumor mill since late December amid reports he and teammate Elias Pettersson weren’t getting along. Speaking of those two…
SPORTSNET: The New Jersey Devils are worth watching in the trade market. PuckPedia indicates they have over $7.4 million in projected trade deadline cap space. They also have the assets the Vancouver Canucks might be interested in if they’re trying to trade Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat cited CHEK-TV’S Rick Dhaliwal said many teams have checked in about J.T. Miller, including the Devils and Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks would want a center in return for Pettersson or Miller. The Devils don’t have anywhere to spare in that department. They also lack a first-round pick in this year’s draft but have three second-rounders to use as trade bait.
THE SCORE: Josh Wegman cited a report from Slovak media outlet Dennik Sport indicating defenseman Simon Nemec isn’t happy with his extended stay with the Devils’ AHL affiliate in Utica.
Nemec played 60 games as a rookie with the Devils in 2023-24 but only nine games with them this season. He believes he’s proven “multiple times” that he belongs in the NHL but stopped short of requesting a trade. “If this situation continues, it’ll have to be addressed, but for now, it is what it is”, said Nemec.
RG.ORG: James Murphy recently confirmed Fitzgerald hopes to begin contract extension talks with defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic. He’s become an indispensable part of the roster since his acquisition from the Montreal Canadiens last summer.
Murphy wondered what this could mean for Nemec’s future with the Devils. He cited a source suggesting the young blueliner could become available in the trade market, especially after his comments to Dennik Sport.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reached out to a Devils source about Nemec. The source acknowledged the young rearguard’s disappointment about not playing in the NHL but stated they weren’t aware of any frustration on the youngster’s part.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said he doesn’t expect the Devils to make any rash decisions about Nemec. “Put it this way, if it ever gets to a point where there’s an availability (in the Devils’ lineup), I guarantee you the Devils will be patient,” he said, adding the Devils selected Nemec at second overall in the 2022 draft for a reason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nemec’s initial comments caused a bit of a stir but it appears he’s not going anywhere unless he starts demanding a trade.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE BRUINS?
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked at the options facing the Boston Bruins if they become buyers or sellers by the March 7 trade deadline. He believes their performance over the next month will determine management’s direction in the trade market.
If the Bruins gain traction in the standings, that might help GM Don Sweeney to hammer out a contract extension for captain Brad Marchand. If they bottom out, Sweeney could consider trading the 36-year-old winger to accelerate the rebuild, though neither party prefers that route.
Pending UFA winger Trent Frederic would also be a trade candidate. Sweeney could also look at moving players with term left on their contracts like Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha and Brandon Carlo, who all have partial no-trade clauses.
If the Bruins become buyers, Shinzawa believes Sweeney would prefer adding players with term on their contracts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s difficult to believe Sweeney would trade his heart-and-soul captain. However, anything can happen at the trade deadline when teams become sellers, especially if Marchand and Sweeney fail to agree to a new contract. Marchand has an eight-team no-trade clause plus his $6.125 million cap hit could be a sticking point, though the Bruins will have paid out most of that by March 7.
WILL THE SABRES TRADE OR SIGN ZUCKER?
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn recently reported Jason Zucker’s solid performance this season could make him a valuable trade chip for the Buffalo Sabres if they become sellers by the March 7 trade deadline. However, the 33-year-old winger is keen to sign a contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zucker’s enjoyed a fine bounce-back performance this season with 33 points in 45 games. His future in Buffalo will depend on how much he wants and for how long. His age will make the Sabres leery about giving him anything longer than a two-year deal.
