The Los Angeles Kings are being linked to a few different names as the rumor mill keeps spinning, and one of the bigger ones involves Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Zach Dooley reported that Elliotte Friedman said the Kings are among the teams interested in Nikishin. Auston Stanovich then pointed to the challenge in making that kind of move happen, saying, “Nikishin would be such a great get for LA. I just don’t see how they get that deal done, especially since it seems like CAR is dangling Nikishin to try and hunt a big fish like Hellebuyck.”
Elsewhere around the league, David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period said Nico Hischier is expected to land an extension in the neighborhood of five years and $60 million.
There’s also movement, or at least discussion, involving some of the NHL’s biggest names. Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild are still exploring options, with Wild owner Craig Leipold suggesting the deal could be either three years or five years.
Two sources told that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar have not opened extension talks yet, though the expectation is that a deal will eventually get done and make him one of the highest paid players. Neither side is viewed as concerned.
In Vegas, signs are pointing toward a Rasmus Andersson extension in the $7.5 million to $9 million range. The Golden Knights are working with $4.265 million in projected cap space with Alex Pietrangelo’s $8.8 million LTIR, and they could create more room by moving Adin Hill’s $6.25 million.
Other names are surfacing in trade chatter, too. The Buffalo Sabres are offering forward Jack Quinn, while one Western Conference team tried to trade for Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov. The Maple Leafs are speaking with multiple teams about Morgan Rielly, and the Stars and Jason Robertson are still in talks as they try to find middle ground, according to Pierre LeBrun.
The Canadiens remain in the market for an impact forward. The Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning are also being considered as possible landing spots for Patrik Laine. The Utah Mammoth are among the teams interested in Kirill Marchenko, while the Canucks continue to have trade conversations involving Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson.
Pittsburgh is another club to watch. The Penguins have cap space and are looking for a major addition, and they’ve been involved on Robertson. The Flyers, meanwhile, have received multiple draft-pick offers for Rasmus Ristolainen.
In Other News...
Wild Fans Will Hate What Reportedly Killed This Center Pursuit
Minnesotas interest in Dylan Larkin apparently went beyond casual trade chatter, with president Bill Guerin making regular contact with Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman as the Wild explored whether there was any real path to landing the Red Wings captain. The pursuit had the feel of a classic front-office swing for a proven center, the kind of move that can reshape a teams middle-six and change the look of a roster heading into free agency.
What ultimately stalled things was the price Detroit was pushing, and Minnesota was not willing to go there. With the opening of free agency, the Wild have moved on from the idea of prying Larkin loose, leaving Guerin to pivot elsewhere while the fan base is left to wonder how close the team really came to making a major splash at center. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Quietly Make A Veteran Depth Decision Before Free Agency
The Wild are lining up a pair of familiar veteran pieces before free agency opens, a move that would keep some stability on a roster that values experience as much as upside. Nick Foligno, who arrived at the trade deadline, and Zach Bogosian, brought in later as a depth addition on the blue line, both gave Minnesota the kind of low-drama, situational help that can matter over the long haul more than it shows up in the box score.
Michael Russo of The Athletic reports the expectation is that each player returns on a one-year deal, giving the Wild another season of seasoned presence without a bigger summer commitment. For Foligno, it also sets up a chance to spend a full year in Minnesota alongside his younger brother Marcus, while Bogosian would remain part of the right-side defensive mix and available when injuries or lineup shuffles inevitably hit. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Could Be Setting Up The Move Wild Fans Dread
The Wilds search for a top-line center has already turned into one of those watch-and-wait situations that can define a summer, with Dylan Larkin still the name most closely tied to Minnesota. Detroit has not budged, and Steve Yzermans stance has kept the door firmly shut unless the offer is strong enough to change his mind, which leaves the Wild stuck trying to gauge whether their best-fit target is even realistically available.
What makes the situation more unnerving for Minnesota is the way other contenders can reshape the market before the Wild get their chance to strike. The Stars have been watching the defense market closely and have their own ambitions, which could affect how aggressive teams get as the board starts to move. For a Wild club looking to add a difference-maker down the middle, the longer this drags on, the more it feels like the rest of the league is setting the terms. [Read more 🡒]