The offseason is heating up with multiple trade rumors and speculations involving high-profile players. General managers across the league are making moves and addressing the swirling speculation.
Linus Ullmark Trade Speculations
The Ottawa Senators have been actively seeking to upgrade their goaltending, with Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins being a key target. Despite intense efforts, an agreement has not yet been reached. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, the Senators remain one of the few teams still in serious talks with the Bruins.
“League sources indicate that the Senators have ramped up their efforts to acquire goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins,” Garrioch wrote. “The Senators have circled back to the Bruins to see if there’s a fit to acquire Ullmark to stabilize the club’s struggling net, and those talks have intensified.”
Ullmark, with one year left on his contract at a $5 million cap hit, would need to waive his no-trade clause, which restricts trades to 16 teams. If the Senators aren’t on his no-trade list, a deal could still materialize.
Connor McDavid Trade Speculations
While speculation about Connor McDavid’s future with the Edmonton Oilers always generates buzz, Oilers GM Ken Holland has firmly dismissed any trade rumors involving the superstar forward.
“Connor McDavid is a cornerstone of our franchise,” Holland stated in a recent press conference. “There is no scenario where we are considering trading him. Our focus is on building a championship team around Connor.”
Offseason Trade Updates
Toronto Maple Leafs Pursuing Defensemen
The Toronto Maple Leafs are exploring both free agency and trades to strengthen their defensive lineup. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that the Leafs are targeting big-body defensemen this offseason. Among the primary targets are pending unrestricted free agent Nikita Zadorov and St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
“The Maple Leafs are looking to add size to their blueline,” Pagnotta reported. “They are exploring all options, including free agency and the trade market. Nikita Zadorov and Colton Parayko are among the names being considered.”
Zadorov, 6’6″ and 250 pounds, is projected to command a four-year deal worth $5 million per season. Parayko, with six years left on an eight-year, $52 million contract, has a full no-movement clause and would need to approve any trade.
Goaltending Market Movements
This offseason has already seen significant goaltender trades, with Jacob Markstrom moving to the New Jersey Devils and Darcy Kuemper joining the Los Angeles Kings. These trades have reshuffled the market, and teams like the Maple Leafs are still in the hunt for goaltending solutions. Potential targets for Toronto include Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators, John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Cap Space and Roster Adjustments
The Maple Leafs have approximately $18.8 million in cap space, needing to sign multiple players to fill out their roster. Alongside new acquisitions, they are also working to re-sign key players like Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi.
Pending Free Agents
Toronto has several defensemen potentially leaving in free agency, including Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin. The Leafs have expressed interest in re-signing Edmundson, though he plans to test the market first.
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