Latest BS Meter on Artemi Panarin, Bowen Byram and NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors

It didn't take long for the limited depth of quality talent to be drained from this year's unrestricted free-agent pool in the NHL. As usual, almost all the best players were signed up within hours of the market opening on July 1.

Nevertheless, the business of hockey continues with 11 players filing for salary arbitration between July 20 and August 4.

The Buffalo Sabres elected to take defenseman Bowen Byram to arbitration.

Approaching mid-July, player movement usually slows because most teams would have limited salary-cap space. However, with the salary cap rising to $95.5 million, there are 16 clubs with $6 million or more in cap room.

Some of those clubs could turn to the trade market to address their needs, especially if they missed out on the slim pickings of free agency. That could include Byram, as players who are awaiting arbitration hearings can still be peddled in the trade market.

If the trade market proves to be a difficult option, some teams could target the top restricted free agents on rival teams with offer sheets.

Meanwhile, with this year's free-agent market picked clean of top talent, some observers wonder why teams haven't already attempted to re-sign players eligible for UFA status next July.

Follow along as we put our BS Meter to the test on the latest notable NHL trade and free-agent rumors.

Ducks Center Mason McTavish is an Offer-Sheet Target

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As noted, there are 16 NHL teams with over $6 million in salary-cap space. Of those clubs, 13 have more than $10 million available. Some could target a rival club's top restricted free agent with an offer sheet.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish could be a tempting option.

The 22-year-old is a skillful, hard-working forward coming off a career-best 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points. He has completed a three-year entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights.

McTavish has yet to reach his prime. Given the need for second-line centers around the league, it's not surprising he made NHL.com's list of potential offer-sheet targets. So far, there's no indication he and the Ducks are close to agreeing to a new contract.

On July 3, Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek wondered if McTavish and teammate Lukas Dostal would become offer sheet targets. Dostal has since filed for arbitration, making him ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

BS Meter: BS

It's a waste of time to sign McTavish to an offer sheet. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico cited a league source claiming he doesn't want to leave Anaheim. The Ducks are also among the clubs carrying over $10 million in cap space ($28.9 million), so they can easily match any offer.

St. Louis Blues Pursuing Bowen Byram

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Bowen Byram has been a fixture in the NHL offseason rumor mill for weeks. He sat atop our June NHL Trade Block Big Board and our July NHL Trade Block Rankings.

A restricted free agent, the defenseman was the subject of speculation suggesting he could sign an offer sheet from a rival club. However, the Sabres prevented that by taking the blueliner to salary arbitration.

Players awaiting arbitration can be traded, and there has been no recent shortage of trade rumors swirling around Byram. The latest was on July 3 from The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford citing a league source claiming the St. Louis Blues were "trying hard" to acquire the 24-year-old.

Rutherford and Matthew Fairburn examined what it would cost the Blues to pull this off. The latter believes it would work if they offered a good young forward like Dylan Holloway or Jake Neighbours, while the former thinks they'd have to include defenseman Justin Faulk in the deal.

BS Meter: Partial BS

The Blues could be interested in acquiring Byram, but Rutherford belives they must move out Faulk to make room. However, the Sabres could be on Faulk's 15-team no-trade list. Ultimately, this deal won't happen if St. Louis won't part with Holloway or Neighbours.

Dougie Hamilton Mentioned in New Jersey Devils' Trade Discussions

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During the July 6 episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman raised the possibility of the New Jersey Devils trading Dougie Hamilton.

The 32-year-old defenseman is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $9 million.

Friedman noted Hamilton's full no-movement clause is now a 10-team trade list, plus the Devils paid him his signing bonus on July 1. He claimed the blueliner's name was mentioned a bit in the trade market, hearing that the Devils had spoken with a couple of teams.

New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols noted the Devils have a plethora of defensemen and GM Tom Fitzgerald wants to acquire depth scoring this summer.

Nichols reminded his readers that promising young Devils blueliners Šimon Nemec and Seamus Casey had been mentioned as trade candidates earlier this season. However, moving Hamilton would free up a significant chunk of salary-cap space.

BS Meter: Not BS

Friedman believes the chances are low that Hamilton is traded. Nevertheless, the change in his trade protection gives the Devils several possible trade partners that could be in the market for an experienced top-two, puck-moving defenseman. Some of them could be among the 13 clubs with over $10 million in cap room.

Could the Maple Leafs Reunite With Nazem Kadri?

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It's been six years since the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche. After winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2022, the center signed a seven-year deal with the Calgary Flames.

The 34-year-old was the subject of some trade speculation last summer, earning a spot on our September 2024 NHL Trade Block Big Board. However, he shot down those rumors at the start of training camp, insisting he enjoyed living and playing in Calgary.

Nevertheless, Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun resurfaced the conjecture with a July 2 column on the possibility of a reunion with the Leafs. He noted they need a top-six forward in the wake of Mitch Marner's departure to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Koshan conceded there was no indication the Flames and Maple Leafs were discussing a Kadri trade. He cited an NHL source saying the 33-year-old center wouldn't use his no-movement clause to block a move to Toronto, but also reiterated that Kadri enjoyed playing in Calgary.

BS Meter: It's BS

Kadri was the Flames' leading scorer last season. He's crucial to their postseason hopes this season. Even if they were willing to part with him, the retooling Flames will want a good young player in return, something the Leafs don't have among their tradeable assets.

Could the New York Rangers Lose Artemi Panarin to Free Agency in 2026?

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Artemi Panarin is in the final season of his seven-year contract with the New York Rangers and will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

That has Larry Brooks of the New York Post concerned that the Rangers might let the gifted playmaker walk away in a year.

On July 2, Brooks noted there's no indication Rangers general manager Chris Drury has opened contract extension talks with Panarin. He believes they can't risk losing him, pointing out that the left winger is the fourth-highest-scoring player in the NHL since joining the Rangers in 2019.

Brooks acknowledged Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30, but he noted the winger's most productive seasons have been in his 30s. He believes an offer of three or four years would be fair.

Panarin has been the Rangers' best player throughout his contract. Brooks suggests that keeping him around could help them entice additional talent.

BS Meter: Not BS

The Rangers can afford to re-sign Panarin on a short-term deal with a slight pay cut to around $10 million annually. However, his future in New York could depend on the Blueshirts' performance in 2025-26. Another missed postseason could lead to his departure to a Stanley Cup contender next July.

Stats via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia.