Edmonton Oilers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

NHL Rumors: McDavid, Klingberg, Oilers, Canadiens, Hurricanes

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 3:48 PM ET

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Connor McDavid returned from injury, but John Klingberg was placed on LTIR by the Edmonton Oilers, likely ending his season and run with the team. Meanwhile, did the Montreal Canadiens almost not draft Ivan Demidov? An insider walked through a couple of trade scenarios that almost led to Demidov being someone else’s selection. Are the Carolina Hurricanes working to bring Alexander Nikishin over? Finally, the hockey world lost two important figures this week.

Oilers Place Klingberg on LTIR

The Oilers announced on Thursday that they have placed defenseman John Klingberg on LTIR, effectively ending his season. While there is a chance he returns for the playoffs, that seems unlikely unless the depth on the roster suffers additional losses.

Trying to explain how and why the Oilers were able to make this move so late in the season, Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 and Puck Pedia both provided an explanation. As per Puck Pedia:

“Klingberg was eligible for LTIR because from his last game played #Letsgooilers had 24 days until start of playoffs & 10 games remaining. By gaining Klingberg’s $1.76M cap hit as space in LTIR, Philp is automatically converted from $0 emergency exception cap hit to his full 775k. Now have $1.3M space remaining in LTIR.”

Gregor also notes that Jake Walman might play on Friday. He did not suit up for the Oilers as a late scratch against the Blues, and he is day-to-day, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. If not Friday, Walman shouldn’t miss any more time than that. Knoblauch also wasn’t sure what the forward lines would be, given all the players who might return from injury.

Canadiens Were Close to Not Landing Demidov

As Elliotte Friedman wrote in his 32 Thoughts column, following the news that the Canadiens signed Ivan Demidov, it surfaced that there were “two aborted trades at last year’s draft that could have changed history.”

The Chicago Blackhawks offered to trade their 2026 first-rounder (unprotected) for the fourth pick, which the Columbus Blue Jackets ultimately turned down. Second, the Canadiens attempted to acquire Trevor Zegras in a trade that never materialized. Friedman writes, “I suspect it’s because the Canadiens changed their minds when they realized Demidov would fall to five — although they were not offering that particular pick in the Zegras deal.”

Hurricanes Trying to Get Alexander Nikishin to the NHL

Friedman also reports that the Carolina Hurricanes are working on getting Alexander Nikishin to the NHL. “Tripp Tracy said during the broadcast of Tuesday’s 3-0 Carolina loss in Buffalo that the Hurricanes are talking with Nikishin’s reps every day.”

Reports are that SKA has agreed to release the defenseman for the remainder of the season. The player will sign a two-year entry-level contract that will expire after the 2025/26 season.

Ray Shero and Greg Millen Pass Away

This has been a rough week in the NHL, as the industry lost two important people: Ray Shero and Greg Millen. We offer our condolences to their friends and family.

Millen played 14 seasons as a goaltender in the National Hockey League for six teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings. He appeared in more than 600 regular-season games.

Shero worked in the NHL for more than 30 seasons, most notably as the GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild. He won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009 and was named GM of the Year in 2012-13. He was also a key contributor in USA Hockey.