The Zach Werenski situation has gone from active trade chatter to a full stop, at least for now. Columbus explored options and even put one scenario in front of the defenseman, with Dallas named as the destination, but Werenski turned it down after talking it over with his family.
That kicked off a loud round of speculation, with plenty of teams getting tied to him almost immediately. The volume clearly got to the point where both sides needed to back off and reset.
Werenski now says he’s open to staying put, and he’s not pushing for a move. “As I’ve thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus,” said Werenski.
Still, this doesn’t read like something that’s fully settled. Columbus has bigger decisions ahead, and there’s still real uncertainty about where Werenski ultimately sees his future.
The Capitals are dealing with a different kind of question involving Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s free-agent activity led some to wonder whether his NHL run was over, but GM Chris Patrick says that may not be the case. He told ESPN the team believes it can still make the money work, and a bonus-heavy structure looks like the cleanest path.
There’s also no final word from Ovechkin himself on whether he plans to keep playing. The latest update adds one more wrinkle: the Capitals have signed Ovechkin to a one-year deal with an AAV of $4.25 million and bonuses that will see him make $9 million next season.
Patrick Kane remains another name floating through the rumor mill. One report has a Buffalo deal potentially close, and the fit makes at least some sense on paper: he’s from the area, he’s been linked to the Sabres before, and Buffalo looks more competitive now. With Detroit’s situation also unraveling, the timing is what’s fueling the chatter.
But this one comes with the usual warning label. There are conflicting reports saying Kane could return to the Red Wings, and some have even floated a Chicago reunion, though that sounds unlikely.
Darnell Nurse’s move to San Jose also helps frame how Edmonton handled its own business. Nurse said his time with the Oilers had probably reached its end, and he widened his trade list before settling on a westward move. He initially wanted to go east, but after talking to people he trusted, the message was consistent: ‘San Jose was a perfect fit.’
Edmonton’s approach was deliberate. The Oilers didn’t want to keep salary on the books, and they waited until they had a deal that gave them the flexibility they wanted on the first day of free agency. Ryan Shea had already been on their radar before the Nurse trade was completed, which is why that signing came just minutes after the move.
The Oilers also added Devon Levi in a trade with Buffalo and signed Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal. Before Andersen arrived, Stan Bowman was asked what that meant for Tristan Jarry, and he said Jarry will be back next season. That leaves Edmonton in a crowded spot, especially with Levi needing waivers, which he won’t clear.
So the Oilers are sitting on a goalie situation that’s hard to ignore: three capable options, and a combined cap hit of a little over $7 million. Whether that’s a short-term competition or a setup for more movement is still the open question.
In Other News...
Sabres Quietly Made A Goalie Move Fans Did Not See Coming
Buffalos offseason roster management kept taking shape around the margins, with the Sabres making a series of moves that added depth and trimmed decisions at a time when the club is still trying to sort out the edges of its roster. Among the more notable developments was the decision to move on from goalie Devon Levi, a transaction that fit into a broader stretch of business that also included a new deal for defenseman Olen Zellweger and fresh one-year agreements for former Sabres Dennis Gilbert and Conor Sheary.
The overall picture has been one of a team working methodically rather than making a splash, layering in AHL help with Jason Polin and Trevor Kuntar while keeping an eye on the bigger question of how the roster will look once the dust settles. For a Buffalo group coming off a playoff run, the pace of the summer has suggested patience, but the Levi move in particular stands out as the kind of decision that can say a lot about where the organization thinks it is headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Make Another Low-Risk Forward Bet With Something To Prove
The Sabres added another winger with something to prove, bringing in Aidan McDonough on a one-year, two-way deal as they continue to stock the organization with low-cost depth options. McDonough, 26, arrives after putting together his best pro season in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he showed some finishing ability and enough consistency to put himself back on the radar.
For Buffalo, the appeal is straightforward: a modest commitment, a player with NHL experience in the background, and a forward who has spent time at both the pro and college levels trying to force his way into a bigger role. McDonough was a Canucks draft pick in 2019 and has already had a small taste of the NHL, but the next step now is less about resume and more about whether he can turn another strong year in the minors into a longer look. [Read more 🡒]