The Carolina Hurricanes took the biggest hit in this latest round of NHL news, but there’s plenty of movement and tension elsewhere too. Philadelphia’s early-season stumble is starting to raise harder questions about Travis Konecny, Toronto is still kicking tires on defense, Chicago is about to get its captain back, and Carolina now has to manage without Jordan Staal for a while.
For the Flyers, the concern is no longer just the record. An 0-5-2 start to the 2026-27 season has put the whole operation under pressure, and veteran winger Travis Konecny has emerged as a name to watch if the slide keeps going. The organization is not expected to entertain offers on its young core, but Konecny is different enough to be part of the discussion if Philadelphia stays buried near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco reported that frustration is growing around Konecny’s overall influence on games. The issue, according to sources cited by Di Marco, is that the 29-year-old can disappear when he isn’t scoring or agitating opponents, and his puck decisions and turnovers have also come under scrutiny.
Konecny is in the second season of an eight-year, $70 million extension and has three assists in five games this year. If the Flyers decide they need a shake-up, one possibility would be asking whether he’d waive his no-movement clause.
With Rick Tocchet reportedly safe, a trade may be the more realistic lever.
Toronto, meanwhile, appears to be keeping its options open on the blue line. The Maple Leafs sit at 3-2-1 through six games, but general manager John Chayka may not be done reshaping the roster. NHL insider David Pagnotta reported that Toronto has explored a possible move for Calgary Flames defenceman Zach Whitecloud.
Pagnotta said the Leafs’ previous management group had a strong interest in the right-shot defender, and that the current front office may still see him as a fit. Whitecloud has not produced a point in five games this season for a Calgary team that has struggled out of the gate.
He arrived with the Flames in January 2026 as part of the return for Rasmus Andersson, and this is his first full season in Calgary. Toronto is said to like the physical bite Whitecloud brings, though Montreal has also been loosely connected to him in trade chatter.
In Chicago, help is on the way. The Blackhawks have opened the year with just one win in six games and sit last in the Central Division, but Connor Bedard is close to returning.
Bedard has been out since an injury during an offseason training session, leaving Chicago without its top offensive piece to start the season. According to Elliotte Friedman, head coach Jeff Blashill said Bedard was expected back Tuesday.
Bedard sounded ready to get moving again after missing training camp. “I’m pumped.
It’s crazy, it’s only been six games. When you miss camp and you miss preseason and everything, it feels like a lot longer.
Just to be back with the guys and get to do what I love, it’s exciting.”
Carolina’s situation is more severe. Jordan Staal will miss up to two months after suffering a calf tear during warm-up, and Rod Brind’Amour called it a freak injury. The head coach said the veteran center could be out anywhere from one to two months, leaving the Hurricanes without one of their most trusted two-way players and one of their top leaders.
Staal’s value runs beyond the scoresheet. His defensive work, penalty-killing ability and faceoff presence have long made him a stabilizing force in the lineup. Brind’Amour expects Carolina to recall a forward to help cover the loss, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi is available to handle middle duties.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Suddenly Face An Early Test They Did Not Want
Jordan Staals absence lands as a jarring early-season hurdle for a Carolina group that usually prides itself on stability down the middle. Rod BrindAmour confirmed the captain will miss one to two months with a calf tear, and the Hurricanes are already adjusting their forward structure around it, with Mark Jankowski moving to a new line and expected to stay there.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has also been shifted back to center as Carolina tries to keep its balance intact through the stretch ahead. In goal, Pyotr Kochetkov is projected to start against the Washington Capitals, another small sign that the Hurricanes are trying to steady the ship while one of their most important leaders is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Suddenly Have A Bigger Taylor Hall Concern
Taylor Hall has quickly become part of the Hurricanes early-season equation, working on the top line and producing five points in seven games. So when he exited against the Capitals with an upper-body injury, it immediately raised the kind of concern Carolina did not need this early in the schedule.
The bigger issue now is how long the Hurricanes might have to get by without him. If Hall is sidelined beyond this game, the organization may need to look to Chicago for reinforcements, with Bradly Nadeau or Felix Unger Sorum among the options to be recalled. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Fast Start Is Being Fueled By Unexpected Names
The Hurricanes early push has come with a few expected stars doing their part, but the bigger surprise has been the lift from some lower-profile additions and depth pieces. Carolina is 5-1-1 through seven games and riding a five-game winning streak, with Sean Walker, Mark Jankowski and William Carrier all giving the lineup a boost in different ways. Walker has settled in quickly on the blue line, Carrier has chipped in five assists, and the overall start has helped the Hurricanes build momentum without needing every answer to come from the usual names.
Jankowski has been the most eye-catching of the bunch, finding the net in a way that has given Carolina a useful scoring layer deeper in the roster. Walkers passing has also stood out, including one especially productive night that showed just how much offense he can add when the game opens up. For a team trying to keep its fast start rolling, the encouraging part is not just that these players are contributing, but that they are doing it in ways that can change the look of the Hurricanes attack. [Read more 🡒]