Gary Bettman is looking at the way no-trade clauses are being used these days and seeing something that has drifted far from the original idea. The commissioner said the league has “gotten past the way no-trade clauses were originally intended,” arguing that these protections were meant to give players who accepted team-friendly deals some long-term security, not a mechanism to steer where they go and when they leave.
He didn’t sound alarmed about one isolated case, but he did make clear that the trend has his attention. In his view, it tilts negotiations too far toward player control and makes trades tougher to pull off, which is hardly ideal for teams or fans.
If this keeps building, it could easily become a larger issue between the league and the Players’ Association.
The Canadiens’ search for Marchenko ran into a different kind of wall. Marchenko wanted to come to Montreal, and there was even interest in the idea of him playing with Ivan Demidov, who shares his agent.
The problem wasn’t enthusiasm on the player’s side. Columbus wanted a young, NHL-ready piece in return, and Montreal simply didn’t have the right asset without giving up too much of its own core.
Toronto, on the other hand, had exactly the type of player Columbus was after in Matthew Knies. Knies was the young, cost-controlled, talented fit that stood out above everyone else, and Toronto added more value by taking on Merzlikins and Wood.
Montreal kept trying to get creative, including the possibility of bringing in a third team, but none of those ideas got close to matching what Toronto could offer. In the end, it was a deal Montreal wanted badly, but couldn’t quite finish.
Then there’s the wild Hellebuyck angle, which at least makes for a fascinating “what if.” Frank Seravalli suggested Hellebuyck may not be as committed to staying in the U.S. as people assumed, which naturally opens the door to speculation about Edmonton.
And the Oilers’ goaltending issues only make the idea more tempting. Jarry gave up six goals in his season debut, and that marked the 10th time in his 12 games as an Oiler that he’s allowed four or more.
Andersen’s return keeps getting pushed further back. At some point, Edmonton has to keep asking whether the problem is ever going away.
The obstacle, though, is a big one: Winnipeg has the leverage. Hellebuyck is suspended without pay, so the Jets don’t have the same pressure to move quickly.
Even if his stance changes, Edmonton doesn’t exactly have the kind of return Winnipeg would want. The Jets would likely be looking for a goalie back, but Jarry has trade protection, Levi is unproven, and Edmonton’s system doesn’t appear to offer much that helps Winnipeg win now.
Still, with McDavid in his prime and the crease still unsettled, it’s the sort of situation that at least deserves a phone call, even if the odds of a real deal are slim.
In Other News...
Sabres Leave Columbus With Two Big Problems Already Showing
The Sabres opening-night trip to Columbus already handed them plenty to sort through, and not just because the scoreboard tilted the wrong way in a 6-3 loss. Buffalo showed some fight after the puck dropped on the 2026-27 season, but the Blue Jackets were able to keep pressing the pace and make the visitors chase the game almost immediately.
One of the few bright spots came from Owen Power, who was active in all three zones and helped drive Buffalos offense, but the bigger concern was in net, where the team did not get the kind of early stability it needed. With a tough schedule coming up, the Sabres are already facing an opening-week test of whether they can clean up the issues that showed up right away in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets May Already Be Moving On From Jake Christiansen
Jake Christiansens night against Buffalo hinted at where he stands in the Blue Jackets defensive picture. Even with Columbus short-handed on the back end, he started with regular shifts and then saw his ice time dry up, a sign the staff was not leaning on him the way it had earlier in the game.
His usage also spoke volumes compared with the rest of the blue line, with Carson Soucy and Emil Andrae getting the larger share of the work as the night went on. The on-ice issues have been there too, from positioning to overall defensive reads, and if healthier options keep coming back, Christiansen may be fighting more than just the game in front of him. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Fans Face A New Reality For Watching This Season
Columbus fans are getting used to a different kind of game-night setup as the Blue Jackets move toward the 2026-27 season. The teams broadcasts are shifting heavily to the team-owned Blue Jackets Hockey Network, and for viewers in the region that means following along through Fubos My Local Sports add-on. Fubo is positioning itself as a one-stop streaming option for sports fans, with access to a range of networks and features like unlimited Cloud DVR, which should make it easier for anyone trying to keep up with a full winter schedule.
The change puts a lot of weight on how fans choose to watch, especially with the team controlling so much of its own TV footprint. For Blue Jackets supporters, the practical question is no longer just whether the game is on, but where its available and which subscription setup makes the most sense over the course of the season. There is still some fine print to sort through for anyone planning ahead, and the details around what comes with the service will matter just as much as the schedule itself. [Read more 🡒]