The Ryan O’Reilly situation in Nashville is the kind of trade storyline that can sit quietly for months and then suddenly take over a season. According to Elliotte Friedman, O’Reilly’s name is now one of the bigger ones to watch. Teams have been trying to pry him out of Nashville for more than two years, but he never had written trade protection - only a verbal promise from the Predators, and they’ve kept their word.
What makes this worth watching now is the calendar. O’Reilly is in the final year of his deal, and if Nashville makes it clear there won’t be an extension, that changes the entire picture.
Nobody is expecting a move immediately, but the possibility is real enough to track closely, especially if the Predators stumble out of the gate. O’Reilly has built up plenty of respect around the league, and if he’s already looking at a likely move next year anyway, it would make sense for him to want control over where that happens.
A chance to chase another Cup with a contender would be hard to ignore. For now, Nashville is expected to honor its word.
But this is the kind of thing that can flip quickly once the results start coming in.
In Edmonton, Mike Babcock is making a different kind of call with Tristan Jarry. Despite Devon Levi’s strong outing against Calgary, Babcock is going back to Jarry against the Canucks.
That decision isn’t about one game, though. It’s about giving Jarry a real runway after a difficult year.
Babcock liked what he saw from him in preseason, and he pointed to the work Jarry put in on his conditioning over the summer. He also said the second preseason game stood out, when Jarry was under siege and held his ground.
The matchup itself also matters. Vancouver is the sort of opponent the Oilers should beat, which makes this a clean spot for Jarry to try to build confidence without the pressure being overwhelming.
Edmonton has a backup plan, too. Devon Levi is ready whenever he’s needed, and Frederik Andersen is getting closer, with a return expected by late October.
So if Jarry doesn’t seize the moment, there are other options waiting. But the message is clear: the Oilers want to see whether he can still be their guy, and this is a useful game to find out.
The biggest surprise in the Marchenko chase may be just how much ground Toronto covered while staying out of the spotlight. Montreal was in on him for months, with interest going back to June, but the Canadiens never put together the kind of offer Columbus wanted. The Blue Jackets were looking for a real immediate-impact player, and any Montreal package would have required Demidov, Slafkovský, or Caufield - a price the Habs weren’t willing to pay.
Toronto had the exact type of piece Columbus wanted in Matthew Knies, and that changed everything. While Montreal was pushing hard, the Leafs kept their interest quiet and ended up with the stronger fit.
Columbus also had no real urgency to move Marchenko, with GM Don Waddell not eager to deal him while the Jackets hoped to compete this season. Still, Toronto got there by combining the Knies offer with willingness to take on Merzlikins and Wood.
Marchenko’s relationship with coach Rick Bowness had reportedly become tense, which added another layer to the situation.
There was also a personal piece to the story. Marchenko would have been happy to go to Montreal without hesitation, but he was reportedly less certain about Toronto at first. Even so, he clearly came around once the deal started taking shape.
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Edmonton was staring at a 5-2 deficit late in the third period before dragging the game level and forcing extra time, which is exactly the kind of opener that leaves a fan base with equal parts frustration and intrigue. The defense generated rare headline-making offense, the rally showed real fight, and the overtime loss ensured there will be plenty for the Oilers to sort through before the next one. [Read more 🡒]
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Oilers Trade Search Is Suddenly Focused On A Crucial Center Need
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What makes the hunt especially interesting is how thin the depth chart looks at that spot. Edmonton has only one right-shot centre under contract, Owen Michaels, who cracked the opening night roster, so the front office has real incentive to keep digging for a fit. Montreals Kirby Dach and former top prospect Shane Wright are among the names in the mix, which suggests the Oilers are looking for more than a stopgap as they try to solve a position that can shape the rest of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]