The NHL trade chatter had a little bit of everything on October 29, 2026: a possible reunion in Edmonton, a standoff in Detroit, and a rough night in Seattle that left Toronto sorting through the good and the bad.
For the Oilers, the name floating around is Evander Kane. Edmonton is kicking around the idea of bringing him back as a bottom-six piece, even a fourth-liner, though nobody is reporting any real interest yet.
Because he’s a free agent, the move wouldn’t cost the Oilers a pick or a prospect, and the appeal is easy to see. Kane still has size, a knack around the net, and he posted 13 goals and 31 points in Vancouver last year.
He also delivered in Edmonton’s 2025 playoff run, scoring six goals and 12 points in 21 games.
But the question with Kane has never just been about what he can do. It’s about everything else.
He picked up 92 penalty minutes last season, and the concern is that one unnecessary penalty can undo a string of solid shifts. There are also doubts about his speed and whether he’d be willing to accept a much smaller role.
If the price stays low, the minutes stay modest and the discipline holds, it could make sense.
Detroit’s situation with Dylan Larkin has turned into a full-on standoff. His agent, Pat Brisson, said Larkin won’t play for the Red Wings again until he’s traded, and the team responded by suspending him without pay.
That’s costing him about $41,000 a day. GM Shawn Horcoff said the Red Wings will continue exploring trade options, but any deal still has to fit their long-term plans.
Minnesota is reportedly sitting on one of the stronger offers, with Washington, Utah and New Jersey also in the mix. For now, it sounds like a waiting game, and Detroit doesn’t appear ready to give in.
Toronto’s night in Seattle came with a little of everything too, just not enough of the right things. The Maple Leafs fell 5-4 to the Kraken, even though Gavin McKenna was excellent, scoring two power-play goals and finishing with three points. He also helped set up Auston Matthews’ tying goal with 1:30 left.
The Leafs did plenty right in the box score. They out-shot Seattle and out-hit the Kraken. But allowing five goals on 17 shots is hard to spin, and Brandon Montour’s goal with about 30 seconds left was the kind of finish that stings for a while.
The broader concern is consistency. Only two of Toronto’s seven wins have come when the team scored fewer than five goals, and the forward lines still aren’t fully settled without Tavares and Marchenko.
Saturday’s trip to Vancouver to face the 3-10-1 Canucks looks straightforward on paper, but those are exactly the kinds of games that can turn sideways fast. Clean up the turnovers, and Toronto should be fine.
In Other News...
Oilers Trade Search Could Come Down To One Crucial Center Decision
The Oilers search for help at center appears to be narrowing around a very specific type of player: someone with size, some edge and enough versatility to deepen the middle of the lineup. Reports from Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman have connected Edmonton to a handful of possibilities, including Matthew Rempe, Quinton Byfield, Kirby Dach and Shane Wright, a mix that shows how widely the club is casting its net while it looks for a better fit down the middle.
Theres a different level of intrigue attached to the younger names on that list, especially given the way trade chatter has swirled around them. For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious - a center who can bring physicality without sacrificing upside - but the question may be which player actually becomes available and at what price. Until that becomes clearer, the Oilers pursuit feels like it could hinge on one major decision that still sits just out of view. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Got Tied To A Concerning Flames Injury Update
The Oilers will have a little more than just the scoreline to monitor after their latest meeting with Calgary, because the Flames came out of that game with a significant injury update in net. Devin Cooley has been ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury, with the setback coming after he was hurt during the game against Edmonton in a collision with Colton Dach.
Calgary is also dealing with more than one absence at the moment, as Brennan Othmann is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and Connor Zary is recovering from knee surgery. For Edmonton, it is the kind of cross-rival ripple effect that can linger beyond one night, especially when an opponent is suddenly forced to reshuffle its depth and goaltending plans. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Walman Already Has Oilers Fans Watching One Uncomfortable Roster Question
Jake Walmans arrival was supposed to give the Oilers another experienced option on the blue line, but the early read has been anything but settled. He was the extra defenseman at Fridays practice, which has only added to the sense that Edmonton is still sorting out where he fits in the lineup and how quickly he can become a reliable part of the rotation.
The bigger concern is that this is no longer just about adding depth on paper. There are already questions about Walmans positioning and whether he can earn steady trust from the coaching staff, and another scratch would only sharpen that discussion for a team trying to keep its defensive structure intact while balancing the rest of the roster around him. [Read more 🡒]