The NHL’s latest trade chatter brought a little of everything on September 24, 2026: a depth pickup in goal for Ottawa, a lingering name to watch in Edmonton, and a salary-cap jump that could reshape the league’s spending power in a big way.
Ottawa addressed a hole in its goaltending depth by landing Jonas Johansson from Tampa Bay for future considerations. It’s a modest move, but one that fits the moment.
Johansson posted a .884 save percentage in 25 games last season, and while those numbers don’t jump off the page, he brings plenty of NHL mileage after stops in Buffalo, Colorado, Florida, and Tampa. He has already cleared waivers, so Ottawa gets him without any extra hassle.
The Senators needed the help after losing Leevi Meriläinen on waivers to Vancouver. That left a vacancy, and Johansson slides in as a low-cost answer. It’s not the kind of transaction that changes a team’s ceiling, but it does plug a real depth issue before the season gets rolling.
The bigger buzz around the league is still centered on Kirby Dach. He’s currently battling for a spot in Montreal, and Edmonton’s interest has been tied to him for months.
The obvious assumption was that the Oilers wanted to pair him with his brother, Colton, in their hometown. But Frank Seravalli says that isn’t the real reason Edmonton is circling.
According to Seravalli, the key figure is Stan Bowman, who drafted Dach third overall in Chicago and still believes injuries have been the main thing standing between Dach and a much higher level of play. Edmonton and Calgary have both reportedly been waiting on Montreal, hoping the Canadiens’ asking price eventually comes down.
Montreal, though, is not expected to simply hand him over. The Canadiens sent a clear signal this summer when they turned Dach’s qualifying offer into a two-way deal, a move that suggests the team wanted to push his price down.
Dach has said he isn’t feeling added pressure and is focused on the basics. Still, with Edmonton apparently ready to strike if the opportunity opens up, this is a situation that could pop at any point - this season, at the deadline, or even in free agency.
Then comes the financial news, and it’s the kind that could change how the league does business for years. Elliotte Friedman reported that the salary cap is projected to rise from $104 million this season to $127.5 million by 2028-29. That’s a $23 million increase in three years, and it’s a massive shift for a league that has spent years working within tighter limits.
Gary Bettman pegged league revenue at about $8.1 billion for the coming season, and that growth is driving the cap spike. For teams already spending big on young stars - Anaheim, San Jose, and Colorado with Carlsson, Celebrini, and Makar - the extra room is a huge relief. Edmonton also stands to benefit, especially with McDavid’s contract set to expire after 2027-28, right as the cap could be climbing to a much higher level.
On the other side of the ledger, smaller-market clubs that already struggle to reach the cap floor are going to feel even more pressure. The takeaway is simple: bigger contracts are coming, and the numbers attached to them may get eye-opening fast.
In Other News...
Bruins Are Suddenly In A Crowded Race For A Scorer
The market for scoring help is getting crowded fast, and the Oilers are right in the middle of it. Edmonton has been linked to Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach, while Kirill Marchenko is also drawing attention from several clubs, including Edmonton, Toronto and Boston, as teams keep looking for a forward who can tilt a lineup a little more. With no trades announced yet, the interest around the league is starting to feel like a race before anyone has even hit the finish line.
There is plenty else moving in the background, too, with Dylan Larkin broadening his trade request list and the Canadiens reportedly eyeing Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele for their own depth needs. For Edmonton, the challenge is the same one a lot of contenders face this time of year: identifying the right scorer, then finding a way to separate from a packed field of bidders before the market thins out. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Keep Circling Kirby Dach And This Rumor May Not Fade
Kirby Dachs name keeps coming up around the Oilers, and the timing makes sense with Edmonton always looking for ways to add more size and skill down the middle. The Montreal Canadiens forward is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but his long-term fit in Montreal has been a talking point for a while, especially as he works to re-establish himself after an injury-riddled stretch and push for a steady role in the lineup.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that both Edmonton and Calgary have shown real interest in Dach, with the Oilers viewed as especially aggressive in their pursuit. For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious: a player still young enough to fit a core timeline, with enough upside to make the chase worth monitoring whether it happens before the season, at the trade deadline, or later if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]
McDavid Chatter Is Fueling The Fear Oilers Fans Dread Most
A fresh round of Connor McDavid speculation has only added to the anxiety around the Oilers, with his long-term future again becoming a talking point far beyond Edmonton. On a recent episode of OverDrive, the conversation turned to what might come after his current two-year contract extension, and the range of opinions from the panel reflected just how little certainty exists right now.
The chatter matters because it is tied to the one question Oilers fans know can reshape everything: whether team success will be enough to keep McDavid in Edmonton once this deal runs its course. No firm answer came out of the discussion, only more fuel for a debate that will linger as long as the Oilers remain in contention and McDavids future stays unresolved. [Read more 🡒]