The Oilers are kicking around a different look on the power play, and that opens the door - at least in theory - to a name that would raise eyebrows in Edmonton: Patrik Laine.
Mike Babcock’s idea is to spread the offence around instead of leaning so heavily on McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard. That kind of adjustment could make the second unit matter more, and if Edmonton wants another weapon in that mix, Laine is the kind of player who naturally comes up.
It still feels like a long shot, especially given his history with Babcock, but Laine has reportedly spoken positively about Babcock since his removal. The investigation details were never fully public, and if both sides are looking for a fresh start, Laine could be a cheap second power-play option.
The catch is obvious: his 5-on-5 impact would be a question, and his role would have to stay very defined.
In Toronto, the coaching staff is getting a major shake-up, and the biggest headline is Daniel Alfredsson joining as an associate coach. The expectation is that he’ll move into the associate head coach role. The Maple Leafs also brought in John Gruden and Brad Werenka, while Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde are out for next season.
It’s the kind of move that instantly grabs attention because Alfredsson’s name carries so much weight in the long Leafs-Sens storyline. Friedman called it strange to see the legendary Senators captain land with an arch-rival, and that’s putting it mildly. Toronto says his leadership and hockey background will be central to the staff, but there’s no mistaking how that move lands in Ottawa.
The Senators, meanwhile, made sure Claude Giroux isn’t going anywhere. Ottawa has signed him to a one-year deal with about $2 million in base salary and as much as $3 million more in performance bonuses. Negotiations reportedly gained momentum over the last day, and the result keeps Giroux in the fold.
For the Senators, it’s a tidy piece of business. Giroux gives them leadership, steady two-way play, and a veteran presence for a young core built around Stützle, Chabot, Sanderson, and others. The contract structure keeps things flexible while preserving that experience in the room, and Ottawa clearly sees value in keeping him around as it keeps pushing toward real playoff runs.
In Other News...
What Oilers Fans Keep Getting Wrong About Prospect Projections
A lot of the noise around Oilers prospects comes from the same place: fans want the upside case, while draft-year equivalencies are usually trying to strip away the hype and compare players on a more level scale. Looking back over the past 20 years, that method has been a useful reminder that age and playing level matter just as much as raw production when projecting what a young player might become in the NHL.
For Edmonton, that lens puts players like Ike Howard and Matt Savoie in a more grounded light, with Howard looking like a strong prospect but not a sure thing and Savoie already tracking close to what the numbers suggested. It also helps explain why some names can look modest at draft time and still end up relevant later, which is why the next wave of evaluation around the organization is going to be about more than just who scored the most in junior. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Fans Have Every Reason To Worry About Frederik Andersen
The Oilers went looking for stability in net this summer and landed Frederik Andersen after sending Devon Levi the other way, a move aimed at cleaning up one of the biggest problems from a disappointing 2025-26 season. On paper, Andersen brings a proven track record, but his most recent run also came with some uneasy numbers, including a .875 save percentage across 35 games and a stretch that left evaluators wondering whether he was still tracking pucks the way he once did.
What makes the fit in Edmonton worth watching is how much of goaltending can be shaped by what happens in front of the crease. Andersens results were tied to a defense that helped suppress shots, and the Oilers are entering 2026-27 with changes on that side of the puck that could either make him look steadier or expose the same concerns all over again. For a team that already spent a season searching for answers in goal, there is still plenty here to worry about before the first real test arrives. [Read more 🡒]