The NHL’s early-season trade chatter has already started to tighten around a few familiar pressure points: goaltending in New York, depth on Toronto’s blue line, and an Edmonton lineup that suddenly has more good options than available spots.
For the Rangers, the issue is as urgent as it gets. Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, and Darren Dreger reported New York has “kicked tires” on Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz.
The Rangers have also checked in on Jordan Binnington, Philipp Grubauer and Sam Montembeault. Chris Drury isn’t rushing into the first answer that appears, though.
There’s still a wait-and-see element with Dylan Garand, and Hellebuyck is not in the picture because $20 million in two goalies would be too much once Shesterkin returns. That leaves the Rangers looking for something cheaper and shorter-term.
Toronto may be headed in the opposite direction, at least if Chris Tanev’s absence keeps stretching out. The Maple Leafs came out of their road trip with three points, and Jim Hiller said they could have had five.
More concerning is what’s happening on the back end: Toronto has allowed 19 goals over its last five games, and with Tanev on injured reserve and no timeline for a return, the defence is thin. The Leafs also don’t have the appetite for a big swing, so any move is more likely to be practical than flashy.
The Athletic’s reporting pointed to three possibilities. Chicago’s Ian Cole looks like the cleanest fit, a veteran shutdown option on an expiring deal.
Calgary’s Zach Whitecloud would cost more because he’s not just a rental. Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen was mentioned as the long shot, and his injury status makes that even less straightforward.
Tanev is in the third year of a six-year contract, and the situation may end up raising questions that go beyond this season.
Then there’s Edmonton, where the problem is a much happier one. Connor McDavid marked his 800th NHL game with a four-point performance, and with 17 points in six games he leads the league.
The Oilers beat the Kings 4-1 to stretch their winning streak to five, but Vasily Podkolzin made sure the night wasn’t only about McDavid. He scored twice, now has seven goals in six games, and has been riding alongside McDavid and Draisaitl on a line that’s clicking hard.
That makes him a lot more than a depth placeholder.
The timing creates a real lineup puzzle. Zach Hyman is close to coming back, and he’s long been a fixture with McDavid.
So now the question is whether Babcock keeps the hot trio intact, slides Hyman back where he’s been so effective, or changes the power play and leaves the even-strength mix alone. For now, Babcock’s view is simple: “life’s good” for now.
Edmonton’s home date with Utah on Thursday should tell us a lot more about how this all settles in.
In Other News...
Oilers Linked To Bold Tom Wilson Idea With One Big Catch
The Oilers have a familiar kind of offseason daydream attached to them again, this time involving a player whose style would fit their needs in a very obvious way. Tom Wilson brings size, edge and enough offensive punch to change the tone of a lineup, which is exactly why a right-shot winger of his type gets linked to a team like Edmonton when people start sketching out bold trade possibilities.
The catch is that the path to even making the idea workable runs through another club and another need entirely, with Tristan Jarry and the Rangers entering the picture because of their unsettled goaltending situation. Washington would also have to be open to considering Wilson only if its season went sideways, and even then the framework described is still just speculation, with draft picks and prospects part of the conversation but no confirmed trade talks to hang it on yet. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Fans Are Dreaming Big About One Rumored Flyers Blockbuster
A trade rumor making the rounds on social media has given Oilers fans plenty to chew on, with one proposed blockbuster sending Isaac Howard, a 2028 first-round pick and a third-round pick to Philadelphia for Matvei Michkov. It is the kind of idea that instantly grabs attention in Edmonton, where any chance to add a young, high-end talent naturally gets a second look, especially when the price appears to involve future assets and a prospect already drawing interest.
Still, the source behind the chatter is unverified, and there is no evidence the Oilers and Flyers have actually discussed anything along these lines. That has left most of the reaction in familiar territory for rumor season, with plenty of skepticism about the credibility of the report and plenty of debate over what such a move would mean for both clubs if it ever moved beyond social media speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Face An Early Test With One Lineup Choice Looming
The Oilers return to Rogers Place with Utah on the schedule, and the attention is not just on the opponent but on how Edmonton chooses to line up around it. The game brings another chance to sort through the numbers, the recent form, and the possible line combinations that could shape the night, especially with matchups likely to matter early and often.
Edmonton has spent plenty of time weighing how best to deploy its forwards, and this one feels like an early test of how the coaching staff wants to balance skill, pace, and matchup responsibility. Even the broader conversation around the team has been lively, with a recent sports talk show breaking down a range of topics, but for the Oilers the immediate focus is simpler: which lineup choice they make before puck drop, and what it says about how they want to attack Utah. [Read more 🡒]