The Zach Werenski situation has gone from active trade chatter to a full stop, at least for now. Columbus explored options and even put one scenario in front of the defenseman, with Dallas named as the destination, but Werenski turned it down after talking it over with his family.
That kicked off a loud round of speculation, with plenty of teams getting tied to him almost immediately. The volume clearly got to the point where both sides needed to back off and reset.
Werenski now says he’s open to staying put, and he’s not pushing for a move. “As I’ve thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus,” said Werenski.
Still, this doesn’t read like something that’s fully settled. Columbus has bigger decisions ahead, and there’s still real uncertainty about where Werenski ultimately sees his future.
The Capitals are dealing with a different kind of question involving Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s free-agent activity led some to wonder whether his NHL run was over, but GM Chris Patrick says that may not be the case. He told ESPN the team believes it can still make the money work, and a bonus-heavy structure looks like the cleanest path.
There’s also no final word from Ovechkin himself on whether he plans to keep playing. The latest update adds one more wrinkle: the Capitals have signed Ovechkin to a one-year deal with an AAV of $4.25 million and bonuses that will see him make $9 million next season.
Patrick Kane remains another name floating through the rumor mill. One report has a Buffalo deal potentially close, and the fit makes at least some sense on paper: he’s from the area, he’s been linked to the Sabres before, and Buffalo looks more competitive now. With Detroit’s situation also unraveling, the timing is what’s fueling the chatter.
But this one comes with the usual warning label. There are conflicting reports saying Kane could return to the Red Wings, and some have even floated a Chicago reunion, though that sounds unlikely.
Darnell Nurse’s move to San Jose also helps frame how Edmonton handled its own business. Nurse said his time with the Oilers had probably reached its end, and he widened his trade list before settling on a westward move. He initially wanted to go east, but after talking to people he trusted, the message was consistent: ‘San Jose was a perfect fit.’
Edmonton’s approach was deliberate. The Oilers didn’t want to keep salary on the books, and they waited until they had a deal that gave them the flexibility they wanted on the first day of free agency. Ryan Shea had already been on their radar before the Nurse trade was completed, which is why that signing came just minutes after the move.
The Oilers also added Devon Levi in a trade with Buffalo and signed Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal. Before Andersen arrived, Stan Bowman was asked what that meant for Tristan Jarry, and he said Jarry will be back next season. That leaves Edmonton in a crowded spot, especially with Levi needing waivers, which he won’t clear.
So the Oilers are sitting on a goalie situation that’s hard to ignore: three capable options, and a combined cap hit of a little over $7 million. Whether that’s a short-term competition or a setup for more movement is still the open question.
In Other News...
Oilers Goalie Situation Just Took Another Frustrating Turn
Connor Ingrams lone season in Edmonton has become part of a much larger summer scramble in net, with the Oilers still searching for answers after their talks with the veteran goalie failed to produce a new deal. The market has already started to sort itself out around the club, and Edmonton has been tied to a handful of different options as it tries to settle on a direction before the rest of the goalie carousel slows down.
Among the names linked to the Oilers are Sebastian Cossa, Devon Levi and Sergei Bobrovsky, a list that underscores just how wide the teams search has become. Ingram, meanwhile, is also drawing attention elsewhere, including from Ottawa as a possible backup option, leaving Edmonton to keep weighing its alternatives while one of last seasons familiar faces moves toward another stop. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Add Mathieu Joseph And Fans Will Debate What It Means
The Oilers kept busy on the roster front again, this time adding Mathieu Joseph on a one-year deal that gives the club another NHL-tested forward to sort into the mix. Joseph arrives with plenty of mileage on his rsum, having played 471 games in the league, and his path through St. Louis and Los Angeles last season only adds to the sense that Edmonton is still looking for useful pieces wherever it can find them.
For a team that has already layered in a string of other moves, Joseph is the kind of signing that invites debate because it says something about both fit and intent. Edmonton still has cap room to work with, but the real question now is how this latest addition slots into the larger plan as the Oilers continue reshaping the bottom of the lineup and trying to make each move count. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Made A Goaltending Gamble That Could Change Everything
The Oilers have taken another swing at solving the one area that has haunted too many of their recent runs, signing Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal and adding Devon Levi in a move that signals a real reset in net. Andersen comes in on a modest salary with performance bonuses attached, while Levi arrives as a younger piece with upside, giving Edmonton a different kind of depth chart heading toward the 2026-27 season.
What makes the decision interesting is the structure around it, because Edmonton is not treating this as a simple starter-and-backup arrangement. The plan is to carry Andersen, Levi and Tristan Jarry in a three-goalie setup, a rare approach for a team trying to build stability rather than just patch a hole, and it leaves the Oilers with plenty to sort out before opening night of that season. [Read more 🡒]