In Vancouver, the buzz around Caleb Malhotra is already starting to sound familiar.
That kind of energy hasn’t shown up around the Canucks all that often lately, but fans are clearly buying in after Vancouver took him third overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. The comparison isn’t to say he is Quinn Hughes, but the reaction feels similar: a prospect arrives, and suddenly the future looks a little less uncertain.
Malhotra is drawing that attention because of his skill, hockey IQ, and maturity, and he also comes with a local connection. He was born in Victoria and raised in British Columbia.
There’s also a chance fans see him at the 2027 World Juniors before he ever gets to the NHL.
In Edmonton, the conversation is still centered on the same familiar theme: how far the Oilers are willing to push their Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl window.
That’s where Steven Stamkos enters the picture. If Nashville decides to move younger, the veteran scorer could be the kind of name Edmonton targets in a major swing.
The proposed deal has the Oilers landing Stamkos with $2 million retained, while the Predators would get Trent Frederic, Beau Akey, Quinn Hutson, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick. It’s a massive package, but the logic is simple enough: Edmonton goes all-in now, while Nashville gets a return that could fit a longer reset.
And in Chicago, Patrick Kane’s return is being framed as more than nostalgia.
His agent said Kane didn’t rush the process. He slowed things down, chose his timing carefully, and came away with the sense that Chicago’s interest was serious from the start.
About 10 teams checked in early, but Kane waited a few days while the Blackhawks kept in steady contact with him and his representatives. The result was an $8 million AAV deal with a full no-movement clause, a clear sign Chicago believes Kane still has plenty left and can help Connor Bedard right away as the Blackhawks try to take the next step.
In Other News...
Oilers Win Now Wishlist Is Starting To Come Into Focus
The Oilers long-term shopping list is already starting to take shape, and it is built around the same kind of win-now logic that has defined so much of the conversation in Edmonton. With a 2027 free-agency window in mind, the idea is less about fantasy names and more about identifying players who could actually be available, fit the roster and push the team closer to another playoff run. That makes the exercise feel practical even if it is still firmly in the speculative stage.
Jason Robertson, Alex Debrincat, Vince Dunn and Jordan Binnington all surface as the sort of targets that could move the needle if the right circumstances line up. Robertson would require a lot of cap maneuvering, Debrincat carries the appeal of a long-standing fit, Dunn would answer a need on the back end and Binnington would only enter the picture if Edmonton keeps searching for stability in goal. None of it is imminent, but the list says plenty about where the Oilers are already trying to position themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Landed On The Wrong End Of An Oilers Night Fans Wont Forget
The Oilers 2025-26 season had its share of uneven stretches, but January gave them a run of nights that stood out even in a year that ended with a first-round playoff exit. Connor Clattenburgs NHL debut added a fresh prospect storyline to the mix, while an eight-game homestand turned into one of the most memorable offensive bursts of the season, highlighted by back-to-back hat tricks from defensemen Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm.
Bouchards big night came in a wild overtime win, and Ekholm followed two days later with a three-goal performance against Anaheim that capped the kind of blue-line scoring binge few teams ever see. Edmonton also finally strung together its first three-game winning streak late in the year, a small but notable sign of momentum during a season that kept swinging between frustration and flashes of something more promising. [Read more 🡒]