The Dallas Stars may be nearing the end of the Jason Robertson standoff, and the finish line could come before arbitration even arrives on July 25.
That’s the sense from team insider Bruce Levine, who suggested the situation will be resolved ahead of that date, either through a new contract or a trade. Robertson has reportedly been willing to go to the Pittsburgh Penguins if it comes to that, and Pittsburgh is waiting to see how the whole thing shakes out.
Still, Robertson’s preference is to stay in Dallas. The 96-point season he just put together only adds to the tension, because a player coming off that kind of year is not easy to sort out, especially when negotiations have already been described as difficult.
If the talks break down, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit are all believed to have interest.
Another goalie storyline is building around Connor Hellebuyck, and the Buffalo Sabres may no longer have the market to themselves. For weeks, Buffalo had been seen as the favorite, but the San Jose Sharks are now being mentioned as a serious contender.
One reason the Sharks are drawing attention: they signed Eric Comrie, Hellebuyck’s longtime backup in Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Free Press’ Mike McIntyre still sees Buffalo as the most logical destination, but he also thinks San Jose fits.
GM Mike Grier has already been active this summer, and landing Hellebuyck would be the kind of move that changes the scale of the rebuild in a hurry.
Edmonton’s goaltending picture has also taken a sharp turn. The Oilers added Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi along with Tristan Jarry, and Andersen is getting real buzz as maybe the best goalie the club has had in the Connor McDavid era.
But Andersen’s path to Edmonton nearly went somewhere else entirely. Elliotte Friedman reported there was a strong belief he was headed to the Florida Panthers before they pivoted and brought in Jacob Markstrom.
That opened the door for Edmonton to step in and land Andersen on a one-year, incentive-laden contract. There’s also a sense that Andersen could begin the 2026-27 season as the starter, with his connection to new head coach Mike Babcock possibly playing a role.
Toronto, meanwhile, made a serious run at Claude Giroux and still came up empty. The Maple Leafs reportedly put the biggest contract on the table, but Giroux chose to stay with the Ottawa Senators instead.
Both Bruce Garrioch and Elliotte Friedman confirmed Toronto’s aggressive push. Garrioch wrote:
“The Citizen also reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs were interested, along with the Edmonton Oilers. The talk is that the Leafs offered Giroux the biggest contract, but Toronto isn’t the type of market that fits the mould for the kind of player that he is.”
source - ‘Claude Giroux returns to the Ottawa Senators to complete unfinished business’- Bruce Garroich - Ottawa Citizen - 07/07/2026
It’s another reminder that the biggest offer doesn’t always win. Toronto is still looking around, and there’s speculation that GM John Chayka remains open to one more blockbuster-style move.
In Other News...
Connor McDavid Could Face A Real Tradeoff Under Mike Babcock
Connor McDavid has spent much of his Oilers career operating with the kind of freedom few players in the league ever get, but the conversation around Mike Babcocks arrival has shifted toward what a more structured bench might mean for his production. On TSN, analysts Mike Johnson and Jamie McLennan suggested that Babcocks style could trim a little of the open ice McDavid has enjoyed at his offensive peak, even if the Edmonton captain remains the same overwhelming force at the top of the NHL scoring race.
The expectation, at least from that discussion, is not a dramatic drop so much as a small tradeoff between structure and pure offense. McDavid still looks capable of elite numbers, and the analysts pointed out that a longer schedule could help make up for any lost freedom, leaving the bigger question less about whether he scores and more about how much room Babcock gives him to do it. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Kane Debate Just Got Real For Blackhawks Fans
Patrick Kane is still on the market after finishing last season with the Detroit Red Wings, and the conversation around his next stop has widened beyond the usual familiar names. For Edmonton, the appeal is pretty clear: the Oilers are built to chase a Stanley Cup right now, and a veteran scorer with Kanes track record would fit the kind of win-now push that has defined their roster planning.
What makes the discussion more interesting is how naturally Kane could slide into Edmontons lineup if the fit ever became real. The Oilers already have elite talent at the top, and adding another creative forward would give the coaching staff another dangerous option, even if it came with some ripple effects for younger players waiting for a bigger opportunity. For now, though, it remains exactly what it is in July - a possibility, not a decision. [Read more 🡒]
Connor McDavid Suddenly Faces A Real Concern Under Edmontons New Coach
Connor McDavids production is always the first thing people watch when the Oilers make a coaching change, and Mike Babcocks arrival has naturally sparked questions about whether a more disciplined, defense-first approach will alter the way Edmonton scores. McDavid has spent years operating in a system built to maximize his pace and creativity, so even a subtle shift in structure invites a new kind of scrutiny around just how high his point totals can climb.
The concern is not that McDavid will stop being McDavid, but that a tighter setup could shave a little off the ceiling that has made his seasons feel almost untouchable. In a market where every adjustment gets magnified, that makes the early read on Edmonton just as much about style as results, with the real test coming once the games start and the new look has to hold up against the leagues best. [Read more 🡒]