A few NHL trade and roster storylines are getting a lot of noise this week, but the biggest takeaway may be that one of the loudest rumors is probably already dying on the vine.
The Elliotte Friedman-to-Amazon chatter has apparently been blown way out of proportion. According to insider Jonah Sigel, the notion that Amazon came in with some massive offer is basically fiction.
There may have been discussions, but Amazon was never expected to empty the bank for one insider. Most of the real framework with Rogers is reportedly already in place, and Friedman is said to be overseas on vacation while the remaining details get worked out.
That tracks with the practical side of it, too. Amazon only has one night of games and some regional coverage, so the idea of throwing a blank check at Friedman never really lined up with the scale of the job. The sense here is simple: Rogers wants him, he wants to stay, and this is more about finishing the paperwork than staging a full-blown bidding war.
In Ottawa, the conversation around Brady Tkachuk is far messier.
The Senators are planning a tribute video for Tkachuk when he returns as a Panther, but the idea has already sparked a strong backlash from some fans and voices around the sport. Sid Seixeiro was especially blunt about it this week, arguing that Tkachuk spent months pushing back against trade rumours before eventually asking out anyway. In Seixeiro’s view, giving him the polished, respectful sendoff sends the wrong message.
That reaction has clearly landed with a chunk of the fan base. Some have said the most pointed response, if the video goes ahead, would be silence rather than applause.
Still, not everyone is against recognizing him. There are fans who believe Tkachuk’s community work in Ottawa should count for something, even if the way he left left a bad taste.
The organization may still feel pressure to do the “classy” thing, but the mood around the return does not sound warm. Whether it turns into boos, “baby brother” chants, or just a cold quiet, this is not shaping up to be a friendly reunion.
And then there’s the Oilers, where a quieter move may end up mattering more than most people realize.
Josh Samanski is starting to look like exactly the kind of depth piece teams love to stumble into. Edmonton signed him in April 2025 after he put up 40 points in 52 DEL games, and the Oilers listed him as a 6-foot-5 centreman. Since then, he’s had a strong AHL season, got a real NHL look, and even played five playoff games without looking overwhelmed.
The numbers help explain why Edmonton seems to like him. He was the Oilers’ only bottom-six forward last season with 200-plus minutes and a positive goal share, and he posted the best defensive numbers on the team. That’s not flashy stuff, but it’s the kind of profile that earns trust fast.
His versatility makes him even more useful. Samanski can play center or wing, and he’s already shown he can hold his own next to elite talent after skating with Leon Draisaitl on Germany’s Olympic team.
If the offense comes along even a little, he could move beyond a fourth-line role and work his way into a real depth spot in Edmonton’s top nine. For now, he looks like the kind of cheap, overlooked pickup that quietly becomes a lot more important than anyone expected.
In Other News...
William Eklund Could Change Everything About Ottawas Top Six
William Eklund arrives in Ottawa at the kind of age that can still reshape a forward group, and the Senators are clearly banking on the speed and scoring touch he showed in San Jose. At 23, he brings the sort of edge that can fit next to Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, a trio that would give Ottawa a more dynamic look in the top six and a little more room to move pieces around behind them.
What makes the move even more interesting is the contract structure, which gives the Senators flexibility as they keep building around their core. Eklunds profile is already appealing because of the pace he can play at and the threat he can create in transition, but the real question now is how quickly Ottawa can turn that potential into a combination that changes the balance of its forward group. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Camp Battle Could Shape Travis Greens Bottom Six Identity
Training camp is already doing some of the work the Senators hoped it would do, forcing a real look at how the bottom six might take shape under Travis Green. One of the more practical questions on the board is the fourth-line center spot, where Ottawa has two under-contract options trying to make the case for a permanent role while the coaching staff sorts through the lineup.
Stephen Halliday offers the look of a younger center with size and passing ability, while Nick Cousins brings the veteran edge of a player trusted for faceoffs and physical play. It is the kind of camp battle that can quietly influence more than one spot in the lineup, because the way Green fills out that depth role could tell you a lot about what he wants from the rest of his bottom six, even if the final answer is still a little unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Captain Debate Just Got More Complicated
The Senators search for their next captain is staying on the back burner for now, with Travis Green making it clear the club wants more time before putting the letter on anyones sweater. Green said the staff plans to watch how the group comes together during training camp before settling on a direction, a reminder that this is as much about chemistry and leadership fit as it is about talent.
Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot have been viewed as the most obvious names in the mix, but the conversation is not being limited to just those three. Green said the decision is still being sorted through and will involve more evaluation and discussion with players, which leaves the door open for a wider field and keeps one of the teams biggest leadership questions unresolved a little longer. [Read more 🡒]