On July 13, 2026, the NHL trade chatter centered on three very different situations: Connor McDavid’s scoring ceiling under Mike Babcock, the steady drumbeat of calls around Arber Xhekaj in Montreal, and a new wrinkle in the Connor Hellebuyck sweepstakes that could pull the San Jose Sharks into the mix.
The McDavid discussion starts with the obvious truth: he’s still going to produce. The question is whether Babcock’s more defensive, more structured approach could shave down the biggest point totals McDavid has posted in the past. In a system that asks for more two-way responsibility and less freedom to freelance, McDavid may not get quite as many of those premium offensive chances, especially at five-on-five, where he has often piled up some of his best numbers.
That doesn’t mean anyone is bracing for a down year. The expectation remains that McDavid will be excellent, and the extra games in the schedule could help keep the total climbing. The projection from the interview lands in the low-to-mid 130s, with 135 described as the realistic high end.
In Montreal, Xhekaj is drawing interest, and that part of the story makes sense. A big, physical defenseman who can protect teammates is the kind of player teams always ask about. The Canadiens don’t appear to be in a rush to move him, but the calls are coming in.
Jeff Gorton said the team is in normal contract discussions with Xhekaj, and that he has not filed for salary arbitration. That doesn’t sound like a situation on the verge of turning messy. At the same time, Kent Hughes has shown he won’t ignore the right offer if it comes along.
The Hellebuyck situation may be the most interesting of the bunch. Buffalo had been viewed as the obvious landing spot in the trade talk, but San Jose is now being mentioned as a real contender. The Sharks’ recent signing of goalie Eric Comrie is part of why the idea has gained traction.
The connection matters because Comrie has a history with Hellebuyck, and he has been described as Hellebuyck’s “personal security blanket” from their time together in Winnipeg. That kind of familiarity could make San Jose a more attractive destination. The timing and destination are still unsettled, but the Sharks have moved into the conversation, and Buffalo no longer looks like the only team in the frame.
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