The Maple Leafs, Oilers and Jets all found themselves in the spotlight in Monday’s NHL trade chatter, with each situation carrying its own kind of pressure.
In Toronto, John Chayka is pushing back on the idea that Sergei Bobrovsky’s uneven start is anything close to a red flag. Bobrovsky is expected to start in Calgary tonight, and his first eight games with the Maple Leafs have produced a 3.10 GAA and a .895 save percentage.
Chayka’s view is simple: Bobrovsky has always taken a little time to settle in, and Toronto brought him in to be “a rock” when the pressure ramps up in the playoffs. The Leafs are also leaving themselves room to adjust how they divide starts with Anthony Stolarz, while Artur Akhtyamov is available with the Marlies if needed.
That said, the confidence isn’t universal. Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne both believe Stolarz has been the better goalie so far, which could leave Toronto with a tricky call when the postseason picture comes into focus. For now, though, the Leafs are in a decent spot if the team keeps stacking wins while Bobrovsky builds his game and Stolarz stays sharp.
Edmonton’s situation is different, but no less fascinating. The Oilers sit at 8-2-1, their best opening stretch in years, yet the deeper numbers are raising eyebrows.
When Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are off the ice, Edmonton has managed just seven goals while allowing 18. Add in a 105.1 PDO, and the warning light starts flashing pretty fast.
Injuries to Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Derek Ryan and Mattias Ekholm have only made life harder, and Toronto’s game laid bare how thin the bottom six can look.
That’s why the conversation has shifted toward separating McDavid and Draisaitl. The argument is that keeping the two top centers on the same line leaves the rest of the lineup exposed, while splitting them would spread out the elite talent and give the depth players more support.
It would dial back some of the sheer force of Edmonton’s top unit, but the tradeoff could make the whole group tougher to handle. The writer’s view is that the Oilers shouldn’t drag their feet on making the move.
Then there’s Winnipeg, where Elliotte Friedman believes the Jets moved Connor Hellebuyck before things could get messier in public. Hellebuyck’s suspension ended Friday, and he was headed to Winnipeg for a physical, a trip that likely would have put him in front of the media. Friedman’s read is that if Hellebuyck had spoken, the situation would have escalated quickly and the Jets would have responded, something nobody involved - especially the players - wanted.
Hellebuyck is now with the Devils, and he’s already made it clear he has plenty to say, even if he’s holding it in for now. New Jersey may try to keep him from stirring things up, but that doesn’t mean he’ll listen. His debut could come Tuesday in Dallas or Wednesday in Colorado, and the date everyone will circle is November 10, when he returns to Winnipeg.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Came Closer Than Fans Realized On Connor Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuyck was never just a background name in the rumor mill, at least not according to Elliotte Friedman. The NHL insider said multiple teams kicked around the idea of dealing for the Jets goalie, with Florida, Buffalo, Utah and Carolina all showing real interest at various points as Winnipeg's name surfaced in trade conversations.
The talks apparently ran into all the usual roadblocks that can sink a major deal: package disagreements, pick swaps, timing and players who were simply not available. Friedman said he does not have the full picture on every part of the negotiations, which leaves plenty still behind the curtain on how close any one team actually got. [Read more 🡒]
Stuart Skinner Is Giving Jets Fans A Real Reason To Believe
Stuart Skinner has quietly given the Jets something they have badly needed in net since Connor Hellebuyck moved on, and the early returns have been hard to ignore. The Winnipeg starter has settled in with enough consistency to stabilize games, and the underlying numbers suggest this run is not just about surviving from night to night.
The bigger question now is whether Skinner can keep this up once the schedule tightens and the shots get harder to stop. His work on high-danger chances and at even strength has put him in the conversation with some of the leagues better goaltenders, which is exactly why Jets fans are watching so closely. If this level holds, Winnipeg may have found a real answer in the crease, even if the full measure of that development is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans Finally Got Their First Look At A Stunning New Era
Connor Hellebuyck was on the ice for his first practice with the New Jersey Devils after arriving in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets, giving fans an early look at what could be a major shift in the teams goaltending picture. It was the kind of arrival that instantly changes the temperature around a locker room, especially when a proven starter walks into a new setting and starts working through the first details of how he fits.
The move came as part of a larger deal that sent multiple players and draft picks the other way, underscoring just how much the Devils were willing to give up to reshape the position. For Winnipeg, it marked the end of a familiar era in net, and for New Jersey, it opened the door to plenty of anticipation before anyone has seen how the new group will look once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]