NHL Trade Talk Recap: Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs & Oilers Surprise

Today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap for September 18, 2026, looks at three stories making waves around the league. Training camps are officially underway, and there’s plenty to unpack already. Marchenko’s staying tight-lipped about his future in Columbus, Toronto’s playing it patient with its most exciting rookie in years, and Edmonton’s new coach Mike Babcock is still processing that he’s actually back behind an NHL bench.

Marchenko’s Dodging Every Future Question — And That’s Kind of the Answer

Kirill Marchenko really didn’t want to talk about his future in Columbus. And the way he avoided it said almost as much as an actual answer would have. Asked point blank if he enjoys playing there, he laughed it off with “I love to play hockey,” never actually confirming the Columbus part. When pressed about his agent saying he doesn’t plan to stay past his current deal, Marchenko claimed he hadn’t even seen those comments and insisted all the business stuff is between his agent and GM Don Waddell, not something he’s involved in.

He wasn’t rude; he just wasn’t giving anyone anything concrete. Every question about his long-term future got redirected back to hockey. Even a report claiming he told Waddell he’d “work his butt off” got no answer. He said he doesn’t know where that came from, since he’s not even on social media. The media clearly wanted a real, direct statement on where he sees his future. What they got instead was an example of saying a lot of words while committing to absolutely nothing.

Marchenko Dodges Questions on His Future With Blue Jackets

Toronto’s Keeping McKenna Away From Matthews — For Now

Turns out Gavin McKenna’s NHL debut won’t start alongside Auston Matthews after all. Instead, Toronto’s opening camp will see the 18-year-old skating alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. It’s a line coach Jim Hiller admits took a lot of deliberation. The upside is obvious. McKenna’s passing could be exactly what Tavares and Nylander have been missing. Hiller has clearly thought about the line’s balance, but he’s also made it clear these combinations are a starting point, not a finished product.

Matthews, meanwhile, opens camp with Matthew Knies and Jack Roslovic instead. Nobody’s pretending this separation is permanent, though. Hiller’s been clear that nothing’s locked in. He’s letting McKenna’s play dictate where he ends up. Given Toronto’s history of keeping stars apart a little too long before eventually pairing them (see: Matthews and Marner), most people expect McKenna and Matthews together to be inevitable. The real question is just how long Toronto waits to make it happen.

“This Is the Plan for Now”: Why the Maple Leafs Are Keeping McKenna Away From Matthews

Even Babcock Can’t Believe He’s Back Coaching

Mike Babcock’s hiring in Edmonton came with a ton of noise. But after day one of camp, he opened up about how surreal it all feels. He admitted he wasn’t even looking for a coaching job, joking that when he checks his trail cam pictures of deer in the morning, he still can’t quite believe he’s back running an NHL bench. He also leaned hard into the hometown angle, calling himself a Western Canadian through and through who grew up an Oilers fan, and made it clear he’s all in now that the decision’s been made.

Early reports already suggest camp feels different under him, and now it’s just a matter of seeing whether that shift in style and structure actually translates into results. With a three-year deal (plus an option year) on the table, Edmonton’s clearly betting big that this version of Babcock is exactly what they need to finally get over the hump.

Mike Babcock Admits He Can’t Believe He’s Coaching the Oilers

Recent Posts:

• Oilers Trade Package for Adam Fantilli — Would You Accept?
• What Will the Maple Leafs’ Fourth-Line Battle Say About Jim Hiller?
• Report: Red Wings Upset With Yzerman Over Larkin Trade Warning