NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Flames & Oilers Knew Something

There was a lot to get through in today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (September 3, 2026). Our posts were quite the mixed bag. Detroit’s Larkin situation just got a little messier. MacKenzie Weegar shared some thoughts on players fleeing Canadian markets. And Edmonton’s actually looking pretty smart for once with how they handled the Andersen injury. Let’s take a look at the news.

Larkin Just Ruled Out One of Detroit’s Best Trade Options

Turns out Montreal isn’t even on Dylan Larkin‘s list of approved destinations. Perhaps it’s because he’d rather stay in the U.S. That’s a real hit for Detroit, since Montreal had the exact kind of picks, prospects, and cap-friendly contracts that made them a genuinely good trade partner. But none of it matters if Larkin won’t approve the move. And thanks to his full no-trade clause, he’s got all the leverage.

So where does that leave Detroit? Minnesota remains one of the teams being connected to him. But they’re tangled up in their own drama trying to lock down a Quinn Hughes extension. That makes it hard for them to take on another big contract right now. Beyond that, it’s mostly speculation. Vegas, Tampa, maybe a sleeper like Utah might be in the mix. The bottom line is that, with Larkin holding all the cards and his no-trade clause very much in play, this one’s probably going to take a while to sort out.

Dylan Larkin Puts Red Wings in a Real Bind if a Trade to Canadiens Was on the Table

Weegar Isn’t Loving the Trend of Stars Wanting Out of Canada

MacKenzie Weegar’s not thrilled about the wave of players requesting trades away from Canadian teams. He made that pretty clear in a recent OverDrive appearance. His time in Calgary was special. He talked up the fans, the passion, and even hinted that the city could become a real destination once the new arena’s built. But he did admit that American markets can offer a bit more in certain ways. Still, he called it “a bit unfortunate” to see guys wanting out, especially knowing how much Canadian fans care about their teams and stars.

Whether he meant to or not, Weegar’s comments read like a subtle dig at players actively pushing for trades right now. His whole point was basically that it shouldn’t matter where you play. It’s an honour just to wear an NHL jersey. That kind of implies the guys demanding specific markets don’t see it quite the same way he does.

Asking For Trades Out of Canada? MacKenzie Weegar Has Blunt Message For NHL Stars

The Oilers Actually Saw This Andersen Injury Coming

Turns out the Oilers weren’t caught off guard by Frederik Andersen missing time to start the season. They basically planned for it. GM Stan Bowman explained the injury is a lingering issue, not a new one. He admitted Edmonton never expected Andersen to be a workhorse anyway given his age and injury history. That’s why they’ve still got Jarry and Levi ready to handle real minutes to open the year instead of scrambling.

Compare that to last season, when the Oilers got stuck reacting mid-year and had to go add Jarry on the fly. This time it’s the opposite. They signed Andersen cheap, knew the risk going in, and built a real Plan B into the roster from day one. So instead of panicking, Edmonton’s just quietly working the plan they already had in place.

Was Signing an Injured Andersen Actually a Shrewd Move by the Oilers?

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