NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Maple Leafs & Oilers’ Cup Finalist?

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap for September 23, 2026, lots of trade buzz and big-picture storylines are swirling. A potential blockbuster could send Marchenko to Montreal, more chatter about whether Knies could still move out of Toronto, and a bold prediction that the Maple Leafs and Oilers could meet in the Final. Here’s the rundown.

Could Montreal Actually Pull Off a Marchenko Blockbuster?

Kirill Marchenko’s name keeps coming up, and Montreal keeps being the team most connected to him. It makes sense too. The Habs’ Russian pipeline is growing with guys like Demidov, Zharovsky, and Pugachyov already there. Marchenko’s uncomfortable interviews about Columbus (basically refusing to say he likes the city) suggest he might be ready to move on too. Add in Columbus needing cap relief after locking up Fantilli at $13.75M, and Marchenko’s tidy $3.85M deal suddenly becomes the easiest way for them to get compliant.

The proposed deal here has Montreal sending Michael Hage, Alexandre Texier, and two first-round picks to Columbus for Marchenko, signed long-term at $15M. It’s a lot to give up, especially a premium prospect like Hage. But Marchenko’s size, scoring touch, and fit alongside Montreal’s Russian core make him worth stretching for. Columbus walks away with a potential star center, a familiar face back on the roster, and multiple firsts to rebuild with. Montreal gets the big, physical scoring winger their top six is missing. If it happens, it’s the rare trade where both sides could genuinely feel like winners.

Canadiens Trade Package for Kirill Marchenko — Would You Accept?

Is Matthew Knies Still Trade Bait? Dreger Says Don’t Rule It Out

So the Knies trade talk just won’t die, and apparently that’s on purpose. It’s not because he’s actually being shopped, but because insider Darren Dreger says the conversations just haven’t fully gone away. Dreger’s clear that it’s not “front burner” stuff for Toronto right now. But he doesn’t buy that the Maple Leafs are done thinking about it either. Basically, it sounds like old trade deadline and offseason chatter that could resurface depending on how the season goes. Adding a little intrigue, new coach Jim Hiller’s early read on Knies was lukewarm. He said there’s clearly more in his game than he’s shown so far in preseason.

Would Toronto actually pull the trigger if the right offer landed? Dreger seems to think GM John Chayka wouldn’t slam the door on it, even if he’s not out there actively shopping him. The Canadiens were the team initially linked to Knies, though that buzz has cooled off lately. Either way, at $7.75 million through 2031, Knies is the kind of team-friendly contract that would draw interest from plenty of teams if Toronto ever did decide to move him.

Massive Maple Leafs Trade Not “Front-Burner Stuff”, But It’s Still There

Could We Really Get an All-Canadian Oilers-Leafs Final This Year?

So Paul Bissonnette dropped a bold idea. He thinks we could see an Oilers-Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Final this season, and honestly the matchup practically sells itself. McDavid and Draisaitl versus Matthews and Nylander, two passionate fan bases, and a Canadian team finally hoisting the Cup. Edmonton’s chasing redemption after back-to-back Final losses, while just getting there would be massive for Toronto after missing the playoffs entirely last year. The take is that Edmonton’s got the easier path through the Pacific compared to Toronto grinding through the tougher Atlantic and East.

That said, nothing’s guaranteed once the playoffs start. Remember, Anaheim knocked Edmonton out in the first round last spring, so an “easier path” doesn’t mean much once the games begin. Goaltending’s a huge swing factor too, with Bobrovsky in Toronto and Andersen in Edmonton both needing to prove they can hold up over four rounds. If it does happen, the pick here leans Oilers, mostly because that core’s already lived through two Finals and there’s more trust in the coaching staff. Wild scenario, but not impossible.

Biznasty Predicts a Maple Leafs–Oilers Stanley Cup Final. Could It Happen?

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