Edmonton Oilers

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Oilers & Jets New Idea

Kirill Marchenko is drawing interest from Montreal and Edmonton, while Winnipeg fans imagine a Hellebuyck trade getting even bigger.

by
Old Prof
September 2, 2026

There was a lot to get through in today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (September 2, 2026). Kirill Marchenko is basically the star of today’s roundup, with two different teams quietly circling him for two very different reasons. Then there’s the Hellebuyck saga, which just keeps getting bigger. Fans are now dreaming up scenarios where Winnipeg loses way more than just their goalie.

NHL Trade Talk Recap Feb 8 — NHL Trade Talk Recap September 2, 2026

Could the Same Agent Bring Marchenko to Montreal?

The Kirill Marchenko-to-Montreal chatter just won’t quit, and there’s actually a decent connection behind it. He shares an agent with Ivan Demidov. Demidov has reportedly spoken highly of his time in Montreal and remains in regular contact with Marchenko. That kind of relationship, plus a good rapport between that agent and the Canadiens front office, is exactly the kind of thing insiders point to as a real (if early) sign something could eventually happen.

The catch is Columbus isn’t actually shopping him right now. Their GM reportedly has zero intention of trading Marchenko unless the winger himself asks out or makes it clear he won’t re-sign. And as of now, he’s expected to show up to training camp in a Blue Jackets jersey like nothing’s going on. So for the moment, this is more “worth watching” than “close to happening.” But if Marchenko’s situation ever does change, Montreal sounds like a team that would be very interested.

Canadiens Insider Believes Montreal Is Building a Real Case to Land 30-Goal Scorer

Could Marchenko Actually End Up in Edmonton?

The Oilers have been quietly circling Kirill Marchenko all offseason, and honestly, the fit makes a ton of sense. He’s a 6-foot-3 scoring winger coming off back-to-back seasons of 27+ goals. That’s exactly the kind of guy Edmonton’s needed to play alongside McDavid or Draisaitl. There’s even a nice personal connection here, since he’s genuinely close with Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin from their days together in Russia. Nothing’s close to happening right now, and Columbus has zero reason to trade one of their best forwards this early. But his contract makes him extra interesting down the road. He’s got a cheap $3.85 million cap hit and becomes a restricted free agent after this season, so he wouldn’t just be a rental if Edmonton ever landed him.

The real opportunity here is patience. If Columbus falls out of the playoff picture and can’t lock Marchenko up long-term, Edmonton could get aggressive at the deadline instead of overpaying now. It won’t be cheap. Fans should expect a real package involving a premium prospect, picks, and maybe another roster player. But for a team in a genuine championship window, adding a legitimate top-six winger they could keep for years might be exactly the kind of bet worth making.

Oilers Could Circle Back to Kirill Marchenko Near Trade Deadline

Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets is making a case for Hart Trophy consideration — Kyle Connor Winnipeg Jets

Fans Are Simulating Hellebuyck Trades — And One Idea Includes a Second Jets Star

With Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request now confirmed, fans on PuckPedia’s mock trade tool have gone wild simulating where he ends up. Buffalo’s the runaway favourite so far, followed by Carolina, New Jersey, Detroit, and Vegas. Each team’s packages lean on young goalies, first-round picks, and a prospect or two. That’s pretty standard trade-value math for a three-time Vezina winner.

The wild card is Detroit. Some fans are pairing Hellebuyck rumours with an even bigger idea. What if Kyle Connor goes too? It’s not totally out of nowhere. Connor’s a Michigan native, and insiders have floated a Detroit homecoming idea before, dating back to speculation last fall. There’s zero real indication Connor wants out of Winnipeg, and his contract’s reasonable enough that the Jets probably aren’t in a rush to move him. But the idea that a Hellebuyck trade could snowball into something way bigger involving Winnipeg’s other stars is a fun one to keep an eye on.

Another Huge Jets’ Star Being Linked In Hellebuyck Mock Trades