Dallas Stars

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Stars, Oilers, Canucks & Sneaky Logic

Montreal, Dallas, and Edmonton all face very different offseason pressures—timing, leverage, and trade options are shifting fast.

by
Old Prof
July 5, 2026

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (July 5, 2026), we share a few NHL offseason stories. The Canadiens avoided the whole offer-sheet stress by locking in young talent early. The Stars’ Jason Robertson move to arbitration basically shut the door on any blockbuster offer-sheet play in Dallas. And the Oilers might be looking to pivot into a trade with the Canucks—likely involving Jake DeBrusk—if the veteran free-agent targets don’t work out.

NHL Trade Talk Recap Mar 6 — NHL Trade Talk Recap July 5

Montreal vs. Anaheim: The Real Difference Was Timing

While Anaheim deals with the fallout of an $18 million offer sheet targeting Leo Carlsson, Montreal has largely avoided the situation by locking in its young stars early. Kent Hughes got ahead of restricted free agency with long-term deals for Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov. As a result, no other team could swoop in with an offer sheet.

The debate online is “who got the better deal.” But the bigger lesson is timing. Waiting too long leaves players exposed and hands control to other teams, while extending early lets you set the terms before you ever reach that high-pressure offer-sheet moment.

Montreal’s Early Extensions Insulated Them From Anaheim’s Carlsson Problem

Offer Sheet Door Closes for Jason Robertson

Jason Robertson’s path to an offer-sheet scenario this offseason is essentially closed. Elliotte Friedman reports that the Dallas Stars forward will file for salary arbitration, which removes the offer-sheet option and means any contract talks will remain between Robertson and Dallas.

To many people, this also sounds like Robertson wants to stay in Dallas. Rather, he is signalling that he wants to be paid like a top-tier forward. All in all, it’s a nice bit of sneaky logic for Robertson. For Dallas, that’s also good because it avoids a “match this giant offer or lose him” nightmare.

Jason Robertson Files for Arbitration, Eliminating Offer Sheet Possibility

Jason Robertson Stars injury — Jason Robertson has filed for arbitration with the Stars.

Oilers Could Poke the Canucks About DeBrusk

Bob Stauffer says if Edmonton misses out on veteran winger targets like Claude Giroux or Vladimir Tarasenko, GM Stan Bowman might look to the Vancouver Canucks instead.

The main name being floated is Jake DeBrusk. He’s a hometown player with a full no-movement clause, though there is still league speculation he could be moved this offseason. And insiders have Edmonton linked among other teams.

This Canucks-Oilers Trade Connection Won’t Go Away