NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canucks, Oilers & October Trade Board

Today’s NHL Trade Talk roundup (October 21, 2026) features a look at a trade market that is already heating up with Hellebuyck, Larkin, and a bunch of Penguins vets all in the rumor mill. Jake DeBrusk might want to get ahead of things in Vancouver before his no-movement clause shrinks down. Over in Edmonton, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is finally back and the Oilers couldn’t be happier. 

The NHL Trade Market Is Already Heating Up

The season’s barely started and the trade rumors are already flying. Connor Hellebuyck still hasn’t reported to Winnipeg and teams like Carolina, Buffalo, Utah, LA and the Rangers are sniffing around, while Dylan Larkin just widened his list of OK destinations to 10 teams. Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishin are both unsigned young defencemen, so their situations could get messy fast.

Pittsburgh looks ready to move veterans like Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson for picks and prospects. Toronto’s been poking around on Calgary’s Zach Whitecloud, and guys like Jake DeBrusk and Travis Konecny could be next if their teams change direction. Expect things to get busy well before the deadline.

NHL Early-Season Trade Board: 10 Players to Watch as Rumours Heat Up

DeBrusk Might Want to Get Ahead of This One

Jake DeBrusk doesn’t really fit what Vancouver’s doing right now. The Canucks look like sellers, and Chris Johnston has him on his trade board. The big thing is that this is the last season DeBrusk has a full no-movement clause. After that it turns into a 15-team no-trade list, so the Canucks could send him to half the league without asking.

That’s why it might make sense for him to quietly tell the Canucks he’s open to a move and give them a few teams he’d be happy with. It wouldn’t be an official trade request, just a heads up. He’s not a Larkin or Hellebuyck-level star, and at $5.5 million through 2031 his contract is easy for teams to handle, so there’d be plenty of interest. If he gets ahead of it, he picks where he lands instead of leaving it up to chance.

DeBrusk Stands to Win Big If He Works with Canucks on Trade This Season

RNH Is Finally Back for the Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is making his season debut Thursday night against the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes, and the Oilers are pumped to have him. He’s been out all year with a lower-body injury, and Mike Babcock isn’t shy about how much he thinks of the guy, calling him maybe the best man in the middle on the power play in the whole league. Edmonton’s been rolling without him at 7-1-1, but getting him back gives them a full second line and a power play that was already humming.

The bigger deal is what it does for the matchups. With RNH anchoring that second unit, Babcock can spread out the minutes and keep McDavid and Draisaitl away from the other team’s best players. Nobody besides the big guns has more than five points, so the extra depth scoring is a welcome change. Thursday’s a big early test for both the team and Babcock in his first year behind the bench.

Nugent-Hopkins Returns for Oilers: Will Babcock’s Prediction Ring True?

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