Edmonton Oilers

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Draisaitl Update, Devils Fire GM, Utah and DeBoer

by
Ethan Braund
April 7, 2026

Monday delivered a fast-paced slate of NHL news, featuring more staff firings, a key injury update, and a hypothetical coaching scenario that closely mirrors a real-life situation. Several high-profile stories had the hockey world buzzing.

We start with an update on injured Leon Draisaitl and how many more games the Oilers star could miss.

The second story focuses on a general manager firing in New Jersey—one that could shape the future of the New Jersey Devils and potentially impact other teams around the NHL.

Finally, we look at the Islanders’ hiring of Pete DeBoer as head coach. While he ultimately landed in New York, the Islanders weren’t the only wild-card team pursuing his services this season.

Draisaitl… He’s missing How Many Games?

The Oilers have been going through a rough patch in the injury department over the past few weeks. With stars like Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl missing time, some 90 goals are out of the lineup. With the playoffs coming up, the media was rightly asking when they can expect these key players back. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke with the media on Monday and gave an update.

Leon Draisaitl will not miss much time for Oilers

Oilers fans received some good news regarding Hyman, who will likely return before the end of the regular season. He is expected to play at least one or two games before the 2026 playoff grind begins. His comments regarding Draisaitl were not all bad, but they were not the news most fans would be looking for. Don’t expect Draisaitl to be back this regular season. He might miss playoff games as well. Knoblauch hinted, “sometime in that first round if things go well.”

He continued on to say that it will become more evident once he is back on the ice later this week. Draisaitl sustained a lower-body injury on March 15. The Oilers will definitely want the star forward back in time for Game 1, but that is currently up in the air. We will know more as we get closer to the start of the playoffs.

Oilers Give Update on Draisaitl: Might Miss Playoff Games

New Jersey Says Goodbye to Fitzgerald

The New Jersey Devils are officially moving on from their long-time General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was relieved of his duties on Monday after serving as the team’s GM since January 12, 2020. It seems both Fitzgerald and the team Owners felt like it was time to move in a different direction going forward.

The Devils have had a very disappointing season, as they currently sit second-to-last in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. This felt more like a team in need of a new face at the top, rather than the firing of a bad employee. In a statement on social media, the team wrote:

“Tom changed the trajectory of our team here, including setting a franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination,” Blitzer said. He also noted the importance of this offseason and vowed to explore all avenues to bring a cup back to New Jersey.

Fitzgerald also teased that he might be moving on to something else, stating that he is ready for his next hockey chapter. Many believe that Toronto and Nashville could be destinations for the long-term GM. With many options out there, Fitzgerald will almost certainly not be unemployed for very long.

Oilers Give Update on Draisaitl: Might Miss Playoff Games

Did Utah Call Dibs on DeBoer?

One of the more shocking moves of this season was the firing of former New York Islanders head coach, Patrick Roy. The team, which was in the midst of a playoff race and only one point out at the time of the firing, was definitely a surprise when they made the move. Roy was replaced by top candidate Peter DeBoer.

DeBoer was on the radar of several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, another wild-card contender—the Utah Mammoth—was also in the mix. Friedman reported that Utah even met with DeBoer before he ultimately signed with the Islanders.

Despite holding a relatively comfortable grip on the first wild-card spot with 86 points, Utah hit a rough patch, going 3-4-0 before its recent three-game winning streak. According to Friedman, that stretch was nearly enough to prompt a coaching change behind the bench.

He also noted that Utah wasn’t alone—several NHL teams explored the idea of making a late-season coaching switch. It’s a sign that organizations aren’t afraid to act, even this deep into the schedule.

While it’s unclear how seriously Utah pursued a change, it’s evident the possibility was on the table. With multiple teams weighing similar decisions—and some following through—the focus now shifts to how those choices play out, and which teams may ultimately look back with regret.

Western Wild Card Team Looked at DeBoer Before Joining Islanders