NHL Trade Talk Recap: Friedman, Senators & Oilers Bottom Six

There was a bit of everything in today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (September 7, 2026). Some media drama turned out to be nothing, a genuinely messy “should we honour him or not” debate in Ottawa, and a sneaky-good depth signing in Edmonton nobody’s really talking about yet. 

Relax, Elliotte Friedman Probably Isn’t Going Anywhere

Turns out all the Friedman-to-Amazon chatter might be way overblown. According to insider Jonah Sigel, the idea that Amazon made some massive offer is basically fiction. There may have been talks, but Amazon was never going to blow up its budget for one insider. Most of the actual deal terms with Rogers have reportedly already been agreed to. Friedman himself is currently on vacation overseas while the finer details are being sorted out.

Honestly, it makes sense when you think about it practically. Amazon’s only got one night of games plus some regional coverage, so handing Friedman a blank check just to poach him doesn’t add up the way the rumours made it sound. Rogers wants him, and he wants to stay. So it sounds like this is much more “ironing out details” than “will he actually leave.”

The Truth About Elliotte Friedman Jumping Ship Is Finally Revealed

Should Ottawa Really Honour Tkachuk After How He Left?

Ottawa’s planning a classic tribute video for Brady Tkachuk when he returns as a Panther. But not everyone’s on board with the idea, including Sid Seixeiro, who went off about it this week. His take was blunt. Tkachuk spent months pushing back against the trade rumours, then eventually requested a trade anyway. Seixeiro thinks rolling out the classy tribute treatment for that kind of exit sends the wrong message across sports in general. Many fans agreed with him, with some saying that if the video goes ahead anyway, the real statement would be silence rather than applause.

Not everyone’s fully against it, though. Some fans pointed out that Tkachuk did real community work in Ottawa and deserves recognition for it, even if the way he left still stings. But the general vibe seems to be that most fans aren’t exactly thrilled about honouring him, even if the organization feels obligated to do the “classy” thing. Will that turn into genuine boos, “baby brother” chants, or just dead silence when his name comes up? It sounds like this one’s not going to be a warm welcome no matter what Ottawa decides to put on the scoreboard.

Host Tears Into Senators Over Brady Tkachuk Return Video, Fans React

Josh Who? The Oilers’ Depth Piece Nobody’s Talking About

Stan Bowman’s got a real track record of finding hidden gems in Europe, and Josh Samanski might be his next find. Samanski wasn’t exactly an unknown quantity. Edmonton signed him in April 2025 after he had scored 40 points in 52 DEL games, and the Oilers described him as a 6-foot-5 centreman. And after a solid AHL season, a real NHL look, and five playoff games where he genuinely didn’t look out of place, he’s turned into a legit fourth-line center option heading into this year. The advanced stats back it up too. He was Edmonton’s only bottom-six forward last year with 200+ minutes and a positive goal share. Plus, he had the best defensive numbers on the whole team.

What makes him extra interesting is the versatility. He can play center or wing. He’s also proven he can hang with elite talent (he skated alongside Leon Draisaitl on Germany’s Olympic team). And he brings exactly the kind of reliable, defensively sound game coaches love to lean on. If his offence grows even a little from here, Samanski could push past a fourth-line role and into a real depth spot in Edmonton’s top nine. He’s the kind of cheap, overlooked addition that quietly ends up mattering a lot more than expected.

Don’t Sleep on Josh Samanski — Oilers’ Potential Breakout Player

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