NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Flames & Oilers Nurse Shares What Went Wrong

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (July 2, 2026), things settled a bit after yesterday’s flurry of activity. The Maple Leafs’ rookie Gavin McKenna got great reviews. The former Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse explained why it had to end. And now a trade between Minnesota and Calgary sent Jake Middleton to the Flames for Blake Coleman, Olli Maatta, and some draft picks.

Gavin McKenna: First Impressions (and They’re Really Good)

First impressions of Gavin McKenna sound seriously promising. Hayley Wickenheiser said right away that he checked a lot of boxes on and off the ice. That’s solid praise for a young player stepping into the Toronto spotlight.

She focused on how fast he processes the game, his quiet confidence, and how grounded he seems despite all the hype. On top of that, he’s a deep thinker, asks great questions, and stays himself. As Wickenheiser noted, he’s “smart, dialled in, confident, and surprisingly grounded.”

Wickenheiser’s First Read on McKenna Is Hard to Ignore

Nurse Explains Why Edmonton Had to Move On

Darnell Nurse spoke in San Jose about how his time in Edmonton played out. He shared that once things got rolling, there was “no turning back.” He also talked about the criticism around his big cap hit and said some of the criticism around his cap hit was fair, while other parts weren’t.

Nurse shared that when the Oilers wanted to discuss his future, he built a preferred trade list (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston), but none of those teams lined up. In the end, San Jose became the option that made sense. The Oilers got what they wanted, moved his entire $9.25M cap hit, and brought back Zack Sharp and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Nurse Details How His Messy Situation with Oilers Led to Necessary Trade

Middleton Traded to Calgary, Coleman + Maatta Head to Minnesota

Jake Middleton was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Calgary Flames, with Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta going the other way. Calgary also gets picks back: a 3rd-round pick (2027), a 4th-round pick (2028), and a 2nd-round pick (2029).

Minnesota also keeps some salary relief on Coleman. ESPN reported that the Flames are retaining 50% of his salary. For Minnesota, it sounds like a way to avoid waiting around on Dylan Larkin, while Calgary gets a solid top-four defensive boost.

Flames Trade Coleman, Maatta to Wild for Jake Middleton

Today’s Posts:

Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna Shows Respect to Bobrovsky, But There’s a Slight Problem
Former Coach Pegs Oilers as Best Fit for Red Wings Star
Capitals Re-Sign Alex Ovechkin to a Unique 1-Year Contract
Oilers Nurse Trade One Win: Relief Over Return
Did the Capitals Just Shoot Down Alex Ovechkin Retirement Rumours?
Notable Names Still Unsigned as NHL Free Agency Rolls On: What We’re Hearing
The Werenski Trade Talk Isn’t Over — It’s Just on Hold