NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Canucks & Canadiens Strategy

There was a grab bag in today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (September 7, 2026). There’s a total mystery man trying to crack Edmonton’s lineup, Vancouver quietly plotting its next move on DeBrusk, and a young Montreal star who deliberately took less money just to help his team out. 

Meet Eduards Tralmaks — The 29-Year-Old Chasing His First NHL Game

Most Oilers fans have zero idea who Eduards Tralmaks is, and that’s fair. He’s a 29-year-old undrafted forward who’s bounced through the Czech league (including a stint with Jaromir Jagr’s team), the NCAA, and the AHL. He still hasn’t played a single NHL game. But Stan Bowman signed him on Day 1 of free agency. That is a pretty rare move for a depth guy, and there’s a real reason for the interest. Tralmaks scores everywhere he goes. He put up a strong season with Grand Rapids last year. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he brings exactly the size and net-front presence Edmonton’s been missing.

His skating’s the real question mark. And the competition for a roster spot is brutal. But with injuries to Janmark and Savoie opening up some early-season opportunity, Tralmaks has a real shot to crack the lineup or at least be a strong call-up option if things break right. After a lifetime of chasing an NHL shot, this might finally be his best chance to get there.

The Oilers’ Most Mysterious Signing: Could Eduards Tralmaks Actually Make the Team?

It’s Not “If” the Canucks Trade DeBrusk — It’s “When”

According to insider David Pagnotta, Vancouver still fully intends to trade Jake DeBrusk. They just haven’t found the right deal yet. He’s not shocked nothing’s happened so far, though. DeBrusk is only three years into a seven-year deal at a pretty team-friendly $5.5 million, so there’s no desperate rush on Vancouver’s end. The bigger issue is timeline. DeBrusk’s window to be useful doesn’t really line up with where the Canucks are as a team right now, and moving him while his value and contract are still attractive makes a lot of sense.

Pagnotta’s read is that new management wants to put its own stamp on this roster. Flipping DeBrusk for prospects or picks could be exactly the kind of move that better fits Vancouver’s actual rebuilding timeline than keeping him around. Nothing’s imminent, and there’s no reason to force it this summer. Still, expect the DeBrusk trade chatter to heat up as the season goes on, especially if Vancouver struggles the way most people expect.

Canucks Have a Calculated Trade Plan for Jake DeBrusk

Ivan Demidov Deliberately Left Money on the Table — And It’s Already Paying Off

Turns out Ivan Demidov’s team-friendly deal with Montreal wasn’t an accident. It was intentional. His agent says Demidov wanted his eight-year, $9.15 million extension done fast. He also specifically asked to leave money on the table so Montreal could still sign other players. At the time, it looked like a nice deal for the Canadiens. Now, after watching Makar sign for $20.4 million, Celebrini for $18.8 million, and Bedard for $15 million, it looks like an absolute steal.

The kicker is Demidov’s not worried about missing out in the long term. His agent says he’s going to cash in eventually anyway, probably with a contract four or five times bigger once he hits his prime around age 28 or 29. For now, after just 84 career games, Demidov’s genuinely happy with the deal and reportedly has zero regrets, knowing this was really just step one of a much bigger payday still to come.

Canadiens’ Demidov Knew What He Was Doing with Unexpected Deal

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