Carolina Hurricanes

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets & More Drama?

McDavid’s future, a blockbuster Marchenko trade and the real reason the Nikishin deal with the Rangers fell apart.

by
Old Prof
September 28, 2026

Today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap for September 28, 2026, is loaded. First, a wild theory on how McDavid might actually leave Edmonton. Second, a genuine blockbuster that just sent Marchenko to Toronto for Knies. And, finally, some behind-the-scenes drama on why the Nikishin-to-Rangers deal fell apart.

NHL Trade Talk Recap Jan 31 — NHL Trade Talk Recap September 28, 2026

Could McDavid Leave Edmonton the Same Way Marner Left Toronto?

Frank Seravalli just dropped a wild theory in his first Sportsnet column. He thinks McDavid won’t sign an extension next summer and plays out 2027-28, but the bold part is how he thinks the exit would happen. Instead of a traditional trade, Seravalli believes McDavid would push for a small sign-and-trade, basically just enough to get his rights moved, similar to how Marner left Toronto for Vegas. The logic is McDavid won’t want to weaken his next team by forcing them to give up a ton to get him. So he’d rather Edmonton get a small return than a blockbuster haul.

Not everyone’s buying that McDavid’s even leaving in the first place. He hasn’t given any real public signal he wants out. By all accounts, he genuinely wants to win in Edmonton with the guys he’s played alongside for over a decade. Money shouldn’t be the issue either, since the Oilers are one of the league’s most profitable teams and the rising cap gives them plenty of room to pay him whatever it takes. So while the “McDavid leaves” narrative isn’t new, Seravalli’s specific take on how it might go down is definitely turning heads.

NHL Insider Predicts Connor McDavid Shafts the Oilers in a Sign-and-Trade Deal

Leafs Land Marchenko in a Blockbuster That Just Reshaped Two Franchises

The Maple Leafs just pulled off a massive trade, landing Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood, and goalie Elvis Merzlikins from Columbus. The cost was real, though. Toronto gave up Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and a second-round pick. And it’s not like they’re just renting Marchenko either; they immediately locked him up on a six-year, $12.5 million extension. This is Toronto finally making that big swing they’d been hesitant to pull the trigger on, getting a legit power winger who can run with Matthews and Nylander for years to come.

Columbus, on the other hand, walks away with a really nice haul. It’s built around Knies, a young power forward on a team-friendly deal who instantly becomes one of their top young pieces. Add in Lorentz for depth, Andrae for the blue-line pipeline, and a second-rounder to keep restocking, and it’s a strong return for a team clearly focused on a long-term reset. Basically, Toronto gets its star winger, Columbus gets young controllable talent and flexibility, and the whole league just got an early-season blockbuster that’s going to shake up storylines for a while.

Maple Leafs Land Kirill Marchenko in Stunning Six-Player Blockbuster for Matthew Knies

Matthew Knies negotiations Maple Leafs — Matthew Knies, formerly of the Maple Leafs

Nikishin-to-Rangers Deal Was Real, But Contract Talk Killed It

Apparently, the Hurricanes and Rangers had a Nikishin trade lined up earlier this offseason. But, according to Elliotte Friedman, it fell apart because Nikishin and the Rangers couldn’t agree on a contract. Word is he’s looking for five years around $9 million per year. While that sounds steep now, he’s about to turn 25, and offensive defensemen who can run a power play are getting paid big these days. So it’s not as wild as it first seems. St. Louis was also reportedly in the mix for a while, but Carolina’s asking price is apparently super high, basically two first-round picks or equivalent talent.

There’s also a juicier angle here. Friedman thinks Carolina’s still very much eyeing Connor Hellebuyck and might be hoping Nikishin’s camp talking to other teams could set up a three-way deal involving Winnipeg. But here’s the thing, Carolina really doesn’t have to rush anything. Chris Johnston pointed out that Nikishin’s options are limited, nobody’s stepped up with a real Hellebuyck offer yet, and the Canes feel good about their depth as is. So this is more of a “want” move for Carolina than a “need” one. It means they can just sit back and wait for the right deal to fall in their lap.

Big Nikishin Trade to Rangers Fell Apart, But Carolina Still Wants Hellebuyck