NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs & Ducks Match

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (July 9, 2026), we share a quick rundown of three recaps focused on big offseason moves across the NHL. The Oilers signed Frederik Andersen and basically took a “smart insurance” approach. They added veteran playoff experience without betting everything on him being a perfect, every-night starter. In Toronto, Hayley Wickenheiser is out after eight years with the Maple Leafs, and it sounds like the front office continues to undergo significant changes in the wake of her departure. And in Anaheim, the Ducks stepped in and matched Leo Carlsson’s Flyers offer sheet, locking in their young franchise center with a massive $18M AAV deal while also keeping key draft compensation from heading to Philadelphia.

Oilers Got Frederik Andersen—Smart Deal, Not a Magic Fix

Frederik Andersen is getting a lot of praise as one of Edmonton’s best free-agent moves this offseason. The Athletic’s Harman Dayal basically calls it a smart, low-risk signing because Andersen brings veteran stability and championship playoff experience at a pretty low cost.

The trade-off is that he’s 36 and hasn’t been super consistent—plus he can be injury-prone. Dayal points out a rough regular season (.874 save percentage), so he’s not a guaranteed full-time starter. Still, the contract is cheap enough that Andersen is seen as real insurance, with the Oilers likely getting around 25–40 solid games while adding depth behind their goalie plans.

Oilers Signing Gets High Ranking Among Best of the Summer

Hayley Wickenheiser Out with Maple Leafs After 8 Years

Hayley Wickenheiser has officially left the Maple Leafs after eight seasons. There, she worked her way up from Assistant Director of Player Development to Director of Player Development, and then to Assistant General Manager, until 2026. She posted the news on Instagram, saying she had hoped to continue having a real impact, but the team decided that, going forward, her role wouldn’t allow her to do so.

It wasn’t just her. Reports say the Maple Leafs also moved on from director of amateur scouting Mark Leach and senior advisor of player personnel Dave Morrison the same day, and that the broader front-office shakeup continues after earlier departures like Brandon Pridham, with John Chayka and Mats Sundin’s changes continuing behind the scenes.

Maple Leafs Continue Front Office Shakeup: Wickenheiser Among Big Names Leaving

Ducks Match Carlsson’s Flyers Offer Sheet

The Anaheim Ducks matched Philadelphia’s five-year, $90 million offer sheet for restricted free-agent center Leo Carlsson, so they’re keeping their young franchise guy until Friday’s deadline.

The contract has a league-record $18 million average annual value, includes signing bonuses, and includes a no-movement clause in the final year. Anaheim locks Carlsson in long-term, while Philadelphia keeps its draft picks and continues sorting out its cap situation.

Ducks Match Record-Setting Offer Sheet, Keep Leo Carlsson

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