Edmonton Oilers

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers Next Move & Berube Hot Seat, Ullmark Under Fire

Two teams are looking towards summer, and a star goalie is catching heat on March 31, in this version of NHL Trade Talk round-up.

by
Ethan Braund
April 1, 2026

Monday was all about what’s next in the NHL, with two teams looking ahead—and a classic media-player callout making waves. March 31 delivered plenty of fallout from big decisions, plus a star goalie under fire.

The Oilers have reportedly set their top priority when it comes to the summer, with the hope of adding a top-six forward at the top of mind. The fallout from the Maple Leafs’ firing of General Manager Brad Treliving has shifted all eyes to head coach Craig Berube and his future with the team. Former NHLer Jeff O’Neill has his two cents about Linus Ullmark and his choice to sit out of a very important game for the Senators, then lay an egg in his return.

It’s Never Too Early to Plan to Start Summer Planning

While the Oilers are in the midst of a major playoff race, there is hope of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite all that, a great team always has to plan for the future, and it appears that Edmonton has set its sights on where it might land this summer.

According to insider David Pagnotta, those pans will include adding a top-six forward and, most likely, at the same time, moving on from long-time defenceman Darnell Nurse. The Oilers are fighting for playoff positioning in the tight-knit Pacific Division, but they are still looking to improve for next season. Adding a top-six winger in free agency could be difficult, as the market is quite thin for this upcoming summer.

The Oilers will have almost $17 million in cap space this offseason, and aside from Alex Tuch, free agency might not be the place for the Oilers to get their guy. This will lead Oilers GM Stan Bowman to consider the trade market. One name that always comes up in trade rumors is defenceman Darnell Nurse, who, depending on how the rest of this season goes, could find himself on a new team come next season.

Insider Reveals Edmonton Oilers’ Offseason Priorities

All Eyes Turn To Craig Berube

What felt like a fractured relationship all season has officially ended with the firing of Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving. The hope is this sparks optimism—but in reality, fans have gone from observing the issues to dissecting every decision behind the bench.

Head coach Craig Berube has faced just as much—if not more—criticism as his former general manager counterpart. If anything, the firing of Brad Treliving has only intensified the spotlight on Berube’s shortcomings, placing him firmly on the hot seat.

With the team struggling for much of the season, particularly since the Olympic break, there’s a growing sense that Berube may have lost the room. At this point, it feels less like a question of if and more like when a coaching change could follow.

Speaking at Tuesday’s press conference, Keith Pelley emphasized the need for an organizational shift, noting that the next GM must be “data-centric.” That comment has already sparked speculation about potential candidates.

Pelley also left the door open to restructuring the front office entirely, suggesting the team could explore hiring both a president and a general manager.

That person may determine Berube’s future, or the Leafs might clean house before the new GM arrives, so they can focus solely on hiring a head coach.

Maple Leafs’ Next Move? Craig Berube Could Be on the Chopping Block

Linus Ullmark Catches Heat

There is heat on Linus Ullmark after sitting out the Ottawa Senators game Saturday afternoon in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. This was a pivotal game, and the decision did not sit right.

NHLer and current TSN analyst Jeff O’Neill was one of the people who found the move unacceptable from the Senators’ goaltender. He pointed out that he knew Ullmark had his difficulties early in the season and also noted that the team stood by him for that. He found it unbelievable that Ullmark just so happened to need a day off for one of the most important games of the season.

“I’m not buying it. It’s not part of the league. You don’t get to pick and choose when you want to feel good, and when you don’t, so he owes his team a performance tonight,” said O’Neill. This move was especially necessary given the many injuries and key players the Senators are missing right now. They need everyone who is available, all hands on deck. With every game counting more and more, you can’t blame fans and especially former players like O’Neill, for taking exception to the goalie’s decisions.

To make matters worse, Ullmark played Monday night and allowed five goals in the first period, two within a matter of seconds, before being pulled for James Reimer. Ryan Whitney of Spittin’ Chiclets wrote, “So Ullmark, in the middle of a playoff race, said he couldn’t play the other night and now has given up 2 goals on the first 2 shots? Come on, man.”

Analyst Calls Out Linus Ullmark for Resting in Pivotal Game