NHL Trade Talk Recap: Rangers, Maple Leafs & Oilers Dilemma?

Today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap for October 14, 2026, features goalies, defencemen, and line combinations in play, each with a decision to make. The Rangers are scrambling for goaltending with Shesterkin out. The Maple Leafs may have to shop for blue-line help while Tanev’s on the shelf. And Edmonton has a nice problem on its hands now that Zach Hyman is almost back.

The Rangers Are Shopping for a Goalie, and Stolarz Is on the Radar

With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, the Rangers are searching for goaltending help, and Darren Dreger says they’ve “kicked tires” on Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz. They’ve also looked at Jordan Binnington, Philipp Grubauer and Sam Montembeault. Stolarz could be available if the Leafs can fill the backup spot cheaply, especially with Toronto suddenly short on defence.

There’s no panic yet, since GM Chris Drury wants to see what Dylan Garand can do first. Hellebuyck is ruled out because $20 million in two goalies is too much once Shesterkin returns, so whoever New York adds needs to be cheaper and on a shorter deal.

Insider Names Replacement Options For Rangers With Shesterkin Out

Tanev’s Injury Could Push the Maple Leafs Into a Trade, and Three Names Are in the Mix

The Leafs left their road trip with three points, and Jim Hiller wasn’t thrilled, saying they could have had five. They’ve given up 19 goals in their last five games, and with Chris Tanev on injured reserve and no timeline for his return, the defence is stretched thin. Toronto can’t pay a high price, so the likely target is modest, short-term help.

Three names came up in The Athletic’s reporting: Chicago’s Ian Cole (the cleanest fit, a veteran shutdown guy on an expiring deal), Calgary’s Zach Whitecloud (more than a rental, so likely pricier), and Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen (the long shot, and he’s hurt). Tanev is in year three of a six-year deal and may never finish it, so this might be about more than just this season.

Maple Leafs Cheap Trade Fixes: 3 Targets to Replace Chris Tanev

Podkolzin Is Red Hot, So What Does Babcock Do When Hyman Returns?

Connor McDavid hit his 800th NHL game with a four-point night, and he leads the league with 17 points through six games as Edmonton beat the Kings 4-1 to extend its win streak to five. But Vasily Podkolzin stole some of the spotlight. He scored twice, has seven goals in six games, and has been skating with McDavid and Draisaitl on a line that’s clearly working. It’s getting hard to see him as just a depth piece.

Now comes the tricky part. Zach Hyman is close to returning, and he’s spent years next to McDavid, so Babcock has to decide whether to keep the hot line together, put Hyman back, or just change the power play and leave even strength alone. Babcock says “life’s good” for now, and we’ll learn a lot when the Oilers host Utah on Thursday and see where everyone lines up.

McDavid Has 17 Points, but a Red-Hot Podkolzin Complicates Oilers’ Plans

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