Montreal Canadiens

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Senators, Canadiens & Maple Leafs Prospect

Ottawa deals with the Tkachuk fallout, Montreal’s Xhekaj dilemma grows, and a Leafs prospect is turning heads.

by
Old Prof
September 8, 2026

There were a number of different topics in today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (September 7, 2026). Ottawa’s still dealing with the Tkachuk fallout. Montreal can’t decide what to do with Arber Xhekaj. And there’s a Maple Leafs prospect quietly turning heads.

NHL Trade Talk Recap Nov 28 — NHL Trade Talk Recap September 8, 2026

Ottawa’s Still Feeling the Tkachuk Hangover

Brady Tkachuk basically forced his way out of Ottawa to go play with his brother in Florida, and the Senators’ room is not over it. Thomas Chabot admitted he wasn’t happy when Tkachuk decided to bounce, which hits different after Tkachuk spent last season saying he was “fully committed” to the team and city. Drake Batherson’s take was a little softer but said basically the same thing. Replacing what Tkachuk brought isn’t a one-guy job; it’s the whole room having to step up. And now there’s a real captaincy race brewing, with Chabot, Batherson, Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson all in the mix.

Losing that physicality and chaos on the ice is gonna sting. But losing the drama? Maybe that’s exactly what this team needed. The real headline is October 21st — Tkachuk’s first game back in Ottawa. Fans already say they’re booing. Some are throwing around the word “traitor.” This one’s gonna be nasty.

‘I’d be lying if I said I was happy’ — Chabot’s Blunt Response to Tkachuk Asking Out

Habs Can’t Figure Out What to Do With Xhekaj

Montreal still hasn’t signed Arber Xhekaj, and now people are wondering if he’s even a defenseman anymore. There’s talk of sliding him up to forward since he doesn’t have a lock on a blue-line spot. But not everyone in the organization is sold. Tony Marinaro’s read is that management may be more open to Xhekaj playing a fourth-line energy role than the coaching staff. Jimmy Murphy thinks his future in Montreal is genuinely shaky, and if he does get signed, don’t expect anything longer than a two-year “show me” deal.

The bigger takeaway is that Murphy’s hearing roster moves could be coming as soon as this week, with teams gearing up for a busy stretch of trades. Whether Xhekaj ends up part of that is anyone’s guess. But both Murphy and Marinaro think a winger move might actually be Montreal’s real priority right now.

GM and Coach Misaligned in Montreal on What to Do with Arber Xhekaj?

Arber Xhekaj Montreal Canadiens defenseman

Maple Leafs Fans, Keep an Eye on Miroslav Holinka

Miroslav Holinka was just a fifth-round pick back in 2024. Now he’s turning into one of the more interesting names in the Maple Leafs system. The Czech forward went from barely playing in junior to nearly averaging a point a game in his first WHL season. Then he blew that away with 80 points in year two plus 11 more in the playoffs. He even got a taste of pro hockey with the Marlies and picked up an assist in his first game before they sent him home to rest instead of dragging him through a Calder Cup run.

Now he’s stepping into his first full pro season looking like the total package. He’s 6-foot-2, almost 200 pounds, already built like an adult, and able to play center or wing. The Maple Leafs don’t have a ton of forward depth in the system right now, so if Holinka keeps producing the way he has, don’t be shocked if he’s the guy who gets a surprise call-up when injuries hit this season.

Maple Leafs Should Keep a Close Eye on Promising Prospect, Miroslav Holinka