Connor Hellebuyck, Oilers fit clouded by Canada preference and cap puzzle

Connor Hellebuyck’s future remains one of the NHL’s most-watched storylines, but a move to a Canadian team — and specifically to the Edmonton Oilers — still appears unlikely. The Winnipeg Jets star is widely believed to prefer continuing his career with a U.S.-based club rather than returning to a Canadian market.

To this point, none of the other six Canadian franchises are believed to have made serious approaches to Winnipeg. The Montreal Canadiens, in particular, are already managing a crowded crease, which is why Sam Montembeault is viewed as a strong candidate to be moved this spring as the club looks to thin out its goaltending depth rather than add another high-end starter.

Oilers under pressure in goal after Jarry’s tough opener

In Edmonton, the situation in net is far more urgent. Tristan Jarry surrendered six goals in his season debut, marking the 10th time in his past 12 games with the Oilers that he has allowed at least four. With Frederik Andersen not expected back until December, management must assess how much they can lean on Stuart Skinner to steady the position.

In that context, it is natural to wonder whether the Oilers might explore a Hellebuyck trade despite his reported preference to avoid Canadian destinations. One NHL executive suggested Winnipeg holds significant leverage, saying the Jets can afford to wait because their goaltender “wants to play” and is suspended without pay for failing to report, forfeiting $38,659 per day.

Trade framework with Edmonton riddled with obstacles

Several variables make an Oilers–Jets deal especially complicated. Winnipeg’s ask could shift if waiver pickup Clay Stevenson proves he can handle NHL work, reducing the need to secure a goaltender in return. On the other hand, if Skinner falters early, the Jets would likely insist that any Hellebuyck package address their own crease in some fashion.

For Edmonton, that would almost certainly mean trying to persuade B.C.-born Jarry to waive his trade protection to go to Winnipeg, where he would share the net with the very goalie he was acquired for roughly 10 months earlier. Jarry would be just one piece of a larger puzzle that also includes tight cap constraints and limited trade chips. Taken together, the factors suggest Hellebuyck suiting up for a Canadian club again is possible, but very much a long shot.

Leafs buy cap flexibility, Kelly deal looks like a bargain

Elsewhere, the Toronto Maple Leafs created significant breathing room under the salary cap with a series of long-term injured reserve moves. Newly acquired Elvis Merzlikins and defenceman Cade Webber were placed on LTIR before the season-opening roster deadline, and forwards Max Domi and Dakota Joshua joined them on Wednesday, pushing Toronto’s available cap space to roughly $7 million. That flexibility gives general manager John Chayka more options to upgrade his roster as the season unfolds.

In Colorado, Parker Kelly’s contract has quickly become one of the league’s more team-friendly deals. The undrafted forward signed a four-year extension at $1.7 million per season on July 1, 2025, then followed with a 21-goal campaign. His early production with the Avalanche, including a goal in their season-opening win over Los Angeles, makes that cap hit look especially modest after the recent surge in salaries.

On the international front, the International Ice Hockey Federation is meeting in Spain’s Canary Islands to elect a successor to president Luc Tardif for a four-year term. Germany’s Franz Reindl and Czechia’s Petr Briza are seen as the main contenders, while Hockey Canada president and CEO Katherine Henderson is considered a leading candidate for a spot on the 10-member council. With the IIHF set to partner with the NHL and NHLPA on the 2028 World Cup of Hockey and the 2030 Olympics, the league is watching Friday’s vote closely as it awaits decisions that will shape future international events.