Connor Hellebuyck and Simon Edvinsson sit at centre of fresh NHL trade rumours

Connor Hellebuyck and Simon Edvinsson are at the centre of a new wave of NHL trade speculation, with the Edmonton Oilers’ unsettled goaltending and the Detroit Red Wings’ contract impasse drawing attention from around the league. Both situations feature marquee names, limited flexibility and the potential for significant ripple effects if talks shift toward trades.

Oilers’ shaky crease fuels talk of Hellebuyck pursuit

Edmonton’s start to the season has reignited questions about its goaltending. In the home opener, a 6-5 overtime loss to the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks, Tristan Jarry surrendered six goals on 23 shots, doing little to quiet concerns that carried over from last year. The following game, Devon Levi came away with a win, but allowed seven goals on 22 shots in a 9-7 track meet.

Complicating matters, off-season addition Frederik Andersen is sidelined until December with the knee injury that ended his run in last season’s Stanley Cup Final. With the crease already under scrutiny, Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli raised the question of whether the Oilers might reach out to the Winnipeg Jets about Hellebuyck, who requested a trade in August and remains suspended without pay for failing to report to training camp.

Seravalli floated the idea that Hellebuyck could become more flexible the longer his holdout drags on, and suggested the Jets might not insist on a goaltender in return if Stuart Skinner and recent acquisition Clay Stevenson perform well. For Edmonton, though, tight cap space and a thin pool of tradable assets could push the club to make Jarry part of any package sent to Winnipeg.

The biggest hurdle is Hellebuyck’s willingness to join another Canadian team. He holds a full no-movement clause and, according to TSN’s Geno Reda, has several clubs he would consider but no other Canadian franchises on that list. That makes an Oilers landing spot highly unlikely and forces Edmonton to look elsewhere if it decides to seek outside help in net.

The Oilers have already been linked to Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault is also viewed as someone Montreal could move for the right return. A larger package including both a forward and a goalie is possible in theory, though the Canadiens are not expected to have interest in taking on Jarry as part of any deal.

Edvinsson’s contract stalemate draws league-wide interest

In Detroit, Simon Edvinsson’s situation is unfolding along a different track. The 22-year-old defenceman, now a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract, has returned to Sweden to skate with Frölunda HC while he waits for a new deal. Contract talks slowed over the summer as the Red Wings searched for a new general manager.

Despite receiving offer sheets from several clubs, Edvinsson turned them down and reported to Detroit’s training camp in hopes of getting a contract done before the season. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that multiple teams have since contacted the Red Wings to ask about his availability via trade.

Interim GM Shawn Horcoff is said to be intent on signing Edvinsson, and the player’s agent has submitted several contract proposals. LeBrun notes that discussions remain ongoing with the goal of reaching an agreement, though the situation bears watching if progress stalls.

The broader picture in Detroit is further complicated by centre Dylan Larkin, who continues to push for a trade. LeBrun has floated the possibility that a blockbuster deal involving both Larkin and Edvinsson could emerge, even if no concrete framework is in place. For contending and rebuilding teams alike, both the Hellebuyck and Edvinsson files are likely to stay on the radar in the coming weeks.