In this edition (June 20, 2026) of NHL Trade Talk Recap, I’ll share three quick storylines from the NHL offseason. The Hurricanes locked in Nic Deslauriers with a pretty hilarious “signed during the Cup party” moment. The Maple Leafs went after Darren Raddysh because his game fits what they need: a right-shot point threat and real two-way value. And Jack Roslovic’s situation with the Oilers looks more like a second-chance gamble than a sure thing. His 21 goals in the regular season weren’t matched enough in the playoffs, and that could shape his whole market this summer.
Carolina Locks Up Nic Deslauriers During Cup Celebration
The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Nic Deslauriers to a two-year contract extension. GM Eric Tulsky finalized the deal right in the middle of the team’s Stanley Cup celebration. Deslauriers was happy to stay in Carolina, and the deal was basically the team rewarding him after he was one of the few pending free agents.
Fans also joked about the whole thing. Deslauriers reportedly signed while having a few drinks. Either way, it represents a pretty big pay cut for him. He’s down to about $875K per season, after making $1.75M on his previous deal, and he’s mostly been used as depth (not someone in the lineup every night).
Does It Count?: Hurricanes Forward Signs New Deal in the Middle of Boozy Stanley Cup Celebration
Maple Leafs Make Sense of the Darren Raddysh Deal
Toronto’s signing of Darren Raddysh sounds bigger than it really is if you only look at the numbers. The point is, he didn’t suddenly turn into a star overnight. He’s been steadily improving year after year, and that last-season breakout looks more like growth than a weird one-off.
The Maple Leafs are getting a real right-shot defender who can play heavier minutes, handle tough competition, and make the power play more dangerous with a serious point shot/one-timer threat. On top of that, he’s a fit Toronto hasn’t really had in the same way before, and it gives their PP and top-four a different look.
There’s risk, of course. Late bloomers can cool off, and age is a factor. But the whole pitch from the front office is that the progression is real and trackable. If he stays dependable and repeats even a decent chunk of his production while keeping that two-way game, this could end up being a smart, targeted move for Toronto’s Cup-window setup.
The Maple Leafs Bet Big on Darren Raddysh: Will It Pay Off?
Roslovic’s Second Bet—Still a Question Mark
Jack Roslovic gambled on himself last offseason, and it didn’t pay off the way he wanted. He turned down an Oilers offer, waited for a better market, dropped his agent, and ended up back in Edmonton anyway on a one-year, team-friendly deal that paid way less than what he originally had in mind. It was a reminder that leverage can disappear fast.
Now he’s got a new kind of problem. He flashed in the regular season with 21 goals, but the playoffs didn’t really change the story. He was quiet against the Ducks. And the fact that he’d already been scratched the prior postseason with Carolina makes it feel less like bad luck and more like a pattern. Add a likely more demanding coach in Mike Babcock, and it gets tougher to imagine Roslovic just cruising. If he’s not ready to elevate when it matters, the offers this summer may be underwhelming again.
Is Jack Roslovic Doomed? If Free Agency Fails Again, A Surprise Awaits with the Oilers
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