Oilers, Canucks & Senators New Plan

This edition (June 22, 2026) of NHL Trade Talk Recap includes three quick takes. The common thread is that all three teams are thinking past the obvious headline. There are Babcock rumours with the Oilers, some “who are they signing?” chatter with the Canucks, or the Brady Tkachuk trade fallout for the Senators. Edmonton’s Murphy and Dickinson basically say they’re focused on roles and adapting to whatever comes next, not getting stuck in speculation. Vancouver’s camp is treating the offseason like an assets-and-leverage chess move before free agency turns around. And Ottawa, after moving Tkachuk, seems primed to flip those draft picks fast to strengthen the core around Stützle and Sanderson. There’s no long, slow rebuild detour.

Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson Sound Unbothered About Babcock Talk

Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson basically shrugged off the noise about Mike Babcock potentially coaching the Oilers. Both say it’s hard to speculate at this point, and they focus more on what the team’s been like. More veteran, more mature, and how they will adapt to whatever comes in. A new coach could bring structure, discipline, or accountability.

They also talk about wanting to finish what they started in Edmonton, even though neither was there that long last time. Dickinson says he’s ready to fill whatever role the line needs. He’s ready to be a shooter, defender, or whatever. Murphy thinks his role won’t really change, even if the team’s lineup shifts. Both seem confident they can lock things down defensively so the top offensive players can do their thing.

Oilers Newest Signings Talk About Extensions, Playing Under Babcock

Canucks Summer Plan Isn’t About July 1—It’s About How They Use Assets

If you want to know what the Canucks are really up to this summer, don’t start with July 1 and free agency. Start with the roster they already have and how much leverage their cap/trade assets give them. The big theme is that Vancouver has a strong draft-pick setup and a new leadership group that’s thinking in cycles.

So instead of random star-chasing, it’s more like: use trades and selective cap moves to plug holes. It could be a third-pair blueliner, some bottom-six bite, or maybe a center/wing that fits. All the while, the long-term plan is intact. If they pull that off, the picks stop being just “more stuff” and become the real foundation for the reset.

The Real Canucks Offseason Question Isn’t What You Think

Ottawa moving on from Brady Tkachuk is really about what they can do next with all those draft picks. It’s not just about collecting them and calling it a day. The Senators aren’t done. They’re expected to flip that capital quickly, either through trades or by making an offer-sheet pitch if they don’t get what they want in time.

With Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson still their core, Ottawa can’t afford to drift into a full-on rebuild. So the next moves will likely be aggressive and “NHL-ready” before the summer calendar locks things in. Players like Jason Robertson are suddenly the kind of target everyone’s talking about, even if there’s uncertainty about whether he’d actually want a long-term deal in Ottawa.

Senators to Flip Picks From Brady Tkachuk Trade for Huge Return

Today’s Posts:

Every Insider Is Saying the Same Thing About a Zach Werenski Trade
Risky 2-Time Stanley Cup Championship Goalie Linked to Maple Leafs
Avalanche Looking to Make Big Trade?: ‘I’ve Started to Hear His Name a Little Bit’
Oilers Set to Hold Press Conference Tomorrow for Mike Babcock Announcement
Buckle Up: Insider Sees Two More Tkachuk-Level Trades Coming
Price, Bergeron, Tkachuk Among Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Staios Breaks Silence, Reveals Truth Behind Brady Tkachuk Trade Request
Maple Leafs Face Uncomfortable Auston Matthews Reality After Tkachuk Trade
Insider Reveals Details of Intense Meeting Between Oilers and Babcock
Huge Hurdle Complicates Senators’ Push to Land Jason Robertson
nsider Says Maple Leafs Are Big-Game Hunting for a Goalie
7 Big-Name Players Emerging as Trade Candidates After Tkachuk Deal
Edmonton Oilers Sign Connor Murphy to a 5-Year Extension