This edition (May 12, 2026) of NHL Trade Talk Recap includes three quick recap roundups: Malkin is probably staying with the Penguins, the Maple Leafs and Oilers are wrestling with big offseason choices, and the Oilers are stuck waiting on Bruce Cassidy while Vegas drags its feet.
Malkin Staying? Looks That Way
There’s a plot twist for Pittsburgh. After the chatter that the Penguins might move on, Kyle Dubas says they’re actually hammering out an extension with Evgeni Malkin. It sounds like a done deal soon. Malkin wants to stay, and Dubas praised the exit interview and talks with his agent. And the vibe is that Pittsburgh can keep the vet without kicking any young guys out. In fact, Dubas doesn’t think they’ve earned full-time spots yet.
Nothing finalized yet, but realistically, Malkin coming back makes a ton of sense after 61 points and a solid playoff showing. He’s said he wants more hockey, maybe for a couple of seasons. So expect a short, relatively inexpensive deal to keep a beloved veteran in the lineup and steady the scoring and leadership next season.
Penguins Confirm They Expect to Sign Evgeni Malkin to Extension
Big Summers, Big Choices — Leafs vs. Oilers
Toronto and Edmonton both crashed harder than expected in 2025–26, so now it’s all hands on deck. The Maple Leafs already shook up the front office: out with Brad Treliving, in with John Chayka and Mats Sundin. It looks like they’re trying to sell Auston Matthews a real plan while giving Craig Berube another shot.
Edmonton, meanwhile, feels worn down. They’re tinkering around McDavid and Draisaitl, keeping Stan Bowman for now but eyeing a coaching change after sharing their interest in Bruce Cassidy. Both clubs are stuck fighting the salary cap and sticky contracts while trying not to blow up their core stars.
The Oilers are a “fix-the-supporting-cast-now-or-else” team. And the Maple Leafs are flirting with a more structural reset if they can make the math work. Edmonton’s closest to instant contention if they shore up defence and goaltending; Toronto could flip into something new if they move salary and add youth. But both teams need to act smart and fast. This offseason isn’t for tweaks; it’s for proper choices that decide whether they stay contenders or start over.
Comparing Offseason Strategies: Oilers vs. Maple Leafs
Cassidy Waiting Game Puts Oilers in Weird Spot
The Oilers are stuck in this awkward limbo. Vegas hasn’t exactly said “no” to letting Edmonton talk to Bruce Cassidy, but they’re happily dragging their feet while chasing the playoffs. Cassidy has become the big name Edmonton wants if they move on from Kris Knoblauch. But because he’s technically under contract with Vegas, the Golden Knights get to control the clock. Normally teams wave coaches off to chase other gigs, but Vegas is playing it differently and it’s left Edmonton waiting.
That hold-up has a lot of people rolling their eyes around the league. Coaches hate seeing chances for another job get blocked, and it looks like straight-up gamesmanship from Vegas.
Meanwhile, Edmonton probably just wants to get this sorted: either wait for Cassidy and risk other coaches getting snapped up, or pivot to someone like Peter Laviolette and stop stalling. It seems clear that the Oilers want a change behind the bench. Now, it’s just a question of how long they’re willing to wait.
“Ridiculous”: NHL Coaches Blast Golden Knights for Cassidy Decision with Oilers
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