As the last long weekend of summer fades into the rearview mirror, the NHL is anything but dormant. While the on-ice battles are still weeks away, the front-office warfare is reaching a fever pitch. GMs are working the phones, agents are posturing, and the futures of superstars and franchises hang in the balance. The relative quiet of August has given way to a flurry of high-stakes rumors that will define the landscape of the 2025-26 season. From a legendary goaltender’s imminent contract relocation to the nine-figure offer tabled for a Russian superstar, and the ominous silence surrounding the game’s best player, here is a deep dive into the stories dominating the hockey world as training camps loom.
A Financial Masterstroke: The Imminent Carey Price Trade
The long-rumored, often-debated Carey Price trade is finally upon us. Reports from multiple insiders suggest a deal involving the iconic goaltender’s contract is not just likely, but imminent, with the September 1st calendar date acting as the primary catalyst. This isn’t a hockey trade in the traditional sense; it’s a brilliant, if melancholic, piece of salary cap wizardry.
The Montreal Canadiens just paid Price a $5.5 million signing bonus, the final significant payout on his mammoth eight-year, $84 million contract. With that cash now out the door, the real dollars owed to Price over the remainder of the deal are substantially lower than his staggering $10.5 million average annual value. For Kent Hughes and the Canadiens, this is about liberation. Price’s cap hit has been an anchor, limiting their flexibility in the offseason market. Moving it, even with the understanding that his career is likely over due to injury, provides the breathing room necessary to continue their rebuild.
The acquiring team isn’t trading for the Hart and Vezina-winning goalie of years past; they are trading for a cap hit that will live on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). This makes him a perfect asset for teams struggling to reach the salary cap floor. Enter the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, two rebuilding clubs who could use Price’s contract to ensure they remain cap compliant while their young rosters develop. We saw Chicago execute this exact strategy with Shea Weber’s contract before, making them a logical frontrunner. The Pittsburgh Penguins, facing their own complex cap situation, have also been mentioned as a dark horse.
Also on the EDGE – The Ghost in the Machine: Decoding the Inevitable Carey Price Trade
The only potential hurdle, as pointed out by insider Jeff Marek, could be a financial one for Price himself. The tax implications of where his contract lands could be significant. A move to a no-tax state versus a high-tax state could mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket. While Price has always maintained he would not stand in the way of a move that helps the franchise, a direct hit to his finances could test that resolve when it comes time to waive his no-movement clause. Look for this saga to conclude quickly, potentially sparking a subsequent move by Montreal to acquire a much-needed second-line center.
Goalie Glut in Utah a Solution for the Oilers?
While one legendary goalie’s contract is being shipped out, a surplus of quality netminders in the Beehive State has turned Utah into a go-to destination for goalie-needy teams. With Connor Ingram’s clearance from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, the Utah Mammoth now find themselves with a enviable problem: three NHL-caliber goaltenders in Ingram, Karel Vejmelka, and Vitek Vanecek. A trade seems not just logical, but inevitable.
This is music to the ears of the Edmonton Oilers. The franchise’s perpetual search for goaltending stability continues, and the situation in Utah presents a golden opportunity. James Mirtle of The Athletic has specifically identified Ingram as a prime target, and the fit is undeniable. Before entering the program, Ingram was a rock for the often-porous Arizona Coyotes, posting a solid .907 save percentage over 77 games between 2022 and 2024. He’s proven he can withstand a heavy barrage of shots and steal games—qualities the Oilers desperately need to complement Stuart Skinner.
Ingram’s personal story of openly battling OCD and returning to the game adds a compelling human element, and a change of scenery to a high-stakes Canadian market could be the perfect next chapter. For an Oilers team that is firmly in “Stanley Cup or bust” mode, solidifying their goaltending tandem is the final, crucial piece of the puzzle. Should a deal for Ingram not materialize, expect Edmonton to remain active, keeping tabs on veterans like John Gibson, Cam Talbot, and Elvis Merzlikins if their respective teams falter early in the season.
The McDavid Watch: An Ominous Silence in Oil Country
In Edmonton, the biggest story isn’t about who they might acquire, but about who they need to keep. A “scary realization,” as it’s being called in league circles, is beginning to permeate the hockey world: Connor McDavid could enter the 2025-26 season—the final year of his contract—without an extension in place.
McDavid has been clear that he is in no rush to make a decision of this magnitude, and insiders like John Shannon and Ryan Rishaug have confirmed that him playing next season without a new deal is a “very real possibility.” The potential fallout from this scenario cannot be overstated. An unsigned McDavid in a Canadian market would create a media circus of unprecedented proportions. Every single game, every slump, every post-game media scrum would be dominated by speculation about his future. Is he staying? Is he eyeing Toronto? Los Angeles? New York?
This external noise would inevitably seep into the locker room, creating a massive distraction for a team with championship aspirations. The pressure to win would become suffocating. If the Oilers were to struggle out of the gate, the narrative would quickly spiral, placing GM Stan Bowman in an “impossible dilemma”: risk losing the greatest player of his generation for nothing in free agency, or consider the franchise-altering, unthinkable option of trading him. The clock is officially ticking, and the silence from McDavid’s camp is becoming deafening.
Potential Massive Offer for Kaprizov
While the Oilers and their fans anxiously wait, the Minnesota Wild are taking the exact opposite approach with their superstar. GM Bill Guerin has reportedly tabled a “massive offer” to winger Kirill Kaprizov in an aggressive move to lock him up long-term. The proposed contract is believed to be an eight-year deal worth around $16 million annually, putting the total value in the $130 million stratosphere.
This contract would immediately set a new benchmark for elite wingers and would stand as the league’s richest deal until McDavid puts pen to paper on his next one. According to local reporters Michael Russo and Joe Smith, the primary financial components—the AAV and the bonus structure—are not points of contention. The ball is now firmly “in Kaprizov’s hands.” The Russian star is expected back in Minnesota within the week for a face-to-face meeting with Guerin, a meeting the entire state of hockey hopes will culminate in a signature that secures their franchise cornerstone for the remainder of his prime.
Also on the EDGE – McDavid Watch: What’s the Oilers’ Holdup, and What’s the Payday Gonna Be?
Pinto’s Patient Play
A high-stakes game of chicken with the situation in Ottawa, where both the Senators and center Shane Pinto are comfortable playing the long game. GM Steve Staios has stated that both sides have agreed to let the season start without the distraction of contract talks, confident that an extension will be worked out “at the right time.” This allows Pinto, who is coming off a strong season and received a confidence-boosting invitation to the Team USA Olympic Orientation camp, to focus on having a potential 60-point breakout season.
Hyman’s Health and Kopitar’s Curtain Call
Finally, the status of two crucial veterans is creating uncertainty for two Western Conference contenders. Edmonton’s resident workhorse, Zach Hyman, remains unsure if he will be ready for opening night. He is still recovering from wrist surgery in May, and while he says he’s on track, he has yet to be cleared for contact. Hyman’s absence, even for a short period, would be a massive blow to the Oilers’ top-six and power play, especially for a team that has been prone to slow starts.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the end of an era appears to be on the horizon. Kings captain and future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar recently mentioned that the 2025-26 season “could be his final season.” With his current two-year, $7 million AAV contract expiring at that time, he will be 38 years old. While not an official retirement announcement, the writing is on the wall. The league may soon have to prepare to bid farewell to one of the most dominant and respected two-way centers of his generation, marking a monumental turning point for the Kings franchise.
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