The 2026 offseason has arrived with a bang, and the hockey world is buzzing with non-stop NHL news. Just over a week after the Carolina Hurricanes hoisted the Stanley Cup by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, the rest of the league’s front offices have gone into overdrive. With the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo just days away, general managers are aggressively retooling their rosters, leading to one of the most chaotic transaction weeks in recent memory.
Perhaps the most shocking coaching update in recent NHL news is the Edmonton Oilers hiring Mike Babcock as their new head coach, replacing Kris Knoblauch. The Oilers are making it clear that they are in a win-now mode and are willing to completely change their playing style to finally capture a championship. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are still making headlines after pulling off the blockbuster acquisition of Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators, shipping out two first-round picks to land the superstar power forward.
Latest NHL News: Breaking Down Yesterday’s Blockbuster Trades
June 23rd will be remembered as a massive day for NHL news and transactions. Several franchise-altering deals went down, involving young stars, highly touted prospects, and valuable lottery picks. Here is a summary of the massive moves that occurred yesterday:
🚨 Draft Week Trade Tracker
| Acquiring Team | Players Acquired | Traded Away |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | D Bowen Byram, F Jordan Greenway | D Louis Crevier, 2026 1st-Round Pick (#4), 2026 2nd-Round Pick (#45) |
| Washington Capitals | F Jordan Kyrou | F Connor McMichael, F Milton Gastrin, 2026 1st-Round Pick (#16) |
| Ottawa Senators | F William Eklund, F Kasper Halttunen, F Brandon Svoboda | 2026 1st-Round Pick (#9) |
| Calgary Flames | D Simon Nemec, F Maxim Tsyplakov | D Etienne Morin, 2026 2nd-Round Pick (#35), Two Conditional 1st-Round Picks |
The Ottawa Senators wasted no time flipping the 9th overall pick they received from Florida in the Tkachuk trade, sending it to San Jose to bring in 23-year-old playmaker William Eklund. Eklund, who comes with a fresh three-year extension, adds immediate top-six offensive talent to Ottawa’s young core.
In other major NHL news, the Chicago Blackhawks made a massive splash by trading the 4th overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for dynamic young defenseman Bowen Byram and power forward Jordan Greenway. This trade signifies Chicago’s intent to surround Connor Bedard with established, elite talent immediately.
The rumor mill isn’t slowing down, either. Rumors are swirling around Columbus Blue Jackets star defenseman Zach Werenski potentially requesting a trade, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs exploring the goaltending market for a massive shakeup ahead of free agency.
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